We're standing in my basement, he and I. He's a visual effects film major with an impressive portfolio of computer generated images. "If miracles were real, you'd think someone would have recorded one by now." His piercing eyes look at me with a bit of distrust. "Right? I mean, someone would have whipped out a cellphone and taped it."
"Would you really believe a video? You and I both know how easy it is to fake something." I gave him a moment. "A video wouldn't prove a thing." In fact, a viral video would be rather the opposite of how most miracles seem to work.
Growing up in our western culture that harbors a distaste for the supernatural, I understand the wariness to accept the spectacular. In fact, video footage of certain high profile preachers who swing toward the miraculous is subject to ridicule. There's an entire line of thought that rejects modern miracles, so my friend isn't alone in his position.
But I also grew up on Sonlight. Our curriculum packages introduce us to missionaries and Christians the world over who experience God's power. And so, for me, I don't have trouble believing in miracles. Granted, I've never seen someone raised from the dead or instantly healed or anything like that. ...but I'm open to it. I'm also okay if God merely chooses to work "behind the scenes" in my life, because often His intervention is only seen in hindsight. I learned that from my Sonlight books as well.
Have the missionary biographies you've read bolstered your faith? Have you had any interesting conversations with people about the miraculous?
~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester
