To a question I asked this morning at a prayer meeting, a brother said that in a certain city he observed a huge Masonic Temple (Free Masons). There are many pagan temples and idolatrous statues all around us. Most people don’t even notice them … though the people of God, born by His Spirit and indwelt by Him tend to discern what a true Church Building represents and what another building or statue would represent.
It is no secret what true Christians believe. We believe in the Bible, Genesis to Malachi and Matthew to Revelation. We believe the Bible is one book, given by the God of Creation, for blessings, nourishment and warning to the Church of God, which is represented by all who believe the Bible to be inerrant, inspired, infallible and authoritative … and that God is Triune, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit who has revealed Himself in Jesus, who is the Christ, the Godman, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and rose on the third day according to the Scriptures, who is now ascended to the power seat of Glory from where he reigns and intercedes for His blood washed people. We believe Jesus is singularly Lord and King over all. Any belief outside of this, however noble is not of God and must be seen as such and rejected.
The apostle Paul shows us this in … the rest of Acts 17. Please read:
Ac 17:16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 Then they took him 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? Ac 17:20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
1) Considering the culture of Athens. Before and after the Roman Empire took over the city, and although her authority to rule was removed, she was and remained the center of Hellenistic Culture. Athens was the metropolis of science, art and wisdom. She was “revered throughout the civilized world for what she accomplished in the cause of human freedom, as well as for its literature and genius.” Athens was known for its collage of idols scattered around the city. Whilst respecting the place of history, art, sports, drama, music, literature and learning … even in our day, much has become idolized and in some cases, without realizing it, some follow these disciplines as if they are religions. Look at the massive stadiums for athletics and sports; the political lectures from some fallen hero; speeches at an academy awards night; etc. … everything is man focused. It is what man has achieved, made, done … without any recognition of God. At best it the glorification of man!
2) Consider the religious culture of Athens. As Paul waited for Silas and Timothy to arrive from Berea … he saw the many idols placating the streets, open spaces (fields) and likely the city square.
Ac 17:16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.
(1) Full of idols. Wherever he went he was confronted by idols. Even today as you travel through Athens you shall see the architects and sculptors masterpieces. These were temples and images of pagan divinities. One needs to understand two important things in Paul’s religious conviction. The first is that he was an educated Jew who had sat at the feet of the great religious scholar and professor by the name of Gamaliel. He knew the Law. He knew exactly what idolatry was. He could recite the Ten Commandments understanding what each one meant! The second was that he met Jesus “face to face” in the vision when he was converted. He was Christian now and his prior learning in Judaism stood him in good stead.
(2) Our text says he was “greatly distressed” in seeing all the idols. The phrase literally means “set on edge with violent excitement”. In medical terms it could mean a fit due to finding out bad news because of a terminal disease or in an ethical sense, sharp anger. For Paul it would have comprised indignation coupled with grief, shame, wonder and compassion. What he saw impressed his appreciation for the arts, angered him because of sinful lost-ness, shamed him before the Holy God of the Christian faith and drove him to compassion for lost souls. There is nothing wrong with appreciating art in its various forms … although that which is and borders on the pornographic needs to be avoided. The problem is … what lies behind each temple, statue and image? Christians might have a picture of the Last Supper. We know what it means and who is refers to. We draw lessons from such a portrait … so do those images Paul saw. It had meaning to the people of Athens. It reflected their pantheon of gods. It spoke about who they venerated. As an evangelist (apostles, prophet, missionary) we can appreciate Paul’s heart and response. Liston to what he writes under inspiration to the Church at Corinth:
1Co 10:18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.
Wow! The people whose gods these images represented were participating in demon worship! Now we understand his emotional response to what he saw. What is the Christian Church and its Bible all about? It is about the worship and adoration of the one, true, living God … the one who created everything that exits out of nothing, sustains his vast creation, sent His Son to be Savior of all those who turn in faith, repenting of sin and living a life glorifying to God, living under the reign of Jesus who is Lord and King. I wonder what Paul would say if he visited Churches of Rome and High Anglican Churches and find all the art work and statutes that distract. Maybe his response would be the medical part of being greatly distressed to the point of heart failure!
Lord, we cannot see You with the naked eye, yet by faith we see You in all Your glorious beauty and majesty on the pages of Your precious Word. Help us Lord to never become distracted by keeping our eyes upon Jesus. Amen.