Mixed metaphysics
I've got a Praise Music earworm stuck in my head, something about "fresh fire of the Holy Ghost." It reminds me that we have a lot of imagery in preaching and hymnody using fire/flame as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. This ultimately goes back to the preaching of John the Baptist, where he said (Mt. 3:11-12)
But what about all those other fiery episodes in the Bible? The burning bush? Cloven tongues of flame resting upon the apostles at Pentecost? Well, let's look at these. The sign of God's presence in his own proper person is uncreated light. God is equally present everywhere, of course, but when he wishes to locate himself, as a concession to human perception -- that is, to say he is "here" in some sense, so that you can "see" the invisible -- the human brain sees light coming from the place where he is. So, the bush (where God placed himself in order to address Moses) seems to be burning, but is not consumed. The same effect is present in the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain, where bright light shines from him and dazzles Peter, James, and John. This dazzling effect shows up on the apostles' company when the Holy Spirit descends upon them. In this case, the uncreated light doesn't come from them, but rests upon them. This sign of the Holy Spirit resting upon a person possessed by God is represented in art as a nimbus, or halo.
The uncreated light is not the same as the fire of judgment. And while both may be regarded as symbols, or metaphors, certainly the presence of God is more than metaphor. So perhaps what we have here is more than "mixed metaphors." We have here a case of "mixed metaphysics." In any case, I wish people would quit talking about being baptized with fire. However wonderful it sounds in our songs and sermons, it's a misapplication of the text. And if you were to be baptized with fire, in John's sense, you certainly wouldn't like it.
"I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mighter than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."Note here that being baptized with fire is not a good thing. John is setting up a parallel here -- baptized with the Spirit:baptized with fire :: wheat into granary:chaff burnt up. In other words, fire is here used as a synonym for damnation, not salvation.
But what about all those other fiery episodes in the Bible? The burning bush? Cloven tongues of flame resting upon the apostles at Pentecost? Well, let's look at these. The sign of God's presence in his own proper person is uncreated light. God is equally present everywhere, of course, but when he wishes to locate himself, as a concession to human perception -- that is, to say he is "here" in some sense, so that you can "see" the invisible -- the human brain sees light coming from the place where he is. So, the bush (where God placed himself in order to address Moses) seems to be burning, but is not consumed. The same effect is present in the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain, where bright light shines from him and dazzles Peter, James, and John. This dazzling effect shows up on the apostles' company when the Holy Spirit descends upon them. In this case, the uncreated light doesn't come from them, but rests upon them. This sign of the Holy Spirit resting upon a person possessed by God is represented in art as a nimbus, or halo.
The uncreated light is not the same as the fire of judgment. And while both may be regarded as symbols, or metaphors, certainly the presence of God is more than metaphor. So perhaps what we have here is more than "mixed metaphors." We have here a case of "mixed metaphysics." In any case, I wish people would quit talking about being baptized with fire. However wonderful it sounds in our songs and sermons, it's a misapplication of the text. And if you were to be baptized with fire, in John's sense, you certainly wouldn't like it.