pastor’s
Note
Open your bible and read the first two verses: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Here, the word “Spirit” in Hebrew is ruah,
which can be also translated as “breath” and “ wind.”
Let us see one more Bible verse, Genesis 2:7: “God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath (ruah) of life,
and the man became a living being.
The Hebrew ruah, the Greek pneuma, the English spirit, is essential in the Christian Trinitarian theology that explains the relation between God and Jesus and humanity.
A 4th century philosopher, Marius Victorinus, wrote a hymn:
“Help us, Holy Spirit, the bond of Father and Son,
When you rest, you are the Father; when you proceed, the Son;
In binding all in one, you are the Holy Spirit.”
-Alister McGrath: Christian Theology, p.312 -
On June 9th, we celebrate the Day of Pentecost, as the final Sunday of Easter and the festival of the Holy Spirit.
The Day of Pentecost does not mark the beginning of the Holy Spirit’s work in the world. The Spirit of God is ever active in creation.
What is “new” about Pentecost is that the same Spirit now constitutes the church of God. Thus the Day of Pentecost is not about the work of the Spirit in the hearts of individual believers. It is about the church as corporate community, the formation of the church out of a frightened band of followers.
Laurence Hull Stookey, a liturgical scholar, argues against the popular belief that “the church is a voluntary organization of individuals and exists primarily for reasons that related to efficiency.” [Calendar: Christ Time for the Church, 1996, p.76] He asserts:
“The church is a community called together by the Spirit of the Risen One. It is not something we choose to do, but something to which we are summoned. . . Participation therefore is not something we do on the basis of personal choice or need; participation in the Body of Christ is inherent in being Christian. The church is, not the individual, is the irreducible unit of Christianity.” [76]
His conclusion is provocative and powerful: “Therefore Christians participate in the church not so much for what they can get as for what they can give, for what they can offer as an alternative to the dominant ways of the world.” [77]
The Holy Spirit is a gift given by God. She (Yes! Traditionally, the Holy Spirit is feminine) unites believers both to God and to other believers. Our commitment to the ministry of the church is our response to our holy connection to God and Jesus, and an expression of gratitude for many gifts and blessings God bestowed upon us.
Let us rejoice at the coming of the Holy Spirit and enjoy our sacred bondage!
Your Pastor Kyu
Here, the word “Spirit” in Hebrew is ruah,
which can be also translated as “breath” and “ wind.”
Let us see one more Bible verse, Genesis 2:7: “God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath (ruah) of life,
and the man became a living being.
The Hebrew ruah, the Greek pneuma, the English spirit, is essential in the Christian Trinitarian theology that explains the relation between God and Jesus and humanity.
A 4th century philosopher, Marius Victorinus, wrote a hymn:
“Help us, Holy Spirit, the bond of Father and Son,
When you rest, you are the Father; when you proceed, the Son;
In binding all in one, you are the Holy Spirit.”
-Alister McGrath: Christian Theology, p.312 -
On June 9th, we celebrate the Day of Pentecost, as the final Sunday of Easter and the festival of the Holy Spirit.
The Day of Pentecost does not mark the beginning of the Holy Spirit’s work in the world. The Spirit of God is ever active in creation.
What is “new” about Pentecost is that the same Spirit now constitutes the church of God. Thus the Day of Pentecost is not about the work of the Spirit in the hearts of individual believers. It is about the church as corporate community, the formation of the church out of a frightened band of followers.
Laurence Hull Stookey, a liturgical scholar, argues against the popular belief that “the church is a voluntary organization of individuals and exists primarily for reasons that related to efficiency.” [Calendar: Christ Time for the Church, 1996, p.76] He asserts:
“The church is a community called together by the Spirit of the Risen One. It is not something we choose to do, but something to which we are summoned. . . Participation therefore is not something we do on the basis of personal choice or need; participation in the Body of Christ is inherent in being Christian. The church is, not the individual, is the irreducible unit of Christianity.” [76]
His conclusion is provocative and powerful: “Therefore Christians participate in the church not so much for what they can get as for what they can give, for what they can offer as an alternative to the dominant ways of the world.” [77]
The Holy Spirit is a gift given by God. She (Yes! Traditionally, the Holy Spirit is feminine) unites believers both to God and to other believers. Our commitment to the ministry of the church is our response to our holy connection to God and Jesus, and an expression of gratitude for many gifts and blessings God bestowed upon us.
Let us rejoice at the coming of the Holy Spirit and enjoy our sacred bondage!
Your Pastor Kyu