Magyar Egyház, 1958 (37. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1958-05-01 / 5. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 7 MAGYAR CHURCH Pentecost - The Church Is Born The day of Pentecost, fifty days after Easter, has been rightfully called the birthday of the Church. Many Reformation churches cover their Lord’s Table or altar with red covers on this day, symbolizing a festival of the Church. Other symbols used are the descending dove, which represents the Holy Spirit coming down from heaven and resting upon men, or a seven-tongue flame, symbolic of the seven, gifts of the Spirit. The story of the first day of Pentecost is recorded in Acts 2:1-4, and the results of the experience complete the chapter. The reader would do well to pause to read this section. But it would be well to reinterpret this story for modern readers, since here is another glorious truth of the Christian faith couches in the picturesque words of the oriental mind. What is Luke saying here? He speaks in picture language just as we do when we describe our experiences. We say, “It’s as soft as a baby’s skin” or “He minces his words” — like mincing an onion. Following the resurrection of Christ, even as during his lifetime, the faithful apostles and disciples were confused about the teachings of Jesus and the meaning of his work. We read several times when Jesus chastized them, especially when he called to Peter, “Get thee behind me, Satan!”, because they did not understand that his kingdom was not of this world. And even after the resurrection it still wasn’t clear to them that he was not going to rule the earth. Then, when he parted from them to ascend to heaven, they were even more confused. With faith but blind hope they continued to meet in prayer, and they even elected Matthias to replace Judas. But why? It is quite apparent they did not know. However, as God acts always, in the fullness of time, on the day of Pentecost something happened, an experience which shook them and has shaken the world. As good Christians, “they were all together in one place.” Then it happened! “And suddenly a sound cam" from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak on other tongues, as the Spirit gave the utterance.” So Luke describes for us in glowing terms that powerful experience. Let us try to recapture the feeling by an example. Suppose you were a member of the church in Bethlehem, Pa., and your group was invited to an anniversary dinner in New York from 1-4 p.m., to another in Trenton from 9-6 p.m. Both communities are about a lt/2 hour trip by car. As your group met it would be discouraged, because it could not attend both since it would take three hours to go from New York to Bethlehem to Trenton. However, as the dilemma is being mulled over, almost at the same time a solution flashes into evereyones’ mind. “Why not go directly from New York to Trenton! That’s only a 2 hour drive and we can fust make it. So we can be in both places in one day.” Out of confusion and a deep problem the light comes, and everyone becomes excited. Soon everyone is talking, making plans for the trip, for the dinner reservations, and so on. Joy and elation replaces frowns on serious faces with smiles. And pandemonium breaks loose or everyone talks and talks and talks. Now this is a much simplified example, but the reader can perhaps better picture the experience of the disciples. In their utter confusion over the meaning of the Christ for their lives, by God’s grace the Holy Spirit working upon their hearts gave them the answer. It came upon them almost all at one time. They began to talk about their sudden new understanding with such rapid, excited speech it was almost as though their tongues were on fire. And the noise they made, certainly inspired by heaven, filled all the house where they were sitting. And to expect them to be quieter would be the same as telling a new father to keep the birth of his newborn son or daughter a secret. But why is Pentecost the birth of the Church? Up to this time they were only a group of faithful followers, and with their leader gone they did not know what to do next. But now things were changed, because they possesssed the requisits of a Church. They had an awareness of Christ, they knew they were guided by the grace of God working through the Holy Spirit within them, and they were aware of their mission to proclaim the Good News. Along with the holy fellowship they already possessed they became the Church of Jesus Christ on earth. Out of this brief experience arose the Body of Christ, unchanging in its purpose and qualities. Today the true Church is aware also of the Lord, Jesus Christ, bringing to its people an understanding of the meaning of his birth, like, crucifixion, and resurrection. It is aware that by the continual guidance of the Holy Spirit that it builds the heavenly kingdom on the cornerstone which is Christ, and not on the likes and desires of men. And it is ever aware that its mission is to people according to the command of Christ “in Jerusalem (the Home town), and in all Judea (the home state) and Samaria (every state in the nation) and to the end of the earth.” Truly, the Church born on Pentecost Day, in an emotional, rapturous experience, will continue by the filling oi the Holy Spirit to speak with tongues as of fire and fill the entire world with the sound of Jesus’ name like a mighty resounding wind until “Jesus shall reign where e’er the sun does his successive journeys run,” And every knee in heaven and earth shall bow and proclaim him Lord of lords. Albert W. Kovács. 1
