I have grown up in this crazy charismatic/pentecostal church, and I can really identify with Acts 2:13:
“Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
I remember bringing a new girlfriend in 8th grade to my church for the first time. She was from a very conservative church background, and I warned her about the hand clapping, hand raising and hankie waving. To my teenager horror, God had a special surprise for our church that evening. For the first and only time in our church history, we had a Jericho March service.
Just as the name implies, we all walked around the sanctuary shouting praise to God and waiting for the spiritual walls to fall. My little conservative girlfriend walked beside me as we circled the sanctuary. On that night she could have repeated Acts 2:13 “They have had too much wine.”
Our relationship didn’t last long, but that memory has lasted forever. Many of us are nervous about sharing our faith with a society that draws “Ned Flanders” from the Simpson’s as the ultimate Christian. However, confidence born out of the infilling of the Holy Spirit allowed Peter to address those who made fun of them. While the initial physical evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues, the ongoing evidence is evangelism. Today, concentrate a little less on what people think, and a little more on what God thinks.
There’s nothing I love more than exposing my unsaved relatives to an uncontrolled torrent of speaking in tongues in the pew behind them.
I’d also like to add that when I was in 4th grade and attending a very conservative southern baptist school which shall remain nameless, there was a picture in one of our books that has for some reason stayed with me all these years. It was the quintessential Christian. A clean shaven man with hair combed neatly to the side, shirt tucked in perfectly square with his belt buckle, kneeling by his flawlessly made bed. It would make any drill sergeant proud. His hands were folded in the all too familiar “prayer position.” Since then, I have always been afraid of becoming that way. This sort of thing makes people look for a new “angle” on Christianity. A way to make it look original and not embarrassing. I guess this would be the “Ned Flanders” end of the spectrum. But as you say, it truly isn’t about appearances.
One of the things that stand out to me is Acts 2:39…”The promise is for you and your children. It is also for all who are far away.” It is so easy to begin believing this whole Holy Spirit thing isn’t for me. But God desires to empower ALL of us with the strength and ability to reach out to those we couldn’t reach by our own efferts. So power up!
I love the story Mark. Great blog! Peace!
Billy,
It’s incredible how these events shape our thoughts and feelings. I want authenticity no matter how it looks. Thanks for sharing,
MC
Dave,
My three word theology on the Holy Spirit: “More is good”. MC