Is One Who Follows Signs & Wonders a Follower of Christ?
Nathan W. Bingham on January 19, 2009 · Cal.vini.st – A Blog Dedicated to Reformation Theology
Introduction
It is not uncommon to receive fliers in the letter-box promoting healing crusades, where we are told the deaf will hear, the blind will see, and the lame will walk. The crusade is promoted in the name of Jesus Christ, clearly attempting to ’save souls’ through a demonstration of the power of God. During my time within Pentecostal and Charismatic circles I was told often the reason western nations were ‘turning away from Christ’ was because the church had lost her ability to ‘flow in miracles’. The claim was if the western church sought God with enough prayer and fasting, she would once again be able to demonstrate the power of God to the extent of even raising the dead, and consequently all those who are seeking after God would turn and follow Christ.
In this post I intend to springboard from a brief series I did on the work of God and the means God uses to save His elect1, answering the question: is one who follows signs & wonders a follower of Christ?
There Are No ‘Seekers’ of God
There is a very faulty assumption behind many involved in the evangelistic method discussed in the introduction (from now on referred to as ‘power evangelism’). This faulty assumption is that there are seekers of God, who if only were given super-natural evidence for God, would forsake everything and follow after Christ. This assumption is pervasive amongst Christians, and not limited to those involved in power evangelism. I recall one conversation I had with a Christian man who was developing a strong emotional relationship with a Buddhist woman. I expressed my concern about this kind of relationship, however the response I received was very interesting. “But she is searching for truth…” he said, “…therefore it is only a matter of time and she will become a Christian!” What I explained to him then is what I will explain now. There are no ’seekers’ of God.
Read the words of the apostle Paul:
“as it is written, ‘THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;” - Romans 3:10-11 (bold added)
Romans 3:10-11 is a statement regarding the depth of man’s depravity. Within context the emphasis is that this depravity encompasses both Jew and Greek. However, for our purposes the important point is simply the depth of man’s depravity. Geoffrey B. Wilson notes that “[i]t is because man’s mind has been blinded by sin, that there is no movement of his will towards God.”2 Man is so depraved that his will might move toward a very many plethora of god’s, but never toward the true God as He is revealed in the Scriptures. This understanding of depravity is mirrored in Ephesians 2:1, in which the Christian’s condition before conversion is described:
“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,” - Ephesians 2:1 (bold added)
Returning to the illustration at hand, this Buddhist woman’s earnest desire for enlightenment and devotion to the teachings of Buddha is not her “searching for truth”, rather is the outworking of her own suppression of “the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).
John Wimber, writing in his popular book Power Evangelism states:
“In power evangelism, resistance to the gospel is overcome by the demonstration of God’s power in supernatural events…”3
This is a clear misunderstanding of man’s present depravity. Nothing, except the secret, extra-ordinary work of God in the act of regeneration and the effectual call can overcome man’s active resistance to the gospel message. Further, this does not occur “by the demonstration of God’s power” by through the ordinary means of preaching His all-sufficient Word. At the foundation we must acknowledge that man, left to himself, does not genuinely seek God. There are no seekers of God.
Signs & Wonders may Draw Crowds, but not Disciples
I believe the dedication many have to power evangelism is based on pragmatic thinking. That is to say, if it works then it is good. When a church runs a healing crusade many people may flock to the event. Many people may come to the front for a ‘miracle’, and many may make a profession of faith, a decision for Jesus or a pledge of allegiance. However, is this really making disciples? I contend signs & wonders may draw crowds, but not necessarily true disciples of Jesus. Consider the following account in John’s gospel:
“Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. 24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.” - John 2:23-25 (bold & emphasis added)
John 2:23-25 informs us that it is possible for people to believe in the name of Jesus in response to observing miraculous signs, but for those people to have not experienced saving faith. I believe this account parallels largely what occurs amongst the hype of power evangelism. Sadly, many people make a profession of faith based upon the signs they observe, however not truly believing upon the One whom signs should point. Henriksen notes on this verse that signs & wonders may “strengthen true, saving faith [...however...] when saving faith is present, one will believe in the word of Jesus even when there is no sign.”4
Furthermore, consider this account in John’s gospel:
“Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.” John 6:26 (bold & emphasis added)
In John 6:26 Jesus Christ reveals more regarding the heart of one who follows Jesus based on observing signs & wonders. Their motivation is not truly “because [they] saw signs”, or because of the One whom the signs point, but “because [they] ate of the loaves and were filled.“ Their motivation was self-centered. Their motivation was all about what they could get, and this reveals the true condition of their heart; still a heart not seeking God (Romans 3:11) and still dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1). It is this insight into the heart of the crowd that concerns me the most about power evangelism. Drawing crowds based on the promise of a healing is self-centered and is in the same vein as drawing a crowd based on the promise of being filled with loaves. It appeals to the dead heart, and follows a way of thinking our Lord chastises in John 6:26.
Conclusion
In conclusion, not only is the premise behind many who promote power evangelism false5, Jesus’ very own ministry paints a bleak picture of those who follows signs & wonders, and chastises those whose motivation in believing is self-centered. Therefore, is one who follows signs & wonders a follower of Christ? The answer is a simple and abrupt no.
The only genuine followers of Christ are those who actually follow Christ. Furthermore, this Christ must be the Christ revealed within the pages of Scripture. By definition, if you are following signs & wonders then you are not following Christ. Therefore I command you to repent and trust in the only Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 17:30).
1. If you have not read this series it is important that you do, so that you have a Biblical understanding of how God’s elect are saved.
2. Geoffrey B. Wilson, Romans - A Digest of Reformed Comment. Banner of Truth Trust. p. 55. (emphasis added)
3. Wimber, J. Power Evangelism. p. 45 (emphasis added)
4. Hendriksen, William. New Testament Commentary - Exposition of the Gospel According to John. Baker Book House. pp. 127-28. (emphasis added)
5. The idea that there are seekers of God out there who’s resistance toward the gospel would go if they were to observe a demonstration of God’s power.
