Reversing Babel

The Pentecost story of Acts 2 reverses the curse of Babel in Genesis 11. First, Babel was a story of exclusion – bricks, mortar, and building walls. It’s a story of keeping the ‘bad guys’ out and the ‘good guys’ in. Pentecost reverses Babel with a story of wild inclusivity. The Pentecost story is for “all flesh.” (Acts 2:17) Second, Babel was about making a name for itself. (Notice the repetition of “let us” in Genesis 11:3-4). The Pentecost story is about making a name for Jesus and “the mighty works of God.” (Acts 2:11). Third, Babel was about a place, but Pentecost is about a people. The Babel-builders didn’t want to be bothered being “dispersed” (Genesis 11:4). But God’s plan all along was to form a people to be scattered among the nations as agents of God’s healing and reconciling love. This people formation begins with Abraham in Genesis 12 and culminates in the Acts community described in Acts 2:42-47.

Are you building for Babel or living for Pentecost? We build for Babel by making insiders and outsiders, bringing glory to our self-will, and staying put in the same old places. We live the Pentecost story by flinging arms wide open to the Holy Spirit’s movement and giving glory to Jesus as he moves us into unexpected places. 

If you missed yesterday’s message, you can listen to it here or watch the entire worship service on our YouTube channel.

Yours for Christ,

Pastor Steve