Dear Evangelicals,
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, you were all in one [palace] together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving [spin], and it filled the entire [white]house in which you were. Then there appeared to you [glory] as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of you. And you were all filled with [patriotism] and began to speak in [forked] tongues as the [emperor] enabled you to proclaim. Now there were devout [people] from every nation under heaven staying in [the U.S.]. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard [you] speaking in [your Empire’s] own language.
You confuse disciples, my evangelical friends, because you use Christian words but speak in your empire’s own language. It is a language of control. It is a language that rejects sharing power. It rejects sharing peace in Christ and the Spirit of Pentecost. You Barry Black, you do not speak of sharing power and peace in Christ and the Spirit. This is because you have been a military chaplain sanctifying warmaking. You now serve as Senate chaplain sanctifying U.S. Empire. You David Barton of WallBuilders, you do not speak of sharing power and peace in Christ and the Spirit. Nor do you speak of the unarmed courage they instill. This is because you misunderstand power and confuse it with the coercion of a gun, “The whole purpose of the Second Amendment is to make sure that you have equal power with whatever comes against you.” You Jim Bakker, you do not speak of sharing power and peace in Christ and the Spirit, nor in their Community of God. This is because you promote citizenship in the militant U. S. Empire and the worship of its Emperor. You tell us opposition to Trump is “blaspheming Jesus … even blaspheming a president who wants to do good, who wants to help us.” You are all more aptly named Evangelical Imperialists. You worship the deadly deity of Empire. You can be found hiding behind the false faith of American Exceptionalism and speaking the false words of its militancy. Open yourself to the peace of the Risen Christ and the Spirit of Pentecost, “Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” … He said to them again, “Peace be with you. … And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
“This is indeed how the Spirit is conceived – as that which inspires us in ways that cut against empire. If empire is that which seeks to control, then the Holy Spirit by contrast is that which cannot be controlled; it is like the wind which “blows where it chooses.” … wind, although it cannot always be seen directly is not immaterial. We can perceive it in bodily ways and hear its sound. … The winds of the Spirit cannot be controlled … because they are the winds of the Spirit of Christ, and this Christ is clearly someone who” is powerful. (Resistance Spirit – Joerg Rieger)
Prayer: Spirit of Pentecost, may we witness power to those enamored by control.
Question: What is the language of the Spirit I need to speak?
June 4, 2017 Gospel John 20:19-23 Pentecost