The Acts of the Holy Spirit

By William S. Banowsky

[Page 12]

     In his preface to his translation, The Young Church in Action, J. B. Phillips said concerning the book of Acts:

     "The reader is stirred because he is seeing Christianity, the real thing, in action for the first time in human history. The newborn church, as vulnerable as any human child, having neither money, influence, nor power in the ordinary sense, is setting forth joyfully to win the pagan world for God through Christ."

     The story of the early church is a story of action! An account of the real thing. The thrills begin with Christ's electrifying ascension into heaven. They close with Christ's enemies shouting in a rage of frustration: "You have turned the world upside down." Take the action out of the book of Acts and there is little left. What was the source of that action?

     Dr. Charles B. Erdman urged that the volume be titled "The Acts of the Holy Spirit." The "rushing mighty wind" not only "filled all the house where they were sitting" the Holy Spirit filled the heart of every Christian with the motive and source for spiritual action. Perhaps our lack of action can be traced to our failure to make full use of the Person of God's spirit dwelling personally within our hearts! What a great gulf separates the tradition-choked church of our day from the vital religion of Acts. We have taken the Spirit out!

     Through the Spirit, "fear came upon every soul." They did not relegate religion to the hands of a few hired professionals. They did not merely attend lectureships to talk and listen to the world's need for Christ. They did not simply agitate for social legislation to benefit the under-privileged; they literally sold out and shared their goods with the poor. They did not talk endlessly of the methods and benefits of prayer; they simply bowed their heads and prayed fervently and often.

     Maurice Eagen has suggested that if the modern church ever dies, the dagger in its heart will be the Sunday morning sermon. The 20th century church is definitely in danger of being talked to death. Through lectures and business meetings, work shops and "bull sessions"--so much of our religion is lived in terms of talk. So much of our action has been reduced to mere words. The making of speeches has become an ecclesiastical art--an end within itself. The time has come to quit the conversation and stand with Peter: "We are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him" (Acts 5:32).

     Bill Banowsky serves the Broadway Church of Christ, Lubbock, Texas. The above article appeared in Action, October. 1966.