ITHIS IS THE FRESHIST SERMON I'VE EXPERIENCED IN A VEERY LONG TIME. IT CREATED IMAGES OF THE VARIETIES OF PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE. I THINK OF GAZA RIGHT NOW. HOW IMPERIALIST ISRAEL IS SMASHING AND VIOLENT REGARDLESS OF CARING FOR THE PEOPLE. THE SPIRIT CERETAINLY STIRRED THEM UP AND BROUGHT PEACE TO THEM. THE ROMANS DIDNT BACK OFF AND IN 70 DESTROYED THE TEMPLE RTC. IT IS A GREAT DAY FOR THE TROBLING SPIRIT TO BE PRESENT THEN AND IS TROUBLING NOW.
I was ordained on Pentecost. As a dancer and artist it seemed natural enough. Movement. Flames. Diverse expression. It was the same weekend I graduated from seminary, arranged so my family could attend. On another Pentecost I made the mistake of dancing (fully robed) down the aisle carrying a banner in my Silicon Valley Church. The elders of that Disciples congregations began to question my leadership as their first woman minister and co-pastor. My offering to the movement of the Holy Spirit was an affront. Pentecost does cause problems! If we believe that talking and listening to one another would be enough, I've found that incarnation goes a lot deeper than words. The movement of bodies and souls is problematic for the patriarchy. Indeed it's been outlawed around the world by white folk. I took Christ at his word. Word made flesh. Ensouled. That is an uprising that I don't see in most white churches. I look for it elsewhere to rise up.
Revolution in the mind of Christ was not directed against imperial Rome. After all, when questioned about the tax, He replied "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's." And when Pilate asked him if he was a king, He answered that indeed He was a King, "but His kingdom was not of this world." Paul exhorts us to submit to the political rulers we have over us, in fact he goes further and tells us that they are established by God Himself - the good, the bd and the ugly. Hardly any geopolitical revolutionary rhetoric to be found in any of these passages. In fact, Jesus prepares us for persecution, telling us that if the world hated Him, it will hate us to, and that as it persecuted Him, we can also look forward to being persecuted for His name's sake. You see no evidence of any confrontation with intent to overthrow any government by any of the apostles in Acts or in any of the epistles following Acts. The revolution that Jesus was promoting was a revolution of morals and ethics. We are revolting against "the Ruler of this world, who goes about like a roaring lion, seeking the destruction of souls." Satan is our adversary. Christ's death on the cross was the sacrifice demanded by the Father which broke the yoke of bondage we had worn since Adam and Eve first rebelled in the Garden. Because of the redeeming power of Christ's sacrifice, Satan no longer has power over us. True - in order to become Christians, to be Christ followers, to truly become disciples of Christ, we must pick up our own crosses daily and follow Christ. He tells us that if we love Him, we must keep His commandments, that we must be more than hearers of the Word, we must be doers of the Word. In and of ourselves we are incapable of maintaining that high standard. And that is why Jesus told us that it would be good for us that He should go back to the Father, so that He could send us the Spirit. The Spirit is the living and active breath of God that was breathed into Adam's nostrils and made him live, it was the invisible wind that brought the Ezekiel's army to life in the valley of the dry bones, and it was and is the Spirit who descends on the Church at Pentecost and turned a frightened bunch of believers into bold proclaimers of the faith who went out and confronted the known world with the gospel, and who went meekly to their deaths for centuries after, and continue to be martyred for their faith today. So no, neither the life of Christ nor Pentecost stand as examples of any violent rebellion against any terrestrial government. Rather it is a violent stand against a strongman (Satan) who holds people in bondage in their spirits. We are to help them throw off those chains and live lives of freedom from the tyranny of immorality and injustice.
Wow, thanks. The concept of Empire is particularly relevant today as the downside of globalization becomes ever more divorced form the common good, with multinational corporations without national allegiance or any ethical imperative other than short term profit for shareholders takes more and more of the world's resources and giving less and less back to non-shareholders. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (2009) and The Waste Tide by Chen Quifan (2013, Eng. tr. 2019) are both brilliant and largely dystopian visions of this sort of empire globalization.
I'm checking out the books you suggested. Thanks for the tip: MA in Soc/Cul history, so I find all this (and Ryan Burges' Graphs on Religion) fascinating.
Wow. “[They] suddenly realized they weren’t enemies at all. They finally heard one another — the spirit broke through — and they rediscovered their own story of a world destined to be shaken by the justice of God.” Chills!!! This is so great. Thank you.
wow! thank you. I've watched 3 church services today and none of them pointed out the political significance of the event... which is so clear the way you explain it.
Without doubt, the best reading of this passage in Acts and understanding of Pentecost for the Church I've ever heard.
Thank you...again.
Now, for all who agree here, and from the comments there are many, perhaps you might look at today's new posting by FAITHFUL AMERICA at faithfulamerica.org, a progressive Christian online community, about their campaign to "keep pushing back on the Christofacist hijacking of our faith." Just a thought...
I’ve only heard this aspect of Pentecost skimmed over. Your words are like a curtain being raised! Thank you for your depth and insight into this beautiful feast day.
I love your insights on this passage Diana. Each nation and person is seen, heard and uplifted by Christ's gift of Spirit and enters into true community. May your message be a healing balm in our hearts, and a source of Hope for a renewed humanity. Thank you!!
Thank you, thank you for this deep dive into the meaning of this day. With this illumination of history I can see a fuller story. I wish I were preaching today!!! It is indeed a story for this Pentecost 2024.
I have been in church all of my 77 years. I have never heard the explanation you have given about Pentecost. The story is way more than I heard (“speaking in tongues” or the birth of the church). I appreciate your sharing the deeper meaning of Pentecost and the historical context.
So 300 years later the Roman Empire embraced Christianity. Is the liberation Jesus brought to us? I think not. His power surpasses empires to defeat the great Satan.
ITHIS IS THE FRESHIST SERMON I'VE EXPERIENCED IN A VEERY LONG TIME. IT CREATED IMAGES OF THE VARIETIES OF PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE. I THINK OF GAZA RIGHT NOW. HOW IMPERIALIST ISRAEL IS SMASHING AND VIOLENT REGARDLESS OF CARING FOR THE PEOPLE. THE SPIRIT CERETAINLY STIRRED THEM UP AND BROUGHT PEACE TO THEM. THE ROMANS DIDNT BACK OFF AND IN 70 DESTROYED THE TEMPLE RTC. IT IS A GREAT DAY FOR THE TROBLING SPIRIT TO BE PRESENT THEN AND IS TROUBLING NOW.
Best interpretation of Pentecost Ive seen. Thanks
I was ordained on Pentecost. As a dancer and artist it seemed natural enough. Movement. Flames. Diverse expression. It was the same weekend I graduated from seminary, arranged so my family could attend. On another Pentecost I made the mistake of dancing (fully robed) down the aisle carrying a banner in my Silicon Valley Church. The elders of that Disciples congregations began to question my leadership as their first woman minister and co-pastor. My offering to the movement of the Holy Spirit was an affront. Pentecost does cause problems! If we believe that talking and listening to one another would be enough, I've found that incarnation goes a lot deeper than words. The movement of bodies and souls is problematic for the patriarchy. Indeed it's been outlawed around the world by white folk. I took Christ at his word. Word made flesh. Ensouled. That is an uprising that I don't see in most white churches. I look for it elsewhere to rise up.
Revolution in the mind of Christ was not directed against imperial Rome. After all, when questioned about the tax, He replied "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's." And when Pilate asked him if he was a king, He answered that indeed He was a King, "but His kingdom was not of this world." Paul exhorts us to submit to the political rulers we have over us, in fact he goes further and tells us that they are established by God Himself - the good, the bd and the ugly. Hardly any geopolitical revolutionary rhetoric to be found in any of these passages. In fact, Jesus prepares us for persecution, telling us that if the world hated Him, it will hate us to, and that as it persecuted Him, we can also look forward to being persecuted for His name's sake. You see no evidence of any confrontation with intent to overthrow any government by any of the apostles in Acts or in any of the epistles following Acts. The revolution that Jesus was promoting was a revolution of morals and ethics. We are revolting against "the Ruler of this world, who goes about like a roaring lion, seeking the destruction of souls." Satan is our adversary. Christ's death on the cross was the sacrifice demanded by the Father which broke the yoke of bondage we had worn since Adam and Eve first rebelled in the Garden. Because of the redeeming power of Christ's sacrifice, Satan no longer has power over us. True - in order to become Christians, to be Christ followers, to truly become disciples of Christ, we must pick up our own crosses daily and follow Christ. He tells us that if we love Him, we must keep His commandments, that we must be more than hearers of the Word, we must be doers of the Word. In and of ourselves we are incapable of maintaining that high standard. And that is why Jesus told us that it would be good for us that He should go back to the Father, so that He could send us the Spirit. The Spirit is the living and active breath of God that was breathed into Adam's nostrils and made him live, it was the invisible wind that brought the Ezekiel's army to life in the valley of the dry bones, and it was and is the Spirit who descends on the Church at Pentecost and turned a frightened bunch of believers into bold proclaimers of the faith who went out and confronted the known world with the gospel, and who went meekly to their deaths for centuries after, and continue to be martyred for their faith today. So no, neither the life of Christ nor Pentecost stand as examples of any violent rebellion against any terrestrial government. Rather it is a violent stand against a strongman (Satan) who holds people in bondage in their spirits. We are to help them throw off those chains and live lives of freedom from the tyranny of immorality and injustice.
Wow, thanks. The concept of Empire is particularly relevant today as the downside of globalization becomes ever more divorced form the common good, with multinational corporations without national allegiance or any ethical imperative other than short term profit for shareholders takes more and more of the world's resources and giving less and less back to non-shareholders. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (2009) and The Waste Tide by Chen Quifan (2013, Eng. tr. 2019) are both brilliant and largely dystopian visions of this sort of empire globalization.
I'm checking out the books you suggested. Thanks for the tip: MA in Soc/Cul history, so I find all this (and Ryan Burges' Graphs on Religion) fascinating.
Wow. “[They] suddenly realized they weren’t enemies at all. They finally heard one another — the spirit broke through — and they rediscovered their own story of a world destined to be shaken by the justice of God.” Chills!!! This is so great. Thank you.
The early church (the way) was a very Jewish "movement."
WHAT HAPPENED to turn far too many Christians into Jew haters.
Not a rhetorical question, btw.
wow! thank you. I've watched 3 church services today and none of them pointed out the political significance of the event... which is so clear the way you explain it.
Without doubt, the best reading of this passage in Acts and understanding of Pentecost for the Church I've ever heard.
Thank you...again.
Now, for all who agree here, and from the comments there are many, perhaps you might look at today's new posting by FAITHFUL AMERICA at faithfulamerica.org, a progressive Christian online community, about their campaign to "keep pushing back on the Christofacist hijacking of our faith." Just a thought...
Yup...best reading every!
I’ve only heard this aspect of Pentecost skimmed over. Your words are like a curtain being raised! Thank you for your depth and insight into this beautiful feast day.
I love your insights on this passage Diana. Each nation and person is seen, heard and uplifted by Christ's gift of Spirit and enters into true community. May your message be a healing balm in our hearts, and a source of Hope for a renewed humanity. Thank you!!
Thank you, thank you for this deep dive into the meaning of this day. With this illumination of history I can see a fuller story. I wish I were preaching today!!! It is indeed a story for this Pentecost 2024.
I have been in church all of my 77 years. I have never heard the explanation you have given about Pentecost. The story is way more than I heard (“speaking in tongues” or the birth of the church). I appreciate your sharing the deeper meaning of Pentecost and the historical context.
Matter morphing
Into Spirit dwelling deep within.
We are not empire.
We are more.
Untamed resilience,
Gift of fire, wind and the Divine—
Spirit emboldens us.
This is not just a great, paradigm-busting history lesson, it is a great example of smart comments by smart people too.
So 300 years later the Roman Empire embraced Christianity. Is the liberation Jesus brought to us? I think not. His power surpasses empires to defeat the great Satan.
No. 300 years later, Rome embraced Christianity and nearly destroyed it in the process.
I'm no fan of Roman colonization of the church.
Rome weaponized that which was a gift to humankind.
Like you, not a fan, at all, of what Roman Colonization did to "the west."