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What degree of credence do you think one should give to Christian accounts of spectacular conversions and heroic feats by famous missionaries? Why? Do these early Christian accounts differ from your previous assumptions about how God has worked throughout history? Do you believe God works through spectacular or ordinary conversions? What has been your experience?
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I am convinced that credence can be given if I or someone else knows for sure the accounts are correct. Usually when a team of people return from a mission, there are speeches that explain what happened. All the tasks completed in a heroic manner are meant for the whole team, not just an individual. But there are cases where that can be attributed to one person. I believe whole heartedly that God can and does work miracles through his people. Sometimes the person becomes proud or boastful in their efforts, but this is not usually the case. My experience, though I have not been on an overseas mission, that God works through many people who do not recognize our Lord working, but does their best. The word spectacular is rarely used to describe any human effort, it is only through Christ Jesus that any spectacular event happens at all.
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Yes I believe that God does work through miraculous workings as well as ordinary, and there is some debate as whether the miraculous still happens in our modern time but nevertheless, I still see miracles everyday.
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Miracles tend to defy reason. So it is natural that people who are relating the stories either exaggerate out of lack of the ability to communicate accurately, or are genuinely so caught up in the miracle that the awe causes the receiver to pass along a taller account. However, I believe that these usually begin with truth. I have seen and heard from trusted first-hand witnesses of miraculous occurances that bring people to faith. It makes sense with easier communication and the fact that the gospel has spread so far that there is not as much need for God to work through miracles in order for people to hear and believe, but I would not agree that He has ceased using miracles for thus purpose.
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Although people tend to exaggerate an account over time, esp. if it is only transmitted verbally, there must be a kernel of truth to those stories. Even in modern missions, we find that it is very hard for the Christian faith to persist in a community over generations, if someone important like a king, a village chief, etc., had not embraced the faith. So it’s probably true that some king, queen or chief was converted.
As for the miracles, that is possible too, if that king or community had been previously very hostile to Christians. Otherwise, what else could account for this turnabout? Moreover, the gospels and the book of Acts testify to the power of Jesus and the apostles to perform miracles. Why should God suddenly cease to work miracles just because a Bible is now in print circulation?
We just remember to take those stories with a pinch of salt but not totally discount them.
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I prefer to believe that these events actually happened. Yeshua/Jesus said that we will do greater things than Him and He did amazing things. We should not doubt the Messiah. God works through both spectacular and ordinary means to get His will accomplished.