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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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The Heavenly Father uses any means necessary. He has the power to use any and all available resources in order to accomplish His Divine goals down here on earth. That is the true magic of my belief in God, He breaks all of the rules of natural science, the arts of Man, even universal facts cannot stop His power from moving to and from. The early Christians were excited, as they should have been. They were being of service to the one and only true God, they wanted to do their very best. I feel the same way today, if I can just turn one sinner around in need of the grace of God, for me that would be a miracle at work.
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I consider each of these stories in light of the evidence we actually have as just stories. God is all powerful, and yes can do anything. However these stories are very embellished at the least. They sound incredible, and while God does the incredible every day in hospitals around the world, I approach these with critical thinking until valid and verifiable evidence supporting them comes to light. My experience is much more subtle, and while I know the Holy Spirit has been very active in my life, the changes have been gradual and tied to hard work.
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Jeff I would have to disagree. These stories seem simple enough. These are community stories, stories no one expected the world to ever know or even care about. These people were getting into the mix of things and making free but extraordinary contributions into the Christian work. The moral is: God can use all of us.
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Thank you Gail, I agree God can and does use all of us. He has given each and every one of us talents for His purposes. God is so good, yet I found these stories incredible.
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It is crucial to approach accounts of spectacular conversions and heroic feats featuring missionaries with a high level of critical thinking and analysis. While these accounts can provide valuable insights into faith, dedication, and the impact of missionary work, it is equally important to consider the context in which these stories are told and the potential biases or motivations behind them.
It may be helpful to consider multiple sources of information and perspectives and examine historical and cultural contexts that may influence the portrayal of these events. God uses famous missionaries, as mentioned in the Acts, to spread the gospel. However, the degree of credence given to any accounts not mentioned in the bible should be based on a balanced and informed assessment of the available evidence and the credibility of the sources. As mentioned in the lessons, some stories may have been embellished.
I firmly believe that God has a plan and can use all people, whether they are famous missionaries or ordinary individuals, to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. I am convinced that God can work through both spectacular and ordinary conversions. Some individuals may have dramatic, life-changing experiences that lead them to a deeper faith or spiritual awakening, while others may undergo a more gradual process of conversion through ordinary life events, relationships, and reflections. Both types of conversions are valuable expressions of God’s transformative power and grace in the lives of individuals.
In my experience, God can use anyone to perform an incredible task. Missionaries from Western countries travelled to China to spread the gospels. When our forefathers from China came to my country, they, being a group of laborer’s, set up churches in my country. Therefore, many lives have been transformed and joined the church because they know about God’s love through the laborer’s initiatives more than years140 ago.
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I believe that significant credence should be given to the Christian accounts of spectacular conversions and heroic feats by famous missionaries. This is especially true if the stories are found in the Bible itself. The Bible is the infallible Word of God. What is written in the Bible is fact and not fiction. It is not embellished upon. If the accounts come from other sources, then their validity must be scrutinized to a degree. Since I believe the Bible to be true and reflects how God has worked throughout history, I can rely on its truth wholeheartedly. As a believer, I have no reason to doubt the scope and power of God to do miraculous, spectacular, and heroic things to get His plans accomplished. We know that God wanted the Gospel spread to the ends of the earth and would do it by any means necessary. I also know that God can work through both spectacular and ordinary conversions. Both reach the same end and as long as the convert submits himself totally to God then anything is possible. I have seen ordinary believers that were saved and set on fire by the Holy Spirit, make a significant impact on the world in their time. Such examples are Smith Wigglesworth, Katherine Kuhlman, and Billy Graham. So, ordinary people can do extraordinary things when God is in control of them. That is my own personal experience as well. When I submit myself to God and His purposes, He faithfully uses me in miraculous ways to further the Kingdom. “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:37). Therefore, God can and will use average everyday people to fulfill His plans according to His good pleasure.
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I believe God works how he chooses to work. I believe early Christain accounts as well as accounts even today because of who God is and how he wants to manifest himself.