Once you start reading the Bible from a mystical standpoint as containing a coded blueprint to individual ascension to the Godhead and the transcendence of ordinary reality, it starts to become patently ridiculous (okay, even more patently ridiculous) to watch the machinations people use to try to intepret it rationally. This is one of the more fun ones I have seen in a while:

The Bible contains many verses in it that contain irrational statements. For instance we read in Matthew 21:21 ” Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.’” I challenge any “faithful” believing Christian to move one brick, not a mountain with his sight or words. Have any Christian from the time of Jesus till now been able to do it?

Another exaggerating expression is in Mark 16:17-18 “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Again, I challenge any Christian to allow himself to get bit by a poisonous rattle snake or cobra and survive its venom.

Does this mean no “Christian” is a real Christian? […]

Yes, it does mean that! If the person who you are supposedly a follower of is saying something like, “Here are the signs to discern who is a true follower of me and who is not,” and then you fail to live up to those traits, then there is a very good chance you are missing something, and missing something very big indeed.

So how can Christians move mountains? That’s a very good question. One which, I think if people want to actively follow in the footsteps of Christ, they would do well to ponder very deeply rather than simply dismiss as an “irrational statement.” Or at least, that’s the current total of my own efforts to cipher this all out.

PS. For extra points, see also Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas where he says that “kingdom is within you and it is outside you.” Perhaps this points the way towards the interpretation of these “irrational” passages in the canonical text.