Spirit Preferences

In Numbers 11 we find a story about Moses, and Joshua, and 70 elders. All but 2 of the elders are with Moses at the tent of meeting. Moses proclaims the word of God to the people and God descends and shares Moses’ spirit with the 70 elders and they all prophesy–”just this once.” Two of the elders, Eldad and Medad are out in the camp among the people but the spirit falls on them too, and they prophesy. Joshua learns and complains to Moses that they are unauthorized to prophesy and they should be silent perhaps because they aren’t physically close enough to Moses. Moses wisely corrects Joshua and confesses, “Oh, that everyone were a prophet and that the Lord would put the spirit on them!”

Moses’ prayer is for the Spirit to descend on all flesh. That everyone would open themselves to God’s merciful wisdom and peace. In Acts 2 we are closer to proclaiming that truth. Later in that book of early church historical theology we come closer to “all the people” receiving and proclaiming the life of the Spirit when even gentiles are welcomed.

The life of our faith is two-fold. We practice the gifts we are given by the Spirit. Secondly, we notice others’ gifts that we may support them and share their ministry.

The above stories also remind us it is not our job to decide who is ok and who is not ok. We simply employ our gifts and encourage other’s gifts. Joshua and others since have assumed they are to manage the Spirit.

Humanity is naturally inclined to form exclusive groups which support group opinions and judgments. We presume that our preferences are ultimate preferences. As Christians we tend to read and interpret our preferences into the Bible.

Clearly, the Spirit is not bound by our preferences. Not in the case of Medad and Eldad prophesying out in the camp. Not bound by the Jewish early church’s view that gentiles were unclean people with whom they could never share deep fellowship. Not bound by the centuries old practice of excluding women from leadership roles. Not bound by the practice of excluding leaders with other than heterosexual preferences or culturally assumed gender identities. Not bound by the practice of requiring those who preside at communion to be ordained pastors. Of course, there are many other economic and cultural ways we exclude as well. If we listen to the deepest rhythms of the Scriptures, we know that the way of the Spirit is not exclusion but inclusion based on justice, mercy, and faithful love.

We are most faithful when we judge not according to our preferences but by the Spirit’s allocation of gifts. In his ministry, Jesus was watching to see how and where God was at work. He didn’t spend all of his time in traditionally religious places or with such people.

As we welcome the work of the Spirit–in whomever we find it–our lives, our decisions, and our experience of God’s grace will be complete, not lacking in any way. . .and we will be free. We will be free of being ensnared by our own mistaken judgements.

This Pentecost we remember that the Holy Spirit does not promise us comfort, nor to hold our preferences. May we listen and watch for the evidence of her gifts and support whomever might be practicing them by the mercy of God. Amen.