Andrew said:
tyreth,
the message was specific enough to kick the deceiver out of the church, out of the city. That's all that matters. It got the job done.
In my reading of the story, the word was made in general to everyone, and the guy chose to leave on his own, not because he was kicked out.
whether you choose to think that is God or coincidence is a matter of faith. the skeptic and the unbelieving will always try to explain it away with logic. even if the dead were to be raised in front of their eyes, they will still doubt.
The Christian uses logic too, as Paul, Peter and others told us, be ready with a reply. Intellect is not the antithesis of faith, but goes hand in hand with it. I believe in Jesus with all my heart, and I love God beyond all else. Yet I will not say that the words of men are God's words.
If the dead was raised in front of my mind, I would ask questions. Sometimes, apart from religious mysticism, people have been "dead" and risen again on their own. Ever heard of people being buried alive?
I'd want something like Jesus and Lazarus(?) where a smell was coming from his tomb because of the rotting body. There is so much more to say on this topic, but it's late and it would take too much space.
If on a hot day you ask your Father in heaven for wind and a gentle breeze blows a few seconds later, wld you thank God for it or shrug it off as coincidence? The one with childlike faith who knows his Father's heart will say its God. The skeptic who walks in the mind will attribute it to coincidence.
If you prayed to our Father for a cool breeze and instead a hot one blew, would you thank Him? I thank God for all things, good and bad. If I prayed for a cool breeze, I would thank Him, but I would not necessarily believe He directly caused the wind to change from what it was otherwise going to be.