After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of
Today's Reading: Ezra 9-10; Acts 1
What an exit!!
Jesus was like yeah homies… I’m here, been chillin for several days with holes in my wrists and now it’s time to bounce.
And he FLEW AWAY.
It’s stories like this that make me wonder why super religious folk trip when it comes things like Harry Potter and other magical stuff in pop culture. I remember when I was younger that there were kids I knew who couldn’t watch or read anything having to do with “magic”. It was as if watching or consuming that stuff would infect their kids with heathenism and they’d all of the sudden start cussing out their parents and having babies out of wedlock.
But did you just see read that? Harry Potter and them couldn’t walk on water or fly or feed thousands with scraps of food. Sure, he may have been able to do some cool tricks but man… when it comes to supernatural fanciness… you really can’t touch the Bible.
But sadly, it seems that this wonderfully magical aspect of the Bible isn’t taught. Sure the stories might be referenced and what not but they aren’t really explored. They are presented as if they are out of reach or perhaps not really true…
But what if we are capable of doing some of these things? What if we can move mountains, heal the sick, and feed many with very little all by the power of faith?
Yes, I know that many folks out there think that the Bible is hogwash all together. And even some of those who believe in it don’t believe that these fantastic things explained in the Bible could happen today.
But my question is… why not? What makes these people in the Bible different from you and me?
Perhaps this is the little kid in me who always wanted to be a superhero talking right now but yo, it would be pretty cool to be able to fly.
If I figure it out one of these days… maybe I’ll teach y’all how.
What you are referring to here is a biblical question with two, quite different answers. The question is, if you are a believer, do you have to take the the whole bible as truth, or can you can take parts of it alone. On the one side, you have believers who argue that many stories, similar to the one above, are just allegorical. They are meant to convey a message through a story, which did not factually occur. On the other side, you have the argument that if any part of it is TRUTH from a higher power, then it all is historical fact. Hence, it all must be accepted as having occurred.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the second opinion holds more water as an argument. It is more logical to me that if any part of the bible is written by "God" than it all must be accepted as literal. Who are we to disagree with parts of what "God" has said? Thus if you believe a part, you must believe the whole. This has been a consistent stumbling block for me, as I often cannot accept some parts of it as literally having occurred. I personally side more with the logic of the second argument. Thus it follows that I must throw the whole thing (bible/religion) out as untrue because I don't believe that these mystical moments actually occurred.
I regularly try to find ways to defend the first side, but usually fail, thus leaving myself out as a non-believer.
As you’ve known me for a minute brotha, you know I’d like to get my superhero on too. However, I do have a take on why we aren’t bestowed with supernatural goodies often and why only a selected few were given powers in Biblical days.
ReplyDeleteIn Luke 10:18-19 Jesus tells his disciples
19I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Jesus is advising the disciples as he sends them out them out there to handle his business like some spiritual X-men. He cautions them, do not get hyped off of this power, just get hyped that you’re going to heaven.
His main point: Rejoice in the Purpose, not in the Power.
He gives us power so that we can do things to change people’s lives for the better spiritually first then physically (if that’s even necessary), to reveal his glory, and to show people what his Kingdom is like so they’ll seek to be down with it among other things
Removing physical “mountains into the sea” walking on water, and other supernatural goodies would be nice, but what essential spiritual purpose would it serve? In our day to day lives we more often need help moving metaphorical mountains in our lives such as Fear, Unforgiveness, Financial Obstacles etc.
Jesus life also demonstrates his desire for us not to rely on supernatural miracles to increase our faith. As you mentioned in a previous blog, Jesus did not weep because Lazarus was dead, he already had in mind that he as going to bring dude back to life. Jesus wept, because despite all his teachings and supernatural acts and deeds his own people didn’t get the point that no life is a lost cause when Jesus is involved. People have such a tendency to want people to ‘show’ them things to make them believe. I think the lack of supernaturalmagic fantastical occurrences is his way of helping wean us off the miracle bottle. He is seeking for us to have a faith that doesn’t rely on what we ‘see’ in order to believe.
@Danny
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in that I believe in the second argument... but what I decided to do is not judge what I don't understand. For example, take the creation story. there is debate in the translation of "days" in terms of the seven days of creation. Days could also be translated into ages. In this context I don't see any conflict in the creation story and evolution.
I think it is a glass is half empty or half full kind of thing. i have seen so much truth in the Bible that I am willing to withhold judgement on the things I don't understand. The farther I go on this path, the fewer questions I have.
I applaud your willingness to keep searching man. That takes a lot of courage.
@Kofi
ReplyDeleteCome on man! Why you gotta rain on my parade?? hahahaha. You pose an interesting question tho.
"Removing physical “mountains into the sea” walking on water, and other supernatural goodies would be nice, but what essential spiritual purpose would it serve?"
My question back at you is how do you know? Just because you don't see an essential spiritual purpose does that mean that there isn't one? Why would miracles be one of the gifts of the spirit if it doesn't have an essential spiritual purpose?
Here is the purpose I see in it. In the same way that Jesus performed some of his miracles so that we might believe, the same could happen today. I'm sure that it is disappointing that often times "seeing is believing" but that's the game sometimes. If Jesus was willing to do that in a time where folks could actually see and touch him and still doubted; then I see all the more reason to do it now, 2000 years since anyone has seen his face.
I'm just sayin...