On Monday a small group of us gathered to discuss the first 10 chapters of the book of Acts. While we were a little scattered and found the section hard to discuss as a whole, some things jumped out at us.
The beginning of the book is very similar to end to the end of the book of Luke. It has a few more specifics (like it was 40 days between the resurrection and the ascension) and describes the ascension with a little more detail - like the questioning of the disciples even as Jesus prepared to leave. It was amazing to us that they still didn't understand who Jesus was and what his purpose was. They ask him whether he was now going to restore Israel's kingdom. They are still looking for political power/triumph even after living with and following Jesus for years, after listening to him preach and watching him perform miracles, even after seeing him die and then come back to life, It is hard for us, with the benefit of hindsight, to understand how they can be so dense. Maybe this is a cautionary tale - one to remind us that maybe we don't have the whole picture either. Maybe what we think is so obviously right, isn't. It is definitely puzzling and makes me wonder what kind of hopes or beliefs I might be holding on to that may be blinding me to God's true message. What is hindering my understanding of God's message to me?
In Acts 2 we have the story of Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit. When we looked more closely it was interesting to see that it wasn't flames coming down on each head - but "divided tongues, as of fire". This is an interesting simile. I wonder if it is a play on words in the original language - tongues of fire bestowing the gift of tongues on the disciples? There was the sound like the rush of wind - but was there wind? It wasn't important - the main thing was that people, poor, ignorant fishermen and common people, could suddenly speak eloquently and be understood by people from around the world. According to some scholars, it was the gift of understanding that was the huge deal. The people waiting for the spirit suddenly understood Jesus and all he taught. The people outside heard the noise and listened - and heard preaching and worshipping in their own languages. Suddenly they could understand. So often we concentrate on the gift of speaking - but maybe we need to focus more on the gift of understanding. What power, and comfort, and strength there would be in understand how God is working in our lives, in knowing with absolute certainty what God is saying to, asking of, and expecting of us.
Then we looked at "spirit" in a different way. Are there different spirits? The Holy Spirit inspired the apostles and other disciples in the room - but is there a darker spirit that powers the violence and awful events happening around the world. We thought about the protestors in Ferguson. Some were there out of righteous outrage at what they understand to be the senseless death of a young man by a police officer whose decision was based more on the man's colour than his actions. Some are there, to mourn the loss of the life of a young, unarmed black man. But there was also something else in play - a dark, malicious seeming spirit. How does mourning or moral outrage translate into destroying the businesses and property of people who were in no way involved in the case that sparked the riot? How does shooting guns and burning police cars and buildings, both public and privately owned, help Brown or his family or the plight of black Americans? How does more injustice and senseless violence toward innocent people bring justice to what they see as an unjust situation? Is there a vengeful spirit that burns within some of these people? Is there an evil spirit? Why does the dark side sometimes seem to be more powerful than the light? Where is the powerful Holy Spirit when there is so much anger and destruction? Why doesn't it overpower the darkness and eliminate evil? I don't have answers - and we talked about it for a while but still struggled to figure out what all this means for us. Does the situation in Ferguson, Missouri mean that there are spirits out there that are more powerful than the Holy Spirit?
As I contemplate the discussion, the story of Acts, and the pictures from the news coverage of Ferguson, I am starting to think that, whether or not there are other spirits, when we let our emotions take control, there is no room for the Holy Spirit within us. The Spirit, though powerful, will not enter nor stay where it is not wanted. I also think the Spirit works through willing people, not usually directly on a situation. So it is our unwillingness to get involved or to make a difference that limits its power. I wonder, if we really prayed, and really opened ourselves to the Holy Spirit and its power, would we be more powerful and able to overcome darkness? Maybe we don't trust enough - don't open ourselves enough, don't listen enough - to let the Spirit work within us and help us to understand, and help us to speak so others can understand. In a situation like Ferguson on Monday there may be too many people blinded by rage and fueled by a lust for violence, blood, fire,and destruction for those blessed by the Holy Spirit to make a noticeable, newsworthy, difference - but maybe not. The protests continue - but by Friday they have become peaceful protests that get the message out without all the destruction. Maybe the Spirit is working - just not on our timeline?
Even if we are too few and too far away to make a difference in a situation like Monday in Ferguson, what are we doing about the situation(s) here? Are we allowing the Holy Spirit to work within us as we deal with smaller conflicts within our homes, churches and communities? Are we asking for understanding? Or are we still looking for power - for our own way - to rule over the others who are "wrong"? As we look forward to Christmas and beyond, I pray that we also look "upward" - to God - to help us open our hearts and our minds so we can both receive and give the gift of understanding.
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