The Unknown God: Jesus

Read Acts 17:16-34 When the founding fathers of the United States wrote the constitution they wrote these words to begin the first amendment. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” Contrary to what many believe these words were not intended to prevent people serving in government positions from using their religion to help them make decisions about laws. One only has to read the Thanksgiving proclamation written by President George Washington in 1789 to know that government officials were guided in their thinking by their belief in God, and they were not reluctant to say what they believed. These words were written to keep congress from choosing one of the existing religious groups to be the religion of the state. This was written because in the mother country, England, there was a government sanctioned religion, The Church of England. Many of the first arrivals in the new land were persecuted in England because of their beliefs; among them the Puritans and the Pilgrims. When America first became a country almost everyone was guided by some form of a Christian religion. In fact, many of the people believed that Christianity was the only legitimate religion. However, as people from areas of the world that practiced other religions came to America they naturally wanted to practice their religion in their new land. Today, Americans recognize the legitimacy of many religions. As a result the religious landscape in America today is much like that of the world throughout the Roman Empire. There were many religious and philosophical beliefs and people worshiped different gods. It was a polytheistic world and all religions were basically tolerated. The most influential center of philosophy was Athens, Greece. Our article today is based on Paul’s encounter with the philosophers in Athens. I am writing this article because Christians today are having a difficult time dealing with non Christians because of the differences that exist. How does a Christian interact with a non Christian? More importantly, how does a Christian confront non Christians when it comes to laws, policies, and the commission of Jesus to evangelize people who are not believers in Jesus? You see, there are many Christians who are intolerant of other religions. There are many Christians that believe that all of the laws in America should be based on the Bible; especially their own understanding of what the Bible says. I believe that we can learn from Paul how to interact with non Christians in ways that will allow us to tell the story of the Gospel. We will see that there is no promise that those who hear the Gospel will come to faith in Jesus. Acts 17 begins with Paul arriving in Thessalonica. His preaching that Jesus is the Messiah leads to a mob that causes uproar and Paul is sent to Berea. In Berea Paul is received, but the opposition in Thessalonica follows and Paul escapes to Athens. In Athens Paul is disturbed by the many idol statures that he sees in the city. As Paul converses with the Jews and Gentile believers, he is approach by those of two philosophical groups; the Epicureans and the Stoics. Time and space will not allow for me to write about their beliefs. The goal here is to learn from Paul ways that Christians can respond to the questions and challenges that they receive from those who do not know Jesus. First, I believe that Christians must recognize that their religion is strange to those who practice other religions. We should not allow this to cause us to say demeaning things about these people. Being a Christian does not give one the right to discriminate against people. All people are created in the image of God, and they are to be respected as such. Secondly, people have the right to listen and learn about the various religions and make their own choices (v. 21). With this in mind let us look at how Paul handles this situation. First, Paul acknowledges that those who are worshiping idols are religious people. They are sincere in their beliefs and practices. They have their own religion learned from an early age. They will not see the validity of Christianity if we look down on them, condemn them, mistreat them, and treat them as second class citizens. Instead of emphasizing our differences we should focus on our common beliefs. In verse 23 Paul makes the following statement: ‘“For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you’” (NASB). Paul recognizes their lack of knowledge of the gods. Paul begins his discussion at a point that the people are interested in. Today, many people believe that all religions lead to the same God. One could start by explaining the differences between the beliefs of the two religions in regards to Jesus Christ. Like Paul, our conversation should reflect what we believe about God and His Son Jesus. I have observed that many Christians argue form a moral point of view. Is it moral to get an abortion? It’s a sin to have premarital sex and for unmarried persons to live together. Do members of the LGBTQ community have the right to live according to their own beliefs equally protected under the law? Although these issues are important to Christians, they should not be the initial focus when conversing with non believers. Again, our focus is to be on God and His Son Jesus. When we examine this conversation that Paul has with the Gentiles we learn that He begins with the doctrine of God. Who is God? What is God like? Why did God create the world and human beings? What does God plan for our future? After teaching the doctrine of God, Paul proceeds to the doctrines of sin and salvation. “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because he has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead” (vv. 30-31, NASB). Finally, I ask, why do Christians condemn people who have not come to faith in Jesus? Why do Christians expect people to act Godly when they know not God? Many non believers have never heard the Gospel. They have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They have no relationship with God. They know not the Word of God. They do not have the Spirit of God living in them. Let us remember that Jesus did not commission His disciples to judge people. Rather, they are to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior are given the Holy Spirit to empower them to discard the works of the flesh and to live by the Spirit. Our job as Christians is to make known to those who do not know that Jesus is the unknown God.