Pentecost

Acts 2:1–21 (NIV): 2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

How many of you have heard the story of Pentecost before? Probably all of us. In fact, you may heard it at least every year your entire lifetime. Many of us can retell it with great accuracy although we might struggle to list all the countries the peope in Jerusalem had come from Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs.

But this year we might connect with it in a slightly different way based on our experiences the past several months. ANd yet, the main message remains the same.

Our lesson starts with us being told that all the disciples were gathered in one place. Our current reaction would be “I hope they practiced social distancing.” as we are being trained to think in those terms. More importantly, we recall why they were gathered together in this upstairs room. It is probably the same room they were in after Jesus had been crucified and where he appeared to them the first time on Easter Sunday and again the next Sunday to reassure Thomas that he was risen. We recall how they felt safer because they were together behind locked doors.

For the past two months we have heard over and over again the term “Safer at home”. To some extent we were ordered to remain in our homes and to avoid contact with more than five total people and only to go out and about if we were essential workers or had to go on a grocery run or pick up meds etc and to do that only one day a week and combine all of our errands into one trip. Other measures are ordered or strongly suggested so that we may be kept safe. I know this can be a hot topic for some people. There are those with a genuine fear of exposure to the corona virus would mean to them and take every precaution. There are others who believe it is all a government conspiracy or even the “mark of the Beast” bringing in the Last Days. I am not here to debate the different views on this. What I am saying is that those in the government have determined that we would be safer at home and provides us with laws and guidelines which they believe will bring that about.

In conversations with people on this topic, we find out that the “new normal” has had an impact on our lives depending on our circumstances and our own beliefs about what makes us safer. And those experiences are not all equal. As members of our congregation; however, we have had a shared experience since mid March. Our church building was closed to the public. We were not able to be in this place to worship God and no visitors were invited or came in unannounced. Some would say “The church was closed.”

Some people have even intimated or even made the accusations that this is a government plot to destry the freedom of religion in the United States. Is this possible? Could a government order Christians and other religious people to stop spreading their message?

This was certainly true in biblical times. We all know the accounts of the three men in the fiery furnace and Daniel in the Lion’s Den. Given the death sentence for worshiping the Lord God of Israel. We know that Jesus was hated, arrested, falsely accused, and sentenced to death because the government (religious leaders) did not agree with his teachings and tried to silence him. The reason the disciples are together in this upstairs room on Pentecost is that they are in hiding. Jesus had taught them that the student was not above his master and that if he was killed, they would seek to kill him as well. A constant theme in the book of Acts is how local governments tried to stop the spread of Christianity. Early church history shows how the Roman government took up those reigns and large persecutions broke out against the Christians.

As Lutherans, part of our history is what happened to Martin Luther immediately after his famous “Here I stand.” proclamation at the Diet of Worms in 1521 and how the government declared him an outlaw. In many nations even today Christianity is outlawed and the government seeks to silence the spread of the Gospel.

So the idea that a government would try to shut down the spread of the Gospel by closing churches is not out of the realm of possibility and what has happened in the past could happen in the future. But even wise men in the government must realize that it is impossible to stop Christianity. You may also recall what Gamaliel said when the government was trying to shut Peter and the other disciples up.

Acts 5:27–42 (NIV): 27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

Does this strike you as inconsistent? Several months earlier Peter was afraid to say he had anything to do with Jesus and swore that he did not even know the man. He cowered before a servant girl in a private courtyard around a small fire. Now he boldly declares that “You can’t stop me!”

What got into him?

Better: Who got into him? It was the Holy Spirit. The disciples weren’t just hiding in that upstairs room on Pentecost. They were following Jesus’ command to wait in Jerusalem until they received power from on high. In dramatic fashion the Holy Spirit came upon them and the public spread of the gospel began and has not stopped ever since. The disciple would be and continue to be Jesus witnesses throughout the world.

The fact that there are Christian congregations throughout our cities, villages, and countrysides is a testament to that. In the past two months there has been a shift in how those church buildings are used. Most have stop practically empty. Is this the government’s attempt to shut us down? Well, that would be like saying during the same time the government was no longer supporting the education of our children. What did our schools do? With the support of the government they transitioned rather quickly to home schooling. Many of our congregations made the same transition. One Meme on facebook has Satan and Jesus in a conversaton in which Satan proudly declares “I have shut down all of your churches!” to which Jesus replies, “No, I have started congregations in homes throughout the world.” I have not seen a single example of how our government has stopped this or limited what is being preached and taught through a wide variety of online worship and devotional opportunities.

In many cases, the goal is to make this a “both and” scenario rather than an “either or”.

To do this takes a boldness that comes from God. Many pastors are quite comfortable preaching to the choir (i.e. teaching the confessions of their church to those who have been trained in it and who have publicly confessed agreement to the doctrines of that church). I trust that what I preach here from the pulpit will be received well from you and that you agree with what God’s Word says. I’m not so sure about the virtual audience.

Those who watch the Youtube videos are able to “like” or “not like” the video It bothers me that every once in a while there is a “not like” for a worship service. No reason given. In other venues I have read very strong reactions to some of the conservative viewpoints or our Lutheran faith. We may shy away from going public because we fear the public.

Do you every encounter a similar tempation to keep private? We have all been told not to discuss religion or politics because of possible strong reactions. So we keep the peace. It is safer in our homes to keep quiet. But what if Jesus had kept quiet? What if the disciples he had trained and given his life for had decided, “Well, it is safer to return to our previous professions than to put ourselves out there”? But they couldn’t stop. They were so empowered by the Holy Spirit that they just had to proclaim the wonders of God.

For centuries this was done primarily by word of mouth although there were books — expensive books — that were also used. When Luther was holed up at the Wartburg Castle for almost a year, he kept quiet (because he was faking his own death.) But he was not idle. He used his “Safer in Castle” time to translative the New Testament into the language of his people. It soon went to press as did many of his numorous writings. You can still read his sermons (they have been translated into our language) 500 years later. Many people claim that the Reformation would not have been as successful if it were not for the media. Luther was also empowered by the Holy Spirit.

That same Holy Spirit comes to us. He has brought us to faith and he empowers us to live for Jesus. He comes to us in the Word and Sacrament — in the Word even through electronic means. We may not always be able to be in church because of health regulations, work schedules, personal illness or injury, etc. But the Holy Spirit still comes to us to empower our lives.

Luke 11:11–13 (NIV): 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Soon after Pentecost in the book of Acts, we hear how God keeps this promise to the early Christians who were being tempted to stop witnessing in the face of persecution.

Acts 4:27–31 (NIV): 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Conclusion: For now were again permitted to gather to worship our God in church. There may be a time in the future when that is limited again. We had not been limited in the freedom to worship and witness. Only God knows if we will ever be in a situation where that happens. But even if it does, God promises to give his Holy Spirit to us to make us bold to worship and witness even in the face of opposition. Amen.