Miracles

Do miracles exist?

So do we really need to talk about this?  It seems pretty simple to me.

But apparently, it’s a deep theological question worthy of debate, because a lot of smart people have written really long books about it.

The existence of miracles is the premise of C. S. Lewis’ book Miracles–a lengthy treatise on the subject of the supernatural, as written to the highly intellectual, agnostic mindset. I am neither highly intellectual nor remotely agnostic, so this has been my least favorite of his works to read.

To me, the real discussion was not about miracles per se, but about THE MIRACLE–the mystery of Christ, which, of course, is the ultimate discussion once a skeptic opens the door to the possibility of miraculous intervention into the natural world.

To a child, miracles are a given. The wonder of a butterfly, the belief in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy, the inexplainable cure of a mother’s kiss, the transition of cake batter into sweet, spongy satisfaction–anything in a happy child’s world could be labeled “miraculous.” The innocence of childhood is both delicious and fleeting–at times we adults all wish we still had it. Jesus understood the complexities that would arrive with reason, so He explained salvation as requiring “the faith of a child;” it was so simple, even a child could accept it. The paradox is that its simplicity could also prevent adults from comprehending it–those seeking answers would have to be satisfied with not completely comprehending the miracle of God’s love and Jesus’ incarnation.

Perhaps I have an immature mind. Throughout this book, I kept thinking, “Why are we even discussing this? You either believe, or you don’t believe.” Miracles, by nature, don’t have to be proven. If they could be proven, they wouldn’t be miracles–they’d be science. Miracles trump science. That’s their privilege. Of course, this perspective is held by a highly unscientific person.

Very simply, my reading of this volume concluded with these simple observations:

1. A miracle doesn’t need to be proven.

2. Inexplainable phenomena points to the existence of God, not the absence of God.

3. Science can’t replace faith. In fact, science also requires faith.

4. The death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ is the greatest miracle of all time, and it is likely the reason that skeptics discount other miracles they would otherwise gladly accept, because believing in Jesus demands the admission of my sinful state, my responsibility to worship Jesus as Savior, and my submission to Jesus as the Lord of my life. Anyone refusing faith in Him would logically rebel against the whole idea of miracles because disbelief in miracles in general supports disbelief in Jesus.

Do miracles exist?

Does does a baby’s smile fill one with wonder? Does a sunset over water cause the soul to rejoice? Does genetics, astronomy, biology, or any other science still prompt the question, “Yes, but why does that work?”

The miracle of God’s love. Unbashful, unreasonable, undeniable.

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