THERE is a story in Rolling Stone, recounted in the press column, of a US pastor who wished to invoke the Holy Spirit. First, though, the congregation had to make room for the Holy Spirit, and were thus invited to submit themselves to a cosmic spring-clean. “In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, I cast out the demon of the intellect!” It is sometimes possible to make too much of the Holy Spirit’s link with disorder.
The story of the appearance of the Holy Spirit to the waiting disciples, the central story of Pentecost, can put readers on the wrong track. A fuller grasp of Trinitarian theology reminds Christians that the Holy Spirit has existed with the Father and the Son from before all worlds. Many theologians and mystics, foremost among them Meister Eckhart, focus not on the summoning of the Holy Spirit but on an awakening to the Spirit’s constant presence. “Indwelling” is perhaps an over-used term, but it refers to the idea that the Holy Spirit dwells in people, and they dwell in the Holy Spirit. In this way, the Holy Spirit might be seen to be normal. Certainly, believers would do well to be more alert to the workings of the Spirit in everyday life.
In fact, a case could be made for a firm link between the Holy Spirit and common sense. There is, for example, nothing hierarchical about the gift of being sensible. When the leadership of a church is carried away by visions and schemes, it is often a lowly, little-regarded figure who summons them back down to earth with an appeal to reason. The church extension that will cost too much; the initiative that will duplicate the work of another agency; the mission that ignores the practical difficulties encountered by the intended targets — in cases such as these, a quietly voiced “No” can communicate God’s will just as readily as an enthusiastic “Yes!” When Christians speak of the Holy Spirit, they often overlook the virtues that Christ extolled in his stories: modesty, faithfulness, preparedness, patience.
Perhaps the parable that is most apposite is the story of the pearl of great price, to purchase which the merchant sold all he had. Such an action demanded prudence (to have amassed the price beforehand), good judgement, and decisiveness; for it is not God’s pattern always to be a naysayer. Common sense is an integral part of discernment, and those who practise it must always be ready for the times when uncommon sense is called for. None the less, these tend to be few and far between, and are recognised most easily by those with a solid grounding in sensible advice and action. The Holy Spirit often subverts human inhibitions and prejudices; but to expect the Spirit to subvert God-given wisdom does not make sense.
|
back to Comment
previous story
|
next story 
back to top
