Speaking God’s Language

Numbers 11:24-30, Acts 2:1-21  

One of the great preachers and preaching professors in all the world is a kind, unassuming man named Fred Craddock. Professor Craddock used to teach at Emory University in Atlanta , and he has lectured at distinguished seminaries and divinity schools the world over. He says, "A few years ago when I was on the West Coast to speak at a seminary, just before the first lecture, one of the students stood up and said, ‘Before you speak, I need to know if you are Pentecostal.’

"The room grew silent. I didn’t know where the dean was! The student quizzed me in front of everybody.

"I was taken aback, and so I said, ‘Do you mean if I belong to the Pentecostal church?

"He said, ‘No, I mean are you Pentecostal?’

"I said, ‘Are you asking if I am charismatic?’

"He said, ‘I am asking if you are Pentecostal.’

"I said, ‘Do you want to know if I speak in tongues?’

"He said, ‘I want to know if you are Pentecostal.’

"I said, ‘I don’t know what your question is.’

"He said, ‘Obviously, you are not Pentecostal.’ He left." (Fred B. Craddock, Craddock Stories, ed. Mike Graves and Richard F. Ward, 22.)

Are you Pentecostal? Am I Pentecostal? Strangely enough, let me suggest we may be, but probably not in the way that young man was thinking. A little bit of history might be helpful as we think about the question.

Originally, the Day of Pentecost was a Jewish celebration of the first wheat harvest, and it was celebrated fifty days after Passover. (Later on, Christians celebrated it fifty days after Easter). Over time there was a shift in focus, and the festival became a celebration of God’s giving of the law to Israel . On the Day of Pentecost as recorded in the Book of Acts people were all gathered together. Maybe they were worshiping. Maybe they were praying. We don’t know for sure. But then something happened beyond words to describe. From heaven came a sound like the rush of a violent wind and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. A tongue of fire rested on each person assembled. Each person was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, empowered by the Spirit.

Luke (the author of Acts) says "there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem ." And when they heard the sound, a confused crowd gathered. They said, "We know these folks in the house are from Galilee . So how come each one of us is hearing our own native language being spoken? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia and so forth." Now, as I think professor Tom Long has pointed out in a sermon somewhere, the weird thing about this list of places is that some of the places no longer existed when this was written. So why this detail? This is a way of saying the good news is not just for some people. No. The good news is for all people, in every time and in every place. God has been at work in all people since humanity’s creation.

Now some people watching this wild Pentecost party naturally asked, "What does this mean?" Others were scandalized by the affair. "Oh, they’re just drunk." So Peter stood and provided one of my favorite comebacks in the Bible. He said, "Listen up people! These folks aren’t drunk. It’s only nine o’clock in the morning! No. This is what the prophet Joel predicted all along. The last days have dawned. And God’s going to pour out the Spirit on everybody–sons, daughters, young, old, male, female, free and slaves. God’s going to pour out God’s Spirit on everybody and they will dream dreams, see visions, and prophesy. And then everybody who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

So do you see what it really means to be Pentecostal? It’s not about noise and pyrotechnics. It’s not about trying to recreate that rowdy Pentecost in the Book of Acts. No. Being Pentecostal is what happens when God’s Spirit is poured out on all sorts of people and they start dream God’s dreams. They start seeing God’s visions. They start prophesying, that is they start listening for God’s will and telling others God’s will with their words and actions. They start speaking God’s language. That’s what it really means to be Pentecostal, isn’t it?

So are you and I Pentecostal? Maybe so. Isn’t it true that God dreams about caring for the weak? And that’s what we’ve done with charity auction that raised about $4000 for the Willoughby Food Pantry and Heifer International and our portion of the Hunger Walk that raised about $1000 yesterday. It’s what we’ll do as we contribute to Myanmar cyclone relief. And isn’t it a fact that God’s vision is to reach out to include all people in God’s love? As Acts says, "everybody who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." So this church is a place where male and female, rich and poor, young and old, and different sexual orientations are welcome. And we’re increasing our outreach to the world with professional brochures, an expanded church website, word of mouth, greeters at the door, etc. And isn’t it common knowledge that God’s language is love. And the way we speak that language is by trying to live personal lives with integrity. By being involved in our community and world through service to others such as the Lake County Church Network, Habitat for Humanity, and other organizations. By being as knowledgeable as possible about what’s happening in God’s world and by speaking out for justice and mercy. Isn’t that what it really means to have the Spirit alive in us? Isn’t that what it really means to be Pentecostal?

You know, sometimes we like to kid around about what drudgery it is to serve on a church committee or the session or be in one of the church musical groups or to serve on some local nonprofit board or even to come to worship and to give our money to serve. We kind of roll our eyes and joke about it. But over time do you know what I’ve noticed? Yeah, the ministry is sometimes long and frustrating. Yeah, it’s sometimes even tedious. But what I’ve noticed is this secret I’m going to tell you. Most of the time as people gather together to do God’s ministry they are having fun. Most of the time the people are smiling and laughing and they’re just so glad to see each other. What in the world causes that? All I can figure is that the Spirit must have come and rested on the people there to make them so glad, so happy to be together doing God’s ministry and speaking God’s language. For heaven’s sake, if you didn’t know better, you’d think they were drunk. And I suppose they are. Thank you, God, for the Spirit poured on your Pentecostal people. Amen.

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