Paul’s ability to reach any audience
Then they took him (Paul) and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him,
“May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?”
Acts 17:19
Paul traveled to Athens, Greece, while he waited on Silas and Timothy to join him. As he walked around, Paul was “greatly distressed” to see idols on every corner. He began to engage believer and non-believer alike in debate, including Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. Unlike the Greeks of the day, Epicureans believed that pleasure was the chief goal in life, and they didn’t believe in an afterlife. Stoics practiced self-sufficiency and living harmoniously with nature. They did believe in life after death, but not resurrection of the body.
These philosophers brought Paul before the Areopagus, or Council of Ares. They comprised a group of Athenian leaders who presided over educational, moral and religious matters. They acted as the gatekeepers and moral authority. Does this sound familiar to you? To my untrained ear, these groups sound a lot like another country’s version of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Lest we look down on them in judgment, read on.
The verse I would like to focus on is 21: “All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas”. Does this not sound like America in general and the church in particular? We buy the latest Christian best seller and flock to see the most dynamic speaker. Instead of pursuing the Bible through personal time and reflection, we chase the next person or theology like a dog running after a car.
Sadly, it is my opinion that we are merely fulfilling 2 Timothy 4:3: “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” And just like Greece in Paul’s day, America has idols in every house and on every corner. They go by the names of materialism, laziness, gluttony, selfishness, and so on. Pick your poison.
Paul went on to give an impassioned speech to the Areopagus and other philosophers present about the God who made the heavens and the earth, and raised His Son from the dead. Read the rest of the chapter. We, too, should be ready to engage our non-believing friends in a discussion about their faith or lack thereof.
Just as Paul adapted his argument to fit his audience, so should we:
Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible…
I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.
I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9:19, 22-23
