A Bazillion Expressions of Discipleship and Counting

The key to understanding the story of Pentecost in Acts 2, which is a story that the Church tells to describe the advent of the Holy Spirit, is in focusing much more on what is not said or revealed than what is said or revealed.  What happens is that the Disciples are empowered with God's Spirit.  What doesn't happen is specific instructions.  They are not told exactly what to do.  God's Spirit did not provide a detailed set of regulations.

We are not given specific instructions about how to live out our calling as disciples.  We have scripture, we have the example set by Christ, but beyond that, it is up to us.  Every person is different.  We have different skills, different perspectives, different experiences.  Consequently, there have been a bazillion expressions of discipleship

Religious institutions have,  ironically, tried to establish uniformity in discipleship.  We think that every disciple should think the same and act the same and live out their discipleship in the same way.  Based upon Pentecost, this is the exact opposite of what God intended.  Pentecost happened in the way that it did because God wanted it that way.  People express themselves in this world in a bazillion different ways because God wants it that way.  Each and every person who has lived in this world is unique and every day is unique, and God wanted it that way. 

God wants each and every one of us, as we live according to Christ's example, to make our discipleship our own, based upon our own unique experiences and perspectives.  Our story will be a unique story.  It's a little like a bunch of disciples all speaking in different languages at the same time.  Its a wonderful baffling cacophony.