The Spirit is the Tensive Point Between the Future and Present

Summary

In this conversation, Jason Micheli, Teer Hardy, and Jack Levison discuss various topics, including their previous interactions, their experiences in Greece, and the role of the Holy Spirit. They explore the physicality of the Holy Spirit and its connection to the resurrection of Jesus. They also touch on the dematerialization of the Holy Spirit in Christian theology and the need to reclaim its materiality. The conversation highlights the importance of recognizing the presence of the Holy Spirit in the proclamation of the gospel and the sacraments. The conversation explores the physical and tangible experiences of encountering the Holy Spirit through scripture, music, and personal moments. It delves into the importance of proclaiming the gospel through various mediums and the role of the Trinity in understanding the Spirit. The discussion also touches on the challenges of articulating the doctrine of the Trinity and the need for concrete expressions of the Spirit's work in the church. The conversation concludes with reflections on the power of storytelling and the impact of literature.

Takeaways

• The Holy Spirit provides a tension point between the past and the future, leading us back to Jesus and driving us into a world of hope.

• The dematerialization of the Holy Spirit in Christian theology has led to a separation between the material and the spiritual, which has hindered our understanding of the Spirit's physicality.

• The resurrection of Jesus is a physical event that signifies something new and altogether different, not just a restoration of life.

• The Holy Spirit is present in the proclamation of the gospel and the sacraments, and recognizing its presence is essential for a deeper understanding of the Spirit's work.

• Pentecostals often focus on the charismatic aspects of the Spirit, while mainline Christians may overlook the Spirit's presence in the proclamation of the gospel. Encountering scripture and music can elicit physical sensations and a deep sense of the Holy Spirit's presence.

• The proclamation of the gospel through various mediums, including music, is essential in reaching and engaging people.

• The doctrine of the Trinity can be challenging to articulate, but understanding the work of the Spirit is crucial in comprehending the Trinity.

• Concrete expressions of the Spirit's work in the church, such as baptism and liturgy, can help make the Spirit's action more tangible.

• Storytelling and literature have the power to evoke emotions and convey deep truths about the human experience and the work of the Spirit.

Sound Bites

• "The Holy Spirit provides that tensive point between past and future."

• "The Holy Spirit provides that intensive spot in our lives between Jesus in the past and transformation in the future."

• "The resurrection is the invigoration of the body of Jesus, the way God invigorates our bodies."

• "There are so there have been times in my life where I have been studying scripture and I feel my body relax like it it opens."

• "The way that we are able to present the gospel through music disarms people."

• "It is the music when something penetrates all of us. And that's when I feel or sense the Holy Spirit very deeply."