This past Sunday was Pentecost on the liturgical calendar. Every Anglican, Episcopal, and Roman Catholic church celebrated Pentecost – the outpouring the Holy Spirit. Most Pentecostal churches yawned. I suggest that Pentecost Sunday is just as important as Christmas and Easter.
On Christmas believers celebrate the nativity of the Jesus Christ who was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. The story of the conception and birth of Jesus has inspired majestic works of art and beautiful musical compositions. Luke tells us the virginal conception was miraculously effected by the Spirit: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. . .” (Luke 1:35).
On Easter believers celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul tells us that the resurrection of Jesus was effected by the Holy Spirit: “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11). Like Christmas, Easter has inspired the arts.
Even the most non-liturgical churches go “all in” when celebrating Christmas and Easter. Elaborate plays and musicals are planned, practiced, and performed. Many churches plan and execute extensive outreach to unbelievers during these celebrations. But Pentecost Sunday, which is signified by “a noise like a violent rushing wind” gets little more than a whimper (Acts 2:2).
Since the days of the apostles, Christians have confessed one God who eternally exists in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This Trinitarian confession reflects God’s redemptive work. Writing to the Galatian church, Paul declared, “when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son. . . that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Galatians 4:4-6). The ancient theologian, Irenaeus, offered a compelling illustration of God’s redemptive love in which he declared that God the Father has reached out with the right arm of the Son and the left arm of the Spirit to embrace fallen humanity.
The Holy Spirit is consubstantial with the Father and the Son and is to be equally worshiped and equally glorified. The gift of the Spirit is just as significant in human salvation as is the atoning blood of Christ. In his Pentecost sermon Peter declared, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Later, he asserted that redemption is accomplished by “the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit” and the sprinkled blood of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:2).
Christmas and Easter were effected by the Holy Spirit. So, Pentecost Sunday should be a great celebration in the life of the church. Believers should sing songs in which the Spirit is glorified, the story of Pentecost is remembered, and baptism in the Spirit is celebrated. Church worship spaces should be decorated with images of the Spirit – flaming tongues of fire, doves, and lots of red, the liturgical color of Pentecost. Worshipers should be encouraged to dress in red which signifies being clothed with “power from on high” (Luke 24:49). And most important, believers should be called to the altar to be baptized in the Holy Spirit again and again.
