Everyone Heard in Their Own Language

Please read Acts 2:1-21

Being a person with a hearing loss - 70% in my left ear - the Acts passage of the story of Pentecost is a wonderful vision. Imagine people from different walks of life, cultures and nationalities understanding a single event? The breakout of the Holy Spirit on a group of persons celebrating one of the holidays of Judaism is a compelling story. Breaking out on the disciples of Jesus, in hiding, comes first and they are empowered to speak to the others. The Resurrection of Jesus, and not only that, but the falling of the Holy Spirit and empowering witnesses - that was not just interesting, but transformational! After a sermon by Peter and the quotation from the Prophets, so many are convinced that the scriptures say 3,000 joined the church that day!

In her most recent book published last week, Forging a New Path: Moving the Church Forward in a Post Pandemic World, Rev. Rebekah Simon-Peter offers a window on hearing. She addresses the Spiritual and Not Religious as a potential movement of the Holy Spirit. In chapter 3, “Pandemics Disrupt for Good,” Simon-Peter discusses what is unattractive about the institutional church. She believes that the disruptive nature of pandemics, past and present, is calling all to new life. And to do so by hearing in our own language again. Isn’t that a work of the Holy Spirit? New Life. Calling. Hearing.

The vision comes to fruition in the notion that the Spirit is calling us to drop what does not work anymore and engage in new relationships. As an example, she cites the notion of Innovation. And she identifies that innovation rarely, if ever, took everyone with it. Innovation was left to the outliers and they were the ones to move culture forward.

Consider this, during the great European Plagues commonly known as the “Black Death,” great innovation happened. Think about the discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton, the broad and great writing of William Shakespeare, and the 1517 Protestant Reformation of the Institutional Church. Each person, experiment, theory or action transformed the world. Inspiration of the Holy Spirit? I don’t know, but it could be. If all of the world’s fullness and all that is therein is the Lord’s, then I think the argument is pretty strong. But, if we can only experience God in the sacred you might say, no.

Innovations. The Call of Spirit for transformation. Listening and Hearing. Change. Empowerment. New relationships with new people. Multiculturalism.

Are there new ways to be church? Yes. Are their new relationships to develop? Yes. It is helpful to be reminded that in an age of institutional church decline, people still believe in God in our country. According to the Pew Research Center, somewhere between 89-92% of people in the US believe in God. That is a significant place to start! People’s curiosity and interest connected with belief and new relationships is a recipe for successful engagement and transformation. We just need people to respond to the Spirit. Could you be one who responds, or does it have to be a certain way only using familiar means?

The passage in Acts is risky. There was a thought that the behavior of those persons was like those who are drunk. When the witness comes about visions and dreams and the transformation of women and men, young and old, there is risk. This spirit talk and kingdom talk is risky when Rome had a King/God – Caesar!

Is it possible that the Spirit might raise you up to advocate for sensible gun control, care for the poor, marginalized persons even embracing other like people of color, women, LGBTQIA+ persons and many others? The early church took risks, can we do that today or will we just live out of our comfort?

What are you Hearing? Come Holy Spirit!

Prayer
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, and lighten with celestial fire. Thou the anointing Spirit art, who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart. Amen.