First Presbyterian Church
The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit
Sermon for May 22, 2005
by Pastor Susan Barnes

Our gospel reading is on page 34. It comes from Jesus last words to the disciples. Listen for the word of God as it is found in Matthew 28:16-20.

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted .

18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

This ends our gospel reading. Our epistle reading is on page 175. It is from the close of Paul's letters to the church in Corinth. 2 Corinthians is a compilation of two letters, and maybe more. In the last part of 2 Corinthians, Paul defends his credentials, and speaks frankly to the church about their behavior. They complain about his collection for the church in Jerusalem , and they complain that he is working with his hands, rather than having them pay his way. They are having trouble getting along with one another; Paul fears for quarreling, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 1 He wants them to get along, and recognize what they have in common. Our reading is from Paul's last word to this church. Listen for the word of God as it is found in 2 Corinthians 13:11-13.

11 Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. 13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

This ends our reading from God's Word. Let's listen to the choir interpret it.

Anthem “O Take the Peace of Christ Where You Go”

Today is Trinity Sunday. Both of our readings have trinitarian formulas. Jesus said “ baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Being baptized into someone's name signifies rebirth, a new relationship, a new inheritance.

The early church used these words to come up with what's known as the doctrine of the trinity: three persons in one Godhead. They had the Father, Creator God of the torah, part of what we call the old testament. They had the Son, Jesus Christ. And then they had the holy spirit, also called the paraclete, companion, advocate, who would be active in the early church. All are divine, all one, but three. The early church talked a lot about how Jesus could be both human and divine. Theologians came up with the trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, based on these scriptures.

I just read what theologian and chaplain William Willimon wrote about the trinity.

“… on the basis of our experience of God as complex, ubiquitous, and over-flowing with love as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we just naturally started speaking of God as Trinity. We have experienced three rather distinctive modes of God's presence. God is the Father, the Creator of us and the world. God is the Son, the One who comes to us as Jesus, living, suffering, dying, and rising among us. We experience God as Holy Spirit, that power that has intruded into our world as the near presence and power of God.

Within the Trinity, there is constant movement [and] interaction, as the Father gives to the Son, and the Son is constantly returning praise and glory to the Father, and the Father and the Son give to the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit constantly draws everything back to the Father and the Son. There is the Beloved, the Lover, and the Love.” 2

Somehow, these lovely words we used to describe who we believe in became what Christians must believe. Or else.

Historian Abdal Hakim Murad wrote:

“…the doctrine of Trinity was the most notorious point at issue between Christianity and Islam, and hence was freighted with fierce passions. For the pre-modern Muslim mind, Christian invaders, crusaders, inquisitors and the rest were primarily obsessed with forcing the doctrine of Trinity on their hapless Muslim enemies.

It is recalled even today among Muslims in Russia that when Ivan the Terrible captured Kazan , capital of the Volga Muslims, he told its people “they could save their lives if they would praise their conquerors in the name of the “… Most Blessed Trinity for generation unto generation.”

Even today in Bosnia , … the three-fingered Trinity salute [is]s a gesture of defiance against their Muslim enemies. And so on. Much Muslim theologising about the Trinity has hence been set in a bitterly polemical context of fear and often outright hatred: the Trinity as the very symbol of the unknown but violent Other lurking on the barbarous northern shores of the Med iterranean, scene of every kind of demonic wickedness and cruelty.”

“…Muslims can find it difficult to know precisely how most Christians understand the Trinity. It is also our experience that Christians are usually keener to debate other topics; and we tend to conclude that this is because they themselves are uncomfortable with aspects of their Trinitarian theology.” 3

Some of you remember Sheikh Yussuf Murigu who came to our church a few years ago. He and I had a brief theological conversation about the trinity, and I could tell we were speaking about different things. He was reacting to ancient Christian Trinitarian theology I didn't know much about.

Jesus didn't tell the disciples to compel nations to become baptized. He said “teach them what I have commanded you.” Here are some of the things he commanded the disciples “Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, blessed are the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peacemakers. Be reconciled to your brother and sister, if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also. Love your enemies. Forgive others. Don't store up for yourselves treasures on earth. Do not judge. Ask, and it will be given you. Take heart, it is I, do not be afraid.”

I don't understand how anyone could read those words and try to force others to be Christians against their will. Discipling came first. Jesus didn't make anyone be his disciple. He invited them.

I feel sad when I hear of how Christians throughout history demanded conversions. It is hard when Christians use their faith as an excuse for harming other people. Paul held the Corinthian church to account, defended himself, and reprimanded them for their behavior. He spoke the truth to them out of his commitment to them and to Christ.

Paul wrote “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” That's how he summed up his prayer for the church in Corinth. They knew of the grace of Christ, not that they had it, and they knew the love of God, not that they showed it. And then Paul wrote of the communion, or the fellowship, of the holy spirit. That Greek word, koinonia, koinwnia, can also be translated camaraderie, association, unity, participating, sharing, or generosity, with overtones of enjoyment.

It's as if he said “may the holy spirit, the spirit of God, God's breath, the wind of creation, enliven you, enrich you, flow through you.” He wanted them to get things in order, and be at peace. The holy spirit will help that happen. It is the activity of God acting in us.

In our first hymn, “She comes sailing on the wind” composer Gordon Light wrote about the activity of the spirit, starting with the spirit of God hovering over creation. In Hebrew, the word ‘spirit' is feminine, ruah, and means wind and breath as well as spirit. The spirit of God came upon the prophets as they spoke. In the gospels, the holy spirit is represented by a dove, at Jesus' baptism. At Pentecost, the symbol of the holy spirit is a flame. I talked to Gordon Light on the telephone once. I asked him how he came to write this song. He was at a retreat with pastors about 25 years ago, and a clergywoman challenged him about using so much exclusively male language for God. He said he thought about it for a long time, and three months later, he wrote this song. He lives in Canada , and has a Christian band. He said the fans make him end every concert with “She Comes Sailing on the Wind.” I love the way this song combines all those images of the spirit. Of all the members of the Trinity, the holy spirit is the one I envision moving the most.

Today is our congregational meeting, where we elect elders and deacons, and at-large members of our nominating committee. In the Presbyterian church, we share administrative and ecclesiastical power by having lots of committees. We believe that the Holy Spirit is at work when we come together as Christians.

We Presbyterians are a democratic church. Congregations elect their own officers. We promise to follow their leadership. The pastor does not choose officers; a bishop does not choose church pastors. The congregation does, praying that the Holy Spirit will work in them and through them.

According to our constitution, “It is the duty of elders, individually and jointly, to strengthen and nurture the faith and life of the congregation committed to their charge. Together with the pastor, they should encourage the people in the worship and service of God, equip and renew them for their tasks within the church and for their mission in the world, visit and comfort and care for the people, with special attention to the poor, the sick, the lonely, and those who are oppressed . They should assist in worship. They should cultivate their ability to teach the Bible.” 4 That's how we obey what Christ commanded us in the beatitudes.

“The office of deacon as set forth in scripture is one of sympathy, witness, and service after the example of Jesus Christ. Persons of spiritual character, honest repute, of exemplary lives, brotherly and sisterly love, warm sympathies, and sound judgment should be chosen for this office. It is the duty of deacons, first of all, to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress both within and beyond the community of faith.” 5

Those are all tall orders. Some people don't want to serve as officers because they don't feel spiritually qualified . They aren't sure if they believe enough.

Our gospel text said “ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted .” That word for doubt can also be translated ‘hesitate.' They were unsure what the best course of action was. And Jesus still gave them the great commission. Spread to the nations, don't limit yourselves to my people, the Jews. Go everywhere, disciple everyone. You know how to be my disciples. I am with you.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” can be translated “Go and disciple all nations.” It doesn't mean go and make people disciples whether they want to be or not; it means demonstrate discipleship. Invite people to follow Christ by your deed s, not just your words.

It isn't such an impossible task. Elders strengthen and nurture the faith and life of the congregation. Deacons minister to those in need . All of those tasks can be performed in a variety of ways. Uncertainty is better than arrogance. Willingness to serve and openness to the spirit are good qualities to have in our leaders. The session and the deacons work within the communion, the fellowship, of the holy spirit as they work together to serve Jesus Christ as officers in our church.

When God created human beings, God saw that it was very good. We are a part of God's creation. We unlikely people have the privilege of knowing the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the holy spirit. May we all live that out. Amen.

________

1 2 Corinthians 12:20.

2Dean William Willimon, “ The Extravagance of Trinitarian Faith,” preached 5/30/99 at Duke University . http://www.chapel.duke.ed u/chapel/worship/sunday/viewsermon.aspx?id=48

3Murad, Abdal Hakim, “The Trinity: A Muslim Perspective,” text of a lecture given to a group of Christians at Oxford . See http://ireland.iol.ie/~afifi/Articles/trinity.htm

4Book of Order, G-6.0303-.0304

5Book of Order, G-6.0400