crf@ginger.princeton.edu (Charles Ferenbaugh) (11/29/89)
[In article <Nov.23.23.14.00.1989.27545@athos.rutgers.edu>
nanovx!news@gatech.edu (Network News) commented on the difference between
Protestants and Catholics in their approach to Communion. The posting
concluded that Protestants give only lip service to the power of God,
since they don't believe he can change bread into the body of Christ.
--clh]
Two comments/clarifications I think need to be made:
1. When we start talking about miracles in general (as opposed to the specific
context of transsubstantiation) the Catholic/Protestant split no longer holds.
It seems to me that most evangelical (Protestant) Christians put more stock
in miracles than the more liberal Protestant branches (and maybe even some
theologically liberal Catholics as well...).
2. Note that there is a big difference between saying that "miracles can
happen" and "<any given event> is a miracle." As the author of the above
letter rightly points out, there are a lot of people running around nowdays
who pay at most lip-service to the idea of miracles happening at all.
Suffice it to say that any halfway serious view of Scripture leads one to
the conclusion that miracles do in fact happen. BUT this doesn't mean
that God always does a miracle when he can. To take transsubstantiation
as an example: any serious Christian would believe that God could, IF HE
CHOSE, cause the bread and wine to physically become the body and blood
of Christ; Catholics then believe that this is the way God chooses to
operate, while Protestants believe that he chooses otherwise.
- Charles FerenbaughASC105@psuvm.psu.edu (11/29/90)
Visions, healings, miraculous appearances and great signs and wonders
HAVE TO line up with the Word of God in order for you to know that they were
done because of God. Remember that Satan's kingdom can do miracles too
(see Revelation 13:13). Definitely, Satan's miracles will be used to decieve
the whole earth. More than likely they will be OUT OF LINE with the Word of
God (the bible). Visions that are of God WILL line up with his Word.
God's Word does not promise visions nor miraculous appearances of Jesus to
anyone. They do happen, but are not promised. What then is promised to
guide the Church then? The Holy Spirit of course!
A human is made up of three parts: spirit, mind, body. The only thing that
changes when a person gets saved is the spirit. This is the part that gets
reborn into a new creature, and this is done by God. (Ezekiel 11:19) Now that
this heart is holy, the Holy Spirit can dwell within. The spirit of a Christian
is MORE in tune with God than the mind. Therefore guidance should come from
within, because that's where the Holy Spirit resides. "...greater is he that
is in you, than he that is in the world." -1 John 4:4. If the guidance you
get does not line up with the Word of God, DON'T ACCEPT IT! -- it obviously
did not come from your reborn spirit. The bible is the FINAL authority!
(SYNONYMS: spirit/heart, mind/soul, body/might/strength/flesh)
"The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord..."- Proverbs 20:27
God promises to communicate through the spirit of man, but doesn't promise
visions, although they do happen.
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God"-
- Romans 8:14. Remember that before the Pentcost, before the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit, the disciples still casted lots (much like flipping
coins) for a source of guidance. But are Christians today supposed to do this?
No! Of course not! After the Pentecost, there is no longer any mention
of casting lots by the disciples in the book of Acts.
Visions of Mary are not in line with the Word when she is worshipped either
in forms of an apparition, statue, or image.
I know of people who were healed by witch-doctors in a country of Africa
(Kenya maybe). This does not line up with the bible either. Satan is now
attracting a big following to the occult in this way. Remember that
in this way, much of the world will be decieved in the future.
The way to tell whether a sign or miracle is of God, is by comparing it to
God's Word. Miracles (in line with the bible) follow as a result of preaching
God's Word, believing upon it and acting upon it. We should be led by God's
Spirit (and His Word as the final authority), not by visions.
In Jesus's Name
Allen S. Cheung
(JESUS IS LORD)