“Turning
the World Upside Down:
Is the Gospel
Relevant on Pearl Street?”
Sermon Series
on the Book of Acts
(Acts 17:16-34)
January 8, 2006
Dr. Peter Barnes
First Presbyterian
Church
Preliminary Remarks
When I was growing
up, like most kids I used to watch Saturday morning cartoons. One
of my favorites was Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties. You may
recall that the cartoon was a part of the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show
which aired on NBC in the 1960s. It was a slapstick parody of melodrama
in which a typical episode had the villain, Snidely Whiplash, trying
to do great harm to Dudley’s girlfriend Nell, usually tying her to
the railroad tracks as a train approached. But at just the last moment,
Dudley would arrive on the scene on his trusted horse (who was named
Horse!) and save the day. Often, the narrator of the show began his
voice-over by saying, “When last we left our hero,” and the story
from the previous episode continued.
It’s been so long since
we last looked at the book of Acts together (back in October!) that
I’m inclined to say those same words as we pick up our study once
again! When last we left our hero Paul, he was on his way to Athens
after having preached in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. This
was all a part of Paul’s third missionary journey in which he traveled
throughout Asia Minor and Macedonia (modern day Turkey and Greece)
proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. This brings us to our
text today.
Introduction
Heidi Husted has
written[1] that today many sociologists
are suggesting that there is one place or institution that characterizes
our culture more than any other. What do you think it is? The sports
stadium? No. The church? Definitely not. Schools? No. What characterizes
our culture more than anything else is the shopping mall. One report
claims that the United States actually has more shopping malls than
high schools, and the number of malls is projected to increase at
a rate of 2,000 per year. Our own revamped 29th Street
mall is scheduled to open later this year. More and more, our lives
are centered around malls. It’s not only where we shop, it’s where
we hang out and where we gather to socialize. Malls tell us what’s
important, what we value.
A number of years ago
when I was in Minneapolis on church business, I visited the mother
of all malls – the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. It may be
hard to believe, but the Mall of America is the size of 88 football
fields! You can get married there. You can go to college there. You
can book a flight there. When it was opened, the Mall of America
was projected to attract more visitors than Mecca or the Vatican!
Indeed, for many people a trip to the mall has become a modern-day
pilgrimage of sorts.
Does the gospel have
anything to say to people at the Mall of America? To the people on
the Pearl Street Mall? I believe it does, and so did the apostle
Paul. We find him here in Acts 17 sharing the gospel in the city
of Athens in what we would call their version of the shopping mall.
Let’s take a closer look. As we consider these things today, I want
you to notice: 1) what Paul experienced; 2) where Paul went; and
3) what Paul teaches us.
I. What Paul Experienced
After a mixed
response in the cities of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea, and
after suffering opposition and persecution, Paul was escorted by
Christian friends to the city of Athens, some 20 miles away. They
left him there alone with instructions for Silas and Timothy, who
were back in Berea, to join him as soon as possible.
Five centuries before,
Athens had been at the height of its glory as a center for art, literature,
and philosophy. Even though some of that glory had faded by the 1st century
AD, Athens retained her reputation as the intellectual metropolis
of the Roman Empire. It had been the home of Socrates, Plato, and
Aristotle, as well as lesser philosophers like Epicurus (341-270
BC) and Zeno (335-263 BC) whose disciples are referenced in our passage.
Athens was the site
of the great architecture of the Parthenon, whose ruins still stand
today. It was home to innumerable, temples, shrines, and statues
for the whole Greek pantheon – the Greek gods such as Athena, Apollo,
Jupiter, Mercury, Bacchus, Neptune, Diana, and Aesculapius. The statue
of Athena, for whom the city was named, stood in the Parthenon and
was 40 feet tall. It is said that the golden point of her spear could
be seen 40 miles away in the sunlight.
Walking around the city,
Paul must have been struck by the beauty, the heritage, and the brilliance
of the place. But the text tells us that the apostle was struck by
something else as well. His spirit was grieved and his soul was burdened
at how lost the people were in their idolatry. Growing up as a devout
Jew, he had been taught the Ten Commandments which proclaimed that
there is but one God, and no one should ever attempt to make a graven
image of Him. Paul was disturbed, because he knew that God did not
dwell in these temples and statues that had been made by human hands.
Seeing all these idols created a profound sadness in his heart. And
so he took it upon himself to share the good news of God’s love through
Jesus Christ with anyone who would listen.
II. Where Paul Went
There are three
places we find Paul in this passage sharing his faith. The first
place was the synagogue. You will recall that this was his regular
practice whenever he went to a new city. He would go to the synagogue
first and share with the Jews of the community that the Jesus of
history was the Messiah of Scripture. Paul believed that the message
of salvation was for the Jew first and then for the Greek as well.
So we find Paul proclaiming the gospel first in the synagogue.
Next we find
the apostle in the Agora or the marketplace. The Agora
was the heart of the city for ancient Athens. It was the focus of
the commercial, political, administrative and social activity for
the city, and it served as the religious and culture center, as well
as the seat of justice. On the screens you will see the ruins of
the Agora as they appear today. The area would always have been crowded
with the hustle and bustle of life in Athens.
The text tells us that
a group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with
Paul there in the marketplace. Luke adds the side note that the people
of Athens loved nothing better than to talk about and listen to the
latest ideas. Paul loved a good debate, and he enjoyed the challenge
of matching wits with the thinkers of his day. The apostle had been
educated in the finest schools in his hometown of Tarsus as well
as Jerusalem, and he had a keen mind that could engage the brightest
of people.
The Epicureans considered
the gods to be so remote as to take no interest in and have no influence
upon human affairs. They thought the world was due to chance, a random
concourse of atoms, and they were convinced that there was no life
after death. Therefore, they believed that humans should pursue pleasure
in this life and seek to be detached from pain, passion, and fear.
The Stoics, on the other hand, acknowledged the supreme god but only
in a pantheistic way. They confused him with what they called the “world
soul.” The Stoics believed that the world was determined by fate,
and human beings must pursue their duty, resigning themselves to
live in harmony with nature and reason, however painful this might
be. And so to summarize, the Epicureans emphasized chance, escape
and the enjoyment of pleasure, while the Stoics emphasized fatalism,
submission, and the endurance of pain. (Sounds like the beliefs of
some people I know in Boulder!)
The reaction of many
of these philosophers was a rejection of Paul’s ideas. They called
him a babbler, which literally is translated “seed picker.” They
saw Paul as one who picked up little scraps and pieces of thought
here and there and put them together. It was like calling him a plagiarist,
not an original thinker. However, others were intrigued, and so they
invited him to present his ideas at the Areopagus, or Mars Hill as
it is sometimes called in Scripture. This is the third place Paul
went in Athens. The Areopagus served as a sort of council
of education for the city of Athens which sought to regulate the
things that were being taught in the community. They were the intellectual
elites of the city, and some scholars believe that this was some
kind of tribunal before which Paul appeared. It was one thing to
bat around ideas and shoot the bull down in the marketplace, but
now the apostle was being asked to give a presentation to the brightest
and the best of the city. And these people had the power to shut
down his teaching.
John Stott points out
that in the course of his speech, Paul made five points.[2] While we don’t have time to discuss
these in detail today, I do want to point out several things about
Paul’s speech before the Areopagus. First, note that he sought to
connect with his listeners by applauding their interest in spiritual
things and referring to the statue to the unknown god. He tried to
build a bridge over which he could present the gospel. Next, notice
that he doesn’t quote any Old Testament Scripture. Rather, he quoted
two of their poets – the 6th century poet Epimenides of
Crete, and a 3rd century Stoic author by the name of Aratus.
Paul made an effort to use a point of reference from their own culture
to take them deeper into the things of God. How creative and clever
he was. Paul was accommodating in his presentation while never compromising
the integrity of the gospel. His method is instructive to you and
me as we think about the ways in which we try to share our faith
with others.
However, when Paul mentioned
the resurrection of Christ, a belief which had prompted the philosophers
to ask to hear more, it brought the meeting to an abrupt end. Both
the Epicureans and the Stoics rejected a belief in the afterlife.
Some sneered and even burst out laughing, but others said they wanted
to hear more at a later time. And a few of the people, including
a member of the Areopagus named Dionysius and a woman named Demaris,
responded in faith and became followers of Jesus Christ.
III. What Paul Teaches Us
As I reflect
on Paul’s time in Athens and the three places he visited and shared
the gospel, I am struck by the profound parallels between his experience
in Athens and our lives here in Boulder. I note at least five.
First, there is the
parallel of spiritual blindness. Whenever I ride my bike up
Flagstaff Mountain and pray over the city from Panorama Point, my
heart is heavy over what I perceive is the spiritual blindness of
Boulder. There are scores of places of worship all across the city,
we are a very spiritual community, but so many of these places of
worship espouse a false religion here, and New Age thinking permeates
our town.
Next, there is the
parallel of idolatry. When I read of Paul grieving over the city
at its worship of idols, I can’t help but think of the idolatry of
Boulder. Let’s be clear. Idolatry is not just about bowing down before
pagan statues. Idolatry is false worship of any kind. It is seeking
power from something that it cannot deliver. It is giving priority
in your life to that which is not ultimate. We worship the outdoors. Others
of us worship the next extreme experience. Still others worship at
the altar of academia, and we have sold our souls to the academy
in a desire to find acceptance. Other people worship the idol of
another person and have compromised their morals looking for love
in all the wrong places. What is your idol, my friend? What idol
is displacing your worship of God this morning?
Another parallel
I see is the opportunity to be missional. Paul went to the marketplace
to share his faith. The marketplace was where financial transactions
and social interaction happened. It was the place where people came
not only to buy and sell, but also to trade ideas or browse around
for the latest philosophical fads and theological trends. In Athens,
there was quite a selection to choose from. Paul didn’t wait for
people to come to church; he met the Greeks on their own turf. He
didn’t quote a bunch of Scripture to them; he tried to hook them
with their own poet-philosophers. He was incarnational, and he was
missional.
In this Paul was only
following God’s example when He sent His Son Jesus into the world.
God became a human in order to communicate with us and show us the
way of salvation. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Meet
people where they are. That’s what God did, and that’s what we are
supposed to do, too. This has been an essential tenet in youth ministry
for many years, and it’s one reason why Jim and Forrest and Bill
spend time every week on school campuses. They are literally meeting
kids on their own turf. It’s called “contact work.” You and I need
to do the same thing.
What is your marketplace?
Where does God want you to go and take the initiative? It might be
at your school, or your place of work, or your job, or even the Pearl
Street Mall. Paul had a burden for the lost souls of Athens. Do you
have a similar burden for the lost souls of Boulder? Recently, I
read that there are 120 million people in America who don’t know
Christ. That makes the United States the fifth largest mission field
in the world. We’ve got our work cut out for us, and we need to get
going.
Perhaps you’re thinking, “I
don’t know where to begin. I don’t know where to start.” That’s where
we can help you. Our church sponsors a program called Alpha. It’s
an effort to help people engage in relational evangelism in a non-threatening
way. And this winter it is taking a new form; it’s moving from the
church into homes, to more intimate places of sharing. Starting next
week, there will be a table in the Atrium where you can find out
more, and the introductory dessert will be held on January 26th.
Check it out.
The final parallel I
see is the opportunity to make Christ known in a citadel of learning. Paul
preached the gospel at the Areopagus, the center of knowledge and
learning, and you and I have the privilege of making Christ known
in a town which is home to the University of Colorado. I am told
that research says you and I live in the most educated town in America.
There are more advanced degrees per capita in Boulder than in any
other city in our country. And despite its problems of the last few
years, the University of Colorado remains a world-class institution,
and it’s just four blocks away from our church. Like the apostle
Paul, you and I have a chance to impact this citadel of learning
and higher education. That is why our college ministry is so strategic
for our church. We can affect the next generation of leaders by reaching
out to students with the love of Jesus Christ and His message of
salvation. A holy opportunity awaits us.
The parallels to the
three places in which Paul shared his faith are clear to me. In Athens,
Paul went to the synagogue. In Boulder, there are many places of
worship which are filled with people who don’t know Christ. In Athens,
Paul went to the Agora, the marketplace. In Boulder, we’ve got the
Pearl Street Mall and Flatirons Crossing. And in Athens, Paul spoke
at the Areopagus, the citadel of learning and knowledge. In Boulder,
we’ve got the University of Colorado just down the street. Paul’s
experience is very instructive for us here in our town because of
the remarkable parallels between Athens and Boulder.
Conclusion
Are we up to the challenge? Will we, like Paul, take hold of the opportunities
before us to make a difference for Christ? Will we look for the ways
in which God wants to use us to be a witness in the places of worship,
in the marketplace, and at the Areopagus? We don’t have to be as
gifted or as bright as the apostle Paul to win a person to Christ.
Often the Lord chooses to use a simple witness to bring a person
to a saving knowledge of Jesus. God wants our availability more than
He does our ability. And that can make all the difference in the
world.
I close with this. Alexander
White was one of Scotland's greatest preachers in a previous generation.
One day he noticed that a famous scientist began attending worship
services at his church. White resolved that he would do everything
in his power to win the man to Christ, and for the next several weeks
his sermons were of the sort that he thought would appeal to the
scientific mind.
One day the scientist
came to the pastor and said that he wanted to join the church, and
Dr. White asked him what had convinced him that this was something
he should do. The pastor hoped that the famous scientist would mention
the compelling nature of his sermons, how brilliantly they were put
together, and the logic of his arguments for the faith, but he never
mentioned them. Instead, the scientist told how an elderly woman
spoke to him on the steps of the church one Sunday, and asked him,
quite simply, "Sir, are you a Christian?"
He replied, "Well,
I am thinking about it."
And the woman said, "Oh,
do come further in than that. Jesus Christ means the world to me!"
Then the noted scientist
said to Alexander White, "As I looked at her radiant face with
those shining eyes, I knew that she had a secret which I didn't have,
and I wanted it with all my heart."[3]
How will God choose
to use you in the coming week to be a witness for Christ, my friend?
It might just be on the Pearl Street Mall. Amen.
