David Bahn – Reflections

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In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations. David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com. He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991. Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania. David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”

Winnowing Forks & the Holy Spirit

Matthew 3:11-12

[John the Baptist says,] “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Rakes, hoes, and other tools at Yorktown, Virginia farm shed
Rakes, hoes, and other tools at Yorktown, Virginia farm shed

The ministry that John promises would issue from Jesus is in part that of baptizing with the Holy Spirit and fire. Then comes the clarification: his winnowing fork is ready so that the wheat can be gathered and the chaff can be burned up.

While I like the idea of Jesus pouring out the Holy Spirit, and all the implications of that gift, I’m not so comfortably drawn to the fire. The idea that there will be a judgment – that wheat and chaff will be separated – isn’t inviting to me. But maybe that’s because I don’t really understand the benefit of the judgment and separation.

Some people really look forward to the judgment because all the bad people will get their comeuppance; they’ll get their just deserts.  Most people cringe in fear as they think about the judgment. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31). So you might stand with me on the appeal of Jesus’ Holy Spirit baptism with the ambivalent (at best) response to Jesus’ fire baptism.

Some have connected the two with the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Well and good. But Pentecost is not an obvious judgment time. Images of winnowing forks and promises of burning chaff with unquenchable fire are clearly images of judgment.

But perhaps Pentecost is a judgment: God has determined to inhabit the faithful rather than the religious – if faithful refers to those who seek Jesus and gather for prayer while religious refers to people who try to manipulate God by their prayer and ritual. Religion may well be defined as the futile attempt to manipulate God, to get Him on our side – by whatever means, ritualistic, emotional, or sacrificial. That’s not true religion. Faithfulness is a matter of seeking God, believing His promises, desiring to know Him better and wanting to follow where He leads.

If that’s the case, then we ought to embrace this image of judgment – not as smug holier-than-thou pious folk, but as faithful followers of Christ. We seek His kingdom. We follow where He leads. We rely on His mercy. We trust in His promises. We await His judgment in the power of the Holy Spirit.

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One response to “Winnowing Forks & the Holy Spirit”

  1. Darlene Heida Avatar
    Darlene Heida

    Help! With God’s help I consider myself a faithful follower of Christ. I seek His kingdom. I follow where He leads. I rely on His mercy. I trust in His promises. Jesus died on the cross for my sins – I am forgiven. Under the umbrella of Jesus’ righteousness I am seen by God as being righteous. Therefore I am acceptable in God’s eyes. I do not understand this judgment thing. Of what, when and by whom will I be judged?

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