Friday, May 25, 2007

Apologetics Part 7

Problem with the Supernatural and Miracles listen here


Definition: Unable to be explicated by natural factors or produced by the will of man

Christianity is by some perceived to be irrational because it’s supernatural element. i.e. Miracles signs and wonders. The modern notion is these things are mythological, and part of an unenlightened culture. This is misrepresentation of the past; the anti-supernaturalist has slandered the past. There were many in Christ’s day that denied supernatural, i.e. The Sadducees Acts 23:5-8, did not believe in Angels or spirit, or the resurrection. The Epicureans of Athens also denied the resurrection of the dead and the miraculous. In short there was as much unbelief in the 1st century as there is today.

The Christian miracle compared to the pagan miracle
Another error of the materialist is to view biblical miracles on the same level of the “miracles” of pagan culture. i.e. Greek mythology, where you have demi-gods behaving as a celestial pranksters, doing all types of irrational entertaining “miracles”. These claims are completely contrary to the nature and purpose of the biblical miracle. The biblical miracle was always a reaffirmation of what was already intended for creation i.e. glory happing before its time Heb 6:4.

For the Christian the supernatural is not a problem nor an irrational position to hold to since there is enough evidence in creation itself to point to the Supernatural creator Rom 1:20. If one can believe Gen 1:1 then there is no difficulty whatsoever in acknowledging the reality of the supernatural. And since Gen 1:1 (i.e. the TAG) is necessary precondition for any knowledge then the unbelievers has no rational reason to reject the supernatural element of Christianity.

Everyone has a metaphysic
The materialist/Atheist fails to realize to recognize that he too has a supernatural belief in that he has a metaphysical presupposition on how the world must be. He dogmatically asserts that the supernatural is impossible while all the while holding universal characterization of existence, a metaphysic in it self. This-worldly outlook of the unbeliever is just as much a metaphysical opinion as the "other-worldly" viewpoint he attributes to the Christian.

Cessationism is often overlooked
Miracles, Signs and Wonders are limited to special moments of redemptive history when God was giving new revelation to His people 1 King 17:21, Heb 2:3, Matt 11:2-5, Acts 2:22. Since we have the full revelation of God’s will for the church the Signs and Wonders have ceased Jude 3. So we should not expect to see miracles in the same way the first century church did when New Testament revelation was being inscripturated.

However that does not mean the supernatural does not still take place in the church age. God by the Spirit continues to save His people through the gospel and to do the extraordinary in His church . Deism should always be rejected as heretical view of God.

7 comments:

Seth and Sarah said...

i love you, man, but i have to disagree with the miracle bit. Jesus said that we will do "greater works than these" and, quite frankly, we haven't seen that yet. i believe with all my heart that we are in the end of this age and me or my children will live through the the seven years until Christ comes. as evil increases throughout the earth with its miracles, so will the full on, people raising from the dead, limbs growing back, walking on water, prophetic accuracy signs and wonders of the true God in a way not seen before. but enough of this light chit chat.
hope you are doing well,
seth

Jonathan Goundry said...

Hi Seth

Love your blog. Sorry about whole historic protestant position on miracles. I'm so boring aren't I. That's why it's good to have cool friends like you.

God bless Jonathan

Seth and Sarah said...

i don't think it's a boring thing. i think it's a view of God thing.

by the way, i'm a dork compared to a brit.
seth

GOUNDRY said...

Seth... "me or my children will live through the the seven years until Christ comes"....
I am assuming then you are a Post-triber!!
Can't wait for July's Weekend weekend review.
Also, have to echo what Jonathan said....Seth is cool!

Robert N. Landrum said...

Where in Florida are you?

Jonathan Goundry said...

Hi Robert

I lived in Boca Raton Florida for about 6 years. But I recently moved to California.

Jonathan

SB said...

hey Jonathan

I loved these messages but I guess they are no longer online?

is there anyway you could put them on the Unchained Radio site?

-s