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Friday, November 11, 2011

Why aren't there more Miracles done by the Western Church?

I know many others have asked this question and I ask it myself sometimes.
8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves.
12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; 14 if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.  -John 14:8-14
Jesus promises that his followers will be doing miracles, even greater than his own! But where are they among the western church?

Paul was familiar with miracles and was somewhat famous in Asia for performing healings.
8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery; and Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him.  -Acts 18:8
8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, arguing and pleading about the kingdom of God; 9 but when some were stubborn and disbelieved, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them, taking the disciples with him, and argued daily in the hall of Tyran'nus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. 11 And God did extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.   -Acts 19:8-12
Paul was also extremely familiar with suffering, imprisonment and hardship of his own and of his companions. I don't think I need to give references to Paul's own sufferings since examples are so readily available from his letters and Acts. His companions seemed to have suffered just as much as him,
25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphrodi'tus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all, and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy; and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete your service to me.  -Philippians 2:25-30
Paul was very concerned and yet seems to have felt personally unable to heal his friend, Epaphrodi'tus, even though in Ephesus he performed many miracles of healing. It is important to note however that Paul didn't see the need to discuss theological reasons for the difference between the two situations. Paul was not confused about why his friend was sick and almost died. Paul's theology has made room for the Spirit to choose the situations and times to enact miracles, the lack of miracles doesn't not cause Paul to doubt that they exist or question his faith. I would like to learn more from Paul's theology - he seems to have a healthy contentment about miracles, neither disbelief, nor obsession.

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