Pentecost: The Beginning of the Church - NOT!

Pentecost - 50 Days from Easter

When the most High came down

and confused the tongues,

He divided the nations;

But when he distributed the tongues of fire

He called all to unity.

Therefore, with one voice,

we glorify the All-holy Spirit!

- Kontakion for Pentecost

Pentecost is the Greek word for fifty. It is celebrated as a significant feast in the Orthodox Church for many reasons.

It is not just the calendar counting of fifty days since the resurrection of Christ, or the commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples, but also, in the sacred biblical symbolism of numbers, the number fifty symbolizes both the fulness of time and that which is beyond time: the Kingdom of God itself.

In Orthodoxy, Pentecost is seen as the physical manifestation of the fulness of the Gospel - God's kingdom has descended upon mankind - infinity has been united with the finite.

Many Christians, even so-called Theologians, identify Pentecost as the "birthday of the Church." But, from the Orthodox viewpoint, this is not quite right.

St. Gregory the Theologian (4th Century) speaks of "the Church of Christ...both before and after Christ."

Once again, the Orthodox Church offers a more complete understanding of the interaction of God in the world. To them, the Church is the continuation, albeit in a more complete form, of the relationship of God with His creation that began in the timeless past. St. Clement, Bishop of Rome (2nd Century) says the Church, "was created before the sun and the moon."

The Religion the Bible is based on.....!

During my many years of spiritual seeking - a common question that I had was: "What are your beliefs based on?" Or, "What is your religion founded on?" Answers would be: "Based on the teachings of the Buddha," or, in the case of a particular denomination in Christianity, "Our Church is based on the teachings of the Bible - our final authority on spiritual matters."

Since coming to Eastern Orthodox Christianity my paradigm has shifted. In short, my illusions have been shattered!!

Christianity, according to the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church, is not based on the Bible - simply because the Bible was written to record the activities of the Church already in the world. As it says in the opening chapter of the Gospel According to St. Luke:

"Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed."

- St.Luke 1:1-4

So, as strange as it might sound, the Bible is based on Christianity - not the other way around!

It is the common understanding of most Orthodox Christians, and many other Eastern thinkers, that a religion based solely on written documents is an insufficient guide for life.

I struggled with this idea for a long time until I thought seriously about it. Imagine being given a text book on anatomy and trying to "build" a human being from it - it's ridiculous! So is trying to build a relationship with God based purely on reading about other people's experiences! This is why Orthodoxy places a lot of emphasis on experience and personal spiritual transformation. The lives of the Saints are meant to inspire us. We are not simply to know about them - they are REAL people that had REAL encounters with God. We too can have similar experiences, if we follow their example. Christianity is not about beliefs, it's about REAL experiences of union with God.....WOW!!!

Pentecost is the commemoration of the arrival of the Holy Spirit and His availability as Comforter and Guide to ALL humanity.

Christianity was not born on Pentecost. It has always existed as "The Way" to life in and with God. Through the Holy Spirit we can actually EXPERIENCE God.

O Heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of Truth,
who are in all places and fill all things,
the treasury of good things and the giver of life:
Come and abide in us, cleanse us from every stain,
and save our souls, O Good One.

- Orthodox Prayer to The Holy Spirit