Why no miracles, signs, or voices?

Question

The Bible is full of hundreds of miracles. Not just little "the-cancer-went-into-remission-by-itself" miracles, but big ones, like the parting of the Red Sea, water into wine, or raining frogs. Now we don't see any (that we can't explain scientifically). The Bible also contains many instances where God communicates directly with humans. Now, this never happens. I don't know what others' experiences of talking to God were like, but despite being a committed Christian for 20 years, I can honestly say I've never heard God, or even felt like he was trying to tell me something.

Why are all these things in the Bible, but we see none of them today? Jesus' atonement for our sin is now complete, and these miracles would be very useful to help all people realize that Jesus is Lord, which is exactly what God wants, right?

Surely God realized that the sudden absence of miracles would result in much scepticism, so why did He do it?

Answer 1

Those were all make believe myths intended to fool people committed by the priests.

Answer 2

There is no good research evidence of a correlation between bipolar disorder and "getting religion" in the middle years. A bipolar disorder is an affective disorder (e.g., significant mood swings) and is not usually associated with a thought disorder or delusions unless one happens to be experiencing a manic state or severe depression (even then not necessarily). People with schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder, and some of you more severe personality disorders (e.g., schizoid, borderline, schizotypal) may have a thought disorder, delusions, and auditory hallucinations. Sometimes (but not all the time), their idiosyncratic beliefs have strong religious associations. The first "psychotic break" typically occurs in the late teens to early twenties. Interestingly, there is a body of research which suggests a strong association between mental health and a sense of spirituality or religion. The real DSM IV "acid-test" is about the consequences. Does it inhibit or compromise social/vocational/interpersonal functioning in some meaningful way? If not, it wouldn't be considered pathological. In other words, there is nothing inherently pathological about the extraordinary belief that you met an angel. The debate as to whether you and millions of theistic "others" are deluding yourselves or not, will probably never be completely settled. It would be much better to focus on your level of functioning and not be too caught up in labels like "bipolar" which is often over diagnosed and lets not go overboard with the idea of "magical thinking". A belief in a vist from an angel is not sufficient to qualify. (this is comming from an atheistic-leaning agnostic). Plus, we all have some degree of magical thinking. Good luck!

Answer 3

Many things do happen even in these days. People in general have in my opinion lost so much faith, and ability so understand the plan of God. We expect God to just make things known. We expect him to bow down to us it seems. It's us that fall short of doing our part.

God gave us free-agency and so few physical Revelations and manifestations occur. I had many struggles with the fact that the plan of God is perfect and it's us that have the problem. God wants us to have faith. It was by faith these miracles happened.

Human kind in the masses is falling away from God as we advance in science and technology. We have free thinking and temptations from the Devil which are suttle but powerful. Life is a test in that we can't have consistent confirmation of God's existence. This life is a probationary state we are here to prove our selves in a way.

If God has to constantly prove things to us to affirm faith and love in him then we are truly worthless creations. If people want miracles to "prove" some thing maybe they just need to pray and try to be humble a little bit. The spirit of God or the holy ghost is not loud but understanding is hard to deny when you work for truth and do your part.

Answer 4

They are all there - but you won't believe it.
You say you would? Well try reading "Conversations with God" by Neale Donald Walsh". Your church will tell you not to read it, as it will make you think for yourself.

God speaks to all - all the time, Ask a question and you will see. How? Not in the way you expect, but in all ways - in the words spoken by a friend or stranger, the article in the 3 months old magazine in the hairdresser's, a book, a movie, something on the radio, dreams, yahoo answers etc and many, many other ways.
Keep a dream diary and also be open to the way the answer will be delivered.
Also get into meditation - prayer is when you speak to GOD - meditation is when GOD speaks to you.
"It is not to whom I will speak - but who will listen!"

Spend your time sending LOVE to all people, animals, plants etc (all the earth). How? Try seeing LOVE as a gold light and sending that around people - see the difference start in your life. There are some amazing things happeing on the Earth right now - but with all due respect, you are sleeping right through it as the bible alone is old messages.
Peacefromken.

Answer 5

I think the first thing I'd have to ask is, have you ever listened? God wants us to believe by faith. He did the miracles in the Bible because He wanted to show us His power and let us know He does exist. There are still miracles today, people just don't pay any attention to them. God could appear to everyone right now and there would still be those that didn't believe, just as there were at the time Jesus was on earth.

I have a hard time believing you've been a "committed Christian" for 20 years and still don't know what faith is.

And just a side note: Try saying "cancer went into remission by itself is a little miracle" to the person who had the cancer.

Answer 6

There are just as many large "miracles" today, only we now know what causes them. Now, when there is a supernova, we know what it is. When there is a earthquake, we know what caused it. When there is a plague, we know the virus or bacterium responsible. Comets? Known. Volcanic eruption? Old news.

The more people learn, the less we chalk up to God. That's the literal reality. What we don't understand, we still credit to God: a sudden cancer remission in an untreated person? God did it. We also credit coincidences to God: a potential murderer's gun jams? God did it.

So there you go. Instead of thinking "now why did that happen? I should figure it out," simply credit whatever it was to God. Hey, Mount St. Helens erupts? Act of God. Iran no longer has a nuke program? God took their weapons away! Earthquake and tsunami kills hundreds of thousands of infidel muslims and hindus? God just up and smote 'em. I'm telling you, just ignore explanations and chalk things up to God instead. Suddenly, miracles and mighty acts will abound!

That's my view.

Answer 7

Wow...great question...and I can think of easily a dozen answers...but I won't use 'em all.

God does perform miracles...today...but miracles of faith...there are people walking around today cured from a debilitating stroke.I know one...

My Pastor's cousin (also a Pastor) went on Benny Hinn after suffering a stroke that paralyzed half his body..he suffered it in front of his whole congregation and was incapicitated for almost 9 months.

He went on Binny Hinn of all people, and was cured (not by Benny of course, but through faith)...and now runs his own healing ministry.

We all have read stories of people somehow having a moment of superhuman strength...tearing a door off a car to get to an injured person....science calls it a rush of adrenaline and endorphins....but I call it a miracle.

I've seen homeless people turn their lives around...through faith...I myself was near divorce, broke, laid off, and 3 kids already we couldn't afford.....then our 4th was born, and we didn't have a cent, but we kept our faith in God, and now we have more than we could ever need...that child was a miracle to my wife and I.

Today, miracles are of faith....in the past miracles were of authority.

All of the miracles in the OT and Jesus' miracles in the Gospels are of authority.

God performed those miracles to prove his authority, or that of his appointed prophets.

Jesus walked on water, fed the many, healed the sick to prove he was God on Earth....

The prophets performed miracles to show that they were of God, and should be listened to. Who would have listened to Elijah, had he not shown the Pagan prophets who was boss...or Joseph, or Daniel...

We no longer NEED miracles of authority...Jesus did die on the cross, and was resurrected...and therefore God's authority is ultimately proven....and we now live by faith in that authority.

What more miracles can God do to prove his authority? He has already came to Earth as a child, lived sinless, died as sin...defeated sin, death and the power of the devil, was resurrected and witnessed by hundreds....what more do you want him to do?

I too struggle with never hearing God....I have 'felt' God at times while in communal prayer...and it is troubling...because some time I wonder if Jesus ever 'knew' me...

But I take it on faith, that his miracle of salvation is there for me...and that is all I can do.

If God feels the need to speak to me directly, I suspect he will...but in many ways...he already has..only I thought they were a baby crying, or a car accident just 1 lane over, or parents still alive and healthy in their late 70's, or a raise just when I needed it, or interest rates falling just when I have the money to add-on to our house.....

I know...one man's miracle, is another man's good luck...

I'll put my faith in miracles...

Answer 8

Because they are over explained scientifically which means over analyzing. There are miracles everywhere. Talk to those who have survived terrible circumstances. I myself am a survivor of the Loma Prieta earthquake and very well could have been killed in the overpass that collapsed or could have been separated from my children for days if I didn't heed a urgency to leave San Francisco and go home immediately. If I had driven to the meeting from San Jose to San Francisco instead of taking Bart and had gone to my mother's for a visit,as I normally could have, I would have been at that overpass exactly at the time of the quake. Look for miracles they are sometimes in the little things

Answer 9

Sometimes God remains silent for His own reasons. Why didn't He speak to Israel when they spent 430 years in Egypt? Why didn't He speak during the 430 years of silence between the prophet Malachi and Jesus?

As for the "major miracles", we have historical or archaeological proof for them, so why does He need to repeat them?

If you read the four Gospels carefully, Jesus performed miracles such as healings, but He also warned those who had been healed to not say anything, as He wanted people to believe through solid preaching, not showmanship.

And remember, He Himself said of signs and wonders;

Matthew 12:39-40

39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.


Paul also speaks of this when he says that evidence of God is shown in His Creation;

Romans 1:19-23

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Evidence of God is seen in His works, in the incredible diversity and order we see in all of Creation.

As for why He hasn't spoken to you, I cannot say. I have heard Him a number of times, but I also need to make sure that I don't always expect to hear from Him. After all He is God, and is not accountable to me.

Answer 10

You haven't been in the right place at the right time.

I bet all miracles can be explained scientifically. Why would God operate outside of the rules he dictated for the universe when he would have surely made those rules for their functionality and usefulness?

For example, it's rained frogs once or twice in the last few decades, and yes, it had a natural explanation, but does this make it less miraculous or does it simply lend credit to the identical biblical account?