Spirit and Breath of Power

We live in a world dominated by the voices of the powerful and rich, who use their power and money to influence our media and spread divisive information. This information polarizes people and makes us unable to communicate with one another to work together for the common good. As followers of Jesus, we sometimes feel insignificant and helpless and perhaps even powerless in sharing the good news of a compassionate and just God. At times like these, we can learn from the miraculous Pentecost story, when a small group of powerless Jews becomes so influential that 3,000 people are baptized. (See Acts 2:41.)

In every generation, Christians have used the technologies available to us to share the gospel. The early church leaders wrote down their stories so that future generations could recall the saving stories. When the printing press was invented, Christians used it to print copies of the Bible and other resources that could be distributed and shared with many more. The voiceless began to find their voices in the printing era as well.

Now, with the innovation of digital media, we can learn to use these channels to empower the prophetic voices of those with less power in our society. YouTube, for example, offers all who have access to a computer with a camera the ability to share their voice with millions. Social media allows people to network globally, which bypasses traditional information systems. The Black Lives Matter and Me Too movements are examples of the powerless finding their voice through a powerful digital network that has become a community of millions. When used faithfully, new technologies can allow us to hear and to share the experiences of the powerless, realizing a form of Pentecost.