May 29 reading – Sixth Sunday of Easter – Acts 17: 22-31
Paul was convinced his purpose was to take the good news of Jesus, risen from the dead, to the far corners of the world.
The elders in Jerusalem breathed caution. Rome tolerated Jews, so long as they didn’t make trouble. If the Jews who followed Jesus stayed close to temple and synagogue they wouldn’t be troubled. The elders decided Paul could speak to Gentiles, after he preached to Jews, and those who had converted to Judaism.
Paul went to Athens. He did as he was told. He went to the synagogue. Read and reasoned over the scriptures. Then to the agora. Where people bought goods and services, and traded ideas. You could learn some philosophy while you bought your dinner.
Some decided Paul was a dealer in foreign gods. A “seed – picker.” He was all over the philosophical map. That took him to the council. The eminent men of the city would decide if Paul was worth hearing. Paul was honoured with a few minutes to speak. If what we read today is all Paul said, it’s an example of clarity and brevity. Paul could think on his feet.
He was distressed to see idols on every corner in Athens. There were temples and religious dining halls all over the city. Paul didn’t get up and say they should all be torn down. He didn’t say the Athenians were all wrong.
Paul found something in the dreaded culture of idol worship to affirm, and build on. One of the altars of Athens was dedicated “To an Unknown God.” The people of Athens were thoroughly religious.
Paul said, “Let me tell you about this god you don’t know, but allow might be real. This god is greater than all the rest.” He didn’t quote the Old Testament. His text was from a poet, Aratus. An author his audience already knew.
Paul met the Athenians on their own ground, with their own words about one God, who created just one race, the human race. Then Paul came to his punch line. The distinctive Christian message. Jesus is the One who shows the way to know and to live in this God.
Paul finished with the good news. God raised Jesus from death, to show that Jesus is the One.
Some at the Areopagus were offended by the idea of resurrection. Others said, “Maybe we’ll hear more another day.” A few believed, including a member of the council, and a prominent woman of the city.
Paul met the Athenians with respect. He found truth in strange places. He allowed God to speak, first, in the words of a poet. In the religiosity of Athens. In the market place of ideas. The testing – place of truth.
Have we, in our beloved Presbyterian Church, withdrawn from the market place of ideas? One common image of the church in our part of the world is of a secret society, like a dinner club in ancient Athens. A refuge from reality, obsessed with preserving pure tradition. The only way that image will die is if we go out and speak up.
The challenge we face today is to be ever more open. Yes, discerning. Yes, testing new truth and claims to truth. But not afraid to put our truth to the test. To add our voices to the mix. To share what we believe. Always with respect for others, but never ashamed to be who we are.
Paul crafted his message to meet his audience. But he didn’t stop at that. He proclaimed Jesus, risen from the dead.
I believe there’s a receptive audience for a witness that’s open to what others have to say. And what they may already believe. A witness that lets God speak, even if God chooses to speak through what’s new and strange to us.
We have a place in the market place of ideas. We can, and we must, speak in ways people around us will understand, and hear as good news.
