Working Without the Holy Spirit

Image by hickory hardscrabble via Flickr

It has been repeated in some circles that a Korean pastor once visited the United States and remarked at the end of his stay, "It's amazing what you people can do without the Holy Spirit."

I like to think that I can do a lot as well...but without the Holy Spirit it's all in vain.

How can I be open to the Spirit's movement in my life?  How can I receive and be blessed by its power?  How can I move from relying upon myself?

I don't want to work without the Holy Spirit.

Come, Holy Spirit.

I need you.

Some Reflections on Orthodoxy and the Spirit

Two days ago was Pentecost Sunday and Girdwood Chapel, like many, many churches around the world, celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit to God's church.

Of course, we read Acts 2:1-21, with some dramatic flair--even starting worship with it. We also read from John 14, closing with:

”I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

We sang "Sweet, Sweet Spirit" and "Spirit of God" as found in The Faith We Sing hymnal. We had our "Pentecost People" (red clothing in the shapes of persons) up on the wall.

The occasion of the coming of the Spirit got me thinking a little bit about "ORTHODOXY" -- right belief.


See, some years ago I had a member of a church approach me with questions about the Holy Spirit. This person believed in Jesus as "Lord and Savior" and believed in God the Father. This person recited the Lord's Prayer with gusto and sang in the choir and served the poor. From looking at his life, he certainly "looked" a whole lot more Christian than a lot of the other people sitting in the pews. What this person said was that they could not do was believe in the Holy Spirit. At this point in time, several years later, I'm not exactly sure what the holdup was. I understand that, intellectually, the Spirit seems to take more of leap of faith for some persons. It's that whole "you can't see the Spirit but you can see what the Spirit does" thing. But, at the end of the day...and at the end of the conversation...he didn't believe in the Holy Spirit.

Is that outside the realm of "ORTHODOXY"? If so, what does that mean? Is that person going to burn with unquenchable fire? Does grace abound? Does it matter if one stands outside of traditional orthodoxy? These are not simple, little questions.

So, is this outside of the realm of "Orthodoxy?" I want to say, "yes." I view traditional orthodoxy as the historical creeds of the church -- the Apostle's, the Nicene, etc. I want to say that this...this...is right belief...orthodoxy. So, if that's where I draw the lines, then what does it mean to be outside of that? What does it mean to have "incorrect" or "wrong" belief?

What if I believe that God used evolution as a tool to create the human race whom he loves? What if I believe women should be priests/pastors or if I'm a pastor who has experienced divorce and still is serving a local church? What if I believe that Scripture is the infallible and inspired Word of God but have difficulty with "literalism"? What if I believe in premillennial dispensationalism rather than postmillennnial dispensationalism? How narrow a circle are we drawing here and what are the ramifications for being on the outside of that circle...being "heterodox" in belief? And, where does grace come to us on our journeys outside of orthodoxy? And where does our quest for orthodoxy merely lead us into the realm of the Pharisees, straining gnats and swallowing camels?

Two thoughts here:

1. Eternal ramifications: I know that whoever calls on the name of Jesus will be saved. Beyond that, it is not my place to say. I put my trust in a God whom I believe has "Grace greater than all my sin" and will be much more welcoming at the pearly gates than I ever would.
2. Rather than focusing on a legalistic, separating, self-defining, other-defining orthodoxy, it's important for the church to bring persons into relationship with each other and with Jesus Christ, to be in a posture of growth, and to cast ourselves upon Christ's great mercy. "Correct belief" is not unimportant. I'm just not so sure we need to get into the level of detail that we have been known to do.

So, where does that leave the fellow who didn't believe in the Holy Spirit? Well, I want to say that his belief system was not orthodox. He stands outside the realm of orthodox Christianity and, if I were still his pastor, it would be part of my job to explain the reasons for our traditional understanding of the Holy Spirit and continue to work with him to live his life fully in Christ. And I'll put my trust in the Amazing Grace of our God to work out all the eternal details for each of us.

"Spirit of God" -- By Steve Garnaas-Holmes

*Hymn: #2117 “Spirit of God” (The Faith We Sing)

Spirit of God, bright Wind, breath that bids life begin,
glow as you always do; create us anew.
Give us the breath to sing, lifted on soaring wing,
held in your hands, born on your wings.
Alleluia! Come, Spirit, Come! (2 times)

Spirit of God, bright Dove, grant us your peace and love,
healing upon your wings for all living things.
For when we live your peace, captives will find release,
held in your hands, born on your wings.
Alleluia! Come, Spirit, Come! (2 times)

Spirit of God, bright Hands, even in far off lands
you hold all the human race in one warm embrace.
No matter where we go, you hold us together so,
held in your hands, born on your wings.
Alleluia! Come, Spirit, Come! (2 times)

Spirit of God, bright Flame, send us in your holy name,
the power to heal, to share your love everywhere.
We cannot fail or fall, or know defeat at all,
held in your hands, born on your wings.
Alleluia! Come, Spirit, Come! (2 times)

Spirit of God, in all, we gladly hear your call,
the life in our hands that sings, the power of your wings.
Born of your grace we rise, love shining in our eyes,
held in your hands, born on your wings.
Alleluia! Come, Spirit, Come! (2 times)

See the composer's interpretation of this hymn HERE

A Prayer for Pentecost

It must be "Spirit Friday."  This is a Holy Spirit-themed prayer/poem based on John 14:8-27 by Pastor Dan of Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church in Anchorage.  He blogs over at Pastor Dan's Grace Notes and is a person I'd love to have some coffee and conversation with.

We have seen the Lord
not high in the Heavens above
but right here in our midst
living among us
living within us
and within those who do not know
they are loved
We have seen the Lord
in the eyes of a child
the eyes of a foe
and we are not afraid
for we live in the presence of the Lord
surrounded by the Spirit
filled with the peace of Christ
and called to reach out
to let others know of this love
(Peace)
calling toward the peace of Christ
that is within them
God created and said it was good
as the children of God
We see
good
God
in all that
and in all who
surrounds us
living as the children of God
Knowing
we are never alone
(Peace )

Posted via email from The Prodigal Blog

"The Comforter Has Come" -- A Video by Jars of Clay

The Holy Spirit...in 100 words or less (Brian McLaren)

So, how would you describe the work of the Holy Spirit in 100 Words or Less?

Last one from Patheos.  This was written by Brian McLaren, who blogs over at Brian McLaren.

On the grass-roots level, there are tens of thousands of Christians who aren't waiting for denominational leaders to fix things. They're just getting on with it. They're doing it, living it, making it real in their lives, in their neighborhoods, through small groups and mission trips and so on. When you have leaders at the top working for needed change, and people at the grass roots doing the same, and when you're confident that the Holy Spirit is behind it all, eventually the tide will turn and a new day will come.

Posted via email from The Prodigal Blog

The Holy Spirit...in 100 words or less (Amy Julia Becker)

Another post from Patheos.  This is by Amy Julia Becker who has a blog called Thin Places.

In nudges and whispers.
Like a seed growing, imperceptible at first. Like wind, invisible, refreshing, transformative. Like water, cleansing, renewing, powerful.
Unpredictably. Uncontrollably.
Praying: for us, with us, in us, through us.
Convicting, like a judge in a courtroom. Comforting, like a mother with a frightened child in the middle of the night.
We know her work by experiencing it. She will not be pinned down, can only be described with analogies.
But wherever there is forgiveness, redemption, reconciliation, grace, she leaves her fingerprints.
Always the one connecting, making us into the Body of Christ, God's hands in the world.

Posted via email from The Prodigal Blog

The Holy Spirit...in 100 words or less (Byron Wade)

The following was taken from Patheos.  It is written by Bryon Wade who blogs at Vice Mod Blog as a part of the Presbyterian Church.  It is in response to the question, How does the Holy Spirit move today?

Many people question if the Holy Spirit is at work in the world today. Put on some different eyes and see --
The claiming of an infant in baptism
The faith of a spouse in the loss of a loved one
The building of a Habitat for Humanity home
Strangers assisting in areas of a natural disaster
The grace exhibited to one another after a difficult discussion
And the ability to awaken to see a new day . . .
Then you can say the Holy Spirit is at work.

Posted via email from The Prodigal Blog

The Holy Spirit...in 100 words or less (Alyce McKinzie)

I was tooling around the net, as I worked on worship for this week -- Pentecost.  I found an interesting approach over at Patheos, home to several bloggers.  They asked several different folks to describe How The Holy Spirit Is At Work in The World Today in 100 words or less.  I'm going to post a few of them.  This one is from Alyce McKenzie:

At Pentecost the Spirit filled the room with a mighty wind, it touched everyone in the room and everyone could understand everyone. It was no humanly manufactured breeze to be turned off and on by human hands, it did not touch only the "spirit filled," and it did not enable people to understand only those who already spoke their language. As the third Person of the Trinity, the Spirit lives in community with the Father and with the Son. The presence of Jesus in his physical absence, the Spirit prays in our inward lives "with sighs too deep for words."

Posted via email from The Prodigal Blog