Understanding Miracles: Exploring Definitions, Stories, and Evaluation
Dive into Eric Metaxas' book "Miracles" which delves into the philosophical arguments, biblical references, and personal anecdotes surrounding miracles. Discover the diverse perspectives on what miracles are, how they can impact lives, and methods for evaluating their authenticity.
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Miracles What They Are, Why They Happen, and How They Can Change Your Life Eric Metaxas
Eric Metaxas Born 1963 in Queens, NYC Father a Greek immigrant, mother a German Raised Greek Orthodox, later became Evangelical Attends an Evangelical Episcopal Church in NYC Politically conservative Show host and author Wrote If You Can Keep It: The Forgotten Promise of American Liberty Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy Numerous children s books 7 Men 7 Women Miracles: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How They Can Change Your Life (2014, NYT best seller)
Miracles Two Parts: Part One: The Question of Miracles Discusses philosophical arguments about miracles 1. Believing in Miracles 2. What is a Miracle 3. Miracles and Science 4. Is Life a Miracle? 5. The Miracle of the Universe 6. Questions About Miracles 7. The Biblical Miracles 8. The Resurrection Generally similar to C.S. Lewis s Miracles, with more recent arguments added
Miracles Part Two: The Miracle Stories The main point of the book. Includes stories only from people Metaxas knew (and believed) 9. Conversion Miracles 10. Healing Miracles 11. Miracles of Inner Healing 12. Angelic Miracles 13. Varieties of Miracles 14. Touching Eternity 15. How Miracles Can Change Your Life
What Are Miracles? Strict definition (David Hume): a transgression of a law of nature by a particular volition of the Deity, or by the interposition of some invisible agent. Broader definition (Metaxas): when something outside time and space enters time and space, whether just to wink at us or poke at us briefly, or to come and dwell among us for three decades. Also entails God s attempt to communicate with us.
Evaluating Miracles Miracles, by definition, are not subject to natural laws and so can t be tested in a laboratory. Principles of forensic science (courtroom) CAN be used to evaluate them. Is the person reporting the miracle truthful? Did the person reporting the miracle perceive it correctly? Did the person interpret it correctly? Is the person s memory correct or faulty?
Overview of Miracle Stories Many of the miracles reported included visions or non- audible hearings Seen and heard internally, not necessarily with the eyes and ears Dreams were sometimes involved (particularly for Metaxas himself) Except for visions, the Conversion Miracles do not entail violations of natural laws, but the Healing Miracles very well might The Miracles of Inner Healing are especially interesting from a pastoral perspective
Overview of Miracle Stories The Angelic Miracles are especially impressive My focus on these stories: Cisco A Brooklyn Drug Dealer Finds God Paul Teske A Watch Stops Eva Meyer Seeing Jesus Eva Meyer Touched by an Angel Elisa Leberis You Are Not Going to Die
Cisco A Brooklyn Drug Dealer Finds God Cisco had a hard life. He became a drug dealer , was arrested, and sent to prison. He was also bitter toward God. One day, he went up to a prison church service. He saw his mother in the service leadership team (the woman actually looked nothing like her). He gave himself to God and later became a minister. He s also featured in one of the Miracles of Healing stories.
Paul Teske A Watch Stops Paul Teske was a Lutheran minister (LCMS!). One day, while talking to a group, he lost the use of his left leg. He had had a stroke. (His watch had stopped at the exact time of the stroke hence the title.) Four years earlier, a pastor from Ghana had prophesied over him that God would do something over a span of 21 days. On the 21st day after the stroke, Paul was at a Benny Hinn healing service. He was healed. While remaining pastor of his church, Paul began his own healing ministry.
Eva Meyer Seeing Jesus Eva Meyer s older sister was a drug addict with children. She dumped her kids on Eva, but later took them back after Eva had bonded. One Christmas, the sister returned with now 6 children and left again. Eva was furious! She also didn t want to be hurt again, and so she refused to bond with 18-month-old Jonathan. Lying in her bed, filled with anger, she cried out to God, Where are you? She soon saw a vision of Jesus, who stayed with her that night. Her heart was healed. She bonded with Jonathan. Ten years later, she and her husband became his legal parents.
Eva Meyer Touched by an Angel Eva Meyer started a new school when she was 13. A new friend invited her to a sleepover. The three other girls were interested in the occult and wanted to hold a s ance, but Eva wanted no part of it. So they decided to go to the beach. They crossed a bridge over the heavily traveled Interstate and came upon a tall stockade fence. The girl whose house they were staying at said she crossed the bridge lots of times they d only have to go over the fence. Eva should go first. They heaved her over and there was no bridge! Just a drop down to the highway below! Eva tried to hold on to the fence, but was losing her grip. She cried out Jesus! She felt herself scooped up, carried back over the fence, and dropped down to safety 10 feet away. The other girls shrieked and ran off.
Elisa Leberis You Are Not Going to Die! Elisa Leberis was a student at Stanford. In her first summer break, she returned home and worked at her old school. She was quite frustrated, not happy with her job and not knowing what she should major in. She was riding her bicycle home one day as fast as she could. Up ahead, a truck was preparing to turn left into the intersection. As she drew near, she saw that the truck wasn t stopping! To the left was the truck, to the right a concrete traffic island with a signpost. It was too late to brake. She sat up, let go of the handlebars, and thought: This is it for me! She heard a voice You are not going to give up that easily! You are not going to die! She felt something grab the handlebars, jerking to the right to avoid the truck, then to the left to avoid the island, and she went through a narrow gap between them.
Discussion Were these real miracles? Are they believable? Why do some people have visions, hear voices, have revealing dreams, and others do not? The result of these interventions was, people were either brought to faith, strengthened in their faith, or given strength to face difficult situations. Is that their purpose?
Discussion Were these real miracles? Are they believable? Why do some people have visions, hear voices, have revealing dreams, and others do not? The result of these interventions was, people were either brought to faith, strengthened in their faith, or given strength to face difficult situations. Is that their purpose? Taken at my house on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017
