Some Lenten readings take us down the pathway of miracles (e.g. last Sundays John 9:1-41, also today's John 11:1-45). Such readings, combined with some scriptural perambulations through other parts of the Bible, keep pointing out to me that miracles have played a major part in people coming to faith.
Is this a missing dimension in today's missional context? We strive in all sorts of ways to proclaim the gospel in word and deed (i.e. our actions, our ministries, our loving efforts to serve others) but in some periods of the church, there has been no need to strive, just a need to marvel at what God has done to impress the reality of God on unbelievers.
To be sure, stories such as John 9:1-41, sharply remind us that miracles do not impress sceptics!
But do we as church in today's world of decline, drift and (ironically) pressure from other religions, need to strive less and pray more?
2 comments:
For sure and for certain. While.a youngster in church I did wonder at the miracles talked about and consider if this happened in Church it would be a good thing and that people would want to come then.
Now older and well.. older I have been witness to miracles and those which have played a part in people who did not believe in Jesus coming too believe. The root of these were undoubtably prayer. It or they also bought home to me the what it means to be a witness - to witness to God has done that you have literally experienced or been a part of.
While we may say all prayer counts not all prayer results in miracles, they come unexpected, but when they do come there is no second guessing, it could have only been God.
The biggest miracle for me, Peter, is when a person of luke-warm faith presents with symptoms of dis-ease and ask for prayer - and the prayers offered on their behalf are actually answered, in a way that convinces them of the power of prayer to the God they are now convinced actually exists. Not too different from the Biblical witness, really. That "There are more things wrought by prayer than this world dreams on" - is still a valid theory.
I am now, for instance, convinced that when a person comes to me with a problem, that I should immediately ask if they would like me to pray with that person for God's blessing on their particular situation. This is where the 'priesthood of the laity' - as well as that of the ordained - could be better used for the propagation of the gospel.
Post a Comment