June 6. 2004

Mindekirken June 6, 2004
Pastor Jens Arne Dale

John 16.12-15

Have you ever had a real quarrel? We don’t need to have a show of hands, but I guess you recognize the situation: One says this, the other just the opposite. Sometimes we quarrel about who’s doing what: take out the trash, wash dishes, call my mother-in-law… I did it the last time. Now it’s your turn. Disagreement can wear on a relationship. One may say things that hurt the other. But one might also experience the good conversation that clears up disagreement and opens up for love and forgiveness.

There’s a lot of activity here at our church, in the kitchen and in the sacristy, at the office and the kirkestue. We discuss issues and find good solutions for the work. But some times things may turn out to be difficult. One might get irritated or feel neglected. Envy, backbiting and stinginess may be as difficult to keep away as the rabbits in our Bloomington backyard. Matrimony, congregations and other fellowship of living humans may get stuck in conflicts. Some of the most difficult conflicts are those which are not admitted. It might be said that Here, everything is OK, even though the whole atmosphere stinks of the opposite.

Today’s text is concerned about something that is important wherever life and fellowship are to prosper: Guidance. The Spirit of truth will guide you into all the truth. Jesus says. God doesn’t want us to get stuck in conflicts. He wants to guide and lead us to truth and freedom.

What does this mean for a couple? That the man should lead, and the wife obey? A guy claimed that he and his wife had agreed that he should be responsible for the big decisions, she for the minor. After 40 year of marriage he reflected: There haven’t really been any big decisions yet…The definition of a henpecked husband is that: He’s a man who knows what she wants. We hardly apply the word leadership to a couple. But mutual respect and understanding are basic. Love means to listen to each other and find solutions that are beneficial for both. When couples are married we pray for them by laying hands on their heads saying: Fill them with your love… strengthen them with your Spirit. It’s a wonderful thing when the Spirit of truth works in a relationship. It may lead to self-insight and humbleness so one is able to recognize one’s own faults and ask for forgiveness. It may lead to friendliness, respect and attention which makes the other feel good. The Spirit of truth helps us to become more genuine, whole and dedicated as humans. When conflicts occur, the Spirit of truth creates a need to break negative patterns and reestablish good communication.

In today’s text Jesus didn’t speak to couples, but to disciples. He spoke on the Spirit of truth who will guide them into all the truth. Until now, the disciples had gone in the school of Jesus. They had learned a lot. But there was more to come. At the stage they were now, they couldn’t bear it, Jesus said. But they were about to receive the Holy Spirit who would guide them further, even into all the truth. That doesn’t mean that the church has the full and whole truth. Now I know only in part, Paul says in 1 Cor 13.12. But God guides and leads by his Holy Spirit.

Any business or organization needs good management. There are models of management where the man or the men on top of the organization make all decisions. Other models make the grassroots responsible for decisions to be made. The King is the head of the Church of Norway. Deans and bishops are appointed by the government. But it’s been a long time since the senior officials had the last word in Norwegian congregations. Approximately 100 years ago, we got democratically elected church councils. Some decades ago we got synod assemblies and finally the general assembly of the church as the democratic head of the church. If we read through the NT, we do find different structures and management of the first Christian congregations as well.

But common for every Christian congregation is the fact that God wants to guide and lead through the structures that exist. The congregation is the body of Christ in the world. He lives in the hearts of his believers. Jesus is present in his church. He promised to send his Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, who would guide us into all truth.

The Holy Spirit is the third person in God. That’s worth mentioning on the Sunday of the Holy Trinity. He was present at creation. He’s called the Spirit of Christ, and he’s mentioned as someone who thinks, speaks, leads and comforts. He may be saddened, and he may fill people with power and strength. The Greek word the paraklet, which is used about the Holy Spirit, is deduced from a verb meaning to call aside. It might be translated advocate, counselor, comforter and helper. Jesus promised his disciples not to leave them as orphanages. I will come to you, he said. The Holy Spirit gives us the presence of Jesus in our everyday life. The disciples received the Holy Spirit in a powerful way at the day of Pentecost. All of a sudden the disciples spoke new languages, and people who came from different countries understood it when they spoke about God’s greatness. They got power to witness about Jesus. They got an enormous confidence and preached with such conviction that 3000 people got converted and were baptized. The Holy Spirit also filled the ones who had practical tasks in the congregation, we read. The Holy Spirit gives different gifts and services, equips the congregation for service. And the fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy and peace…

When the Holy Spirit in today’s text is named the Spirit of truth, it’s natural to point out that one of the tasks of the Spirit is to disclose lies. The Spirit convicts about sin. He calls us out of conflicts, to repentance and confession. That’s not in order to press us down, but to lift us up by the forgiveness of God. The Holy Spirit was given to us at our baptism. He’s the pledge of the new life. The Spirit pulls us towards Jesus. He will take what is mine and declare it to you. He will glorify me, Jesus says. The Holy Spirit helps us to focus on Jesus. And by pulling all God’s children towards Jesus, the Spirit creates unity in the church. When he guides us into all the truth, it’s about increasing insight and a more mature understanding of the word of the Bible. The Word of God is the sword of the truth.

I started to talk about quarreling and conflicts today. Also people who have received The Holy Spirit quarrel and have conflicts some times. But God wants to guide us into the truth. To be focused on Jesus doesn’t mean denying conflicts, but to become a more whole and living human. The Spirit of truth sets people free; free to love, free to serve.

Glory be to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen.

The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church ·  924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 ·  (612)874-0716