My Baptist church never asked me to wear red on Pentecost Sunday. In fact, they never mentioned Pentecost Sunday and now I know why. Pentecost is the complete equalization of men and women that Jesus showed through his words and his actions.
If you don’t believe me, read Acts 2 (selected passages from The Message)
When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.
This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:
“In the Last Days,” God says,
“I will pour out my Spirit
on every kind of people:
Your sons will prophesy,
also your daughters;
Your young men will see visions,
your old men dream dreams.
When the time comes,
I’ll pour out my Spirit
On those who serve me, men and women both,
and they’ll prophesy.”
Here God gave women the promise they would be filled with the Spirit and they would prophesy. From the very beginning men and women were to be equal but man mixed up spiritual things with secular rules. Peter was quoting from the book of Joel in the Old Testament. The Day of Pentecost reminds us of that equalization of men and women.
Pentecost is called the Birthday of the church. There is no limit placed upon women in this chapter of Acts. That is why your Baptist church will not ask you to wear red for this Pentecost Sunday.
bWe Baptist Women for Equality's Blog 