Who Has Your Back? - by Joel Hempel Sitting on our deck earlier today, Marcia reminded me of an experience I had around 45 years ago. One winter evening around 7:00 p.m., we had not eaten because Marcia and I assumed the other one was making dinner. In the inner city where we lived near the church, there was a White Castle. Reluctantly, I agreed to go get us supper. You see, the White Castle parking lot was known in the neighborhood as the place you go if you wanted to get hooked up with everything from illegal drugs to illicit sex. After entering the restaurant, I approached the counter to order our meals. Immediately, a couple of unfriendly-looking men walked toward me. Then, I heard, “Let him go. It’s the Rev!” At the corner table was Nate, a man I knew from the neighborhood, who occasionally came by the church. I nodded, “Thank you,” waited for my order, and left feeling shaky but glad Nate had my back. Who has your back? Pentecost, the celebration of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, is all about the ONE who has our back. When I Googled the meaning of someone who has your back, here was the AI response: “Key aspects to having someone’s back include loyalty, protection and defense, active support, and unconditional presence.” Actually, that is a pretty good description of the Holy Spirit’s work. But I don’t know any human who provides what Artificial Intelligence determines should be included in having someone’s back, maybe because the definition is artificial. It’s an ideal only God can provide. As we heard on Sunday, the work of the Holy Spirit is controversial in some denominations, including our own. But there is no controversy in the Bible. In the New Testament alone, there are over 200 references to the reality and work of God’s Spirit. Once a person becomes a Christian through the outreach and grace of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit promises what AI cannot. The Holy Spirit promises perfect eternal and unconditional presence, advocacy, comfort, guidance, and reassurance of God’s love and our forgiveness.* There is no comparison between AI and HS. AI is produced by a human-created algorithm. The description of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is produced by God’s infallible Word. Back then, I was grateful for Nate’s intervention when it was most needed. But looking back 45 years, I now see someone else was at work. *1 Corinthians 12:3-11; John 14:15-26; John 16:12-15; Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:22-25; Romans 8:26-28; Luke 4:18-19; Genesis 1:2. |
