As we celebrate the Pentecost season, here’s what being a Christian means to me | Opinion

In the shadow of the war in the Ukraine and gun violence in America, some things remain constant. Pentecost Day is one of them. And Sunday, June 5, churches around the world celebrate this day as the birthday of the Christian Church, born more than 2,000 years ago.

The Pentecost season at my church is very special. Before COVID, the Pentecost commemoration usually started a week before Pentecost Day, with a week-long celebration of songs and preaching and testimonies from those who had been delivered from a sinful life. We always made a joyful noise, with hand clapping and music from the Mass Choir and our four-piece Christian band.

This year, though no less joyful, the celebration has been scaled back to two Sundays of celebration, with no week-night services, because of the pandemic. This year, the congregation still held its annual noonday prayer — wherever we were at the time. And the celebration still culminates on Pentecost Day, which also marks the anniversary of the “… outpouring of the Holy Spirit” on believers. This Spirit is the Comforter, that Jesus promised to believers after he was risen from the dead, and just before he ascended into Heaven to be with our Heavenly Father.

As I celebrate this wonderful milestone of the Christian Church, I do so with much gladness and, also, with a lot of sadness.

I am glad because even with the turmoil that is swirling around me — the hate, the racism, the lies, the murders of the innocents and the wars and rumors of wars, I still believe. And I still have the joy of the Lord in my heart. It is the joy that keeps me going when it would seem to be easier just to give up.

I am sad because of the way the world seems to throw around the name Christian. I am sad because some people have smeared the name Christian to the extent that many people no longer believe in Christianity.

To me, being a Christian takes guts. It takes being willing to being called crazy or a fanatic. Or even stupid. But being a Christian also means loving unconditionally, that you earnestly seek ways to love those who seem to be unlovable. It is very easy to love those who love you back. What about those who, according to the Bible will, “… despitefully use you and say all manner of evil against you?” We must love them, too.

To love unconditionally doesn’t mean that we Christians are perfect. It doesn’t mean that we are weak or stupid, either. It simply means that we are forgiven and that we strive to practice what we preach. It means that we believe the teachings of Jesus and that we depend on the Spirit of God to lead us and guide us in all that we do.

Although throughout the history of Christianity, many false Christians have sought to hide behind the Christian banner while doing evil. But being a Christian means that we don’t use Christianity to harm anyone in anyway. Yet, many have killed in the name of Christianity. And many still do.

Those who wave the Christian banner while doing evil and hurting others because of their beliefs or ethnic backgrounds, seem to believe that they are doing the Lord a favor. I think about this when I hear of someone killing the doctors or nurses at an abortion clinic, to save a fetus. How insane is that?

While personally, I do not believe in abortion, I don’t think it is up to me to judge a person who does. Being a Christian means that you don’t judge your brother or sister. Only God can and will judge.

Being a Christian means reaching out to another soul, praying for them even when they don’t know you are praying for them. It means that a lot of the time you must just keep quiet when you stand before your enemy. It doesn’t mean that you are scared, it simply means that you are putting practice the fruit of the Spirit:

“… But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23/KJV

Even so, many take a Christian person’s meekness and gentleness for weakness. Not so, Christians are strong in the Lord.

So, as I celebrate this Pentecost Day, I feel blessed to be a Christian. It is a wonderful privilege that carries with it a lifestyle that is not to be taken lightly. That is because a Christian’s life should represent the life of Jesus Christ, who was born to bring peace to the world.

While I might sound a bit preachy today, I felt compelled to tell you the difference between a true Christian and one who simply uses the name to take advantage of others.

Throughout my life, I have witnessed people claiming to be Christians, living a life that Christ, himself would not recognize. So, from here on, if you hear of, or know a person who has hurt someone in word or deeds and said they did it in the name of Christianity, don’t believe them.

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loves is born of God and knows God. He that loves not, knows not God; for God is love.”

I John 4:7-8, KJV

Reach Bea L. Hines at bea.hines@gmail.com

This story was originally published June 3, 2022 at 12:29 PM.