Consider this widely repeated and adapted sermon illustration:
A Pastor once sat at his desk praying for a solution to the congregation’s financial problems: an erratic furnace, a leaky roof, too many years since the staff (including the pastor) had a pay raise, and wanting a commercial refrigerator for their food pantry. God heard that prayer and asked the Pastor “Do you want me to solve your financial problems the ordinary way or the miraculous way?”
The Pastor sat up and said: “The ordinary way is fine!” Immediately the Bible in his hands changed to gold with the words rendered in fine silver calligraphy. The Pastor immediately recognized that the value of the metals alone would more than meet all of the congregation’s immediate financial needs. As a work of art, the sale of that book could endow the congregation forever.
The Pastor looked skyward and asked: “If this is the ordinary way, then what is the miraculous way?” God roared with laughter and said, “Oh, that is when I get everyone to tithe.”
Changing a book into gold is magic. Convincing a congregation, or at least a large portion there of, to tithe is at least serendipitous if not miraculous.
Magic defies the laws of nature or at least creates an illusion that defies nature. In the above illustration, the atomic structure of paper (mostly carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and potassium) is changed to gold. Nuclear physics has demonstrated that this is impossible due to differences in the nuclear structure of gold and the initial elements. The elements in paper have much lower nuclear energy states than gold. While a gold nucleus could, at least in theory, be split into carbon and other nuclei, the reverse requires the addition of great amounts of energy.
Consider the miracles of Jesus feeding thousands of people as documented in each of the four Gospels. Imagine being in that crowd of curious people. It is late in the afternoon. You are far from your home. Hidden in your cloak you have a small loaf of bread and perhaps a fish or two so you will not have to travel home on an empty stomach. Maybe a flask of beverage to wet your tongue. But as you look around, you do not see anyone else carrying food. Do you dare to bring out the little food that you have your family or do you leave it hidden lest those around you attempt to rob you?
One interpretation of how a few loaves of bread and fewer fish could feed thousands presumes Jesus supernaturally (magically) replicated or extended the loaves and fish as they passed from one person to the next. Combining trace amounts of carbon dioxide and water in the air along with nitrogen to magically create starches and proteins to extend the loaves and fishes would require tremendous amounts of energy. And the source of that extra energy? Magic? One might assume an all powerful god could add that energy unbeknownst to the participants. Since this kind of transformation does not happen when carefully observed, such a god would be a trickster, a magician, doing one thing when no one is looking but behaving predictably when carefully observed. Popular uses of this interpretation apply it to granting prayers (wishes) as it yields something from nothing.
On the other hand, generously sharing from what you have among a crowd of strangers, not knowing if your neighbor might rob you or share something in return, is indeed miraculous. This interpretation implies that God works in and through the whole of Creation and makes everyone, including non-believers, participants in miracles.
Magic Invalidates Divine Authority
Normal every day experiences show that magical or supernatural interpretations rely on falsehoods. If one uses falsehoods to validate religion, then that method of interpretation may carryover into using falsehoods in other parts of one’s life. A religion that promotes itself through supernatural interpretation of miracle stories as demonstrating God’s authority over time, space, and matter ignores God’s first “book”, Creation.
Theologically a magical interpretation of miracles shifts the burden from the petitioner to God, making God akin to a vending machine. If a community inserts sufficient prayers of appropriate sincerity, then God will do what the petitioners need. This makes God a servant of the petitioner.
Miracles Point to Service
Consider again the miracles of Jesus feeding thousands with a few loaves and fishes. A miraculous interpretation of these events —participants joyfully pulling food hidden in their cloaks and sharing that food among the crowd— unites the participants in ministry and transforms participants into agents of God.
Summary
Responsible interpretations of Scripture must be consistent with evidence from the Book of Creation. This simple correction to interpretation has implications for my new theological framework.
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