WIM - Subcriber Articles St. Patrick Was a Pentecostal Fri, 11 Mar 2011 - 2:49 PM CST By Carolyn Tennant
As a Celtic scholar, I find it sad that few people really understand St. Patrick. We have a whole day dedicated to him on our U.S. calendars and generally spend it watching people go crazy wearing green, sponsoring parades, cutting out paper shamrocks, and holding forth in the Irish pubs. He would not be pleased. As far as we are able to piece together his life, Patrick was born around 385 A.D. on the western coast of Britain of a Roman nobleman and a Welsh mother. In his teens he was kidnapped by marauding Irishmen. He soon found himself sold into slavery on the west coast of Ireland, working for a druid as a sheepherder. His more privileged lifestyle in Britain undoubtedly made it difficult for him to survive the extreme temperatures he had to endure while living outside in the elements. In his Confessions he explained that he came to a faith which he had not known before and found himself praying "hundreds of prayers" day and night. In a dream 5 years later he was told to walk east and he would come across a ship which would take him away. This occurred - an unusual event really, since he would have had on an irremovable torc indicating he was a slave, and any Irishman would have normally picked him up and returned him to his master during his 200 mile escape route. The ship he found was taking Irish wolfhounds to Europe, bypassing Britain, but they allowed him to come on board after he was first turned away and then prayed that they would change their minds. The sailors could not find the nomadic tribe who ordered the hounds and went in search of them, nearly starving in the process. The ship's owner finally resorted to asking if Patrick's God could save them. After Patrick prayed, a herd of wild boar careened right through their camp, and the whole ship's crew was saved from starvation. That night Patrick said he "fought the devil" in prayer and he stated that he "spoke in other tongues." This is the exact translation. I have looked it up in the original Latin. The fact that Patrick ultimately felt led by God to go back to Ireland is astounding. This can only be the work of the Holy Spirit in his life. He had every reason to hate his kidnappers. But he had learned their language and had participated in their culture, and he had a heart to see them saved. Going back meant that he could very well be picked up and reinstated into slavery. He laid down his life to return. So bold was he that after 30 years of ministry, what started as an unchristian nation was largely Christianized. He established hundreds of churches, baptized thousands, ordained 42 bishops, founded monasteries, developed a native clergy, and copied by hand no less than 365 abgitoria, books of instruction for the clergy. Many healings and miracles were ascribed to his apostolic ministry. Why bother to consider Patrick's life? First of all, it is another example of the world not understanding the things of God. He has now been reduced to fun and games whereas his real contributions were amazingly strong and vital, resulting in the salvation of thousands of people. It has never been particularly easy for the world to understand what the Holy Spirit is doing. Neither is it today. Let's deal with it. Secondly, so often we find ourselves toiling and feeling like nobody knows or cares, just like Patrick when he was a slave. We, too, can be misunderstood and even harassed. But others before us have endured the same lot, and we should not be surprised when we do, too. We need to stay strong and not give up. Prayer and trust must become our mainstays. We also need to put on the strong love for people that Patrick evidenced by returning to Ireland. He preached everywhere, even when he was opposed. However, he was so savvy and loving in his evangelism, so caring and kind, that he won people over. He respected the Celts' culture and allowed them to come to God through their own background, not by becoming romanized first. We must to be ready to go back in, even to those who have hurt us, and accept them where they are. Finally, Patrick was truly a Pentecostal. He was a giant in intercession who was not afraid to move powerfully in the gifts of the Spirit. He was used in signs, wonders, and miracles, the same sort of means that God wants to use today to push back the darkness. I believe God is looking for people who will step out in faith and yearn to see this nation come back to Him. May Patrick's life be a reminder to us that Pentecostals are a bold people. We go where most would think we are crazy to go. We risk our lives and our well being to see people get saved. It's not about green ... it's all about the mighty power of God! No wimps in our camp, women of God!
Carolyn Tennant, Ph.D. is an Assemblies of God minister and professor of English, North Central University, Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is also a committee member of the Network for Women in Ministry.
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