Battleground metaphors are not my favorite spiritual metaphor; I am more drawn to the peace of still waters than to weaponry. But I was reading this week that the purpose of the Jewish festival of Pentecost is for God to give us power. And the power of Christ requires some different language than the peace of Christ does.
We have been reading during Easter about the times that the risen Christ appeared and said, "Peace to you." Now, on Pentecost Sunday, we turn to power:
Acts 2:1-4 NRSV
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
The languages given to the disciples would enable them to witness to the end of the earth, as promised earlier in Acts:
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth’” (Acts 1:4-8).
What else can power do? As we sometimes sing in the African American spiritual, whatever you are fighting today, God'll fight your battles, if you just keep waitin'.
O Church arise and put your armour on
Hear the call of Christ our Captain
For now the weak can say that they are strong
In the strength that God has given
With shield of faith and belt of Truth
We’ll stand against the devil’s lies
An army bold whose battle cry is love
Reaching out to those in darkness - Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
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