MG 2.0 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 30, 2021 6:43 pm
You ask some hard questions. I’m going on the assumption that God exists and that Jesus is the Christ. This being my starting point I look for answers that still allow for God. And by inference, Jesus the Savior. On that basis here’s what I would say. First, we don’t live in ancient times and in the world Jesus inhabited. If the Bible is to believed, he performed miracles that exceeded the understanding and expectations of those in his world and time. Walking on water, raising the dead, etc. And yet, as you alluded to, people rose up in rebellion and killed him. They had their agency. One could say that one of the reasons they did kill the Christ was because he performed miracles and ultimately proclaimed his Sonship to God.
Yes, perhaps one could say "that one of the reasons they did kill the Christ was because he performed miracles"--if one wanted to be completely disingenuous. Nowhere in the New Testament does it say that Jesus was killed because he accomplished miracles. Why are you even suggesting this?
MG 2.0 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 30, 2021 6:43 pm
My first question to you is for what purpose would you want to see President Nelson walk on water? Or Elder Uchtdorf raise the dead on national television? What would be the result of seeing Elder Eyring part the waters of Utah Lake two Saturdays from now? I, like you, think that it would be really cool to see modern day works of God comparable to those we read about in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. They WOULD be faith promoting and instantly go viral through social and corporate media. No doubt.
No, I'm not asking for any of that to happen. Please read my question again. I'm asking why there hasn't been one undisputed miracle--even one--in modern times.
MG 2.0 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 30, 2021 6:43 pm
My second question to you is can you foresee what the results would be if the miracles of the Bible were performed today by the Brethren in SL?
No. Neither can you. God's ways are not our ways.
MG 2.0 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 30, 2021 6:43 pm
May we assume that God’s ways are not our ways and that He knows the end from the beginning? That He understands what is necessary in one world/time or another in order for His work to move forward? As it was, things didn’t go so well in the meridian of time for the early Christians. As it is now, do you think things would go any better for believers today if miracles were widespread and publicly made available, say on the first Tuesday of every month at your local WalMart?
It went fine for Christianity. It became the dominant religion in the whole world. One could argue that it's partly because of the miracles: Virgin birth, feeding the multitudes, water to wine, raising folks from the dead. The miracle of The Resurrection is one of the defining features of Christianity. Christ's story would just be the equivalent of
The Sayings of Confucius without them. (Not that there's anything wrong with Confucius.)
MG 2.0 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 30, 2021 6:43 pm
Is there a need to build ships tight like unto a dish today under the direction of God? With modern science and technology do we need to have God step in an perform the miracle of a heart transplant, or keep a diabetic alive, etc.? If an amputee were healed once, where would it end? And with prosthetics does it really matter? Were there more miracles in the Old World than the Modern World due to differing conditions?
Are you really going to suggest that having a prosthesis is as good as a whole limb? That's a little dickish.
MG 2.0 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 30, 2021 6:43 pm
The miracles you’ve touched on were all performed in an ancient world.
This is kind of my point.
MG 2.0 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 30, 2021 6:43 pm
Does that matter at all? Did God give them something that is not readily made apparent or given to us because we already have much? How does communication between people and peoples factor in?
I don't know. Neither do you. Because of that, the questions are pretty meaningless.
MG 2.0 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 30, 2021 6:43 pm
I believe miracles do occur in our day. But they’re of a different sort than those storied in the ancient world scriptural accounts. And as Jesus said in his day, “Go and tell no man.”
If I remember correctly, he only did that for the healing of the lepers. As for the others, he probably wanted them broadcast so they could be part of the faith-promoting narrative of redemption in The New Testament.
MG 2.0 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 30, 2021 6:43 pm
Think about the ramifications of then vs. now in regards to a recipient or observer of a miracle making that known.
Many things to consider.
I’m willing to let God be the arbitrator of dealing out miracles in a fashion that meets the needs of particular people(s) in particular times and places. I’m not going to be the judge and then let that determine whether or not I believe in Him.
Your mileage may vary.
Obviously.