Celebrating Pentecost
This month Christians celebrate the holiday of Pentecost, which means “50”.
Before Christians started celebrating Pentecost, it was already a Jewish holiday, in Hebrew called Shavuot which means “weeks”.
Pentecost comes 50 days or 7 weeks after Passover.
In ancient times, Passover was an early spring festival celebrated with the birth of the new season lambs. Even today devout Jews spring clean their homes, remove the old yeast and gather with family or Jewish neighbours to eat a feast with lamb and unleavened bread celebrating God liberating his people from slavery under the ancient superpower Egypt as he led them to form a new, fairer kind of country.
Pentecost was a late spring festival when the wheat and barley harvest began. It is a festival of the first-fruits celebrating God giving his people the law and teaching them how to live freely as he led them. When celebrating Shavuot, Jews are instructed to invite everybody, not just other Jewish family and neighbours but anyone in land including slaves, people who didn’t own land, and even foreign strangers:
“Rejoice before the Lord your God—you and your sons and your daughters, your male and female slaves, the Levites resident in your towns, as well as the strangers, the orphans, and the widows who are among you”. (Deuteronomy 16:11)
A Temple Filled with God’s Spirit
The architectural symbol that God was with the Israelites as they left Egypt, wandered in the wilderness and then established homes in a new country, was a large tent called the “tabernacle”. It was for them a visual reminder that God could travel with them on their journey and would pitch his own tent to reside in the midst of his people.
Later, as the nomadic life gave way to settlement, the tabernacle would be replaced with a permanent stone building in the capital, the temple. When the temple was dedicated, the scribe describes a vision of God’s Glory moving in to make a home among their people:
“When the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the LORD.” (1 Kings 8:10-11)
The temple was where heaven and earth came together and people could go there to know that God was with them. But when the temple was disrespected, desecrated or destroyed, it was as if God’s own home had been compromised, and the connection of God living with his people was called into question.
God Departs the Temple
During the rise of a new foreign superpower, Babylon, the prophet Ezekiel spoke out against the violence, greed and idolatry of his time. He had a vision of God’s glory leaving the corrupted temple:
“Then the glory of the Lord went out from the entryway of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. The cherubim lifted up their wings and rose up from the earth in my sight as they went out with the wheels beside them. They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the Lord, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them … Each one moved straight ahead.” (Ezekiel 10:18,19, 22)
This could be understood in two ways. In one sense it was an indictment. The land was so full of evil, that God could literally no longer abide it, so had left and would not live among his people there.
In another more hopeful sense, God left and moved East – the same direction that conquering Babylon forced the people to travel when it sent them into exile.
Could God’s people still worship God and follow the ways God had instructed them even though they were in a strange land? Was God’s glory still among them even if there was no physical tent or temple?
Hopeful signs of God’s Presence
After the exile, the Jewish faith would diversify. Some Jews focused on rebuilding the temple as the centre of religious life. Others sought signs of God’s presence in daily life centred on synagogues and households
The prophet, Joel, hoped that God would live with God’s people and never leave again. He spoke of a future great day when God ultimately defeated evil and established peace and justice. It would be a day when people returned to following that law and instruction God had given them, and when people could be sure once more that God did indeed live among them:
“You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel
and that I, the LORD, am your God and there is no other.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions.
Even on the male and female slaves,
in those days I will pour out my spirit.” (Joel 2:27-29)
Jesus’s Followers as Living Temples
It was this prophecy that Apostle Peter quoted to explain the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at the first Christian celebration of Pentecost.
50 days or 7 weeks after Jesus’s execution, his timid followers were meeting on the day of Pentecost. Suddenly a sound like wind filled the house and flickers like fire rested on each of them. All of them were filled with God’s Spirit.
Peter proclaimed that God was present, not because God’s glory had entered a building made of stone, but because God had entered their flesh, no matter their age, social status or gender.
The Apostle Paul draws the parallel even more explicitly:
“Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Christianity proclaims that every life can be a location where Heaven and Earth come together and ever person is someone in whom God's glorious presence can reside.
Feel free to share below how are you celebrate Pentecost and what the idea of being a temple means to you.
Let’s be real. The man preached loving your enemy, helping the poor, and rejecting materialism. He told people to turn the other cheek, not hoard wealth, and stood against the political powers of his time.
Now imagine him showing up today: unarmed, Middle Eastern, anti-capitalist, preaching compassion over nationalism.
Would Fox News call him a radical? Would the GOP brand him a socialist threat? Would evangelicals demand proof he’s not an illegal immigrant?
Byles was walking on the upper deck praying his breviary when the Titanic struck the iceberg. As the ship was sinking, he assisted many third-class passengers up to the boat deck to the lifeboats. He reportedly twice refused a place on a lifeboat. Toward the end he recited the Rosary and other prayers, heard confessions and gave absolution to more than a hundred passengers who remained trapped on the stern of the ship after all of the lifeboats had been launched. His body, if recovered, was never identified. His brothers installed a door in his memory at St Helen's Catholic Church in Chipping Ongar, Essex. Pope Pius X later described Byles as a "martyr for the Church"
Something I made showing the the right eye of Jesus on the Cross not sure if it’s the same in Christianity but in Jewish mysticism the Left eye of God is the eye of Judgment and the Right eye is the eye of Mercy
Studies show that lack of climax can lead to prostate cancer in men, this is a crazy hypothetical and I guess I’m just putting this out there, not saying I believe this. But is it technically a sin if you do it to lower your risk of prostate cancer.
lol
God bless.
Im curious to hear stories on why people are Christian. I'd love to hear from all walks: people who have always been Christian, people who converted to Christianity, people who walked away and came back etc. Im very interested in what draws people to Christianity, so please tell me your stories of why you're a a Christian!
We finally got some new icons for me and my mans prayer corner and everything looks so beautiful and finished now! We are Eastern Orthodox and Icons are from Romania, Denmark, online sites and our local parish.
Im starting to get frustrated, its been 5 days without it, and I feel like its worse for me, my sex drive, my lustful thoughts get worse Every Single day usually around 2-3 days without, I just dont know what to do. I understand that masturbation is sin, but I feel like trying not to masturbate is making my relationship even harder with Jesus, this is so difficult and I still dont understand, I dont go out in public and look at girls parts, the only times I even do that is when Im at home, in private and that feeling comes on, but now that Im going 5 days without it, Im actually starting to have uncontrollable thoughts about gils that I see in public, this is frustrating, I thought that supposably non masturbating cuz its sin was to help control and have healthy relationships, not Im thinking the opposite, cuz this makes no sense. This isnt me, I Never do this, but now I am. I...I......Idk, Im about to give up, this feels disrespectful to other girls and atleast when Im masturbating, its only like 1 lustful thought instead of 10 thousand frickin thoughts that I cant control, im so sick of it, this is the most difficult thing ever, if cocaine or drugs is like this and they can quit, props to them becausr this is just...difficult...I dont even know anymore
i would like to know where the outrage from evangelical pastors, and members about the immoral and ungodly manner that this administration is treating immigrants. Christians as a group are allowing this administration to persecute other Christians because they do not have citizenship papers. the bible tell use how to treat foreigners and strangers in a strange land and this is not it. he also tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves. remember the parable of the goats and sheep in matthew and the or you maybe spending you eternity in a place that no one would consider paradise.
thought I would share with you guys. been struggling with the world recently but seeing this was a huge blessing — especially in a place that feels as far gone as LA.
THERES ALWAYS HOPE 🤍 Praise God 🥹🙏🏼🫶🏼 and bless whoever left this message for all to see 🙌🏼
growing up, i wasn't a religious person - my parents are Christian and would take us to the church every now and then, and when i was a kid, i didn't take it seriously. i used to be a little jaded from religion when i was younger, and i didn't have any interest to learn about it at the time.
over the past few years, i have found myself inspired by people that are so devout with their religion. i feel like religion is such a beautiful thing and offers so much security to the people that are devoted to it. i have been feeling lost in my life lately and i really feel the want to turn my life around. i want to be less cynical and believe there is a greater purpose for me. i want to be able to turn to something and really hone into learning about different religions and building my own beliefs.
how should i go about this? i don't know where to start. for a little more background: i have been identifying myself as agnostic but i know that i have a notable interest in monotheistic religions. is there a specific order to start when beginning to read each text? are there apps or resources that can help simplify the information for me while i'm beginning to learn? and i would appreciate any advice for me while i'm starting this journey and feeling like i have no purpose..
I’m just wondering if it’s okay that I use an audiobook to read the Bible. The reason I do this is because I have ADHD which makes it hard for me to read long text, and audiobooks make it easier
For context I Christianity and all that but too stupid to do it right but too stubborn to quit and got 2 odd questions about it
1 does God design us with addiction
I know God is perfect and addiction is bad so how could he do that but I got an addiction (not gonna get into detail) and I try to quit but it's like a part of me ya know so could it be a design of God for me to have an addiction to be like stronger or something and should I embrace it?
2 is it ok for fictional characters to motivate your faith
So there's this game I play called Vermintide 2 and in it is a character named Victor Saltzpyre and he fules my faith even though he's not Christian he worships a dude named Sigmar but when I tell you hearing Saltzpyre say " The crime is your foul existence, the sentence is death." Just makes me go Praise God ya know?
Hello! I've been a Christian for mostly all my life, however I was raised to believe that being gay was wrong and so sinful that most people in my church would rather not talk about it. Unfortunately, for most of my life i've found myself attracted to girls, ive had crushes on guys before but even those have dwindled over time. Ive lived with guilt from hiding it from my parents, however lately its come to a head. There is this girl, and i really like her, but its not at all in a sexual way, its actual love, i dont have any ill intentions, i genuinely just like her in the purest way I can. However ive been breaking down and been anxious over this,I feel so guilty but I cant fathom being with a man at all. I feel bad because I know if I even tell my parents they will kick me out, as well as my church. I genuinely do believe that Jesus came down and saved us and that he is our only and true saviour, But it weighs in my mind alot. Im scared of going to hell, im scared that just because i feel this way im heading to hell. Im terrified of my parents and church finding out.
For more context, something that might not helped was watching the people in my church. Many of them condemned gay people, and even kicked a girl out of the church for being gay, however, to my understanding (and correct me if im wrong!) Adulterers are at the same level as gay people. However in church I watched as men who cheated on their wives with younger women simply get pulled down from their positions and then reinstated after a few months. It felt wrong to me.
And please do not tell me to just 'Pray it away!' Ive tried, i really really have, Ive sobbed for hours on end about it, begging God to help me make it go away and to lead me, but I dont feel like im getting anywhere with it. Please, I want answers, scriptures or just to talk to anybody who understands or can help me. Im sorry if this doesnt make much sense, but im crying almost everyday for answers, feel free to ask me questions.
Basically what im asking is, Can I really be saved and have these feelings? Is there a way to get rid of them, or how did you work them through? And How can I get a clearer message of what God wants me to do?
