May 13 - Acts 17 - "Cultural Engagement"

MPC 13th May 2018.

Dan Wilton

Have you ever found yourself trying to communicate in another country? Or different culture?

In a recent visit to Australia. The French president, Emmanuel Macron. Made a social faux pas when he thanked Malcolm Turnbull's delicious wife. For hosting.

It was a little embarrassing. But it happens all the time.

Not the part about calling someone else's wife delicious. But saying something that's lost in translation.

And the same thing can happen when we try and talk to people about Jesus. When we try to communicate the gospel.

We're speaking the gospel. But the world doesn't seem to be understanding. It's almost like we're speaking a different language. Something's being lost in translation.

How can we make sure the message we're speaking is connecting with our culture? That's understandable for people around us?

This morning we're going to see how Paul engages with a different culture. How he speaks the gospel of Jesus into that culture. And what we can learn from him. To speak Jesus into our city. Without losing anything in translation.

Over the last couple of months we've been making our way through this book of Acts. Seeing how the risen King Jesus has sent his followers out to share the good news of kingship to the ends of the earth.

Last week we saw Paul - one of the earliest missionaries - head out on a road trip. Travelling around modern day Turkey. And across to Greece. Telling people about Jesus.

This week, Paul continues his road trip.

After a couple of narrow escapes from Thessalonica and Berea. Where some of the locals are out for his blood. Paul's smuggled out of the city. On a boat.

And arrives in Athens. On his own. Beaten. Bruised. Alone. Waiting for his friends to arrive. So he's got time to kill.

Maybe a chance for a bit of a breather. An opportunity to be a tourist. Check out the sites.

Now walking into Athens would've been amazing.

I love visiting new cities - checking out all the well known, and less known attractions. I mean, I remember the first time I flew in over Sydney.

For the 10 minutes we were over the city my head was like this... trying to see the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House and all those things you've heard of.

So Paul's exploring this ancient mega-city, getting the chance to 'do' Athens as a tourist.

OBSERVING THE CULTURE

And as he walks around he begins to observe the culture.

Paul looks around Athens. And he sees a city full of spirituality. Full of religion. Full of worship. Devotion to things. But they don't know the true God.

Everywhere he turns it seems there's something else that reveals a deep sense of the divine in this city. There were idols everywhere! Temples on every corner. Shrines on every hill. Monuments to gods and goddesses.

And of course the skyline was dominated by the Parthenon. One of the great wonders of the ancient world. A temple to the gods.

Designing your own spirituality or religion was as easy as online shopping. A little bit from this god. A little bit from that god. Drop it in the basket. Head to the checkout.

None of the temples were exclusive. You could join up and start worshipping today. No sign up fees!

And Paul's right in the middle of it all. Observing it all!

And I want us to look carefully at what Paul does as he faces up to the challenge... of bringing Christianity to a place like that. As he engages with the culture.

Because doesn't it sound a little familiar? Very similar to the sort of challenge we face today. Sharing the gospel in a world full of ideas. A religious smorgasbord.

ENGAGING WITH THE CULTURE

But did you notice - from verse 16 - when Paul first comes face to face with a city full of idol worshippers. His response is not to get angry. His response is not to march around with a placard and start a demonstration.

His response as someone who wants to see god glorified, his response is that he's distressed. He's cut to the heart.

For all the grandeur of this ancient academic and cultural extravaganza, Paul's distressed that no one sees the real god.

People are seeing religion. But they're making up their own gods.

All the while Jesus is relegated to the gutter.

I wonder if that's the attitude we need to start from. When we see the culture around us.

Instead of getting angry when we see things happening in our society that we don't like.

Instead of being angry and self righteous, maybe a better starting point is that we should be distressed. And moved by compassion.

To see the world as God sees the world.

To see the brokenness. To see the deep longing for something more. And be moved to do something. To show love.

Paul's cut to the heart. He's distressed.

So in verse 17 is start reasoning with them..

Starting with the Jews and the Greeks who are already believers in the god of the Bible. He reasons with them in the synagogue.

It's a start. But for Paul, it's not enough.

And so he heads out to the cafes. To the pubs. To Facebook. He heads out to the marketplace. To talk about God to anyone who'll listen.

And it's here that he gets the attention of some pretty clever people.

The intellectual power brokers of Athens. Verse 18.

Because that's the other thing about Athens. Not only is it full of idols. It's full of philosophers.

Guys like Plato, and Aristotle. Big thinkers.

And so in verse 18, these are the people Paul runs into... Epicurean and Stoic philosophers.

The Epicureans - were the agnostics of today. They know there's something out there, but you can't really know those gods. So just get on with life. Make the most of it. Live it up.

While the Stoics. Their big thing was, being detached. Take whatever comes; don't get emotional about anything, just roll with the flow of the universe.

These are the types of people who are attracted to Paul's message.

They want to know more about this resurrected Jesus. And so they invite Paul to a meeting of the Areopagus.

Which is like the local city debating club. Where philosophers would hang out; throw round new ideas. Committed to nothing. Talking about everything. Sitting around drinking coffee and chewing over the latest trends in philosophy.

Sounds a lot like my Arts degree...

So they hand the floor over to Paul. And say ok smooth talker. Tell us what you've got.

You can see it there in verse 19:

May we know what this new teaching is that you're presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.

This is Paul's big chance, isn't it? This is Paul in the spotlight. In the city of idols. And philosophies.

What does Paul do?

Does he despise them? Does he patronise them?

No. What does he do?

He loves them.

He knows they're searching for something. He knows they're all longing for something. And he brings Jesus to them in a way that connects with what they're searching for.

He begins by finding some common ground.

Have a look at what he says in verse 22: "People of Athens. I see that in every way you are very religious."

Of course they are; gods everywhere!

But it just a starting point for what he really wants to say. So he goes on.

And he quotes from something he's seen there that makes the perfect bridge for what he wants to talk about.

As he's walked around Athens, he's spotted an altar. With an inscription on it: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.

You see, in Athens each god had dominion over different areas in life. You wanted a brand new Porsche. Then offer a sacrifice to the god of prosperity.

You want that job you saw on Linked in. Offer a sacrifice to the god of trade.

You want to have a baby. Then make a sacrifice to the goddess of fertility.

But these Athenians, they're so worried they might have missed making an idol to some god or other, they've made one extra. To the god they don't know. Just in case.

So many gods. Yet no confidence in them. So many gods. But...

They were just guessing. And Paul knows it. He sees in them a real fear. A real need.

And in the face of the unknown. Paul offers real hope! By responding with the gospel.

RESPONDING WITH THE GOSPEL

He starts from a point of common ground. And takes them from there to Jesus.

And so from verse 24. He unpacks who this "unknown god" is.

Explains he's the God who created everything!

Have a look, verse 24: "The God who made the world and everything in it is the lord of heaven and earth, and does not live in temples built by human hands."

The Athenians have built their beautiful temples. They've carved their incredible idols. They've got their hundreds and hundreds of mythical gods, who they've got to appease with all their sacrifices.

But the point is, it's all man made. They've created their own gods in their own image.

Paul says the real God isn't like that at all. The God they don't know. Is the exact reverse.

He's a God you can't contain. Just the opposite. God contains you.

Verse 28; and he quotes their own favourite poet.

He says, you know this already. Your own poet says it. In him we live and move and have our being. We are his offspring.

See, that's what it's like when you make an idol, isn't it? You invent a god for yourself. A bespoke god.

You figure out the sort of god you'd like. A comfortable god. A god in your own image, who doesn't make too many demands. And you carve it the way you reckon it should look; and you build the temple for it; and you say, I've done a great job. So now this god's going to do what I want.

Trouble is, the real god; the God they don't know - is the God who made them. Who've been created in his image. Created for his purposes. To do what he wills.

Keep reading from verse 25. He's not served by human hands as if he needed anything - because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.

And he says in verse 26, he made us. And he put us where he wanted us. And he determines the times and the places for us; exactly how he wants it.

A very different picture from the sort of tiny little wooden statue in Athens. Even if they looked big and golden.

Here's the difference. When you make up your own god, you own it. But with the real god who made you... he owns you!

And so Paul concludes in verse 29: therefore, since we are God's offspring - he made us, he designed us in incredible detail - we shouldn't think that the divine being is like gold... or silver... or stone - an image made by man's design or skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance. But now he commands all people... everywhere... to repent.

Exactly the same message Paul's been preaching all along. Turn back to the God who made you. The essence of the Christian message.

And I need to ask, have you done that? Have you repented?

Because God's set a day when everything you've ever said or done is going to be judged - with absolute justice. And Paul says, we're going to be judged by Jesus himself. And God's given proof of that. By raising him from the dead.

Facing the prospect that you'll be treated by him then in the same way you've treated him now. Whether you've spent your life worshipping the creation. Or the creator.

As Paul finishes. Calling people to repent. The usual thing happens.

Some of the philosophers just laugh. Especially at the idea of resurrection.

Others say, we want to hear you again. And keep their options open.

While some believe. Verse 34.

It's a mixed response. But it's a start.

SPEAKING THE GOSPEL INTO OUR CULTURE

Now just to finish up, can I say to you again Athens is very much like Brisbane today. A melting pot of religions and ideas. Not the sort of blatant idolatry as in Athens... but something very close.

We're living in a city where the majority of people are becoming indifferent to Christianity.

Do you know the fastest growing religion in Australia is 'No Religion at all'?

In the most recent census those who ticked the no-religion box rose from 19% in 2006 to over 32% in 2017.

And it's even more for those under 30's. Over 40% saying they were not interested in Christianity at all.

We don't need God any more. Because we can make our own.

Instead of God. People are searching for meaning in their careers. In their relationships. Fashion. Beauty. Fitness. Bank account.

Which is just as much a form of idolatry as anything in Athens.

Christianity is moving to the edge of culture here in Brisbane.

If you're a follower of Jesus. You're on the outside.

We're the alternative lifestyle.

And as we move forward we need to be thoughtful about how we engage our city. How we engage our culture.

One option is to simply sync up and be like the rest of culture.

Another option is to build a fence. And condemn everything about the culture around us from the safety of our holy huddle.

But Jesus calls us to greater ambition!

That we would let the world know the God who has made himself known!

But to do it in such a way that nothing's lost in translation. But is clear. And understandable.

And to do that we're going to have to observe our culture. We're going to have to engage. And we're going to have to respond with the gospel!

Here's an exercise for you this week. Find the top three news stories each day. And think about how you can speak something meaningful about Jesus. From those news stories.

What does it have to say about sin, and hope, and peace. What does it have to say about the Gospel.

Or find out what shows your friends and work colleagues are watching on Netflix and TV. Maybe it's The Bachelor. Or A Current Affair. Or Brooklyn 99.

Think through what the mass appeal of those shows are. Why does our society crave after those things? Flock to them?

What are the deep seated needs that those shows are trying to fill for people? Is it the need for relationships? Or a desire for justice?

What makes them so appealing?

And try to think through how Jesus speaks into those needs people are longing for.

We need to learn what it means to build common ground. To go to the market place. And start talking to people in a language they understand. And to make contact with the sort of things they're watching, and listening to, and thinking. So we can bring them from there... back to the God who made them.

Table of Contents

OBSERVING THE CULTURE

ENGAGING WITH THE CULTURE

RESPONDING WITH THE GOSPEL

SPEAKING THE GOSPEL INTO OUR CULTURE