A lady once told me that she felt that there was little point in going to church unless there was a strong probability that she would witness miracles there! Is that reasonable? Is it biblical? Others have said that since the Christ has now come, we should witness miracles all around us. How about that? What was Jesus' response to the demanding of miracles?
"Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to Him, ' Teacher, we want a miraculous sign from you' He answered, 'a wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth"
(Matthew 12: 38-40)
This world has received its sign - that of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ - no other should necessarily be expected. However, in His mercy, God has undoubtedly granted further signs and miracles from time to time, especially in periods of Revival which point to the Christ. But we cannot demand any.
Of course, a few might object that in Matthew 12, Jesus was talking to people who plainly had not, at least at that time, made any committment to Him - should it not be different for those who attend church? There is a problem here, for the New Testament does seem to give the impression that signs and miracles are more for those weaker in the faith! An example of this is to be found in John 10;
"Do not believe Me unless I do what My Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe Me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father"
(John 10: 37-38)
Charles Ross has made this comment on this,
"In these words we have the true position of miracles in apologetics, or as evidences of Christianity clearly defined. These miracles occupy a real place as evidences, but only a secondary and subordinate place, intended to aid weak faith"
(Charles Ross, p83, 'The Inner Sanctuary' Banner of Truth, 1992 reprint)
And let us note that the miracles Ross refers to are the miracles of Jesus! Ross is surely correct and the New Testament also makes it plain that the response of Thomas, 'Unless I see, I will not believe' is an inadequate response;
"Jesus said to him, 'Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed"
(John 20: 29)
One might see a sign or miracle and that might convince one, but we need to be very careful in view of Jesus' stark warning of Matthew7: 21-23 !! God does not have to provide any sign beyond what happened upon the cross to our Saviour (though He might, in His perfect love.)
Museltof
2001