I was reading the book of Acts this week when it hit me how much human nature has not changed in the last couple of thousand years. I know that genuine followers of Jesus want to communicate to our divided culture in a kinder and gentler way but still boldly confront non-believers with truth and love. After seeing Paul’s experience, I believe God is telling us in advance that the results will be mixed.
Acts 17 documents the apostle Paul’s visit to Athens, a city that caused him great distress (the Greek word, roughly translated, means “ticked off”) because the city was full of idols. Yet, instead of arguing with or maligning the Jews and God-fearing Greeks, he reasoned with them and others who came to listen. In their minds Paul was introducing them to some strange ideas but he did it in a way that they wanted to know more. Verse 21 notes that residents of Athens spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.
Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. (Acts 17:21, NLT)
Their pastime could be considered an ancient version of our social media scrolling and podcast sharing. I love what happens next. Paul met his audience where they were.
“So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.” (Acts17: 22-23 NLT)
Brilliant! So the Apostle Paul downloaded an intellectual tease to cause the skeptics to pay attention. He pointed out a common interest and then offered the audience an upcoming revelation to keep them tuned in.
Paul had debates with Stoic and Epicurean philosophers. What if Paul and the early believers had approached Athens with some of the strategies we use today? Several believers would march throughout the marketplace defiantly holding up placards:
“If you think you are Stoic now, wait till the Lord returns!”
“Hey, Epicureans…the party’s over for you!”
What if Paul had stepped up and announced, “Repent, you pagan, godless sons of the devil, before you burn in a fiery hell.”
For some reason I don’t think Paul would have had much of an audience, let alone success. When he finished speaking to the crowd in Athens, the Bible records the box score. It’s pretty much what you and I can expect when we sincerely and lovingly explain our faith. Some of them sneered. Those are the ones that we worry about too much. Some of them said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” That means you have at least planted a seed. And a few “believed.” That is my prayer, along with hearing that a few recommitted to the faith. Paul endured all that he did to present the Gospel message to those who wanted to hear more.
The early church had no chance to “win” the culture war. Instead, they built a community of loving and serving believers that infiltrated the culture. It is important to have theological knowledge, but when you combine that with love and grace you can change the hearts and lives of your family, your neighbors, and your community.
So, every believer is to build a foundation first on the solid rock of hearing Christ’s words and then putting those teachings into practice, with no excuses. We will make mistakes and fall short of expressing God’s grace. But when we fall short, we should take responsibility, repent, regroup, and reenter the fray to follow the commands of Jesus expressed in Matthew 22:37-40.
‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.”
But wait! There’s more!
39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
From that solid foundation we can build a healthier church, community, and culture. Paul didn’t have an easy journey at all. He suffered. He was beaten. Jailed. Mocked. But here was his desire to finish strong after an early life that he regretted.
“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” (Acts 20:24, NLT)
That is my prayer. We will have also mixed results but our goal is to glorify God and tell others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
(A portion of this blog came from my book When Bad Christians Happen to Good People)