What the Secular Media Doesn't Know about Pope Francis

American Thinker ^ | September 22, 2013 | Alicia Colon

[Elsie]

However, a Richard-Dawkins-like flicking away of miracles--- especially well-attested miracles -- will predictably result in our becoming skeptical of His power, insensitive to His work and deaf to of His Word.

They might be; but you have NO proof of who or what actually PERFORMED these 'miracles'.

---

Matthew 24:24
“For false christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect-if that were possible.”

2 Thessalonians 2:9
“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders.”

[Mrs. Don-o]

Oh, man, well of course GOD performs miracles. It's true, though, that as you wisely pointed out from Scripture, the Evil One can pull counterfeit miracles, too. Plus, there can be other falsifying factors, such a honest human mistake, as well as dishonest human fraud.

So ---and I'm sure that you, being a reasonable person, would agree --- one should not be too quick to give credence to a purported miracle unless it has been carefully investigated, both as to its physical aspects (ordinary forensic detective work is often relevant here) and its theological aspects (what does this mean? what is the purported message?)

This is a reliable criterion:

1 Corinthians 12:3
Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

I don't want to speak too soon about this reported Argentinian miracle, since I don't know the extent to which it has received official approval (I guess I should look that up!) --- but it seems to me, at first glance, that the "message" would be nothing more or less than what Our Lord told us:

"My Body is food indeed, and My Blood is drink indeed."

If it's a Goddamned hoax (literally), then I suppose one could do a kind of exorcism over it, saying "Jesus is Lord," and see if the Goddamned thing blows itself to bleedin' shriekin' smithereens!

(Tagline)

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

The Church, "the pillar and foundation of truth," ultimately determines whether an event, outside of natural causation, is supernatural, of God, or preternatural.

And Jesus had strong words regarding those who will not listen to the Church.

Prior to Church sanction, there also exists the following criterion. "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand." A miracle that leads us to Jesus is almost certainly from God.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Exactly, Tom.

Tagline.

[Elsie]

I think we are on the same page here.

[Elsie]

A miracle that leads us to Jesus is almost certainly from God.

And, of course, it goes without saying, that a miracle that leads us to the CHURCH is almost certainly from God.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Uhhh.... yeah...

[Elsie]

I believe this is a step in the right direction...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3070653/posts

[Mrs. Don-o]

AMEN!