June 5 | Acts 17:16-34

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DAILY READING

Acts 17:16-34

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REFLECTION

A Godly Man in a Godless City

By Terry Gustafson

Paul finds himself in Athens after being escorted out of Berea because of Jewish opposition to his message. But while he is waiting for his friends to return, Paul looks around Athens and is distressed by all the idols he sees, because his primary concern is with the glory of God. So he began to reason in the synagogue, as was his custom, and in the marketplace. The philosophers who heard him were intrigued, since they spent their time talking about the latest fads, so they invited Paul to speak to a meeting of the Aeropagus, the main council of Athens. In accepting the invitation, Paul provides a master class in how to engage unbelievers with the Gospel message.

• Find common ground. Paul opens his speech with a very conciliatory introduction. He recognizes that the men of Athens are religious. He doesn’t start by calling for all the idols of Athens to be torn down. He even quotes their poets (v. 28). Paul starts where they are and draws them into the conversation.

  
  

• Communicate the nature of God. Paul uses their shrine to an unknown god to introduce his call to repentance. Paul speaks to the nature of God and the responsibility of man to God. Contrary to all pantheistic and polytheistic notions, God is the one who has created the world and everything in it. He does not live in temples built by hands, nor is he dependent for his existence upon anything he has created. Rather, he is the source of life and breath and everything else humanity possesses. The fulfillment of God’s plan is Jesus and His resurrection. The times of ignorance have passed; now is the time to repent.

  
  

• Trust God for the results. Not everyone who heard Paul’s message took it to heart. Some sneered and mocked the message. Some chose to delay their response until they heard more. But a few became followers and believed. Paul understood that his task was to proclaim Christ and Him crucified and to leave the results to God.

What is your marketplace? Where is it that God has placed you? We don’t have to go too far to find the idols of our day. Paul’s example provides a framework for how we can engage our friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers in a conversation about the nature of God and the power of the resurrection. All we need to do is trust God for the result.

For the last 30+ years I have coordinated a weekly meeting with a small group of Christian faculty and staff at Ohio State. Our conversations are focused on what is happening in the university and our culture that impact our faith. We call ourselves the Mars Hill Group because of how Paul engaged the learned men of Athens. Within the last three weeks I had the privilege of being in Athens, walking in the ancient Agora where Paul walked and gave his speech.

This photo is from the Agora as it is today, the main market place of ancient Athens, where Paul likely spoke to the members of the Areopagus. Straight ahead is the Acropolis hill with the Parthenon; to the right is the large rock, known as Mars Hill; and to the left is a reconstruction of the main Stoa, a covered portico that sheltered the marketplace vendors. The idols that populated this place when Paul was there are now lying in pieces on the ground or housed in museums. Jesus, the focus of Paul’s message, is living and is seated on the throne of heaven. That is the power of the resurrection.

PRAYER

Repeat the following breath prayer throughout the day:

(Breathe in) Lord of heaven and earth

(Breathe out) May I live and move and have my being in You

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TERRY GUSTAFSON

My wife, Mary, and I have been attending UALC for about 12 years.  We have two grown daughters and one grandchild.  I am a retired professor of chemistry at Ohio State, where I served many years as the faculty advisor to the IVCF graduate student chapter and as a member of the Faculty Christian Fellowship.  I currently have the privilege of serving on the UALC Council.