Month: June 2020

Screen after screen after screen on my iPad was filled with faces of women just like me. There are a couple of hundred women in our class, of which 164 were present on this zoom call. 

It was BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) sharing day. We have just finished a one semester study of the book of Acts. Today was our opportunity to share some of our insights with the whole class rather than just with our small group. 

I did not speak publicly today. Not because I am shy … far from it. I have only been part of this class for one semester and plan to transfer to another class which meets closer to home next semester. I figured I’d let the long-term class members have priority. And besides, I have this blog where I can share what I’m learning. 

To the ends of the earth

The book of Acts starts with Jesus’ commission to his disciples to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.  It ends with Paul, who had not even been a Christian at the start of Acts. The last verse of Acts tells of Paul witnessing for Jesus at the very centre of the Roman Empire. Although under house arrest, Paul preached and taught  … and he did it boldly and without hindrance. 

Being Jesus’ witness … that has got me thinking about the definition of what we call ‘gospel’, and what it means to ‘share the gospel’. But that’s not what I learnt from our BSF study this semester. Maybe I’ll come back to that another time. 

As I looked at our BSF class, the members all appearing in little boxes on my screen, I am struck by how varied we are in terms of colour and accents. (Yes, I know -‘race’ is a sensitive topic these days.  I’m just stating the obvious, though, with no hint of judgement.) 

The birth of the church, Pentecost, was in Jerusalem. That was the centre of Christendom at the time. Since then it has shifted all around the world, and our class make-up shows that beautifully.  Wow – all glory be to God!

Over this past semester, in this particular class, I am grateful for the leadership and teaching provided by good Christian women from various parts of Asia who now live in Melbourne. (I am thinking of my group leader and teaching leader in particular.) 

Actually, though, secular statistics show that the world’s most devout Christians are actually in sub-Saharan Africa. (If you want to read more, check out this research: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/08/22/the-worlds-most-committed-christians-live-in-africa-latin-america-and-the-u-s/ft_18-08-21_globalchristianity_worship-attendance-prayer/ ) I look forward to the day when I sit under African-Australian leadership. In the meantime, I enjoy submitting to the leadership of Asian-Australian women in this context. 

I love being part of the global church. God’s people are not separated by ethnicity, even though in our broken world we suffer the prejudices and ignorance of racism.  

Jesus delights in his body which is made up of people from many and varied ethnicities. I delight in being part of that community too. That’s the first insight I want to share from the study of Acts in BSF this past semester.

It’s Jesus’ work

The second thing that struck me afresh during this past semester is how the work of mission is Jesus’ work. Yes, we have a role to play, but ultimately we are servants of the Master. Let me elaborate.  

Do you know how many times Jesus himself appeared or spoke to people during those early days of the church? At least eight times!. If you include references to ‘an angel of the Lord’ or to an explicit communication from the Holy Spirit or God, it’s eighteen times. (See the annotated list of quotes below). 

Although I might not have worded it like this, I seem to have somehow figured that after Jesus’ ascension, it was more-or-less up to us to do God’s work, albeit empowered his indwelling Holy Spirit. But it is actually Jesus’ work. 

I think of that classic missions passage from Romans asking, ‘How can they call on Jesus unless they hear?  … And how can they hear without someone preaching?  … And how can they preach unless they are sent?’ (Romans 10:14-15 paraphrased)  I seem to remember having had that verse printed on a prayer card early on in my cross-cultural career. 

It’s true –  we have an important role to play in being Jesus’ witnesses. But let us never forget the limits of our role too. Our role is to be witnesses. Jesus is with us. He guides us. He encourages us (though not as spectacularly as he encouraged Paul … not me anyhow … not yet).  Jesus remains very much involved in the nitty gritty of missions. 

Missions is Jesus’ work. That’s the second insight from BSF this past semester which I want to share.

Verses which refer to divine presence, direction and encouragement in Acts

Supernatural deliverance – An angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jails in which the apostles were imprisoned, instructing them, “Go, stand in the temple courts … and tell the people the full message of this new life.” (Acts 5:20 NIV)

 Supernatural encouragement – The martyr Stephen was encouraged to stand firm by a glimpse of the bigger picture. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55 NIV)

 Supernatural direction – An angel of the Lord sent Philip to the road on which he met an Ethiopian eunuch who took the gospel home with him. (Acts 8:26)

A supernatural commission – Jesus himself called and commissioned Paul in brilliant light on the Damascus Road (Acts 9:5-6 and Acts 26:15-18). Shortly after that, the Lord (presumably Jesus, since my Bible helpfully puts the text in red) explained to a disciple named Ananias that Paul was his “… chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel…” (Acts 9:15) … along with an assurance of great suffering in Jesus’ name. Shortly after that, the Lord appeared to Paul while he was in a prayerful trance in Jerusalem (I’d LOVE to know more about that!), providing specific direction (Acts 22:18).

Supernatural direction – The God-fearing Gentile Cornelius “distinctly saw an angel of God”  (Acts 10:3 NIV). Later we read that he saw “a man in shining clothes” (Acts 10:30 NIV). I love the response: “Cornelius stared at him in fear.” (Acts 10:4 NIV). The angel instructed Cornelius to send for Peter. In contrast, the apostle Peter only heard a voice in a vision but the meaning was clear. This was God’s next move in his work of kingdom expansion. 

Supernatural deliverance – Acts 12:7-10 records the divine intervention of an angel of the Lord in releasing Peter from jail, though he hadn’t intervened earlier when James had been jailed and executed. Peter would later identify the angel of the Lord as just ‘the Lord’ (Acts 12:17). It’s God’s work and his call regarding even when we live and when our time is up. 

Supernatural direction – Acts 13:2-3 attributes the first formal missionary commissioning service as being in direct obedience to the Holy Spirit. There is much that could be applied here to the selection process for missionary candidates as well as to meetings in general. 

Supernatural direction – When it came to taking the gospel to Europe for the very first time, the Trinity was involved – I have blogged on this before. The Holy Spirit kept Paul and his companions from one planned course of action (Acts 16:6), the Spirit of Jesus blocked them from another planned route (Acts 16:7) and then a vision led Paul to conclude that “God had called us…” to Europe (Acts 16:10). 

Supernatural encouragement – At a particularly low point in Paul’s ministry, the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision … it’s recorded in red letters in my Bible. “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you….” (Acs 18:9-10 NIV)

Supernatural prophecy – Paul’s decision to go to Jerusalem where trouble awaited him was attributed to the Spirit: “… compelled by the Spirit … the Holy Spirit warns me….” (Acts 20:22, 23) . A Judean prophet also warned Paul of trouble ahead, demonstrating his imprisonment powerfully through drama, and attributing these insights directly to the Holy Spirit (acts 21:11). 

Supernatural encouragement – In the thick of trouble and discouragement and on the cusp of being thrust into the clutches of the leaders of Gentiles and ultimately the highest court in the empire, the Lord stood near Paul (doesn’t that give you goosebumps!) and said, “Take courage….” (Acts 23:11). 

Supernatural prophecy – An angel of God appeared to Paul on a ship which would soon to be submerged by tumultuous waves.  Unsurprisingly, his opening words were “Do not be afraid….” (Acts 27:23-24)

Personal Applications

Bible Study Fellowship emphasises personal application of what we’re learning … a LOT. And so of course, as I look back on the semester just finished, I am considering this question:  ‘How will I apply what I’ve learnt?’ So here goes……

Application 1:  Know my place and be encouraged

I am a very little person in the great scheme of Jesus’ work. Building God’s kingdom is a project which spans time, place, language and culture. Recognising my smallness in it all takes a  weight of responsibility off my shoulders. I have a particular focus right now in terms of missions but that’s all it is – my focus.  Yes, I sense that it is a God-given focus. It’s where I need to pour my resources of time, energy, experience and education. But what happens is not my responsibility. There’s a big difference between the two. 

Application 2: Maximise prayer, minimise chatter

Decision making processes should be centred more on seeking God’s direction and less on endless discussions. Yes, clear communications with one another, policies and strategies have a place … but not first place.  

As an obvious starting point I need to pray more about how I use those resources that God has given me, and talk less about what I could, should, might, won’t or can’t do. 

Application 3: ‘Practice the Presence of God’ (to borrow words from the 17^th century monk, Brother Lawrence) 

“Do not be afraid – I am with you,” said the risen, ascended Jesus to Paul on a number of occasions. I know that it is true for us today too. Just the same, I would rather like the goose-bump-generating experience of sensing him standing right there in person from time to time. Although were I to actually experience it, I may well freeze up like dear Cornelius and just stare in fear. 

Physically standing beside us or not, Jesus IS with us. And that gives us courage. Personally, I take encouragement as I continue to plug away on that particular focus which feels too big and unwieldy for little me … and IS too big and unwieldy. But (a) it is not my responsibility, and (b) the one who is responsible is with me. So I will not be afraid.

And that is what I would have shared had I chosen to speak up in our BSF online class sharing day. Here it is in written form instead. It’s been a good semester.  

A wise man said, “If something happens three times, it’s probably not a coincidence. Look for God’s hand.” 

‘Gazumpa’ … or the concept this character represents … has come to my attention three times over the last few weeks. I think an awareness of this odd creature and appropriate management is where I need to focus just now. That’s the lesson I’m up to in the divine personalised curriculum laid out for me. 

Who or what is Gazumpa, you may ask? 

Introducing Gazumpa

‘Gazumpa’ is what I have named my inner critic. Yes, an ‘inner critic’ is  a psychological concept rather than a person. That’s why I’m not referring to Gazumpa’ as ‘him’ or ‘her’. It makes it a bit tricky to write about this pesky entity though. I think of Gazump as a person … someone with a persistent, nagging, whiny voice. Gazumpa is that voice in my head. 

No, I’m not going mad. I don’t think so, anyhow. 

This genderless creature is small, with pointy features. It wears a drab shirt buttoned tightly around the neck and at the wrists, dark neat trousers and polished shoes without a hint of scuffing. Its hair is pulled back in a tight bun without a flyaway strand to be seen. Gazumpa walks and talks with a pompous, self-righteous, arrogant air. Its favourite phrases are, “What DO you think you’re doing?” “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well,” and “If you can’t do it perfectly, don’t bother doing it at all.” 

The verb ‘to gazump’ is used in real estate transactions. If one person makes an offer on a property, which is verbally accepted, and then, at the very last moment, someone else makes a slightly higher offer and gets the property, we say that second person has ‘gazumped’ the first. It’s not illegal but it’s not morally or ethically right either. 

That’s why my inner critic is named ‘Gazumpa’. 

Unconscious Persuasion

The phrase ‘unconscious persuasion’ caught my attention on an advertisement for an SBS program recently.  “[Dr Xand] investigates if unconscious persuasion could be the future of dieting,” I read.

I doubt you want to look it up, but I can’t quote even a TV programme on a public blog without proper referencing, so Gazumpa reminds me. I read it here: https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/how-to-lose-weight-well accessed 17 June 2020, though watched the programme a month ago. Thank you, Gazumpa.

Actually, it turns out that ‘unconscious persuasion’ isn’t about dieting at all. Some people who practise this talk about ‘the dirty d-word’, which is, of course, ‘dieting’.

‘Unconscious persuasion’ is about changing the way we think, and in this case, specifically about food and exercise. Advertisers mess with our thoughts all the time through repetitive slogans, images and sound clips. They’re not as concerned about our health, however, as they are concerned about profit. Am I being cynical?

I signed up for a twelve week programme called ’Thinking Slimmer’ and have been enjoying it. Every day, I watch a short video and listen to a repeated pep talk. One of the videos was about identifying and distancing ourselves from our inner critics. We were encouraged to give that inner critic a silly name. 

Hence Gazumpa.  

Writer’s Block

My productive procrastination these past months has been impressive, if I say so myself. I have a particularly important writing project to work on. Why can’t I get into it? I have an outline, I have plenty to say, and I have sat at the computer for hours, writing and re-writing one section,  perfecting footnotes as I go. 

And then, this week, in yet another feat of procrastination, I took an online test to determine the problem … or to put off doing the writing a little longer … or both. I also read the book that goes with the test. The results were astounding.  

(The test can be found here: https://newforums.com/resources/ebooks/blocking-questionnaire-tool-scholarly-writers/  … Gazumpa prompted me to give proper credit.)

First, I learnt that I could legitimately claim to have had writer’s block. (I think it’s gone now!) 

Second, I learnt that my inner critic, or, more to the point, my inappropriate attention to that inner critic, was largely to blame. Yes, that is Gazumpa. 

Gazumpa is not my enemy. Its critical nature will be quite useful when I get to the editing and polishing stage, and when fiddling with the footnoting. But right now, Gazumpa needs to be sent out for a l-o-n-g walk whenever I sit down to work on this project. 

Subconscious Processes

‘Subconscious Processes’ was the name of lesson I attended yesterday in a zoom training session. We were shown a lovely diagram of a mind with the conscious thinking and sensory entry points above a deep and mysterious subconscious. The subconscious is where Gazumpa resides. 

The training was rich and practical. I will spare you the details, but suffice to say that our ‘inner critics’ featured in terms of unhealthy self-talk. The relevance to this blog post was one of the practical applications that we were given at the end of the session. 

“When the Holy Spirit brings things to mind, deal with them,” I wrote in my notebook. 

Given that this was the third time in a short time that I was hearing about internal critics, I figured that the Holy Spirit was bringing this to mind. This blog post is my way of dealing with it … or it’s a move in the right direction, anyhow. 

The Voice of the Spirit

Not only do I have Gazumpa whispering half truths in my mind, but I also have the Spirit of God nudging me towards holiness. The two are nothing alike. 

‘You’ve got to be perfect,’ preaches Gazumpa. ‘If you can’t do it perfectly, don’t bother doing it at all.’

The Holy Spirit reminds me of the value of weakness. 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 

2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

But … ‘Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect,’ murmurs Gazumpa, taking Scripture (Matthew 5:48 NIV) out of context just as The Enemy did way back in Eden. 

The Spirit reminds me that when Jesus spoke those words about being perfect, it was in the context of him explaining that we cannot achieve the perfection standard of the Jewish Law. Indeed, Jesus had come to fulfil the Law.

Interestingly, as I edit this blog post the day after writing it, these EXACT words – ‘Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect’ – were the focus of the devotional I listen to each morning. (The devotional can be found here: https://pray-as-you-go.org/player/prayer/2020-06-16 )

Yes, the Spirit is transforming me through the renewing of my mind, as per Romans 12:2.

Instead of bashing myself up for failing to be perfect, I think of the apostle Paul’s encouraging words to the less-than-perfect saints in Rome.

… so that the Gentiles [people like me] might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:16b NIV

I’m being sanctified. I’m a work in progress. 

Inner critic – friend or foe?

This week, I have sat at the computer every day with the intention of putting in 25 minutes of non-perfect work on my academic writing project. To my astonishment, after struggling for weeks, I am now easily putting in 90 minutes a day. And enjoying it.. That’s what happens when I send Gazumpa out for a walk. 

When Gazumpa whispers those half-truths about perfection or anything else, with God’s help, I shall recognise them and refute them. 

But when it comes time to edit my document and make those pesky little footnotes perfect, Gazumpa will have a role. 

My inner critic is not all bad. Gazumpa is neither friend nor foe. My inner critic just needs to be kept in its place and stick to the truth. 

THAT is the challenge.

I can’t find just the right song for this topic. 

I’m currently on day seven of a good intention that will hopefully become a habit. Each day, I want to stop, meditate on a passage of Scripture or an attribute of God, and prayerfully sing something related to that theme. Until today, it’s been easy. Songs I have enjoyed this past week have included ‘Rescuer’, ‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus’ and ‘Purify my heart’. 

I was meditating on a passage which we discussed in BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) yesterday. In Acts 24, we find the great missionary to the Gentiles and Jews both, Paul, standing before a Roman governor, Felix, and the ruler’s Jewish wife, Drusilla. His words cut straight to their hearts. Their reaction was intense. There’s got to be application for me in there too, right? 

Not quite the song I’m after

… Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgement to come, Felix was afraid…. 

Acts 24:24-25a NIV

Righteousness, self-control and the judgement to come … that was the topic of my meditation today. I walked around some lovely wetlands near my home, mumbling ‘Righteousness, self-control and judgement to come’ in sync with the rhythm of my footsteps. 

But I couldn’t find a song. I delved deep into my memory. Finally a melody from my childhood surfaced with a pleasant ‘pop’.

“Music machine, music machine,
Like no other gadget that you’ve ever seen…” 

Frank and Betty Hernandez, 1977

After I got home, I looked up the lyrics for the self-control song from what was then a much-loved vinyl record of ours – ‘Music Machine’. Along with examples of self-control in everyday life, the lyricists hammered this lesson into the minds of little kids through the chorus:

Self-control is just controlling myself
It’s listening to my heart
And doing what is smart
Self-control is the very best way to go
So I think that I’ll control myself.

Frank and Betty Hernandez, 1977 – this is the chorus to the song ‘Self-Control’ from ‘Music Machine – The Fruit of the Spirit’

A master missionary’s method

Actually, cute Christian kids in the 1970s singing ‘Music Machine’ had very little in common with the royal couple before whom Paul spoke in the first century. 

It struck me as an exceptionally odd gospel presentation. Perhaps we over-emphasise grace and honour at the expense of works and owning your shame. Even so, Paul’s focus on righteousness, self-control and the judgement to come in an initial gospel presentation was surely unusual. 

Paul is a master missionary. His models are worth studying. In Athens, the identity of the ‘unknown God’ was his starting point for explaining the gospel to the Greeks. Amongst Jews, he skilfully interpreted Scripture to show how Jesus was the fulfilment of prophecy. As for the Philippian jailer and his household, Paul (and Silas) simply urged them to believe in the Lord Jesus. 

And to the Roman Felix and Jewish Drusilla combination, Paul spoke of righteousness, self-control and the judgement to come.

Terror

Interrupting Paul’s ‘gospel presentation’, filled with fear, Felix sent Paul back to his prison cell. Nevertheless, over the next two years, he would often send for him and discuss matters further. The historian, Dr Luke (author of Acts), noted too that Felix hoped in vain that Paul would bribe him. 

Why were Felix and Drusilla filled with fear at Paul’s emphasis on righteousness, self-control and the judgement to come? As I delved a little further, using online study aids, my ‘good Christian girl sensibilities’ were shocked.

At one point, I had thought that I might write this blog post from the perspective of Drusilla. But no. I don’t need to do that to myself. And besides, I wouldn’t know where to start.

The reason for the fear response was surely the certainty of judgement … unless, of course, they turned to Jesus in repentance and faith.

Nature and nurture

Nature and nurture … Drusilla had both against her in terms of ‘righteousness and self-control’. And surely she had every reason to fear the judgement to come. Yes, forgiveness is available through Jesus but repentance is required. And it doesn’t sound like she was interested in that.  Felix, too, was angling for a bribe … behaviour hardly conducive to righteousness and self-control. 

Drusilla was the daughter of King Herod Agrippa I who is known as the ‘Royal Persecutor of the Church’. She was the granddaughter of Herod the Great, who had ordered the massacre of baby boys around the time of Jesus’ birth in an attempt to kill the Messiah. She was the niece of Herod Antipas who had ordered John the Baptist beheaded, and cousin to the girl who had asked for John’s head on a platter. Her family connections were impressive in a warped way. 

Although she was probably only a young woman at the time of Paul’s two-year imprisonment in Caesarea, Drusilla had already lived quite the life. Married as a teenager to a king in modern-day Syria, she had left him for Felix. Tradition suggests that Felix was fascinated with her and involved a Jewish sorcerer in orchestrating this unholy union.

Drusilla wasn’t surrounded by … let us say … people of ‘good influence’. But that did not excuse her for the choices she made along the way.

Live well

My own battles with self-control relate to little things like household and administrative chores and needing to spend more time in my home office chair (something I don’t like to do).  These trivialities are nothing in comparison to the massive sins of Drusilla, the Jewish wife of Felix, surely.

The New Testament letter of 1 John tells me that, as a follower of Jesus, I must walk in the light. Drusilla’s sins were big. They were obvious. There was no hiding them. Mine are small. Most people wouldn’t even recognise them as sin unless they actually lived with me. But sins they are. And there is no hiding of them, either, when I ‘walk in the light’. 

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:8-9 NIV

It’s all about Jesus. He forgives us and purifies us and makes us righteous. But read on … John had more to say……

The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

1 John 2:17 NIV

It’s also about my behaviour. My actions don’t save me. But I can’t follow Jesus and continue to live in a worldly way. I can’t ‘do the will of God’ and live without regard for God’s standards.

Still singing

Don’t worry. I’m not sliding into a works-based theology of salvation. But I have been reminded of a three-pronged truth as I spend time in this rather strange gospel presentation of Paul’s to a Gentile ruler and his Jewish bride. 

Righteousness is important. Self-control is important. We live in light of the judgement to come. 

Our lifestyles must reflect our calling as people of God.

No wonder Felix and Drusilla were terrified as the gospel pricked their consciences. For it seemed that they were unwilling to change their ways. Yet judgement would be inevitable.

I am very grateful for my Christian heritage. ‘Music Machine’ was a great way to instil Biblical truths in the hearts of kids decades ago. God bless those artists who produce music similar to this for kids today. God bless Christian parents who are intentional in teaching Christian truths to young children. 

I just wish I could find an adult song to sing meditatively about righteousness, self-control and the judgement to come.  If you have a suggestion, do pass it on to me.

In the meantime, I shall be singing the chorus from the self-control song of Music Machine.

This past Sunday was Pentecost, a church holiday (holy day) we barely notice in my circles.  Many of us were more focused on chaos and injustice the world over after the tragic passing of a brother in Christ a few days earlier. 

His death highlights a lesson from that Pentecost day almost two millennia ago on which the church was born.

In Christ, barriers between us have been broken. 

If you’re interested in reading about the Christian character of ‘Big Floyd’, as the brother who died last week was affectionately known, check out this article: https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/may/george-floyd-ministry-houston-third-ward-church.html

Gender discrimination no more

Women were lifted into significance in the early church through Jesus’ ministry. In the Jewish culture of the day, women were not allowed into the inner courts of the temple; they were restricted to the ‘women’s court’. Women were not permitted to be priests, though there were several female prophets honoured in Israel’s history. Women did not count amongst the twelve disciples closest to Jesus either, but they were not far out from his inner circle. Dr Luke records their presence in his record:

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

Luke 8:1 – 3 NIV

Women not only followed Jesus throughout his ministry, but women followed Jesus to the cross. Jesus took time to address women on the road to Gethsemane as well as to look out for his mother from the cross itself. A woman was the first person to whom Christ revealed himself after his resurrection. Women were treated with dignity and respect by our Lord. 

Come the Pentecost Day on which the church was born, women were right there with the twelve. Dr Luke records how Jesus’ followers spent their time between Jesus’ ascension and the coming of the Spirit: 

They (Jesus’ disciples) all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

(Acts 1:14 NIV) 

Equal though different

Relax. I’m not about to get into a debate about complementarianism versus egalitarianism. That sensitive discussion relates to the role of women in churches. I’m not going there right now.

Some of us are created with high emotional intelligence but we can’t fix blocked toilets in our church buildings. Others of us are gifted at keeping the books but we are lousy in putting words together in an easy-to-listen-to manner. Some of us are evangelists. Others are teachers. Still others are gifted in hospitality.

We have different gifts but we are part of one body … Jesus’ body. We have different personalities but we are indwelt with the one spirit … Jesus’ spirit. 

Some of us have black skin. Others have white skin. The luckiest of us have skin that is neither too dark nor too light, but just right.

None of that affects our value in God’s eyes. Though it just might in the eyes of one another. 

Prophecy

It was very important that the women were there with the men when the Spirit of God descended on the group that Pentecost Day. When the apostle Peter explained to astonished onlookers what was happening, he referred to a prophecy given by a prophet named Joel. 

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. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:17-18 NIV

Back in the Middle East in the first century, women were second class citizens. But not in Jesus’ eyes. And at Pentecost, his spirit was given to both men and women. 

Peter made sure the onlookers knew it.  Breaking gender barriers was a powerful statement about the work of Jesus. As was breaking linguistic barriers.

Broken barriers

Racism would also become an issue in the early church in the years to come, but perhaps not in the way that we understand it now. Back then, people of other races could convert to Judaism so long as they took on Jewish ways of life. 

There were Jews from all over the empire gathered in Jerusalem that first Pentecost. Some were born Jews, while others had converted (see Acts 2:11). Amazingly all of them could hear those followers of Jesus … men and women … declaring God’s wonders in their own languages. 

The issue of whether those who would believe in Jesus had to become culturally Jewish was going to become a big deal in the years to come. But on that first Pentecost following Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension, the message that came through loud and clear was this: 

Jesus had broken the barriers of gender and language. 

Simeon called Niger

Some years after the Holy Spirit was spectacularly given to God’s people that Pentecost Day, the leaders of a Christian community in Antioch would fast and pray and commission the prophet to the Gentiles, Paul. Actually, the church leadership team was made up of five men, two of whom were sent by the church to take the gospel to those who had never heard – they were Barnabas and Saul (Paul). Of the other three, as best we can tell, one was black. Simeon, called Niger, was his name (see Acts 13:1). 

Dr Luke, the author of the book of Acts, has done it again … he has piqued my interest but left me hanging. Who, pray tell, was ‘Simeon, called Niger’? Bible scholars tell us that the Latin name, Niger, did indeed mean black. What was Simeon’s heritage? Was he a convert to Judaism first then a Christian later? (Just as an aside, Antioch was where followers of Christ were first called Christians.)  Was he circumcised? Did he follow Jewish food laws?

There is a lot we don’t know. But one thing we do know is that one of the senior leaders in Paul’s sending church was Simeon, called Niger.

Thanks, Dr Luke, for pointing that out.  

Paul’s empassioned plea

Some years after Simeon, called Niger, and his team had sent the apostle Paul and his companion on their first missionary journey, racism reared its ugly head. 

It wasn’t about the colour of one’s skin, but more about the lifestyle one led. Young Christians in Galatia, a church established by that very same missionary outreach sent from the church in Antioch, had been convinced that following Jewish ways were necessary for salvation. 

Paul wrote to correct this heresy. He was rather rude, actually. “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” he wrote. “Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard. Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” (Galatians 3:1-3) And on and on and on he ranted. 

Along the way, in his rant, he pronounced this truth: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

All one. 

Neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female. 

Neither black nor white, illiterate nor well-educated, rich nor poor. 

As members of God’s kingdom, we are all one in Christ Jesus.

Pentecost 2020

The prophet Joel spoke of a day when God’s Spirit would be given to all God’s people, regardless of gender or age. The apostle Peter and his group, comprised of both men and women, demonstrated that God’s Spirit would be given to all who called on the name of the Lord. The apostle Paul wrote that, in Christ, all barriers between us are broken down. 

Pentecost 2020 is time for us, Spirit-led people of God, to speak up. I am in no way condoning violence and destruction, nor suggesting we participate in even peaceful public protests during a pandemic. I am, however, aware that injustice is perpetrated over and over again. In as much as we have influence or authority to speak, act or even just ‘be’, as children of God, let us portray kingdom values. 

Politics is complicated. Modern media reports don’t help with various biases and sensationalism needed to grab attention and make money. One thing, though, is clear:

In Christ there is no black and white. 

Though I still envy people whose skin colour is just right.