What Holds Us Together
Rev. Kenneth M. Locke, Interim Pastor
Orchard Park Presbyterian Church; Carmel, IN
June 8, 2025; Festival of Pentecost
Reading the story of the Tower of Babel, we can’t help noticing the tower is not the point of the story. The tower is built because of what’s at the heart of the story. What’s at the heart of the story is a desire, a craving, to stick together. They want to be of one mind, one purpose, one goal. Otherwise, they will fall apart and split up. Any organization – a club, a church, a business – without purpose pretty soon falls apart. The people in our lesson don’t want that happening to them.
And so, they decide to build a tower whose sole purpose is to give them purpose, make a name for themselves, help them stick together. The tower is not the point of the story. The tower is simply a means to an end. The point is sticking together.
But then, God comes down and confuses their language. And instead of learning to communicate, instead of sticking to their plan and building the tower, they disband and spread out over the face of the earth.
Clearly, they were never very committed to being together. They were never very committed to something bigger than themselves. They had a dream, but they weren’t committed to it. They were a tower of mud bricks held together with tar.
We’ve all seen clubs, community groups, even relationships fall apart because of poor communication. Sometimes poor communication is just poor communication. But all too often it’s a sign the group has lost its common cause, its commitment to something greater than themselves. It’s not about communication; it’s about having a common purpose.
Skip ahead to our Acts lesson about the Pentecost event and we might think we’re on firmer ground. After all, this has to be about communication. Understanding each other is so important to this story.
But again, let’s look a little closer. Understanding each other matters. For sure. But understanding each other is simply a byproduct of what the Holy Spirit is empowering the people to do: proclaim how much God loves us. That’s the point of Pentecost: proclaiming how much God loves us. And that’s what Peter does. Facing the skeptical crowd, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter proclaims God’s love to the people in language they can understand.
Too many churches have a Tower of Babel mentality. Their only commitment is to keep on keeping on. Ministry and missions are a distant second. Their sole focus is staying alive. But even that commitment is tenuous. Any little upset and they’ll fall apart. Towers of mud bricks, held together with tar.
Here at Orchard Park, we’re not in danger of becoming a Tower of Babel congregation any time soon. We are committed to something bigger than ourselves. We are committed to spreading the good news of God. We are committed to demonstrating to one and all how much God loves us.
Nevertheless, the Tower of Babel is an important lesson. It’s a warning. As we move forward in our ministry, ever seeking to be the church God wants us to be, let’s keep our focus. Let’s remember our purpose: sharing the good news of God’s love.
If we do, communication will not be an issue. In fact, it will flow as freely and as powerfully as it did on Pentecost. Thanks be to God! Amen.
