In the beginning of the book of Acts, Jesus says to the disciples, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth... When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them." This giving of the Holy Spirit, in the book of Acts seems to be a reflection of Jesus' baptism story in the book of Luke. "When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove." (Luke 3:21-22a).

In Jesus' identity, we find our identity as individuals and as the church. In all that Jesus did, said and was he was first and foremost God's Son, "begotten not made, of one being with the Father." In all that we do, say and are is also first and foremost as God's children. Pentecost Sunday is a day to celebrate the "Birthday" of the Church. This day marks not the beginning of a new religion or set of moral standards for the world to follow, but the beginning of our identity in Jesus, our "Lord and Christ." "Religion is defined as a "belief in a personal God or gods entitled to obedience and worship; thing that one is devoted to." "Identity" is defined as "absolute sameness" or being associated inseparably or very closely with someone or something."

To be Jewish, and live within the covenant of Moses, was not the people's religion or nationality, but rather it was their identity. To live within the covenant was who the Israelites were, not a set of rules, regulations, conditions, or teachings. To be the church, which is the body of Christ, is also not about being absolutely connected with Jesus, our "Lord and Christ."

What defines us as the church? What is our identity? Who are we? How do our neighbors and the rest of the world know us? Jesus came to show us who we are - Beloved children of God. Let this "Birth day" of  the church begin our new identity as absolutely connected with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Live as forgiven, loved, free and valued children of God. To live in a system of laws; right and wrong; good and bad; black and white; is easy, just follow the rules. To live absolutely connected to Jesus; as a child of God; as Christianity being our identity rather than our religion is not easy. Every ounce of our being is corrupted by sin and fights the idea that we are forgiven, loved and valued. Our instincts are also corrupted by sin and are contradictory to God. How many of us would give our lives for someone who has betrayed, beaten and hated us? How many of us would risk our reputations by inviting the town whore to eat at our table? How many of us would use our last breath to forgive those who had murdered us? These acts of mercy and grace were not part of Christ's handbook on how to the be the Son of God, but his identity as the Son of God. Happy "birth" day to us, the body of Christ, and all of our brothers and sisters throughout the world; those who have gone before us, those of today, and those who will come after us; united by the power of the Holy Spirit to be absolutely connected with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Pastor Trish