Easter 6: First Reading, Acts 17:16-31

I love the missionary journeys of Paul. Exciting to the hilt. And all  the excitement centers on the gospel and Jesus and what the first Christians and we are to be about. Taking the gospel anywhere and everywhere. The First Reading for this Sunday opens the curtain on the Apostle Paul in Athens, Greece. In Paul’s day, the intellectual and philosophical center of the world. Temples, auditoriums and statues of every kind dotted the great city and as the Bible says, “the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new” (Acts 17: 21). Something new. Sounds like 21st century America except I have to believe the intellectual acuity of our contemporaries probably doesn’t quite climb to the erudition of our ancient lovers of “chatter.” That’s really what Athens was. A center for chatter regarding new philosophies, new and old gods and the best way to live. Again. Sounds kind of like us.

The Bible says that in Paul’s meandering through the city streets, his spirit was “provoked,” or unsettled by the plethora of false gods in plain view. Think of the spiritual angst of an orthodox Jew in the midst of image after image after image of demons and heroes claiming a rightful place in opposition to the great “I AM.” Provoked is probably mild. But Paul pulls himself together and gains the opportunity to stand before the brilliant of the day. In the grand and majestic Areopagus, Paul preaches to them God, the true God, that they claimed by inscription was unknown. 

It’s right here where I think we hear Paul at his best. He takes words from their world, from their poets and sages and uses them to exalt His Master, Jesus. In effect, “The One who made you, who made me, you all know Him. You’ve just allowed yourselves to be blinded by your own smarts and really you just have pride and spiritual egg all over your faces. The God you claim as unknown is here. Right now. And as I am going to proclaim, ‘He wants you to know him.’” Paul goes on to say that their poets got right the idea that we are God’s offspring. And so Paul’s conclusion is that this true God isn’t to be thought of as existing as the result of man’s creativity and artwork. The true God, says Paul, isn’t like that at all.

 

Paul continues not by saying that their choice is open and they can in effect “take God or leave Him.” No. Paul tells them in no uncertain terms that God is willing to overlook their pride and ignorance but they must repent. A gift from God to be sure, but they have to do a “180” in their thinking and admit their folly before the only true God. Why? Because judgement is coming. Certain judgment from a God beyond their imagining and far above all their false pretenders to the throne.

Now think about how we present the gospel. Are we clear? Are we aware of the beliefs or non-beliefs of the people God puts in front of us? Will we let God use their way of thinking to help us lead them to His? Are we willing to expose the darkness of the lies they believe, no matter how sincerely, with the light of His truth? These are all good questions we need to consider. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news says the Bible. Paul had beautiful feet. I want you and I to have them to. God’s Peace.