Food for Thoughts

During lunch today I read my bible at Subway. I read Acts 17. There is a passage in Acts 17 that is very important in living missionally. I first studied it at Vanguard, while taking a missions class with Greg Austring. Ever since that class I never saw this passage quite the same way. Paul is in Athens after escaping Berea. While, there he notices that the city is full of idols. He discussed it with "Jews and other like-minded people" and "every day he went out on the streets and talked with anyone who happened along". Then at the request of some of the citizens of Athens he speaks downtown about Christ. He makes his message relevant to them by noting the fact that religion is important to them. In his study of the culture he found a statue of a god that was titled "To The God Nobody Knows". He tells the people of Athens that he is here to tell them about this unknown God. Then later Paul quotes one of their poets who says, "We're the God created". Paul uses this to say, "Hey if we're God created, then why do we need to chisel gods?" At the end of his oratory some people laugh at him, but others believe.

I took three major points from this passage:

1) This is an ideal example of understanding the group/culture you are talking to. If you understand the culture - the religion, the artwork, the literature and so forth you can intelligently and discerningly relate to them. Once you know culture, you know what is important and unimportant. In essence, this not only makes you more effective, but shows the people you work with that you understand and care about them.

2) Paul went where the people went. He engaged people into conversation and relationship. He went downtown Athens and spoke. He didn't hide away in his home and church. His coffee shop of choice was were the people who needed to hear the gospel went. He never expected them to come to him, but he went were they where.

3) Paul was laughed at for speaking about Christ. When he ended with the fact that Christ was raised from the dead, people laughed at him. BUT people were also saved because he spoke the truth! Leading others to Christ might mean ridicule and persecution, but we can take heart that in the process we might gain brothers and sisters.