Fire is one of the symbols of Pentecost. That's why we have flames on the front of our orders of service, and why the flame is part of the new logo for our world-wide denomination. Flames are a good symbol, especially for this church.
The Holy Spirit filled the disciples gathered in the Upper Room that first Pentecost, just as Jesus had promised. Those confused and frightened women and men, were transformed.
One minute they were hazy on what they were to do now that Jesus was gone; then, the next minute, they were literally on fire with the Spirit, and the whole world was drawn to the flame of their faith.
Fire is a perfect symbol for the impact of the Spirit on the lives of the Early Church. It also represents the warmth and light the church brought into the world. If fire is the symbol of the Early Church, haze is a good representation of the modern church.
Too often, we act like I did during my second romantic relationship. Like my first romantic relationship it was with a girl. I was, of course, gay, but didn't know it. I went out on a date with a girl called Nicky who thought I was very cute. I figured she was kinda friendly. We went to see a film and afterwards went off for a McDonalds. I took her home and we had had a great time - the movie was great and I always have liked McDonald's. However, Nicky wasn't quite done with me. I walked her up to the door of her flat and, obviously, this was the moment for the kiss. I leant down and kissed her, on the forehead and said "Good night Nicky". She moved closer and said: "a little lower". "Oh" I said, and then in my most butch voice said: "Good night Brenda". For some reason we never had a second date…..
Nicky was longing to be set on fire with passion, it was just that I had no idea how do it. God is longing to set the Church on fire with a great passion, but we seem to be a little hazy about how that is to happen.
Actually, there are those portions of the church which would describe themselves as being "on fire for the Lord." I wonder if it is a coincidence that so many of those churches are Pentecostal or Charismatic. Churches that emphasize the Holy Spirit seem to have a great passion and deep devotion that most mainline churches lack.
Unfortunately, they also are almost always fundamentalist in their theology, sexist in their regard for women, and punitive in their treatment of lesbian and gay people, and uncomprehending about the lives and loves of transgendered people.
Does that mean being open to the Spirit and passionate in our devotion requires us to be conservative in our theology?
I must confess that I get a bit disturbed at times. I see people come to this church out of fundamentalist backgrounds, and they are very devoted people. Our worship is different to what they are used to, but they sense the presence of God's Spirit, and they know this is a community that loves one another.
They believe they have come home. Soon, they join and get involved in a ministry. At first, they struggle with how to fit their fundamentalism into this place. Gradually, they feel safe enough to begin and relax a bit. They exchange their legalism for a relationship of grace, and they really do fall in love with the God that has always loved them.
Then, one Sunday, they miss church. They stayed out late, or maybe they worked late all week. It felt good to have a day to themselves, and they were surprised to discover they didn't feel guilty. Grace has really begun to do its work of setting them free.
Over the next few months, they attend less and less often. By now, they don't even know where their Bible is. They stop being as faithful at their ministry. Money gets a bit tight, and their tithing is the first cheque they stop writing, the only cheque, really.
One day, they run into someone from church and make up some excuse, promising to see them next Sunday. A month or two later, it happens again. This time, they feel compelled to justify their absence by complaining about all the things that are wrong with the church.
That, too often, is what it means to be a liberated Christian. Is it impossible for progressive, open-minded, liberated churches to also be Spirit-filled places where members live with deep devotion, inspired enthusiasm, and trustworthy faithfulness?
A survey of churches would indicate that this is the case. The overwhelming majority of churches which are growing, are places where you find great enthusiasm, deep devotion, a high commitment.
Churches that are growing are on fire, ablaze with fervour for God. Almost all of them are also quite conservative, even fundamentalist.
Each year, mainline churches like Methodists, Anglicans and the United Reformed Church that in some places are more liberal, continue to decline.
At the current rate of decline, almost no progressive or mainline church will make it through the next century. The Roman Catholic church continues to grow, led by a Pope who believes women are not fit to be priests and homosexuals are not fit for heaven. I'm not sure what he thinks about transgendered people, but the signs aren't encouraging!
The overwhelming evidence is that churches which value education, inclusion, and social justice appear to be doomed to extinction.
What does all of this predict for the Metropolitan Community Church?
What does that teach us about being spirit-filled disciples?
Must we be fundamentalist if we are to survive? I hope not, but how do we counter these powerful trends?
I think God may be trying to tell us how to get back to the fire, but sometime we are in a spiritual haze. On this Pentecost Sunday, as we celebrate the birthday of the church, I want to tell you something I think is vitally important:
The wider Christian Church needs the Metropolitan Community Church to be a model of how a church can be progressive, inclusive, and in many ways, liberal, and still be passionately devout--a growing liberal Spirit-filled church.
By and large, those terms have been mutually exclusive, but I don't think they have to be. Look at the picture of the early church here in the book of Acts:
For a moment it seemed they were literally on fire. These women and men who had been scared and scattered after the death of Jesus, went out and turned the world upside down when they were filled with the Spirit of Jesus.
The book of Acts is an amazing account of their passion, devotion, and enthusiasm. Threats of death didn't deter them a moment. They were Spirit-filled; they were on fire; and I believe, they were also liberal, in the best sense of that word.
Notice, that the first picture we have of the early church is multicultural. People from all over the world were present when the Spirit came, and they became a part of the Christian faith from the start.
In addition, the Early Church included and empowered women just as Jesus did. Make no mistake, they were still hampered by the sexism of their day, but they were also very clear that God had poured out the Spirit on women just as much as on men.
Notice too, that the Early Church didn't try to force everyone to hear from God in the same way. There was no need to coerce everyone to conform theologically. That is wonderfully symbolized by the fact that each person heard the gospel in their own language. I don't want to push this too far, but I do think that the Early Church was liberated in many of the same ways that the Metropolitan Community Church seeks to be a liberating church.
Don't forget, the Early Church grew despite its being more liberal than the religious environment in which it was born. On Pentecost, the Spirit added 5000 people to the group gathered there.
So what was their secret?
Or perhaps, more importantly, what is the secret to you and I continuing to grow spiritually despite the conservative religion of many of our families, co-workers, and friends?
I believe we can be devout and passionate about our faith without being fundamentalist. It isn't easy, though.
Spiritual passion, devotion, and fervour is a lot like a fire. It can keep you warm when the winter winds blow against your life. It can give you light when everything else seems to grow dark around you. However, like fire, your spiritual life needs constant fuel.
Perhaps, that is why God poured the Spirit upon the church when it was gathered and not upon random individuals doing their own thing.
Next time you are sitting around a campfire, pull a glowing coal from the fire. Then, watch as the glow dims and the warmth fades. That is how it is with us when we remove ourselves from those things which can fuel our spirit. And one other lesson we must learn from the fire; that which burns must give itself to the flame.
If you and I are going to stay on fire for the Lord, we must continue to give ourselves, our energy, our time, and our resources.
God will not abandon us if we do not, but when we close ourselves off in our own little world and look out only for ourselves, we will find our spirits grow colder and harder. And when was the last time you saw a stone on fire?
This sermon was first preached in the Metropolitan Community Church of Manchester. Click here for further information.