It's a Miracle

In the past few weeks I've heard about quite a few miracles. From last minute 3-point baskets by the Lakers, walk-off home runs, and holed chip shots, to the birth of a baby, the garnering of new employment and even that fact that a teen remembered to put out the garbage cans. But what I find most interesting is that - technically speaking! - none of these are really miraculous, at least by my definition. And since that begs the question of just who gets to define what a "miracle" is, I'll step out on the limb and assert that a miracle is more than just an amazing thing that happens. It is an amazing thing that can't happen, ever, within the bounds of natural law.

I know what you're thinking. You're remembering that time you looked up "miracle" in the dictionary and found that it has a whole range of meanings, including anything that was both spectacular and welcomed, and rare. In this case, a basket, a golf shot, or the birth of a grandchild could well qualify. Okay, I'll agree that within the wide range of semantic meaning of the English word "miracle" all of these might find a home. But, I want to posit that Webster and all the other dictionary makers are not really prescribing what ought to be the meanings of words; they are merely describing the ways in which English words are commonly used and understood. And that's why I'm blogging on this. As a theologian, I want to push back against the evolving use of the word "miracle." Here's why:

In the Bible, a "miracle" is always used to validate an individual as God's appointed messenger or spokesman. That's what Peter meant in Acts 2:22 when he stated that Jesus was "attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst." Notice, miracles are God's doing, for His own purpose.

When we decide to use "miracle" to describe that which is less than "miraculous" we are actually diluting the power of the true miracles that God has done to display His grandeur and glory. If Kobe Bryant can do the miraculous, then God must not be so hot!

So, I'm calling for those who are Christ-followers to consider using "miracle" and "miraculous" to describe only those things that fit the original criteria: an amazing and welcomed occurrence that goes contrary to commonly understood natural law. It isn't simply an amazing basket, or golf shot, or even the spectacular birth of a baby. All of those things can be explained through the processes of natural law. (Note: This is NOT to say that God doesn't have a hand in things like the birth of a baby, or even a holed chip shot. God often works through natural laws.) But, when He works in a way that is actually contrary to natural law - like walking on water, or healing a leper, or raising a man who has been dead three days - that is what we call a miracle. And, I think we should reserve the word "miracle" for that which is truly "miraculous."

And so again I know what you're thinking. "David, is this really worth the blog time?" Probably not, but now that I've written it, I'll welcome your comments. Maybe my idea here will have some legs, and radically re-shape the Christian vocabulary in our world. Now that would be a miracle!

Hope this helps,

David