Look Listen Live
Author: Andrew Comiskey
May 28, 2023
‘When we find ourselves in
the presence of such beautiful souls, we cannot but discover in them an obvious
sign of the experience of God.’ Pier Giorgio Frassati
Only Pentecost can
transform dismay into delight. Slack jawed by a
Rolling Stone article about a trio of ‘gay’ white men
claiming to be a ‘throuple’ in search of a ‘quadrouple’ as they canoodled
through Korea, ‘tiktoking’ their liberties while lamenting their minority
status—well, the road goes down and down.
Only the fire of God surpasses
man’s folly; Holy Spirit superabounds as we encourage one another heavenward!
Bonhoeffer says it best: ‘The Christian-in-exile sees in the companionship of a
fellow Christian a physical sign of God’s gracious presence.’
Jesus’ people ignite and
delight me. When I consider the Spirit enkindling the first disciples, I recall
numerous times where the presence of Christians—on-fire and attuned to His
leading—freed me from my exile. He fuses together dry bones into a living army
(Ez. 37); He goads one tongue to speak the Word to another that sends a hundred
alienating words to flight (Is. 50:14).
That fire of love surrounded
me when I sat at table with 7 young Portlanders, all Living Waters team members-to-be.
As each shared how Jesus was freeing them from some form of disintegration as
to help integrate others in their church, the Spirit confirmed in me why we do
what we do. Sure, the wicked tiktok about; more surely still, Jesus fans into
flame young Christians who blaze for His Body.
The Real beats
counterfeits. ‘Dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord: I will make breath enter
you, and you will come to life’ (Ez. 37:5).
I recall a woman of Spirit
who observed a young man across the street declining under the chaos of his
mentally ill mother. It wasn’t mostly his crossdressing that alarmed her; it
was the discernible ‘spirit of death’ that shrouded him. She feared he would
take his life; her Pentecostal persuasion ushered him into a nearby church whose
members surrounded him and saved his life. I recall this as I walk by the home
of an isolated young man subject to cyclical ‘gay’ unions and, by his own
admission, suicidal thoughts. I prayerfully seek to extend the Father’s delight
in his masculine humanity: ‘Your life matters!’ ‘Dry bones, hear the Word of
the Lord!’
Let’s live Pentecost as we
enter Rainbow Pride Month. Ask for the Father’s delight in those who might
tempt you to dismay. Get fired up with your fellow Pentecostals. May our dry
bones unite into one healing army; may our tongues blaze with words of Love.
‘As for the saints who are
in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight’ (Ps. 16:3).
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