10/8/15 Sam about 45
Is the Cubs making
the playoffs really a miracle? Much as
we might think so, it’s nothing compared to the miracles of the Bible! Jesus walking on the water? – now that is a
miracle. And our view of the miracles of
the Bible has a big impact on how we read it.
On my way into the grocery store today I reached out to Sam, about 45,
just as he was leaving with his groceries.
Despite the possibility of his frozen items melting, we had a long
talk. He is Catholic, and views the
various accounts of miracles in the Bible simply as moral stories that convey
truth but didn’t necessarily happen.
Why? Well, because they are
impossible! But isn’t that what a
miracle is, by definition? I asked Sam
if he believes in God. “Of course” he
said. “Well, don’t you think that God
could perform miracles?” He honestly had
never thought of that. He had been so
conditioned by the secular, science-based mindset of our culture that he had
ruled out the possibility of miracles before even beginning to consider how to
explain the stories of the Bible. Does
it matter if we don’t take literally the miracles of the Bible? When it came to the greatest miracle of all –
Jesus’ resurrection – Sam said “Well I don’t think it matters if it really
happened, it’s still a great story and sets a great example of humility for us
to follow.” Sam’s understanding of
Christianity was based on doing good works to earn his place in heaven, and he
viewed the death of Jesus as the ultimate example – true or not – of the kind
of humility one must have in order to do so.
But what if it literally is true?
What does that mean for us? Wouldn’t
it be more than just setting an example?
Aren’t their better, more productive and practically helpful ways to
give one’s life in service for others? What
if Jesus really did die in place of the punishment we deserve? What if he really did suffer, die, and
conquer death the way the Bible describes?
What does that say about the seriousness of our sin? What does that say about the depth of God’s
love, both His love for justice and His love for us? Sam didn’t care that his groceries might be
melting – he was amazed at how different the Bible looks when we take seriously
its miracles.
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