Pentecost: Levelling Up
We thank God for this amazing insight from Rev Michelle Nunn, Lead Pastor Nantwich Elim Church and Member of the Elim Movements National Leadership Team
Levelling Up
There is much political talk right now about the importance of levelling up our society here in the UK and ‘giving everyone the opportunity to flourish’ (2022, 1). Whether we consider our present or recent history, most agree there is great inequity and therefore a need to level up our society, characterised by geographical divisions and extremes of poverty and wealth, privilege, and disadvantage. DLUHC, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Community, who are also taking the lead for supporting Ukrainian evacuees, are responsible for helping advance this ambitious political ideal which has moral, social and economic implications. Acknowledging this ‘can only succeed as a shared national project’ (2022, 8).
Jesus came to a small, occupied nation to bring good news and God’s favour to those in need (Lk. 4:18-19). He visited communities personally and spoke directly to people, encouraging right living as well as bringing freedom for the sick and oppressed. He recognised those made vulnerable through inequalities and inequity, promising never to abandon them, and followed through by sending a helper, God’s Spirit at Pentecost. Jesus knew that structural or systemic change would never be enough. People need empowering in their everyday lives to enable them to live better and act for the common good.
At Pentecost, nearly 2000 years ago, a movement of true levelling up was initiated. Instead of empowering the religious or political elite Jesus poured out his Spirit upon a multi-generational, multi-gendered and multi-radical crowd. He shared and gave away his power to people who had caught his message and knew their need. With his empowerment, believers could take responsibility for themselves and others, seek to live better lives, increasingly selfless and less selfish, focused on the common good.
Levelling up our society is going to require people to give away, or at least, share power and resources, just like Jesus. It’s going to require a change of heart, a shift of focus from what’s for me and mine, to what is for them and theirs, and the good of all. Pentecost is a time for remembering that any privilege and power we enjoy comes from God and is entrusted to us for the common good. So wherever we are leading today let us recognise our privilege, understand our power and leverage it for the common good so that the many can flourish.
Levelling Up the United Kingdom White Paper, UK Government, 2022.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/levelling-up-the-united-kingdom
