Good Question: Which Miracles Are Real?
"How can we tell which miracles, signs and wonders are of God?"
J. Rodman Williams | posted 5/21/2001 12:00AM
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Let's change the scene somewhat: it can be valuable, for example, to have a miracle of physical healing checked out by a competent medical authority. Say there is a claimed miracle of healing for deafness; this could be followed up by a doctor's examination. Many persons hesitate to do this lest they might, as is sometimes said, "lose their miracle." However, that line of reasoning characterizes God as some cruel prankster; he does not give his children stones in place of bread. If a healing appears to have occurred—not a counterfeit but a real one—a person should welcome impartial verification.
5. It builds up the church. Paul writes that "In the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles" (1 Cor. 12:28). Just as surely as apostles, prophets, and teachers are God-given appointments for the functioning of the church, so are workers of miracles. Both teaching and miracles, word and deed, occurring in unity are vital activities in the overall upbuilding and outreach of the church.
Consider the example of the evangelist Philip: "When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs that he did, they paid close attention to what he said" (Acts 8:6). So it remains today: our Spirit-led words and deeds (miraculous and otherwise) can work in beautiful harmony for the proclamation of the gospel.
J. Rodman Williams is professor of theology at Regent University.
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Related Elsewhere
J. Rodman Williams' site at Regent University offers a biographical sketch, and even some of his books online.
J. Rodman Williams answers other theology questions at CBN.com.
In a recent opinion piece for Christianity Today, Chris Lutes cautions against becoming too enthusiastic about miracles.
In a 1997 column for Christianity Today, Philip Yancey noted how reluctant Jesus was to use miracles.
Christianity Today sister publication Christian History recently examined Augustine's beliefs and teachings on miracles.
Simon & Schuster offers an excerpt of Kenneth Woodward's The Book of Miracles.
Earlier Good Question columns include:
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