The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1958-03-20
One Man Looks
AT God
(By Charles w. Carlson, Pastor,
St. Marks Evangelical Lutheran
Church, Oakland MarylandD

| 81 ANiAl n > A1h eaA A@hAiiN eAAA
Church, Oakland Maryland)
Next in our series in the Book of
Acts. we will consider the words
recorded in the second chapter,
verses four through eleven
And they were all filled with The
Holy Spirit and began to speak in
other tongues, as the spirit gave
them uttcrance. Now there were
dwelling in Jerusalem devout Jews,
from every nation. And at this
sound the multitude came together,
and they were Devil dered, because
each one heard them speaking in
his own language. And they were
amazed and wondered, saying, Are
not all these who are speaking
Galileans? And how is it that we
hear, each of US in his own native
language? Parthians and Modes and
Elamites and residents of Meso-
polamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
P0ntus and Asia, Phrygia and
Pamphylia, Egypt and parts of
Libya belonging to Cyrene, and
visitors from Rome, both Jews and
proselytes. Cretans and Arabians,
we hear them telling in our own
tongues the mighty works of God
These are the events that hap
pened on the Day of Pentecost. re-
ferred to as the birthday of the
Church. They are amazing events.
Much has been made of the speak
ing in tongues" part of this story.
The attitudes have ranged from an
open cynicism, which says that the
whole story is just one big inven-
ton of a primitive, superstitious
mind. to the other extreme, which
regards this event as a pattern
which must be followed if the truth
is really in a church. The one eX-
IRENE is represented by the self
appointed intellectuals" mentioned
earlier in this column, those who
delight in poking holes, using their
own small standards Of intelligence
as the basis for their "hole-poking."
The other is represented by the sim
cere, but woefully misguided pen
tecostals." who say that tongue
speaking" is a necessary prerequi-
site for the existence of a truly
Christian church Both positions
are untenable.
On the one hand, there is no more
reason to doubt the historicity of
this wonderful event than to doubt
the fact that West Virginia Uni
versity's basketball team was up
set in the NCAA by Manhattan on
Tuesday night. The scriptures
themselves answer the other eX-
IRENE. Paul was apparently faced
with a situation in the city of Cor
NTH similar to our modern day
tongue speakers" who make
sounds of unintelligible gibberish.
His comment:
IF even lifeless instruments, such
as the flute or harp, do not give
distinctive notes, how will anyone
know what is played? And if the
bugle gives an inGiStinct sound, who
will get ready for battle? So with
yourselves; if you in tongue ut
ter speech that is not ineligible,
how will anyone know what is said?
For you will be speaking into the
air"-I Cor. 1873
As for the Interpreters" that
many Of these groups claim to have,
how many of these are like the in
terpreter' in a Pentecostal group
l know of where a Greek professor
came in to a meeting, quoted the
prologue of the Gospel of John in
Greek. then heard the interpreter
in all seriousness interpret" his
message to the group as a quote
from Daniel, Ezekiel and Revela-
ton. We must never forget the fact
that these men on the day of Pente-
cost heard the word Of God eX-
pounded in their own tongues, rec
ognizable languages
AS we look at the event taking it
at its face value, not imposing up
on it things that are not implied,
we find a wonderfully positive
message. The central fact here is
the communication of the Word of
God, description Of the Work and
purpose of the Son Of God, Jesus
Christ The power Of the Holy
Spirit, allowing men to expound
the Word Of God in recognizable,
often brilliant form, is not limited
to T1entecost The writer's of the
gospels, the great figures in the
f. Barnard and son Mark, Frost
burg, and Mrs H. L. Shoemaker
were Sunday dinner guests. Other