Thoughts on...
May 31, 2009: Pentecost
New Testament Lesson: Acts 2:1-21

A lot of Pentecost is about diversity. Ethnic diversity for sure as the list of all those that were present accounts. Joel prophesies about the last days when young, old, male, female, slave - all prophesy. No shortage of differences in that list either.

What unites them? A wild, amazing, perplexing experience. Something they had never heard, or seen, or experienced. The Holy Spirit draws all from their own experiences together - in their diversity they are unified to prophesy, to challenge the status quo, to speak with one voice. This was not an attention getting device used simply to draw attention but an experience that changed the lives of those who are present.

Isn't that what the church is called to do? To challenge the status quo, to draw attention to the need for changed lives. The church is to be more hodge podge and random rather than structured and comfortable but only if the Holy Spirit is truly moving within the church.

Remember the Sunday School Song? "The church is not the building, the church is not the steeple, the church is not a resting place the church is the people." The church is more than our own little congregation that meets in particular building. When we all get to heaven more than our congregation will be there. All those who call on the name of the Lord will be there. What a hodge podge picture that will be. I for one look forward to it and am afraid of it all at the same time. Amazing and perplexing.