Pastor Otten: The challenge of Pentecost

This coming Sunday is the festival of Pentecost, considered by many to be third in importance after Easter and Christmas. It is the celebration of the Holy Spirit being poured out on the church, and particularly on the disciples. Some, in addition to this, celebrated it as the birthday of the Christian church - though, like many other Christian festivals where cards and gifts are not exchanged, and more so for the Protestant side of the house, it is just another Sunday. So what would one expect to see and do at a celebration of Pentecost? The church's paraments or vestments would be red. The hymns or music would praise the Holy Spirit and His work. I have seen a birthday cake being used to mark the church's birthday. The Lutheran church has celebrated Pentecost Eve as well as Pentecost Monday and Tuesday, though these celebrations are rare. Sermons and Bible studies would be expected to focus on the topics of sanctification, missions, witnessing, conversions, fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit, the nature of the church, good works and even the end times. Of all these topics, the person and work of the Holy Spirit would be most expected. The Christian church year primarily follows the life of Jesus as you would expect. Jesus is much easier to wrap your arms around than the Holy Spirit. Jesus, true God and true man, was born as baby boy on Christmas, grew to be a man who preached of the Kingdom of God, died on the cross for our sins, rose from the dead and ascended. True, there are questions about His life and teachings, but I normally don't have to explain what a man is, while I do in many cases with what is spirit, especially if I use an older term like Holy Ghost. I can show a picture of Jesus and young children will get it. My choices of images for the Spirit are fire, a dove or wind. Following the Apostles' creed, God's work is associated with the three persons of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The three articles of the creed are titled creation, redemption and sanctification. By far the most challenging word is sanctification, while creation is the simplest. Sanctification means to make holy, and the Spirit does that as He bears His sword, the word, both law and Gospel to convict us of sin (the law) and to create faith in Christ who forgives (Gospel). This is called repentance, which each Christian lives in daily. The Spirit always uses the Word God whether in baptism, preaching, absolution, the Lord's Supper or the daily conversation of Christians, to create and strengthen faith in Christ. The best sermon that can be preached to people on Pentecost Sunday is one that draws a person closer to Jesus. The blessings of the Spirit to us is always Jesus. Rejoice in the Spirit's work this Pentecost. This weekly column is by David Otten, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Eldorado. Reach him at otter59@hotmail.com or call the church at (618) 273-9792.