making sense of miracles

Christmas is a time we seem to think of miracles, supernatural events that bless our lives. Obviously, throughout the ages all types of people have pointed to the Virgin Birth of Christ as miraculous, certainly at a level bigger than the US hockey team's win over Russia in 1980. While the notion of miracle is commonly used, it is not universally understood in the same way. Is someone's healing from a bonafide deadly disease the same as getting the job from a call out of the blue you never knew existed. What makes something a miracle?

Is a miracle the same as magic? Some see magic as supernatural activity we cannot explain. Most people, however, see magic more as an illusion. Magicians develop skills to trick us in ways we cannot imagine or observe. While both seem supernatural and consists of outcomes we don't expect or cannot explain, a miracle must be something more.

The 1828 Webster English dictionary says that a miracle is an "appropriate wonder." I find that interesting. Something about a miracle makes it appropriate and something makes it a wonder. So, a miracle fits our thinking in some ways but doesn't in others. There is no further help in Webster's so we must fill in the blanks ourselves.

Here's a thought. Suppose the outcome of some event "makes sense" as appropriate in that it creates fortune or benefit that meets someone's needs. However, we have 'wonder' because there is no explainable cause and effect for why the outcome happened as it did. Many believe that our natural mind must understand outcomes of events through lenses of cause and effect. Therefore, if we cannot see this linkage in an outcome, we "wonder".

We may all come closer to agreeing with what makes something a miracle than the question,
              "why do miracles occur?" 
The purpose of miracles will depend on various core assumptions a person has about reality. If you do not believe that anything beyond the natural world exists, then miracles cannot be the design of any super natural being or power. In this case, miracles must be random occurrences with no purpose. Maybe destiny explains the miracle for you. This is typical of humanists.

If you believe in the supernatural, then there can be two different assumptions about why a miracle happens.

If you assume that reality exists primarily or only in the material world, then you may believe that miracles are the way that the super natural rewards you (purpose of miracle), especially if you show allegiance to the super natural power or being (like God or gods). This involves an assumption that things happen from "cause and effect". However, the link between cause and effect is that your actions cause the invisible power of the super natural to produce outcomes in your favor (the miracle). Thus, while there is no obvious cause and effect within the material world (making the outcome a wonder), there is an ultimate cause and effect between the material and abstract worlds. This is typical of religion.

However, you may assume that reality exits only in the invisible world. This means that events which occur in the material world exists only to point to or represent something in the eternal world. If this is your assumption, what might be the purpose of miracles? Maybe miracles occur so the super natural can choose to reveal some truth about reality, which exists in the invisible world, to people in the material world. Miracles may be necessary to show truth that is different than what the natural mind may assume? One possible purpose of miracles may be to show to the material world that the super natural operates with a sovereign will, not cause and effect. Since the natural mind only understands outcomes via cause and effect, the super natural needs to demonstrate a reality that humans cannot grasp on their own. THIS IS CHRISTIANITY and the super natural with a generous, kind, loving, and just Sovereign will is God.

Maybe this is why Jesus did all of those miracles when He came to the material world - to show us that God, our Father, "chose gladly to give us His Kingdom."

A WONDER to PONDER .....  

"I can't beat it" - a Christmas message?

This week I saw one of the most depressing movies I have seen in a while - "Manchester by the Sea." I thought, "why would anyone want to see this at Christmas?" The main character has a significant misfortune in an otherwise dysfunctional life. By his carelessness his house burns killing his 3 kids. His wife survives and turns against him in her pain. This is a terrible event causing him much guilt and anger. His brother dies prematurely from heart failure. This seems to be a metaphor for the main character, who dies in a way by shutting down his heart. The movie ends with the main character going through the motions of life, letting no one in. He finally confesses, "I can't beat it!"

The writer seems to want to communicate a cynical view of life - that we cannot really overcome the emotional toll of pain in life. All of the other characters try to force themselves to live on. They function, but without real purpose, hope and joy. They use each other to get their needs met, but they carry their own sense of despair at some level. Everyone is subject to random events that destroy ife. The writer even tosses in a little Christianity as an element of the futility.

Its interesting that Hollywood usually likes to show some hope in life through self "boot strapping." The power of positive thinking is sometimes a solution to hopelessness. Sometimes its through doing something nice for others. These stories seem to make the audience feel better. BUT, for some reason the writer and producers of "Manchester by the Sea" wanted the message at Christmas to be despair, emphasizing the futility of life.

I left feeling empty at first. Then I thought, this is the Christmas message. they just didn't finish the story. No one "can beat it." We are hopeless, no chance for joy. Random evil wins. Bullies win.

THEN CAME THE BABY!!

Merry Christmas ......

With Gifts we Celebrate

Soon you will gather with family and friends to share gifts. Maybe you already have opened one, that's always a focus before Christmas - "let's open one now, the rest later." Gifts around the tree is the defining picture for most people who gather for Christmas to celebrate together. It is a joyous time for many, but it can be a stressful time for some. Family relations are sometimes strained. There's always the remembering of those who have died and are no longer with us. Some are far away and cannot join in with the rest. BUT, with gifts we celebrate!!



Celebration makes us feel good. Celebration fills our body with emotion. All kinds of emotion. BUT, what is everyone celebrating? We tell the children, "Christmas is about giving!" So are we celebrating GIVING? 

GIVING is a good thing. We all should want to give. There are many stories around Christmas of how much sacrifice some people make to give a gift to someone they love. There are stories of how a focus on giving has interrupted the business of life and taken the attention off of one's self-centeredness. We see and hear stories of people who have had their joy in life restored because they helped someone else in a difficult time. Christmas gifts around the tree certainly turn our attention toward giving, BUT is that what we are celebrating with our gifts at Christmas.

I think not. The Christmas story from John has always been my favorite.

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." 

Yes, God gave to us a gift we can and should celebrate. BUT, a gift is not complete without it being received. While God gave Himself to us, freely and as a gift, gifts must be received. We must take hold and behold the gift for it to be ours.  

We hold inside ourselves so much anger, guilt, hopelessness, cynicism, disappointment, and pride. Ironically, often these feelings are what motivate our own giving. That's nothing to celebrate, its our bondage. BUT, beholding inside ourselves "the only begotten of the Father," that's something to celebrate.

Let's take a moment this Christmas and celebrate the gifts we receive. Let's make a point to the children (and the adults for that matter) that the joy in the gift someone has for us comes as we receive it. Receiving makes us vulnerable, we are not in control. Grace places us in disequilibrium, where the balance of power is with the giver. We feel we don't deserve the gift, and we don't. Christmas is a time to celebrate "I don't deserve it" by freely receiving the gift freely given. Take hold of His gift, no hesitation. What we receive and behold in the gift of Grace is the truth that sets us free.

Christmas is our celebration that "unto us a child is born" - given to us is all the privileges and provisions of the Heavenlies. Christmas is a celebration of joyfully receiving THE GIFT freely given.

After all, we have nothing to give until we have received His. Something to ponder ....

Confluence of Infuence

There is an amazing maze of forces that come together to influence how you think, feel, and act. 

You are born with a human nature that consists of many common, but also unique qualities that bias your perception and interpretation of yourself and the world around you. In the Western world it is likely you studied Bible stories as a child that eventually fed your doctrine. As a young adult you began to have these beliefs challenged by arts, sciences, philosophy and your values and norms were shaped by your culture. As you age further you gain a greater sense of history and where you fit in the total scheme of eternity.

How does anyone successfully navigate the confluence of influence?

You yearn for an abundant and virtuous life, often settling for morsels that bring temporary relief and happiness. BUT, even when things are going well, you can't escape anxiety, fear, and despair. You feel loved at times, BUT then wonder if it will last, "forever"? You are left with the nagging question, "what is the answer?" or even "is there an answer?" You have dabbled with religion, maybe even jumped in head first. You may have found religion interesting, but impotent against this confluence of influence. You may have then searched philosophy, which is fun and interesting but quite futile at providing answers.

You have been told all your life to be positive, that's maybe the answer. "Don't lose hope!" BUT, eventually the "power of positive thinking" loses its power. You persevere. You work hard, BUT life is not fair in the end. People disappoint you. Your health fails you. Bullies seem to win. AND you wonder, maybe even ponder.

Is it possible that there is something underneath this confluence? Is it possible that what comes b4 your beliefs about life matters? Should you explore your b4worldview with all the passion you have?

I am convinced that the core assumptions of Jesus is what He is explaining in His public time in this world. When He says, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like this ....", shouldn't we pay attention. Maybe, just maybe, its the privileges and provisions of this Kingdom that is our answer.

That is worth pondering and that is what we do with you for 12 hours in www.b4worldview.com

core assumptions B4 theology

Often its the order of two objects that make the two objects work best. We know that the horse should go B4 the cart, but we have a saying, "you have the cart B4 the horse." We mean, "you have the objects out of order" and it doesn't work very well that way. Such can be the case with core assumptions and theology.




Core assumptions are closely held beliefs that we do not question that we use to develop all other beliefs. Theology happens to be a set of beliefs we have about God. So which should go B4 the other?

Maybe an example might help. Let's look at some core assumptions relative to a familiar passage from Scripture often used as seminal for people's theology (seminal means foundational or formative).

Look at Matt 25: 42-46

"For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Lets see how one's theology flows differently based on three different core assumptions. That is, in what way does theology depend on core assumptions? BTW, the several stories Jesus tells in Matt 25 are within the context of describing what the Kingdom of Heaven is like, not what we must do to get there. Its more of a quality control manual than a prescription for salvation.

There are at least 2 different theologies on the Christian life one can gain from this scripture (both are prevalent).
1. The Christian life is one of responsibility to show acts of mercy to the less fortunate in this world to reduce or eliminate physical needs of poverty and hunger.

2. The Christian life is to thankfully show mercy to the less fortunate in this world to point to the unmerited spiritual provisions and privileges God shows us in His Kingdom.

There are several dichotomous core assumptions that go with one or the other of these theologies on the Christian life. Each Christian has a core assumption about reality, satisfaction and justification.

First, you can view that reality refers to the material world or to the invisible world. When you assume that what happens in the natural world is real, then the outcome of alleviating poverty and hunger becomes the purpose of your actions. Your theology aligns with (1) above.

When you believe that things in the material world exists, but are not real, you view reality as eternal and existing in the super natural world. In this case the purpose of actions taken in the visible world simply point to what is real in the invisible world. In this view, your theology would align with (2) above.

There are several references in the NT that support the second theological position. These theological conclusions would be based on core assumption that what is real is eternal and invisible and what is temporal and visible exists, but is not real. Jesus says that eternal life (real life) is an intimate relationship with God. Paul says our body is a temporary dwelling place (tabernacle) for our eternal soul. Jesus asks us what good is it if we gain the whole world (physical benefit which is not real) and lose our soul (an eternal reality with Him)? The letter to the Hebrews are explaining to the Jews that the priest and sacrifices that they thought were real were not. They did exist but for the purpose of pointing to the real priest and the real sacrifice, Jesus. How you view reality in terms of what is going on in a visible, temporary state versus an invisible, eternal state is a critical core assumption from which your theology flows. 

Another core assumption deals with how you get satisfied. If you have an exchange based view, then you will assume that what you receive from God expects something from you. In this case you need to act like Jesus in order to receive His benefits of the Kingdom. Showing mercy by meeting the needs of the less fortunate is seen as justice, a duty or obligation to give to others because you have received so much. If your core assumption is that your satisfaction is bestowed on you by the unmerited grace of God, then your actions flow from thanksgiving and not justice or duty.

Finally, there are two different core assumptions about justification. One is that we are OK or made right when our actions meet some moral standard or code of conduct. Coupled with the core assumption of exchange, your motive for meeting the needs of the less fortunate becomes an expectation to please God. However, your core assumption on justification may be that you are made OK or right by relying on faith in the redemptive work of the Cross. There is nothing you have to do in the visible world to be right eternally with God. He doesn't want you to be concerned about yourself, but show mercy to others in tangible ways. God desires that in faith you take His mercy to others in the physical world out of thanksgiving for what He has done for you in your spiritual poverty. In doing so, you are faithful to model His Kingdom and point others to the provisions of His redemptive work, which is eternal.

The differences in core assumptions on reality, satisfaction and justification produce a theology 1 or a theology 2. Those with theology 1 tend to advance a Social Gospel. Those with theology 2 advance a Gospel of grace. The theologies are different, but only because core assumptions are different and core assumptions come B4 theology.

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