“So Paul took his stand in the open space at the Areopagus and laid it out for them. “It is plain to see that you Athenians take your religion seriously. When I arrived here the other day, I was fascinated with all the shrines I came across. And then I found one inscribed, to the god nobody knows. I’m here to introduce you to this God so you can worship intelligently, know who you’re dealing with. The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn’t live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn’t take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don’t make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s near. We live and move in him, can’t get away from him! One of your poets said it well: ‘We’re the God-created.’ Well, if we are the God-created, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to think we could hire a sculptor to chisel a god out of stone for us, does it?” (Acts 17:22-29, MSG)

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As Paul meets with groups of people to share the gospel, he is a great example of how to “know your audience.” In this particular case, Paul departs from his usual practice of starting with Scripture when addressing Jews or Gentiles familiar with the Old Testament. Instead, he begins his message with general references to religion. Ancient observers frequently noted Athens' religious nature, with some considering Athenians to be among the most religious people. However, Paul’s mention of their religiosity wasn’t necessarily complimentary. He understood that false religions could lead people away from the true God, and this is something we see in our society today, too. Gallup and Barna polls over time show that a large portion of our population consider themselves “religious,” but an ever-smaller group says that they are Christians. Faith without a clear object for that faith is just scary.

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Take, for example, the Greeks Paul is addressing in this passage. He recognized that among their many gods, there was an “UNKNOWN GOD,” intended to cover any deity they might have overlooked. His aim was to reveal the identity of this UNKNOWN GOD. To do so, he started with the fundamental truth that God is the Creator, and we are God’s creations. Paul saw that these philosophers needed to shift from their personal views to a true understanding of God. In his message, Paul quoted a Greek poet, not because the poet was divinely inspired or because all his teachings were aligned with God’s truth, but because those particular words conveyed a Biblical principle. By using this reference, Paul sought to connect with his pagan audience and bridge the gap to his message.

As I look to these verses, I pause to reflect on what this day represents… 9/11/2001 was my generation’s “Pearl Harbor.” Watching the terror attacks as they happened and seeing the twin towers of the World Trade Center collapse shocked me deeply. Add to this the fact that I later found out that one of my college classmates died in the collapse of the second tower, and I can say that I have been forever changed by that day.

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But how does this connect to Acts 17? That day in 2001 awakened me to a reality that was concrete but always something going on somewhere else in the world without really impacting me. On that day, it became very real and too close to home for comfort. I went to college just miles north of Manhattan and had visited the top of the World Trade Center years before that fateful day. In a word, my life was changed by a truth I witnessed. That realization made me recognize that I have been slow to share the truths that I know are real and important, just because it didn’t seem the “right time”, or I didn’t want to alienate someone by sharing my faith.

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Paul shocked a group of people who were ridiculously “religious” – to the point of putting up a statue to a miscellaneous deity just to make sure they didn’t offend anyone (god or person). Paul presented them with a life-defining truth that some heard, comprehended, and were changed by. Others were curious, but then went on with their lives, unchanged by the truth put before them. Paul tried to wake them up to a reality that was right there in front of them, but they were oblivious to. For those who accepted the message, their lives were never the same again.

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What should we do in response? This isn’t just a call to “do what’s right” by sharing with others; it is more like, “Knowing what I know, how could I not share?” For me, it reminds me to never pass up an opportunity to share the Word with those I meet and interact with. It may change their lives forever. I hope you feel that pull as well. It follows the commission Jesus gave us in Matthew 28:18-20, “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age” (MSG).  If you need more reason to convince you of the importance of sharing, I hope this gives it to you, as it has for me.

Dear God, I worship you. You have taught me the Truth and challenged me to share it with those around me. May I follow your direction and example. Use me as your messenger to a lost and struggling world. Amen.