I was reading some comments by contemporary theologian Walter Brueggemann (contributing editor to ‘Sojouner’) regarding the season of Pentecost and the collection of lectionary readings. He makes these comments firstly of the church
…. “It is not an institution, but rather a community of folk who are propelled by God’s own spirit, situated in Jesus’ own narrative, and alive in the world in alternative ways.”
In making these comments Brueggemann is not only making comment on the nature of the early church situated around Jesus human incarnation some 2000 years ago but also and as importantly he is making comment on the nature of the church we need to live in today. Where community stands over against institution – where we are propelled not by regulation or fear but by God’s own Spirit. The church first and foremost lives in Jesus – finds its reason for being in Jesus and bears witness to Jesus. Because it is situated in Jesus, it is alive, and powerfully propelled by the Spirit it must, by its very nature, present an alternative life giving possibility to the world.
Brueggemann goes on to say that “Pentecost is a time to reimagine and re-enact the church as a movement that is unrestrained by old patterns or by the rule of fearful authorities.” Being ‘situated’ in Jesus and powerfully ‘propelled by the Spirit’ led the church under the apostle Paul’s leadership to ‘freedom’ (cf Galatians). Freedom from business as usual.
Folks our church needs to find itself in this same place – not just for the sake of the preservation of the church as we know it but for the sake of a society that ‘is in deep need of folk who have energy beyond business as usual.’