The Untamed One

The second chapter of Acts reminds us that when the Holy Spirit acts, makes Himself known, intervenes in the space where we live out our lives,  vocabularies suddenly become inadequate.  Adjectives seem impoverished and those who would speak about Him flail away trying to hit something in the wind which is impossible to touch.  Few of us have stood in the midst of moments which we might describe as Pentecostal in nature, but even then as powerful as those times might be, they are nothing alongside of what is recorded in those holy words of Scripture.     

It is a description of chaos; yet, one of order.  It is a Word which speaks of diversity; yet unity.  It is a story of that speaks of a violent wind; but, not a destructive wind.  It is one that speaks of fire; but, not one that consumes all before it.  It is a description of different languages drawing different people together instead of something which scattered people.  In those brief words which have enabled us all to catch a glimpse of the wild and uncontrollable and all powerful Holy Spirit, we are enabled to see Who it is that is really important in the life of the church.    

And, of course, the sad truth is that the Holy Spirit Who is allowed to slip around in the shadows of church corridors is a domesticated and tame version of this One who prowled the world and broke into the Upper Room long centuries ago.  A church obsessed with planning and control has no room for the Spirit Who is revealed in the second chapter of the Acts.  When such a choice is made it is not often intentional, but regardless of how it happens, it is always one that diminishes the power of the church set in motion on the day we remember as Pentecost.