Our brains are hardwired to recognize patterns to make sense of the world. Because God (as spirit, mystery, and the "wholly other") cannot be grasped by our physical senses, we naturally pivot to what we can see: the actions, the rituals, and the visible signs. Essentially, humans often end up focusing on the handprint rather than the hand because the handprint is tangible. Romans 1 by opposing the love of the handiwork rather than God is being inhuman and stupid.
For all we know, everyone who is in religion may be doing that totally or
largely.
Miracles are frequently
reported across diverse traditions, including Catholic, Baptist, Orthodox,
Anglican, Pentecostal, Apostolic, and non-denominational groups. Hindu
sects depend heavily on figures who can accomplish seeming miracles.
Believers often mistakenly assume these reported miracles mean the
supernatural endorses
their specific church, lifestyle, or theological system.
The strange thing is that if God or whatever endorsed a religion it might
only be because at this time it is for the best. That could change.
Every religion claims to give us mystery rather than precision.
Even
without that, because these
various religious systems directly contradict each other, reported miracles
cannot be used as proof of doctrinal accuracy.
Scripture claims that
Jesus healed crowds in cities He knew would ultimately reject Him and refuse
to repent (Matthew 11:20-24).
God has supposedly used flawed individuals, instruments, within corrupt religious frameworks to give supernatural knowledge, such as the high priest Caiaphas (John 11:51).
A reported miracle never guarantees that God approves of a specific ministry, leader, or denomination.
What if an angel heals a child and says it is a sign that you should follow Bishop X? It is hard to accept that an angel would only help the child for that reason. That seems to be using the child. But suppose the angel is right for reasons we are not privy to. The angel is being ridiculous in the light of how human nature does not really want to excel at stopping harm - it only wants to stop to an extent. A part of each believer will not care if the child is being used. Why can't Bishop X stand on his own two feet? What does his message need a miracle for? An argument from authority is the worst form and most suspicious thing. It is lazy. A doctor should be a doctor for his skill not because of what his qualification or some testimonial says he is. The angel then should be ignored. An element of fear is involved if it is not. An invisible force makes us wonder what it might do to us.
A reported miracle does not validate a person's claims, even if they are revered as a prophet or a messiah.
Supernatural events might simply reflect God's sovereign choice to grant mercy to whomever He wills, independent of human systems (Romans 9:15).
Relying on signs for validation is highly dangerous if Scripture is correct to warn that Satan will use deceptive signs and wonders in the last days to lead the Church astray (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).
A miracle purports to intend to
connect a person relationally with God and allow His grace in to bless and
better them. If so, it is not simply a matter of witnessing a miracle and
saying it must be true - it is more personal than that. The heart needs to be
opened by God so that the miracle becomes his embrace. It is inside out not
outside in.
The internal inspiration from God to open
your heart and connect with Him through an external miracle say Jesus rising
from the dead is the truly important miracle, no matter how stunning or huge
the physical event appears. It is like the still small voice of God mattering
not supernatural drama. The danger lies in using that subjective feeling of
inspiration to validate the external event itself as real and divine, which is
entirely unreliable and prideful.
Jesus noted that fake disciples of his, people who he never knew, would report to him that they did healings and exorcisms and wonders in his name. He said that the true disciple is able to make fruit appear where there would be thorns expected. If Christians are too lukewarm in prayer and good deeds and always have been that would be a clear sign that Jesus himself was not the real deal. We have seen how good fruits did not always follow his own miracles.
Core Conclusion: Following after reported
miracles to validate a religious preacher or doctrinal institution is
socially, rationally and biblically reckless. For the bible-believer, truth
must be evaluated by Scripture, not by signs.