“Quite simply, the events…usually spoken of in terms of God’s “special” action may be seen, not as the product of some kind of divine interference with the world, in which the laws of nature are set aside or manipulated. Rather, they may be seen as the outward manifestation in this world of something that is already present but hidden within it: what we can properly call its “natural” state. The miraculous is not, in this perspective, the result of something being added to the world. It is, rather, the wiping away from that world of the grime of its fallen state, in order to reveal it in its pristine splendor.” (Christopher C. Knight)
“…the purpose of Christianity is not to do miracles – making natural events or things into supernatural events or things – but to reveal the miraculous nature of creation (each things natural goodness) which God intended for it and us when God called all things into being. Dualism is rejected as all of the created world is both physical and spiritual. There is one reality with many dimensions, and they are all held together in Christ. Our goal is to open our eyes so that we can once again see creation as God intended it to be. (Read John 6:26-27 in which Christ reproves the people for seeking more miracles/magic to benefit themselves in this world but failing to see these things as signs of God’s Kingdom.” (Fr. Ted Bobosh)
“The Incarnation of Christ teaches us not just that God became a man, but that the earth has a capacity for the heavenly. It not only has a capacity for the heavenly, but is so constructed that it cannot be rightly understood and lived in unless and until we see and regard that heavenly which is hidden within it. God has purposely hidden these “treasures” from us so that we might become the kind of persons who know how to see and find them. So, we lost paradise and came “into this world” (St. Basil’s language for the Fall). But having come into this world, we only return to paradise when we find it hidden here (where we are). That finding is the fruit of an inward repentance and the acquisition of the Spirit. I would say, carefully, that by “repentance,” I am describing turning away from the “not seeing, not seeking” way of life.” (Father Stephen Freeman)
“Christ the creator Logos has implanted in every created thing a characteristic logos, a ‘thought’ or ‘word,’ which is God’s intention for that thing, its inner essence which makes it distinctively itself and at the same time draws it towards the divine realm.” (Metropolitan Kallistos Ware)
“If, instead of stopping short at the outward appearance which visible things present to the senses, you seek with your intelligence to contemplate their inner essences, seeing them as images of spiritual realities or as the inward principles of sensible objects, you will be taught that nothing belonging to the visible world is unclean. For by nature all things were created good.” (St. Maximos the Confessor)
“...the crowds do not swarm Jesus when He commands repentance (Matthew 4:17), but only when He begins to heal and work miracles. This fact shows that the people misunderstand the true nature of His Kingdom.” (Orthodox Study Bible, Matthew 4:23-25)
“Asking for miracles in order to believe betrays a sort of smugness on our part; it’s like asking for an expensive gift from a potential friend before considering his overture of friendship." (Abbot Tryphon)
“True faith is a life of repentance of sins and participation in the grace-giving sacraments of the Church. True faith is humble, never making a show of anything, especially not miracles.” (Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick)
“Faith is a divine gift, but it is never forced upon us. And it doesn’t happen through convincing proof or by witnessing miracles.” (Lynn Anderson)
“Love is more important than all the spiritual gifts exercised in the church body. Great faith, acts of dedication or sacrifice, and miracle-working power produce very little without love. Love makes our actions and gifts useful. Although people have different gifts, love is available to everyone.” (Life Application Study Bible, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13)
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