South Presbyterian Church

Founded 1723

150 West Church Street
Bergenfield, NJ 07621

THE SPIRIT OF UNDERSTANDING

It is highly appropriate that we welcome our Korean Presbyterian brothers and sisters on this celebration of Pentecost. We remember today, how long ago the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, and through them, God launched a new mission initiative — the Church. And now in the year 2002 we become part of another new mission initiative as the Holy Spirit is working again to launch a new Korean Presbyterian congregation in our midst. We are grateful to God that we, Presbyterians of South Presbyterian Church, are in a position to support the work of Rev. Son and the members of his congregation. May the Holy Spirit guide us, empower us, and inspire us, as we serve together in this place.

The images of Pentecost are implanted firmly in our minds — fire and wind, power and life. Yet as memorable and as dramatic as that day of Pentecost was in the history of the church, the real gift of Pentecost is the gift of understanding. It was the gift of the Holy Spirit that these many and diverse peoples should understand one another.

The gift of understanding did not diminish the diversity of that great crowd that day. The people did not cease to be Medes, Persians, and Elamites. They were not reduced to become less than they were, they became more than they had been. They were at one, with all of those who heard and understood, that God was alive and active in this world and eager that all of them should participate in God's purposes.

The unity of Christ's Holy and Apostolic Church that we celebrate today, is a unity based on an understanding of who and what God is and has done, is doing and will do, in the church and the world. It is that same unity that binds us together in anew cross-cultural ministry that we share together in this place and with the support of the Presbytery of the Palisades. We are here, that we may proclaim together, the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ that all of us are privileged to hear, and the unity of what we hear, overcomes the diversity of who we are.

Pentecost reminds us that the gift of understanding, which transcends logic and diversity, is the gift of the spirit of unity — a union with God and his will as he leads us in this new cross-cultural experience — a union with our sisters and brothers with whom we hear in our own tongues, our own languages, the mighty works of God. Such a spirit as this gave birth to our Holy Church and continues to sustain it. Such a spirit; the spirit of understanding, fellowship, and grace, is what we seek to express and share as we begin this new ministry today. It is a unity that becomes visible in our sharing together today around the Lord's Table.

At Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended and with a mighty wind and cloven tongues of fire, for a moment overcame human differences, and united that diverse group by the gift of understanding. They heard the good news and they were never the same again. May that same Spirit transform us, for the sake of God's mission among us.

UNITY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

In the face of constant change, we seek something permanent. Living in a fragmented society, we long for unity. As long as Christians can maintain unity, they can do mighty things for God. In unity and love, we can witness God's living presence among us to the world. When we are one in God's Holy Spirit, we can make more than just mere impressions, but can make concrete impacts to our world. How can we promote unity amongst us? How can we authenticate the true biblical meanings of unity?

We all know that unity is more than just a mere rhetoric. To unite as one requires a clear common goal and a vision. To maintain unity calls for collective commitment; to nurture unity even stronger, we need to remember that it is not that we promote unity, but God has already made us one in the Holy Spirit (cf. Ephesians 4:3). Just as God builds up God's church, the encouragement of the Holy Spirit enhances us to be one in doing God's will in the world. Unity is not to be accomplished by noisy commotions, nor by forceful blow of demonstration. No one can hardly embrace unity with aggressive power. Coercive power may generate the outer appearance, but never achieves inner unity. I truly believe that we can achieve unity only when we look to Jesus Christ for guidance and wisdom. It is possible when we affirm our collective sense of identity as children of God. Yes, unity calls for inner oneness even before establishes outer uniformity.

These days the whole world anticipates in the opening of the World Cup which will be held both in Korea and in Japan. The Korean national team has already decided on their team color and a nick name. The team will wear red uniform with white stripes and will call themselves as "Red Devil." By wearing the same color uniform, the team may appear to be unified. In fact, the team only achieves outer uniformity. Outer uniformity is not what a common goal and commitment for their victory. It is this commonly shared single vision and goal for the World Cup that makes a team truly unified. Inner unity ought to proceed outer uniformity.

The same logic applies to Christian unity. Yes, we — all of us from various different backgrounds — have come to this sanctuary to worship God. Let me tell you that perhaps this is what would be like worshipping God in heaven. All shall come and kneel down before God praising God in one heavenly language regardless of our racial ethnic backgrounds, regardless of our cultural heritages, and regardless of our sexes, age, and individual difference. Yes, we are worshipping our God this morning occupying the same space and time together, singing the same songs in our native tongues, reading the same scripture. What a beautiful scene this is! This is truly wonderful and spectacular! And yet, however wonderful this may be, all of these would not make us as one, if we do not share the love of God in our hearts.

Authentic Christian unity does not come with singing the same hymn from the same Presbyterian hymnbook. Neither does it come in the mere act of worship with a familiar reformed style liturgy, nor would it be possibly achieved by pretentious hand-shakes. It only comes with mutual respect and love recognizing each other as God's beloved child. The life of unity can be sustained with willing hearts that believes in God's initiative in bringing all of us together here this morning. It can grow even stronger when we finally realize that the blood of Jesus Christ is much more thicker than the blood of our human kinship and nationality.

Yes, true unity can withstand against all circumstances of "in spite of." In spite of our differences, we become one family in God. In spite of different languages, we speak the same language of God's love. In spite of where we came from, we are willing to go toward the same destiny. I pray that this unity of "in spite of" may become the corner stone in our common journey together to witness the Gospel and to share God's love with others. Amen.