Dear Partner in Ministry,
Every year, fifty days after Easter Sunday, the Christian church celebrates Pentecost. In the book of Acts, Pentecost is the occasion of the powerful manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the Apostles as promised by Jesus. Because of the importance of this event in the story of the early Christian community, it became a prominent feast day in the liturgical calendar.
Pentecost, which we celebrated at the beginning of the summer, has become nearly synonymous with the coming of the Spirit in the Christian tradition. Considerable attention has been focused on the power of the Spirit in the lives of individual believers and particular churches. Less attention has been paid to the effect of the Spirit on the shape of the church as a whole. This effect can be summed up in one word: plurality.
According to Acts, the last words of Jesus to his followers included a promise that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. Through this power, they would be his witnesses “in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Acts 2:1-12 records the fulfillment of this promise when a strong wind filled the house where disciples of Jesus were staying. According to the narrative, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages.
One of the most significant implications of this event is the resulting plurality of theological perspectives that make up the Christian tradition. This diversity makes some uneasy and has led to attempts at developing a single, universal account of Christian faith to which it is believed all must affirm if they are truly among the faithful. Such a response to Christian plurality may be well intentioned, but it is ultimately wrongheaded, and actually stands in opposition to the work of the Spirit displayed at Pentecost.
Pentecostal plurality means that Christian faith is inherently and irreducibly pluralist in character. Diversity is not a problem to be overcome. Rather, it is the blessing of God and the divine design for the church and all of creation. As we enter a new program year, let us affirm and celebrate God’s beautiful plurality.
John
