MIRACLES, MARVELS, AND MYSTERIES by William S. Sadler, M.D.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jan 2, 1907

MIRACLES, MARVELS, AND MYSTERIES.

By William S. Sadler, M.D.

I.

WE have now reached the point in the study of health and healing where it is essential that the reader should have a clear understanding of such terms as "miracle," "marvel," "mystery," etc. The mind may be greatly confused as the result of the misuse or misunderstanding of any one or all of these terms. We will take them up separately and seek to ascertain their real meaning, and to learn their appropriate use.

What Is a Miracle?

Webster gives the following definition of "miracle:" "An event or effect contrary to the established constitution and course of things, or a deviation from the known laws of nature; a supernatural event, or one transcending the ordinary laws by which the universe is governed."

The Standard Dictionary, among other definitions, gives the following: "Theol.—An event in the natural world, but out of its established order, and possible only by the intervention and exertion of divine power; a supernatural event."

These two definitions cover the "theological," or "Biblical" usage of the word "miracle." We are aware that dictionary definitions of the term also warrant an additional use of the word, as applied to wonders and remarkable experiences, as shown by the following definition, also taken from the Standard: "An event apparently transcending the power of ordinary natural agencies; an event not attributable to known natural powers; hence, anything that inspires wonder or admiration; a wonder; as the miracles of Satan; his escape was a miracle."

In analyzing the theological definition for further study, we find:

1. A miracle is something contrary to the established, recognized, common, every-day order of things.

2. It is a deviation from the known laws of nature, not necessarily contrary to nature, as it may be in perfect harmony with some of the unknown, unperverted laws of nature.

3. It is a supernatural act or event. It is produced, not by so-called natural powers, but by a power controlling nature, and above nature; that is, as man knows nature. It is a direct act of God. Deut. 11:3.

4. Miracles transcend the ordinary laws governing the universe; but genuine, God-worked miracles do not really violate any law of the universe, however much they may appear to do so.

Unbiblical Uses of the Term.

We are aware that the term "miracle" has come to be largely used by some scientists, physiologists, and biologists, in describing the thousands of mysterious, marvelous, and utterly inexplicable phenomena encountered at every turn in the investigations of nature's operations. And while this use of the term is no doubt properly understood by many who do thus make use of it, at the same time we regard such use of the term, in connection with Biblical considerations, as open to serious objection, because it is confusing to the common people. We consider this indiscriminate and widespread use of the term "miracle" as creative of confusion in the proper understanding and classification of the manifold acts of an infinite God.

To speak of the "miracle of digestion," the "miracle of life," etc., may be proper if such use of the term is accurately defined, but it certainly falls without Biblical or theological definition of the word, even tho such use is warranted by the dictionary, and sustained by common use. Take digestion, for instance. We must all admit that it is a profound mystery in most respects; nevertheless, it always proceeds with unerring accuracy along certain well-defined, established, and recognized lines. It proceeds the same way day after day. True, many of these operations are more or less unknown to us, but in so far as we do observe and know of the process, it would hardly be proper to call it "miraculous." Truly, it is mysterious. It is indeed marvelous in some of its phases of wonderful adaptation, utilization, and transformation.

So, in speaking of these ordinary and commonly observed processes of nature, we feel that, for the sake of clearness, it would be better to omit the term "miracle," and limit its use to those direct, usually instantaneous, acts of the Creator which are wholly and absolutely without the range of natural law as far as known to man, and which are performed completely and absolutely without the interposition of time, means, or other visible and recognizable agencies in their production. And this is the sense in which we use the term "miracle" in these articles. We believe it is proper to apply the term "miracle" to the creation of the thousands of loaves in the twinkling of an eye on the hillside by Christ when He fed the multitude; but we do not believe it proper to call the annual wonder of the wheat-field, where a single man carries on his back seed into the field, whereas it requires many wagon loads to remove the harvest in the autumn, a miracle. We think this should be spoken of as the mystery or marvel of the wheat-field.

The use of the word "miracle" in the Bible is likewise limited to the direct, extranatural, and special acts of God. Many instances might be sighted. The following are illustrations of the definition of the term "miracle" as indicated by its usage in the Bible.

We read of "the miracle of the loaves" (Mark 6:52), but nowhere does the Bible speak of even the most wonderful and mysterious of the ordinary operations of nature as "miraculous." "The miracle of the cornfield" is not to be found, nor any similar expression; and the writer believes it best in Biblical writing, to use this term within the definition and usage of the Bible.

The extraordinary and unusual acts of God in connection with the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, are called "miracles." Num. 14:22.

The working of miracles is enumerated as a "gift"—one of the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 12:10. It is classed with the other operations of the Holy Spirit in and through the church.

The term "miracle" is only used in connection with Satanic power, in Rev. 13:14; 16:14; 19:20.

We are aware that exception may be taken by some to this position, but it is necessary to have some standard and limitation in the use of words, and we have chosen to follow the dictionary theological definition in this respect, and hope thereby to avoid needless confusion and misunderstanding. W. S. SADLER, M.D.