I write this article having just finished the celebration of Pentecost.

This is one of the special times of the Christian calendar. We begin our year with the Advent season, preparing to celebrate the coming of God into the world in a way unexpected by anyone.

Then we move through the seasons of Epiphany and Lent toward the celebration of Easter, when God really surprised the world by willingly dying a horrible and humiliating death and then rising again, challenging the world’s understanding of life and death.

Even the disciples who lived under Jesus’ teaching for three years were surprised, confused and overjoyed at what happened. And the story of God’s work in this world continues with the celebration of Pentecost.

For Pentecost celebrates the event when God came into the world in the form of the Holy Spirit and inspired and emboldened those fearful, confused-but-dedicated disciples.

Now filled with the power of the Spirit, these witnesses to the truth of God in Jesus the Christ were prepared to take the message of God’s love out into the far reaches of the known world.

What previously appeared to be foolish or impossible was now the main topic of this new body we call the church.

Traditionally, and surely theologically, Christmas and Easter are significant celebrations of the church. I, personally, also lift up Christ the King Sunday (where we re-affirm that Jesus is Lord of all of our life) as an important event in the life of the church.

But without Pentecost, the church might still be hiding underground or locked in upper rooms. Its witness might be to no more than the other believers in the immediate vicinity.

Through the understanding of Pentecost, Christians should be bold in proclaiming the good news of Jesus in all corners of our communities, nation and states around the world.

A common question arises each year at especially this time of year: “Why isn’t the church more active in the proclamation of the good news?”

If we look at the decline of the mainline Protestant churches (as measured by worship attendance, professions of faith, membership decline, etc.), Pentecost does not appear to be a major event of the present-day church.

Perhaps it might be that we “have abandoned the love we first had” (Revelations 2:1-7, words to the church at Ephesus) or we have become like the Laodiceans (“I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.’ You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:14-17)

When I look at the general condition of the society in which we live, I think about the Pentecost celebration and think, “I have lots of work to do.”

The church is to influence the world and bring light into the darkness. This cannot be accomplished without the guidance of and empowerment by the Holy Spirit, which is what Pentecost is all about.

If we do not want to be of the class of the Ephesians or the Laodiceans, then we had better claim the gift promised by Jesus and manifested first in Jerusalem at Pentecost.

There is much to be done. Indeed, it is time to work, and I pray all Christians claim the gift and join the cause.

May you be richly blessed in your work on behalf of Jesus, the Christ.

Prather is pastor of Lake Palestine United Methodist Church near Chandler.