I’ve heard it often argued that it is unfair for unbelievers today because Jesus and the disciples are not here doing the kinds of signs and wonders that were happening in biblical times. That perhaps if they were, those who will not believe on the testimony of God’s Word would believe. Of course, we know from scripture that those who will not believe the Word, won’t believe miraculous signs either (John 11:11).

Now, some believe that these signs are still happening today somewhere and that we don’t see them here in our country for one reason or another. However, I subscribe to the belief, which I believe to be a biblical one, that we do not see these kinds of signs today for precisely the same reason.

The signs that were performed in the days of the early church were so that we today might believe. If the kinds of signs seen in the early church continued today, it could easily be argued that the bible itself were somewhat null, since there were another God-breathed source of spiritual revelation.

Take a look at a couple of the concluding verses in John.

John 20:30-31:

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

The signs performed by Jesus and his disciples weren’t a pattern for the way that people would believe the Gospel, rather they were the sign that we should believe the Gospel—even today on the very same testimony and sign.

God’s word in the bible is the sign for believers and unbelievers alike.

James 4:4 says,

“You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

In the past couple weeks this verse has become a bit haunting to me. I know that it doesn’t speak directly to my situation, but the principals apply nonetheless.

As I’ve been developing a discipline in prayer of the past couple of months, one of the things I’ve tried to make a priority is prayer for the lost. Specifically individuals in or around my life that don’t know Jesus yet. I think this has begun to deepen the seriousness of their plight in my heart and mind. When I’m around them, their spiritual condition is more on the forefront of my mind than it was in the past.

The trouble is, though my mind is there, my actions aren’t following yet.

It was recently that I was out with a handful of believers and about as many non-believers. At some point during the evening, I looked around and noticed that we weren’t too much different from them. At least not obviously. I don’t mean to imply these were particularly rough people. They were friendly, nice enough and weren’t even especially vulgar. But they weren’t loving either.

Neither were we.

And that’s the problem. Not especially loving to each other, to them or obviously to anyone else. I can’t help but wonder how we expect questions about “the hope that we have” when we’re not even obviously different.

Now, please, don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting that we dawn exclusively black and white attire, with big hats and belt buckles. Nor am I really suggesting that there should be frivolous encouragements thrown around. I’m simply saying that our choices and actions should be shining with love for each other. That is how the world will know we are Jesus’ disciples–heck that’s how I became a believer.

I can’t help but feel like God is often working in spite of his Church, rather than through it.

It seems that people often read verses in the bible about the way God works through believers and assume that it’s true of them. But simply because the bible says that God does it, doesn’t mean he always does it. And, judging my what I’ve seen throughout most of my walk, in me and in my brothers and sisters, it seems unlikely that those verses are talking about us!

I would like to see, through prayer and Spirit lead sanctification, my own choices and my own attitudes, along with the whole church, shift. So that when the world sees us they will actually have a reason to wonder.