Monday, June 12, 2006
I'll remember - Madonna
I found yesterday that the Orthodox Church celebrated Pentecost. As they celebrate Easter one week later than us protestants, that would mean that Pentecost for us was on the 4th of June (7 weeks after Easter). A quick check at Wikipedia confirmed that.
Now that got me thinking - we never celebrate Pentecost at all back home. Nor do we even remember it - which explains why i needed Wikipedia to confirm the date. Why?
Some smart alec will prolly retort back "Why should we in the first place?". Fair question. After all, we were never told to celebrate it, nor even to remember it.
Well, neither are we ever commanded to celebrate nor to commemorate the birth of Jesus - the coming of God the Son in the form of man to this earth. But it is something that brings much joy and calls for celebration.
So why dun we celebrate and commemorate the coming of God the Holy Spirit? Isn't that something that brings much joy and calls for celebration too?
I really, really, really hope that this (the fact that brethren assemblies back home in general, and the TLC in particular do not remember Pentecost) has nothing to do with the charismatic movement.
Sori for being so negative - but i'll never forget one particular camp at Genting Highlands where they had an open forum (which i'm sure the elders regretted later). Someone asked why is it we dun raise hands nor encourage it during our worship meetings - i'm sure that i was not the only one glad that the question was asked.
I almost fell off me chair in disbelief when the answer was given - apparently, raising of hands is always associated with the charismatic churches so we, the TLC do not want to be associated with them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What the...????
Hello? Raising of hands in worship has been around far longer than the existence of the charismatic church!!!!
And even if it is thus associated, wat is wrong of the act per se? If it is not wrong, then why disallow it merely cuz we dun wanna be associated with the charismatic church?
The reason i'm bringing that up is to illustrate the ... well, for want of better word at the moment, fear of the charismatic churches' practices, the fear of being associated with them - like they were some sort of disease!!!
I really pray that the reason why TLC does not remember Pentecost is not because they are afraid of being associated with the charismatics, or with speaking in tongues, or with being baptised with the Holy Spirit!
If that is not the reason, then why?
Pentecost was a wonderful occassion. That's when the Holy Spirit started dwelling in believers. That's when believers were empowered to live their lives for God. That's when the gifts of the Holy Spirit started to be manifested, gifts by which the Church is edified and God is glorified.
The only arguments i can think against celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost are also possible to be used against celebrating the coming of the Son of God. But if we think that it is still alright - and even should be encouraged - to celebrate the latter, then why not the former?
p/s - i'm not sure if the Charismatic Churches celebrate Pentecost. Anyone want to enlighten me on that?
Now that got me thinking - we never celebrate Pentecost at all back home. Nor do we even remember it - which explains why i needed Wikipedia to confirm the date. Why?
Some smart alec will prolly retort back "Why should we in the first place?". Fair question. After all, we were never told to celebrate it, nor even to remember it.
Well, neither are we ever commanded to celebrate nor to commemorate the birth of Jesus - the coming of God the Son in the form of man to this earth. But it is something that brings much joy and calls for celebration.
So why dun we celebrate and commemorate the coming of God the Holy Spirit? Isn't that something that brings much joy and calls for celebration too?
I really, really, really hope that this (the fact that brethren assemblies back home in general, and the TLC in particular do not remember Pentecost) has nothing to do with the charismatic movement.
Sori for being so negative - but i'll never forget one particular camp at Genting Highlands where they had an open forum (which i'm sure the elders regretted later). Someone asked why is it we dun raise hands nor encourage it during our worship meetings - i'm sure that i was not the only one glad that the question was asked.
I almost fell off me chair in disbelief when the answer was given - apparently, raising of hands is always associated with the charismatic churches so we, the TLC do not want to be associated with them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What the...????
Hello? Raising of hands in worship has been around far longer than the existence of the charismatic church!!!!
And even if it is thus associated, wat is wrong of the act per se? If it is not wrong, then why disallow it merely cuz we dun wanna be associated with the charismatic church?
The reason i'm bringing that up is to illustrate the ... well, for want of better word at the moment, fear of the charismatic churches' practices, the fear of being associated with them - like they were some sort of disease!!!
I really pray that the reason why TLC does not remember Pentecost is not because they are afraid of being associated with the charismatics, or with speaking in tongues, or with being baptised with the Holy Spirit!
If that is not the reason, then why?
Pentecost was a wonderful occassion. That's when the Holy Spirit started dwelling in believers. That's when believers were empowered to live their lives for God. That's when the gifts of the Holy Spirit started to be manifested, gifts by which the Church is edified and God is glorified.
The only arguments i can think against celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost are also possible to be used against celebrating the coming of the Son of God. But if we think that it is still alright - and even should be encouraged - to celebrate the latter, then why not the former?
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Acts 1v8
Acts 1v8
p/s - i'm not sure if the Charismatic Churches celebrate Pentecost. Anyone want to enlighten me on that?
# posted by imissw : 10:40:00 pm
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Do we not remember Jesus's death and resurrection every Sunday? Why then the special day for Easter? Essentially, Jesus only commanded that we take part in the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 2:24-26) in remembrance of Him. So actually, Christmas and Easter can be done without. Hehehe. But we still do it. Why? Recalling past Christmas and Easter ‘Celebrations’ do we effectively celebrate those events in the ‘event’ itself or during the morning worship? Or is this just a Christian recruitment drive during those ‘events’ in disguise? For a Christian, I personally think that ANY event that draws ones attention to God is a blessing. With so many things happening in the world today that draws people away from God, a healthy reminder is never turned away. But let us not loose focus on Christ (Col 2:16-17).
p/s: Maybe Pentecost not celebrated because very hard to recruit Christians? Or maybe because early Christian church do not want to celebrate to be set apart from the Jews of those time celebrating the end of Passover?
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p/s: Maybe Pentecost not celebrated because very hard to recruit Christians? Or maybe because early Christian church do not want to celebrate to be set apart from the Jews of those time celebrating the end of Passover?
# posted by 
: Tue Jun 13, 12:04:00 pm
: Tue Jun 13, 12:04:00 pm<< Home
