Why “Signs and Wonders” should NOT Make Me Happy

Why "Signs and Wonders" Should NOT Make ME Happy

There is a new move in Evangelicalism toward a “Signs and Wonders” orientation. The signs and wonders movement claims to be evangelical, Bible believing, and Christian. They place much hope and emphasis on experiences with signs and wonders. The embracing of the signs and wonders movement is most starkly seen in the widespread Evangelical acceptance of Bethel Church, and its leader Bill Johnson by much of the evangelical world. Although there is a large group of theologians and Evangelical leaders that are critical of the “signs and wonders” movement there is also a large group that have taken on the movement as a truly biblically orthodox movement. 

I would like to share with you why we should not seek signs and wonders, and why any sign or wonder should not make me happy. There are many leaders in this movement, including Bill Johnson[1]that teach that without some sign or wonder that a full proclamation of the gospel has not happened. This belief that the gospel can only be truly proclaimed with signs an wonders, or else it is insufficient as a true gospel proclamation could not be biblical, because of Jesus words that I will share and exegete at the end of this post. But first let me show you what is meant in this movement by signs and wonders.

In the “signs and wonders” movement there is a great pursuit of “miracles” or “signs and wonders” as they are called in the New Apostolic Reformation and the Third Wave Movement. There is a heavy emphasis on these miracles which include healings, speaking in tongues, prophecy, words of knowledge, visions, dreams, being “Slain in the Spirit,” being “in the Spirit.” By which they mean an out of body experience where your spirit has traveled into the spirit realm. There is a pursuit of seemingly occult like practices including practices in the relatively new movements which practice things like “glory clouds” of God’s presence filled with “gold dust,” angel feathers falling, gems appearing, conjuring angel orbs, fire tunnels (in which they employ Kundalini methods), spirit travel, out-of-body experiences, and “healings.” They also practice portal travel (where people claim they can go through portals to other places physically, which is obviously a New Age / Occult practice), extra-biblical revelation. Often a prophet or Apostle will give a “New Revelation.” They try to practice raising the dead, also charismatic praying in tongues, soaking, new wine movement, drunken glory, visualization, laughter (Toronto Blessing), and animal sounds while filled with the Spirit. I do not condemn tongues if done orderly as the Bible explains in 1st Corinthians 14:26-40. 

The many practices that the NAR employs when “Slain in the Spirit” are never mentioned in the Bible. Some other NAR practices are contemplative or meditative, where they teach emptying the mind or repeating one word from the Bible, which is not a historical Christian meditative practice. Meditation for the Christian is filling our minds with Scripture. Some of these practices include chanting and soaking, which are taught in Bethel school’s SOZO ministry. The movement practices contemplative prayers, soaking prayers, labyrinths, the “silence,” centering prayers, breath prayers and what they call the “prophetic act of waking up angels.” 

One of the most beloved shows of NAR leaders and its adherents is the show “Its Supernatural” with Sid Roth which he deals with topics such as angel worship/visitation, portal travel, heaven tourism, eavesdropping on conversations between the Trinity, the Bible Code controversy, teleportation, “downloading the mysteries of money,” seeing the invisible spirit world, language/worship of heaven, dream interpretation, and blood moon prophecy. Most recently the translator of The Passion Translation Brian Simmons appeared on the show “Its Supernatural.” He said he had a vision of Jesus in the “Library of Heaven” in which Jesus said he would give him the 22nd book of John to translate, not now but later. Here is the full interview.

Simmons begins to describe his vision at the 17 minute mark. This emphasis on the supernatural and “signs and wonders” displays patterns in the NAR and Third Wave movement of ministry where they exhibit a boundaryless engagement with supernatural realms. 

To paraphrase the practices of the modern signs and wonders movement, they practice laughter, falling, shaking, prophecy (Psychic Clairvoyance), portal travel, extra-biblical revelation, raising the dead, tongues, soaking or centering prayer, new wine movement, drunken glory, visualization, laughter, animal sounds while “Spirit-filled,” conjuring angel orbs, fire tunnels, spirit travel or out-of-body experiences, angel worship, heaven tourism, teleportation, dream interpretation, and healings. NAR churches also claim that gold dust, oil, glory clouds, angel feathers, and gems have appeared on people.

First, let us be clear that these signs and wonders are not biblical at all. Moreover, they mirror some sort of occult practice, and not biblical signs and wonders that are seen in the New Testament. The list of things practiced in the signs and wonders movement are wholly unbiblical, terrifying, weird, and even a little creepy. Beyond all that they put the emphasis in the wrong place. Jesus is clear in Luke 10:17-20 we should rejoice in our salvation rather than that spirits are subject to us. We should be more grateful for our salvation than signs and wonders. We should rejoice that our names are written in Heaven. How do our names get written in Heaven? How are our names inscribed in the eternal book of life? What is salvation? I would like to describe what salvation actually is so that it becomes quite easy to rejoice in it.

1. We were dead in our trespasses and sins you were made alive in Christ. That is the supreme Miracle (Ephesians 2).
2. We were rebels against God (Romans 13:2; Romans 8:7 Romans 5).
3. We were unable to help ourselves or receive God’s grace which is sometimes in theology referred to as “Effectual Calling” (Phil 2:13; John 6:44; 2 Timothy 2:25; 2 Peter 1:3; Matt 22:14; Ephesians 1:4-5).
4. To be saved we must be and were born again. Which is being born from of the water and the Spirit a supernatural birth from above (John 3).
5. We were made children of God and were not born of Human will, but born of God (John 1:12-13 Colossians 3:12-13).
6. God’s kindness led us to repentance (Romans 2:4).
7. He took the blinders off our eyes to be able to see and receive Christ (2 Cor. 3:12-16; John 12:40; Acts 26:18; Eph 1:18).
8. God offered Jesus as the propitiation of our sins. Those same sins that we could have never received forgiveness for outside of Christ (Rom 3:25).
9. He crushed the head of the serpent the devil by “destroying the works of the enemy” (1 John 3:8).
10. He was cursed on our behalf “cursed is everything that is hung from a tree” (Galatians 3:13).
11. God seated us with Christ in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6).
12. He was raised for our salvation and culmination as one who will one day received a glorious body like unto his (1 Corinthians 15).
13. He gave us freedom from the effects of the fall (Romans 8:2).
14. God presented Christ as the atoning sacrifice for our sins so that we could have peace with God (Romans 3:25-26).
15. We were adopted into God’s family before the foundations of the earth (Ephesians 1:4).
16. We have been raise with Christ (Colossians 3:1).

This is just a very short list of what God has done for us in Christ by saving us. As you can clearly see salvation that God has accomplished for us in Christ is way more supernatural than any other act. God has made dead men rise to live with Jesus, and called sinners to repentance. 

Jesus describes in Luke 10:17-20 What our posture towards signs and wonders should be. Miracles should not be nearly as important as salvation, and the supernatural nature of what happens when God quickens the hearts of men to salvation. 

“(17) The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" (18) And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. (19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. (20) Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.””

Our joy should be in the Lord and his magnificent power to raise the hearts of men and women to respond to God. He has written our names in heaven, he has given us every blessing in the heavenliness, he has raised us up with Christ, and we are co-heirs with Christ. We should not be happy or have joy about Pseudo-miracles, or pretend miracles, or for that matter, even real miracles. As Christ said, we should rather rejoice in the Savior that the miracles point to. 

The word that Luke attributes to Christ’s words and we translate as “written” in heaven is Grapho (γράφω). This word means enrolled, written, inscribed, carved or to engrave something permanently. This word that Jesus uses describes also the eternality of our union with Him and how that salvation will be of an eternal nature, because our names will be forever engraved in the book of life in heaven. When you trusted Christ your name was engraved on the eternal granite of the throne room of heaven. 

The word that Jesus uses for rejoice is Chairo (χαίρω) It means to be cheerful, calmly happy, well-off, to be well, be glad, joyful, or rejoice. Where is the joy in our salvation? Are you glad and better off as a result of your being made a son or daughter of God? Many in this movement would rejoice that someone is “healed,” or that some strange miracle happened, and barely mention salvation found in Christ. The movement also stirs up a craving and desire for more of the same, but Jesus says here quite plainly do not rejoice that demons are subject to you, but that your names are “engraved" in heaven. Of course we should be glad of the authority that we have in Christ over the principalities and powers of the unseen world. By the way that authority is only given to us by God through salvation and His good grace, not through our own effort. I am not saying that we cannot be glad for our authority over principalities and powers, but that gladness should be dwarfed in comparison to the gladness we feel at our salvation. So let us rejoice and be glad that, in Christ, our names are eternally and irreversibly engraved on the granite halls of the throne room of heaven! We can be truly glad, happy, and rejoice that we get to call on His name and that He has saved our souls. We look to the heavens and our help comes from the Lord. He saves your soul, so rejoice!

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[1]Johnson wrote in His book “When Heaven Invades Earth a Practical Guide to a Life of Miracles,” on page 126 “Without miracles there can never be a full revelation of Jesus.” and on page 127 he wrote, “Miracles provide the grace for repentance.” And further he says, “Here the apostle Paul demonstrates how the Gentiles were brought into obedience through the power of the Spirit of God, expressed in signs and wonders. This was what he considered as fully preaching the gospel. It wasn’t a complete message without a demonstration of the power of God. It’s how God says amen to His own declared word!”

"Here I Stand I Can Do No Other, So Help Me God!"

Luther by most historical accounts said these famous words "Here I stand I can do no other, so help me God!" at his inquisition at the council of Worms. I am certainly no Martin Luther, however I would like to throw my hat in the ring in making a stand and stating a set of beliefs. I am even willing to stand and put my name to everything so here we go...

My name is Richard Moore and I believe in…

The Scriptures as the full, final, and authoritative word of God completely inerrant in the original transcription of them by faithful scribes from the original author’s, and the transcripts that we have in comparative analysis are proven to be inerrant.

I believe that God through Jesus Christ commanded the creation of the world in six literal days as described in detail throughout the Bible, but especially in the Genesis account. I believe that Jesus continues to sustain and hold all creation together by the power of His word (Col. 3).

I believe in a worldwide catastrophic Noahic flood in which God in his wrath destroyed the world.

I believe that the Law was given to Moses, by God on Mt. Sinai, after the Exodus of a Physical and Historic Israel from Egypt. They crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, also as described in the historic account of Exodus.

I believe that Israel occupied the Promised Land through the triumphs and conquests of Joshua. Through wonders and miracles God led His people from the wilderness into his land of Promise which He covenanted unto Abraham from long before.

I believe in the Historicity of the Old Testament from the time of the Judges on through the time of the Kings. I believe where Archeology, and other historical accounts do not confirm the Biblical account already, in time they will confirm, and with time literally unearth corroboration of the biblical accounts. Not that God’s word needs manmade systems of corroboration, but they in time will corroborate.

I believe that the prophets prophesied the word of God to Israel pre-exile and post-exile. Through the prophets God called his people back to the worship of YHWH.

I believe that Jesus the Messiah is revealed in the Gospels (but not limited to them). He was validated by miracles and wonders that God allowed Him to do through the power of the Holy Spirit. He died physically on a cross under Pontius Pilate, and was raised physically from the dead and ascended into Heaven from whence he will come to Judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the New Testament Church as described throughout the Acts of the Apostles, and the Epistles. I believe that John the Revelator had a true revelation of the end times, and the rider on the white horse who is called King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Furthermore…

I believe that Christians should act as with a Faith that was described in the New Testament. With passion, and Holiness. With power and authority we can, will and are able to bear witness to the Resurrected Christ. The Normal Christian life is a person who will know Him and make Him Known. The Normal Christian life is a wholehearted dedication to making the glory of God in the gospel known in the nations. Every other posture than a focus on the nations is wholly unbiblical and an attitude that needs to be repented of.

I believe that sin in every form will be punished in eternity apart from repentance and faith in Jesus. The deeds of wickedness will be punished in ‘Lake of Fire’ for all eternity, and faith in Christ will be forgiven in that Christ took on himself the wrath of God on the cross for all who have placed their faith in Jesus’ atoning.

I believe that Marriage was created by God in the Garden of Eden, where he made them “Male and Female.” Jesus confirms creation and marriage between one man and one woman until death separates them.  When Jesus speaks of marriage as from the beginning, He is referring to the physical, and historical Adam and Eve united by God in marriage in the Garden. From His exegesis of the Creation account in scriptures we can be sure that God has from Adam and Eve sanctioned marriage between one man and one woman until death separates them.

I believe that all perversions of sex outside of that Created order of marriage are sin (Homosexuality, Bi-sexuality, fornication, adultery, pornography, etc.). God calls us to repent of these sins as he does all other sins, and find faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of these and all other sins as the Bible clearly describes (Hebrews 13:1-5; John 8:7-11; Romans 1:26-28; Jude 1:5-8; 1Timothy 1:8-11; Mark 10:6-9; 1Cor 7:2; Romans 13:8-10; 1Cor 6:9-11; Levitcus 18:22; 1 Cor 6:17-20 Leviticus 20:13; Genesis 19).

Thus I believe that man is no more born a homosexual than he is born a fornicator, or adulterer, or idolater. So in that sense we are all born into sin and we chose to disobey God’s law and thus have chosen to turn our backs away from Him and decided to walk in sin. “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 describes a time yet to come when the Lord Jesus will take all our sin not because we deserved it, but the LORD in His mercy “laid on him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all.”

I believe in Miracles. We see them throughout scripture, I believe in scientific miracles (Sun standing still, ax head floating, turning five loaves of bread and two fish into food for 5,000 people, the dead rising, etc.). I believe in spiritual miracles (Darkened hearts turning to Christ, salvation as an act of God). I believe in the supernatural wherein the heavenly forces are embattled for the glory of God, and the salvation of souls.

I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to transform hearts from darkness to light. I believe that God has the power to save, to heal, to break every chain of bondage to sin, and free hearts to worship and obey Christ.

I believe in the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. I believe that an eternal soul begins at conception. "The only newly originating life in the universe that comes in the image of God is man. The only newly originating life in the universe that lasts forever is man." (John Piper)

I believe therefore that Abortion is the taking of innocent life, and should be opposed in every form. Not just should it be opposed, but also Jesus loving people should offer justice ministries that help women make the just decision to keep, adopt, or in any other way deliver their babies to term. Christians should fight for life in all stages, because all men are made in the Image of God, and are therefore image bearers. I believe any manmade interruption of life in any stage would be the destroying of “God’s fearful and reverent needlework (Psalm 139:13).”

I adhere to and believe in the Apostles Creed which reads...

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

I also believe in the Nicene Creed…

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, the maker of heaven and earth, of things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the begotten of God the Father, the Only-begotten, that is of the essence of the Father.
God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten and not made; of the very same nature of the Father, by Whom all things came into being, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.
Who for us humanity and for our salvation came down from heaven, was incarnate, was made human, was born perfectly of the holy virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit.
By whom He took body, soul, and mind, and everything that is in man, truly and not in semblance.
He suffered, was crucified, was buried, rose again on the third day, ascended into heaven with the same body, [and] sat at the right hand of the Father.
He is to come with the same body and with the glory of the Father, to judge the living and the dead; of His kingdom there is no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, in the uncreated and the perfect; Who spoke through the Law, prophets, and Gospels; Who came down upon the Jordan, preached through the apostles, and lived in the saints.
We believe also in only One, Universal, Apostolic, and [Holy] Church; in one baptism in repentance, for the remission, and forgiveness of sins; and in the resurrection of the dead, in the everlasting judgement of souls and bodies, and the Kingdom of Heaven and in the everlasting life.

It is also really cool Auf Deutsch…

Wir glauben an den einen Gott,
den Vater,
den Allmächtigen,
der alles geschaffen hat,
Himmel und Erde,
die sichtbare und die unsichtbare Welt.
Und an den einen Herrn Jesus Christus,
Gottes eingeborenen Sohn,
aus dem Vater geboren vor aller Zeit:
Gott von Gott,
Licht vom Licht,
wahrer Gott vom wahren Gott,
gezeugt, nicht geschaffen,
eines Wesens mit dem Vater;
durch ihn ist alles geschaffen.
Für uns Menschen und zu unserm Heil ist er vom Himmel gekommen,
hat Fleisch angenommen durch den Heiligen Geist
von der Jungfrau Maria und ist Mensch geworden.
Er wurde für uns gekreuzigt unter Pontius Pilatus,
hat gelitten und ist begraben worden,
ist am dritten Tage auferstanden nach der Schrift
und aufgefahren in den Himmel.
Er sitzt zur Rechten des Vaters
und wird wiederkommen in Herrlichkeit,
zu richten die Lebenden und die Toten;
seiner Herrschaft wird kein Ende sein.
Wir glauben an den Heiligen Geist,
der Herr ist und lebendig macht,
der aus dem Vater und dem Sohn hervorgeht,
der mit dem Vater und dem Sohn angebetet und verherrlicht wird,
der gesprochen hat durch die Propheten,
und die eine, heilige, christliche und apostolische Kirche.
Wir bekennen die eine Taufe zur Vergebung der Sünden.
Wir erwarten die Auferstehung der Toten
und das Leben der kommenden Welt.
Amen.

I believe these statements are not just mental ascent, but rather a deeply held heart acknowledgement. I believe that these statements as I have explained, develop and clarify a high view of a sovereign and holy God. I also further believe that any other more liberal or truth denying statements diminish the power of God and if said views exist in a person they should seek the Holy Spirit to change their hearts to believe in a high, sovereign, powerfully creative, and sustaining God. For instance what kind of God is not even able to create a world without the need for an evolutionary process to “get it right”. As the great Dutch reformer Abraham Kuyper said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!”

I do also believe in the Moravian Creed in which I will seek “Unity in Essentials, Liberty in Non-essentials, and in all things seek Charity.” These things as I have stated them are not what I would call “essentials”, however I do believe that a growing view of God will end up in many of these beliefs.

I believe that you don’t have to be a non-intellectual to adhere to these views as I have explained them. One can hold to a high level of scholarship, and hold these views. There is plenty of evidence, historical, scientific, literary, archeological, theological, biblical and many other fields of study to support these views. Many of these views have been long held Christian positions until recently. For instance views on six-day creationism, and emerging “generous” theology. Views on sexuality have also mutated into dangerous places as seen in the rise of Neo-Orthodoxy. One of the main reasons that these theologies giving generous ground is dangerous is when we say that people are born “gay”. If people are born gay, then we will excuse the sin of Homosexuality. In the message of the gospel God calls man to repent of sin to receive forgiveness. If there is no repentance, then there will be no forgiveness. So when we give too much ground in our seeking a generous orthodoxy we could actually be excusing people’s sin into a Christ-less eternity. So if you are drawn to any of these views as I have explained them, please know three things. First, they are not un-scholarly. Secondly, they will grow your high view of God, and thirdly, they will see people delivered from sin, and salvation will be a result. Do not take the cowardly route in excusing sin, take the route of Jesus, and the Apostles, who said, “repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” God bless you as you seek to work through your own beliefs.

As an addendum to this statement of belief I have been working on a Theoligical Statement for the mission organization that I work for. Here is what I have come up with. I am proud of it, and we are continuing to refine it to reflect the broad Evangelical spectrum of our mission community. I hope this puts words to your faith and belief.

Scriptural Authority (added to above: “1. Authority”): We believe that the Bible, the Old and New Testaments, are the fully inspired Word of God and is the only perfect authority and guide for Christian faith, doctrine and practice. We believe that the Scriptures in its entirety originated with God, was inerrant in its original form, and that it was delivered through God's inspiration by chosen men. The Scriptures are the unique, full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice, and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God.  Hermeneutics and Exegesis are the methodologies we employ to interpret the Scriptural texts. In so doing we hope to be faithful to the original authors intended meaning, and find applications for our everyday lives. Furthermore, we hope to engage differing Hermeneutical processes with humility and reverence.

Jesus Christ (added to above: “6. Christocentric”): We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Second Person of the Trinity who was united forever with a true human nature by miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to His Father. He voluntarily atoned for the sins of those who would believe and receive Him, by dying on the cross as our substitute. Thus He accomplished salvation for all who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, although in a glorified state.  He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father, where He, the only Mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. He shall come again to earth, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. We believe in the everlasting, authoritative, and sovereign reign of Christ over all creation as Lord. We echo the cry of the Missional Movement which is, “Jesus is Lord.”

The Gospel (added to above: “2. Gospel”): We believe in the gospel as God’s Good News extended to man in His grace. We believe that all men are in need of the saving grace of God as extended in the gospel, and thus we seek to plant the gospel in every context in which we plant Missional communities. The gospel is not limited to penal substitutionary atonement (Imputed guilt laid on Christ for all sinners who repent), but that is the beginning and foundation for expressing the plenary good news of the gospel. We will build Good News cultures that are searching to find and apply the truly good that stems from the gospel, and extend it to all peoples and cultures.

The Church (added to above: “5. Church”): We believe in one true universal Church (Ekklesia), comprised of all those who follow and have believed in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. The Bible shows us that believers should regularly unite for worship, prayer, fellowship, encouragement from the Scriptures, the observance of baptism and communion, mutual ministry through the development of spiritual gifts, and living incarnationally with each other in the world. When God's people meet regularly, there where they meet, the local expression of the Church exists. We will seek to plant the church through Missional work in all its various forms, and new expressions that the Lord, and Scripture will allow.

The Trinity: We believe that God is a triune, holy, eternally existent God. He has revealed Himself in three co-equal and co-eternal Persons the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The trinity consists of three distinct persons, yet are one in substance, essence, or nature. We believe that the Trinitarian relationship is essential to the Missional way, in that God is a relational being, and thus the message of the gospel should also be relational in nature.

Tag der Deutschen Einheit: A Picture of Freedom in Christ & What the Church Should Be

Tag der Deutschen Einheit:

Is a Picture of Freedom in Christ and what the Church Should Be

            We have, as a family, been in Germany for almost two weeks now. Our first German holiday is the German Re-Unification day. It is celebrated on October 3. in the fall of 1989 East Germany and West Germany were Re-Unified after many years of Post World War 2 Communism in the DDR Government. I remember vividly President Reagan saying, "Mr. Gorbachav tear down this wall"! Then on the day when the wall came down, I can remember people standing on top of the wall with sledgehammers swinging with all their might to destroy this wall a symbol of bondage, fear, and control. This had such an impression on me as a teenager. I did not understand the full implications, at the time, But a young man standing on top of the wall trying to destroy the wall was an irrevocable image on me as a teenager...

  

            Later on a short term missions trip to East Germany we took a tour of Leipzig and found out that the freedom movement started with prayer everyday at one of the larger churches in Leipzig. The Deaconesses would meet daily for prayer for the liberation of the East German people and the fall of the DDR. In the weeks to follow the East German people marched for freedom against the borders that the DDR had set up, and the tanks and soldiers that stood against the people were ordered in some confusion from the top level commanders to stand down. Was that confusion from God? Of course! God threw the DDR Army and commanders into confusion so they could not stand against the march for freedom. We know from a thorough study of scripture that God rises and falls dictatorships, governments, and kingdoms (Romans 15). The picture then of German Re-Unification became clearer and clearer to me. Also the picture of our freedom and Re-Unification in Christ becomes clearer with these earthly pictures of peoples and governments Re-Unifying.

            I think today of Galatians 5:1 Where the Apostle Paul says, "It is for Freedom that Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." This is such a great verse in light of such a historic and unpresedented event in human History. I know a pastor that lived and served as a pastor in the DDR and now in East Germany near Leipzig. I asked him if it was a possibility for the DDR to fall a year before it actually happened. He said, "never, it was an impossibility." He also said, "In My mind the DDR would never ever fall like it did. It is truly a miracle from God." This is the same thing we see in Galatians 5:1. Christ has set us free, and it was a practical impossibility that we would have been set free from sin by our own power, thought, ability, or works. This freedom that Christ has given from sin and death is a miracle of impossibility!

            I also think today of the Church, "Tag Der Deutschen Einheit" is a picture of the Church. Our unity in Christ is a picture to the world of the great work of salvation, redemption, and grace to a broken world. In a world that experiences discord, and broken relationships we the Church can relay the message of freedom, hope and unity in Christ. These are values that the world typically is not exposed to. When we as a Church can exhibit these qualities then the world can see and pay attention to the countercultural way of Christ. His way is an impossiby free way. His way is the miracle of impossibility. Let’s celebrate the Re-Unification Day in Germany as a real world example of our impossible Re-Unification in Christ that he has so graciously made for us. Our great hope in him is that in bringing that same message to a world that so desperately needs Christ, the world might also be Unified to a good and loving savior in impossibly miraculous ways.

Creationism and Miracles

I am a literal six day creationist. Not so much because the science is strong toward either side. The science toward an evolutionary theory or toward a creationist theory can only substantiate Scientific Theory not Scientific Law. For theory to become law it has to be observed over and over again and neither creation nor evolution can be observed over and over again.  There are evidences toward both, but they cannot be observed, just the effects of either theory can be seen in scientific and geological record. I am a creationist because I believe in miracles. If miracles do not exist the Bible cannot be truthful. The Old Testament and the entire New Testament cannot be true or accurate in any of the historical narrative if supernatural miracles do not exist. And there is the genre of historical narrative writing all over both Testaments. Let's take the Old Testament for instance.  The story of the Sun standing still for 24 hours could not scientifically have happened. Either that happened or the historical account is untrue and the entire OT cannot be trusted. The story of Elijah calling down fire from heaven, the axe head floating, Nahman the man with leprosy being healed, Elijah going to heaven in a chariot of fire, the Israelites walking on dry ground through the Red Sea, Enoch not dying, and I could go on and on about miracles in the Old Testament record. Either these things happened literally as they are described in the historical narrative or the Bible is an untrustworthy document and has to be thrown out as fable on par with Greek Mythology. Then there are the things in the New Testament that directly relate to our faith in Jesus Christ. Do you believe scientifically that people can be raised from the dead? As Christians we believe in the historical resurrection, or do we? I think we have to believe in the bodily resurrection at least to be what the N.T. calls authentic Christians. Because as Paul describes if the resurrection did not happen we are "still in our sins and we are of all men to be pitied". Jesus himself raised people from the dead. And all the New Testament writers treated the supernatural stories of the bible as if they really happened in history. We would have to do something to dismiss these if we do not accept them as true. But the entire Bible is ripe with supernatural miracles. I think you would be hard pressed to find a single book in the entire Bible that does not have a miracle in it. After we have deconstructed the Bible and taken out the miraculous we would barely have anything left. Either you accept the miraculous or you cannot accept the Bible. There is too much you would have to explain away including the plethora (several hundred outside Genesis 1-11) of creation references including Jesus. He said, "But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE." (emphasis mine) (Mark 10:6 NASB) a good article on Jesus view of Creation is found at The Institute For Creation Research website. If you are a Jesus follower I think you need to believe in the supernatural and thus the Creation account as it is written in Holy Scripture.