Theology affects life. Good theology will influence people to correct God pleasing behavior. But, bad theology can seriously damage people’s lives of faith. And there is no clearer example of this than in the tragic story of the sudden death of a 2-year-old girl back in December. Olive Heiligenthal stopped breathing suddenly on December 13th and although paramedics and doctors did everything they could to save her, she ultimately passed. The parents of Olive are members of the wildly popular megachurch Bethel Church in Redding, CA where there is a school of ministry as well.
One of Bethel Church’s main theological beliefs is that the miraculous gifts of the Bible are still in operation today and still possible through certain individuals with those gifts. Their school of ministry is even called the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, which basically implies that individuals can be trained in supernatural feats and abilities. If the miracles of the Bible still happen today, then that means resurrections must happen as well, since they happen on a few occasions (Lazarus and Eutychus for example). Since the family went to this church that teaches this particular theological point, they went to the church leaders asking for prayer and intercession for Olive to be resurrected. The leaders of course have to back up what they say they believe so they began a massive movement of prayer and petitions to #wakeupolive.
This theological view of miracles is just not good sound theology. It arises from a lack of serious study and investigation of the Scripture. Of course, I believe that our God is unlimited in His power and can do anything He wants, but I have to form my theological positions based on consistent study of Scripture and not ‘what ifs.’ This view of miracles is deficient for numerous reasons.
First, Bethel Church fails to consider the nature and timing of miracles in the Bible. We find just a few periods of concentrated miracles in the Bible. We see miracles in the time of Moses, the time of the prophets Elijah and Elisha, the time of Jesus, and the time of the book of Acts. All of these periods have something in common: it is a time of new revelation that must be confirmed of being of God. For example, Moses bringing the people out of Egypt had to show the people who God is and give His Law to them. The prophets began a ministry of rebuking the wicked kings for their idolatry and evil behavior. Jesus was proclaiming Himself the Messiah the Son of God and the book of Acts was the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, miracles were commonly grouped together at the time of some new revelation from God that needed to be authenticated as being from God.
Second, Bethel Church fails to consider that all the miracles done in the book of Acts in the church were performed by the apostles, or those directly empowered by the apostles (Acts 2:43; 6:6-8). Nowhere do you see average church people performing miracles like resurrections. Even Paul says in 2 Cor 12:12 that he performed the signs of a true apostle, which means the miracles of apostles were distinctly different.
Third, Bethel Church fails to consider the uniqueness of Christ and the transitional nature of the book of Acts. For the average Christian to be able to do the same miracles of Christ lessens His uniqueness as the Messiah Son of God. He’s not as special as He seems if I can do the same things. Also, the book of Acts is transitional in nature, moving the plan of God from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. This radical change in God’s plan, and the introduction of the church, requires authenticating signs to prove it. But it is not necessarily prescriptive of the church for all time. If that were so, why do miracle workers today not perform the ‘negative’ miracles like smiting people with blindness, like Paul did (Acts 13:9-11). Not everything in Acts is normal for the Christian life or in church ministry.
There are many other cracks in this theology as well. Paul saw his miracle working coming to an end (2 Tim 4:20) because the revelation of the New Testament was ending; never are Christians told to seek after miracles; miracles are spontaneous in the Bible, they are not planned; and Jesus specifically spoke against the idea of a human resurrection as being more powerful than the Word of God (Luke 16:31).
So, this view of miracles is deficient, but what is most concerning is how it affects people’s lives. Look at the toll it took on this poor family who lost this young child and probably got their hopes up for a resurrection their church says can happen. Look at the harm done to the faith of all of those who joined in pushing for a resurrection, only to be disappointed in God for not doing it. Look at the critics of Christianity who roll their eyes when, surprise, surprise, people do not rise from the dead. What we have left in the wake of bad theology is disastrous results on people’s lives.
This is truly a tragic story. But there is some Biblical comfort found in loss that we could accurately tell the family. This young child is in the presence of the Lord (2 Sam 12:23) and never has to experience the sorrows and trials of this fallen world. That is where our hope should be placed. I’m not upset at the family at all, I’m upset at the spiritual leadership of places like Bethel whose faulty theology take people on a crash course of faith. Tell people God does miracles, then they pray for a miracle that borders on the edge of testing God, then the miracle doesn’t happen, and finally, the people’s faith is crushed. That is on the leaders for not accurately handling the Word of Truth (2 Tim 2:15).
This is the supreme importance correct theology plays in the life of a church and why leaders need to ‘get it right.’ Because without correct theology, people’s faith and lives are at stake.
~ Pastor Mark Scialabba