The Beginnings of the Christian Church

A common misconception with our students when learning about Jesus is to assume that Jesus was a Christian or even a Catholic just like we are. Some students have a hard time grasping the concept that Jesus was actually of the Jewish faith tradition and that Christianity (the belief that Jesus was in fact the Son of God and God made in human form) didn’t begin until after Jesus had left this Earth, and the Catholic tradition of Christianity even longer.

So, this then leads to the next question from students – so when did the Christian Church start? The answer is a simple one to give – at Pentecost.

The story of Pentecost is that the apostles were all in one room, scared and afraid, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.

Pentecost is called the birthday of the church because before Pentecost, there really was no church. Jesus had ascended back into the heavens, the Apostles were hanging around, scared and confused, and nobody knew what to do. Going out to baptise people and preach about Jesus was the last thing they had in mind because their lives would be in danger.

But Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit – the force that turned a bunch of frightened, mixed-up folks into Church. There was a rush of wind, tongues of fire, and then suddenly there was courage, knowledge, direction and commitment! Everyone started speaking and was understood, no matter what the language of the listener was! These were saints suddenly on fire with the Holy Spirit. And it all began with the wind and fire of the Spirit.

It is said 3000 new believers were baptised on that day!

And this same holy spirit that came to the disciples at Pentecost is the same holy spirit that is instilled in us at Baptism and sealed within us at Confirmation. It is the spirit that gives us the gifts of wisdom, courage, understanding, knowledge, right judgement, reverence and wonder and awe in God. Gifts we see alive and well within our school each and every day.