ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
May 31, 2022
This coming Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, often thought of as the Birthday of the Church. Pentecost was originally a Jewish holiday, and people were gathering in Jerusalem for the celebrations when something unexpected happened. At the beginning of Acts 2, it says: “When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place,” but there is no mention of the followers of Jesus referring to the coming of the Holy Spirit as Pentecost. In fact, the name Pentecost wasn’t used by Christians until the latter part of the 3rd century, and that was because Pentecost was understood to be 50 days after Easter. The Greek word Pente means 50. Religions have been known to do their own forms of cultural appropriation, and Christianity has done a lot of it. I’m not suggesting it is all bad. In fact, if one is willing to do the research, there is often much to learn about the why and how. Christians should study scripture, but they should also spend time learning about Christian history, both the good, the bad and the peculiar. It is really quite fascinating and insightful.
For all the ways you have worked in history, O Amazing God, I am thankful. May I learn of the times when faithfulness to your Spirit brought healing and hope, and may I learn from the not so pleasant happenings as I do not wish to repeat them. Amen.
