The Battle of the Signs: Do Miracles Still Happen?
- Thad DeBuhr
- Jan 24
- 12 min read
Here is what you’ll discover in this study: (In plain language)
The 2,000-Year History: How we got from the Early Church fathers to the massive denominational divides we see in North America today.
The "Cessation vs. Continuation" Debate: A plain-language breakdown of the two major "camps" in Christianity and the brilliant scholars who lead them.
The Root Issue: We tackle the difference between "God can heal" and "Does God still give people the gift of healing?"
The Scholar-Detective: A look at the groundbreaking research of Dr. Craig Keener, who has documented modern-day miracles with medical records and eyewitness testimony.
If you’ve ever wondered why some churches are "quiet" and others are "expectant," or if you just want to know if the "Mobile Temple" power of Acts is still walking the streets today, this deep dive is for you.
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WHY DO SOME DOUBT MIRACLES?
To understand why many churches today are skeptical of miracles, we have to go back to the 1500s. This wasn't just a time of dusty books and old hymns; it was a "War of Credibility." The Reformers weren't just trying to change how people prayed; they were trying to define what was actually "True."
To do that, they had to deal with two groups that they felt were leading people away from the Bible.
1. The Battle with Rome: "Shrine Culture" vs. The Word
During the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church was the only game in town. Their version of spirituality was very much based on physical "signs."
The Shrines: People would travel hundreds of miles to visit the bones of a saint or a piece of the "true cross." The Church claimed that if you touched these objects or visited these shrines, miracles would happen.
The Reformers' Skepticism: Men like Martin Luther (a German monk) and John Calvin (a French lawyer-turned-theologian) looked at this and saw a massive "fake news" problem. They believed many of these miracles were staged by priests to get people to donate money.
The Strategy: To stop people from chasing "shrine miracles," the Reformers had to argue that God didn't work that way anymore. They wanted people to stop looking at "magic objects" and start looking at the Bible (The Word).
2. The Battle with the "Fanatics": Emotion vs. Order
On the other side, a group called the Anabaptists (or what Luther called the "Schwarmgeister" or "Swarm-spirits") appeared.
New Revelations: These "Radical Reformers" claimed they didn't just need the Bible because they were getting direct, new "prophecies" and "visions" from God every day.
The Danger: Luther and Calvin realized that if anyone could claim "God told me to do X," then the Bible didn't matter anymore, and the church would fall into chaos.
The Defense: They argued that God had stopped giving new revelations and miraculous signs because the Bible was now complete. They said the Holy Spirit’s job was now to help us understand what was already written, not to give us new "magic tricks."
3. The "Apostolic Seal" Theory: Calvin’s Master Argument
John Calvin is the "father" of what we now call Cessationism. He used a brilliant analogy to explain why the shadow-healings of Acts 5 don't happen in every church today.
The Analogy of the Royal Seal: In the 1500s, if a King sent a letter, he would drip hot wax on the envelope and press his royal ring into it. This "seal" proved the letter was really from the King.
Calvin's Logic: He argued that miracles were God's "Royal Seal." They were used to prove that the Apostles were really speaking for God while they were writing the New Testament.
The Conclusion: Once the "letter" (the Bible) was finished and the whole world knew it was from the King, the King didn't need to keep stamping the wax. The seal had done its job. Therefore, the "miraculous gifts" ceased because their purpose (authenticating the Bible) was fulfilled.
4. How This Shaped the "Camps" Today
Because of this "War of Credibility," two distinct flavors of Christianity emerged in Europe and later in America:
The "Word" Camp (Cessationist Influence): Following Calvin, these churches (Presbyterians, Reformed, and many Baptists) focused on the Mind. They believed the greatest miracle was a person understanding the Bible and changing their life. They viewed reports of modern miracles with great suspicion, fearing they were either fakes (like the old shrines) or "fanaticism."
The "Spirit" Camp (Continuationist Influence): This camp never fully accepted Calvin’s "Seal" theory. They argued that the Bible never actually says the gifts would stop. They believed that if the "letter" from the King says the King heals, then the King should still be healing!
Why This Matters as You Read the Book of Acts
When you dive into the Book of Acts, you aren't just reading a collection of stories; you are watching a "clash of worlds" take place. Depending on how you view miracles, you will see the action through a completely different lens. This is especially true when you encounter moments like Peter’s shadow healing the sick on Solomon’s Porch.
If you take the Cessationist view (following Calvin): You will read Acts as a unique "launch phase." Every time a miracle happens, you’ll see it as God’s way of putting a "Royal Seal" on the Apostles. For you, the main point of the story is: "Look how much authority God gave these men so we would know their writings are true." It’s a historical record of how the foundation was laid.
If you take the Continuationist view: You will read Acts as a "training manual" or a blueprint for today. Every time a miracle happens, you’ll see it as a normal part of life when people are honest and full of the Spirit. For you, the main point is: "This is what the 'Mobile Temple' looks like when it hits the streets—and God wants to do this through us, too!" It’s an invitation to expect the same power in your own life.
The Reformers like Luther and Calvin didn't "hate" miracles; they were trying to protect the integrity of the Bible. They lived in a time filled with fake "relics" and people claiming to have new visions that contradicted Scripture. To stop the confusion, they built a "theological wall" around the first century. They wanted to ensure that the "Royal Seal" of the Apostles remained unique and that nothing would distract people from the clear Gospel found in the Word.
As you read through Acts, keep this in mind: Whether you see these miracles as a finished "seal" or an ongoing "standard," both sides agree that the message behind the miracle is what matters most. The sign always points to the King.
Deep Dive: The Modern Battle of the "Signs"
(Cessationism vs. Continuationism)
To understand the landscape of your local church today—whether it's quiet and traditional or loud and expectant—you have to understand the "Three Waves" that crashed over North America. For 400 years after the Reformation, most Protestants in Canada and the U.S. were functionally Cessationist. They believed the "age of miracles" was a closed chapter of history. Then, at the start of the 1900s, the "pipes" burst.
The Modern Divide: The Three Waves in North America
The First Wave: Pentecostalism (1901–1906)
It started with a few students in Topeka, Kansas, and exploded at the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, led by a humble African-American preacher named William J. Seymour.
The Context: People began to experience what they called "The Baptism of the Holy Spirit," accompanied by speaking in tongues and physical healings.
The Fallout: Traditional denominations (Baptists, Presbyterians, etc.) were horrified. They called it "fanaticism." This forced the "Spirit-filled" believers to start their own denominations, like the Assemblies of God and the Church of God in Christ. For 50 years, you were either in a "regular" church or a "Pentecostal" church. There was no middle ground.
The Second Wave: The Charismatic Renewal (1960s–1970s)
In 1960, an Episcopal priest named Dennis Bennett told his wealthy congregation in Van Nuys, California, that he had been baptized in the Spirit.
The Difference: Unlike the First Wave, these people didn't leave their churches. Suddenly, there were "Spirit-filled" Catholics, Anglicans, and Presbyterians. This brought the debate about Acts 5 miracles into the mainstream "respectable" denominations for the first time.
The Third Wave: Power Evangelism (1980s–Present)
This wave was led by intellectuals and theologians, most notably John Wimber (a former jazz musician who founded the Vineyard Movement) and C. Peter Wagner (a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary).
The Philosophy: They argued that you don't have to be "Pentecostal" to believe in miracles. They taught "Power Evangelism"—the idea that the Gospel is most effective when it is seen (through signs and wonders) and not just heard. They looked at Acts 5:12–16 as the "standard operating procedure" for the church, not a historical exception.
The Heavy Hitters: Two Modern Camps
In the last 40 years, the intellectual "War of the Signs" has been fought between a few key scholars who have shaped the minds of millions of pastors in Canada and the United States.
The Cessationist Camp (The "Word is Sufficient" View)
This group believes that the "sign gifts" were like the booster rockets on a space shuttle—necessary for the launch (the early church), but designed to fall away once the shuttle reached orbit (the completion of the Bible).
John MacArthur (The Investigative Skeptic):
His Position: In his landmark book Strange Fire, MacArthur argues that the modern "Charismatic" movement is a "counterfeit" that dishonors the Holy Spirit.
The "Hospitals" Argument: MacArthur often points out that in Acts 5, everyone was healed. He challenges modern "healers," asking why they aren't clearing out cancer wards in hospitals if they truly have Peter’s gift. Because they aren't, he concludes those specific "gifts" ended with the Apostles.
BUY IT HERE: STRANGE FIRE
R.C. Sproul (The Logical Theologian):
His Position: In The Holy Spirit, Sproul focuses on "Redemptive History." He argues that miracles only clustered around three main times in the Bible: Moses, Elijah/Elisha, and Jesus/Apostles. Each time was to verify new revelation. Since we have the final revelation in the Bible, the "need" for the sign has ceased.
Modern Miracles: Sproul doesn't deny that God can heal a person in response to prayer. He denies that any human still holds the "gift" to heal others at will.
BUY IT HERE: THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Continuationist Camp (The "Spirit and Word" View)
This group believes that the Great Commission (Matthew 28) includes the command to "heal the sick" and that the Holy Spirit's power hasn't diminished.
Wayne Grudem (The Systematic Scholar):
His Position: Grudem’s Systematic Theology is the most widely used textbook in modern seminaries. He argues that the New Testament nowhere explicitly says these gifts will cease before Jesus returns. He believes the church is meant to be a "Prophetic Community" that expects God to move.
Sam Storms (The Balanced Practitioner):
His Position: In Practicing the Powers, Storms addresses the Cessationist's fears. He argues that just because there are "fakes" and "crazies" in the miracle movement doesn't mean the real thing isn't available. He calls for a church that is "Word-centered and Spirit-empowered."
3. Spotlight: Dr. Craig Keener (The Scholar-Detective)
If there is one person who has forced the Cessationist camp to "check their math," it is Dr. Craig Keener.
His Pedigree and Training: Keener is a world-class academic. He holds a PhD from Duke University and is a professor at Asbury Theological Seminary. He has written over 30 books, including a 4,000-page commentary on the Book of Acts. He is known for "encyclopedic" knowledge—he often cites 10,000 sources in a single book.
The Origin of the "Miracles" Project: Keener grew up as a skeptic. When he became a Christian and began studying the New Testament, he noticed that most Western scholars (the "Academy") assumed that miracles were impossible. They treated the "shadow healing" in Acts 5 as a legend. Keener found this culturally arrogant.
The Research Journey: He spent over 10 years investigating miracle reports. He didn't just look for "stories"; he looked for documentation. He collaborated with medical doctors, including skeptics and atheists, to see if they could explain certain healings.
The 1,100-Page Bombshell: He published Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts. It was so massive and so well-researched that even skeptics had to admit his data was impressive. He proved that millions of people—including hundreds of thousands of medical professionals—claim to have witnessed or experienced miracles.
The "Miracles Today" (2021) Breakthrough: Keener realized that his two-volume set was too heavy for most people to read. He wrote Miracles Today as the "shorter, punchier" version for the modern believer.
What’s Inside: This book focuses on 21st-century accounts. He includes stories of:
Blindness being instantly healed (with medical records).
Lethal stage-4 cancers disappearing between two X-rays.
Documeted resurrections in places like Mozambique and China.
The "Why": Keener wrote this to show that the "Mobile Temple" we see in Acts 5 is still walking the streets of the world. He believes miracles are more common on the "front lines" of missions because that's where the "signs" are needed most to verify the Gospel.
BUY IT HERE: MIRACLES
Sum it Up: Head, Heart, and Integrity
Whether you land with the logic of MacArthur or the evidence of Keener, the text in Acts leaves us with three unavoidable truths:
God is Real: He isn't a philosophy; He is a Power that changes physical reality.
Integrity is the Foundation: The miracles happened after the church dealt with the "fake" behavior of Ananias and Sapphira. Power follows honesty.
The Shadow Remains: You leave an influence (a shadow) everywhere you go. If you are a "Mobile Temple," your job is to carry the presence of God into the streets, whether that results in a sudden miracle or a slow, steady life of love and truth.
Deepen Your Study: If you want to see the evidence Dr. Keener gathered for yourself without reading a massive textbook, his latest volume is the best place to start. It will challenge your skepticism and build your hope:
Buy it HERE
Want to dive deep into the 2 volume set... BUY IT HERE
The critical "Fork in the Road" for many people...
When someone asks, "Do you believe in miracles?" they are usually asking two very different questions at once. It’s important to separate these because even the most "hardcore" Cessationists and "fire-filled" Continuationists often agree on one half of the answer, but completely split on the other.
The Root Issue: "Divine Healing" vs. "The Spiritual Gift of Healing"
To understand the modern debate, you have to distinguish between God’s power and Man’s commission.
1. Divine Healing (God Can)
This is the belief that God is sovereign and can choose to supernaturally heal anyone, at any time, in response to prayer.
The Consensus: Almost every Bible scholar—including John MacArthur and R.C. Sproul—agrees on this. They believe God is "The Great Physician." If a church prays for a member with cancer and the cancer disappears, a Cessationist would say, "Praise God! He chose to heal that person."
2. The Gift of Healing (Man Can)
This is the belief that the Holy Spirit gives specific individuals a "spiritual gift" (as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12) to be used as a regular part of their ministry, similar to how Peter’s shadow worked in Acts 5.
The Conflict: This is where the debate gets heated. The question isn't "Can God heal?" but "Does God still give people the authority to heal others at will?"
Where the Scholars Land on the "Gift"
The "No Individual Gift" Camp (MacArthur & Sproul)
John MacArthur and R.C. Sproul land firmly here. They believe that while God still heals people today, the Gift of Healing was a temporary "credential" given only to the Apostles.
Their Logic: They argue that in Acts 5, Peter wasn't just praying and hoping; he was walking in a specific, constant power that verified his message. MacArthur argues in Strange Fire that if people still had this gift today, they would be using it in hospitals.
The Verdict: They believe in healing, but they do not believe in healers. To them, anyone claiming to have a "healing ministry" today is either mistaken or a fraud.
The "Individual Gift Continues" Camp (Keener & Grudem)
Craig Keener and Wayne Grudem land on the other side. They believe that 1 Corinthians 12 and the Book of Acts serve as a permanent blueprint for the church.
Their Logic: Keener argues in Miracles Today that the New Testament never gives an "expiration date" for these gifts. He believes that while not everyone is healed, God still grants individuals the gift of healing to serve as "signs" that point people to the Gospel.
The Nuance: Keener is careful to say that the gift doesn't belong to the person like a superpower; it is the Holy Spirit working through a person at specific times. He doesn't see "healers" as superstars, but as humble servants used by God.
Why This Matters to You
Understanding this nuance changes how you pray:
If you follow Sproul/MacArthur: You pray with a "God, if it is your will, please step in and heal" mindset. You focus on God’s sovereignty and wait for His move.
If you follow Keener/Grudem: You pray with a "God, use me to bring your healing power to this person" mindset. You look for opportunities to step out in faith and expect that the Spirit might want to move through you specifically.
The "Acts " Connection: When you look at the Apostles, you are seeing the Gift of Healing in its most explosive form. Whether you believe that gift ended with the apostles or is available to you today, the goal of the miracle remains the same: it’s a sign that points to the King.
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This was a clear and helpful overview of why Christians disagree about miracles. It explains both sides in an easy-to-understand way and gives good historical context. The difference between God healing and the gift of healing was especially helpful.
Well written and thought-provoking. Thanks Thad