John's view of Pentecost John 20:19-23

John 20:19-23 Gospel Reading for Pentecost Sunday June 12th 2011

Our traditional understanding of Pentecost and the celebrations surrounding this festival of the church are based almost entirely on the account in Acts chapter 2. The word Pentecost by the way does not really have any direct spiritual connotation even though we immediately think of highly spiritual images. It simply means 50th. It is an acknowledgment of the 50th day after the Passover as being the day that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the followers of Jesus.

John's Pentecost as this passage is sometimes labeled, gives us an alternative perspective that  helps us to form a more rounded view of this important dimension of spiritual life.

As a Pentecost text, it starts off in a manner which comfortably aligns with standard Pentecost thinking. Jesus mysteriously appears to his disciples in a locked room. He reassuringly pronounces "peace be with you", He breathes on them and invites them to receive the Holy Spirit. 

But then comes one of the highly troublesome verses of the New Testament:

"If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

This verse has widely been misunderstood and arguably misinterpreted. It has been used as the basis for clergy to be given the authority to pronounce forgiveness; a practice that is known in our church as the absolution. It is not appropriate that I launch into arguments either for or against this topic here. I simply want to say this... one of our core responsibilities as spiritual leaders in Lutheran schools is to strive for authentic spirituality. In some cases that may require us to challenge age old practices and traditions. Much of the doctrinal foundation of our church and schools dates back almost 500 years. Could it be possible that Luther and / or his subsequent followers being only human, got some of this stuff wrong? (See working Preacher) - details below.

Regardless of our view on the above, I would like to suggest that it is actually our duty as modern day spiritual leaders, in the broader context and expression of church which incorporates the school yard, classrooms, our car parks, assembly halls, sports fields and staff rooms... to in effect pronounce a form of the absolution!

So what about this as a starting point for a contemporary version of the absolution?

"It is our privilege as leaders in Lutheran Schools to remind you that we have a God who has declared that each and every one of us has been set free and totally forgiven for all time. That freedom through Jesus comes with no strings attached ... there is absolutely nothing that we have to do to be eligible to receive this amazing gift. It has already been delivered to us ... we are simply invited to unwrap that gift and receive it."

Blessings as you go about the task of showing Jesus to the people around you this week!

Nev

Working preacher link: If anyone is interested in some further reading on this topic, an insightful and detailed analysis has been prepared by Matt Skinner, Associate Professor of New Testament, St Paul Luther Seminary, Minnesota. Note in particular the section on "Forgiving" and "Retaining" Sins.