Don’t Check Your Brain at the Door
Acts 17:16-34
(September 9, 2001)
Introduction
One of the most often heard challenges to Christianity is that it is not a rational or intelligent religion.
Some people feel you have to be a bit on the slow side to believe that God would become a man, born of a virgin, then after dying a horrible death, to rise again, then rise to heaven in a cloud.
Our passage of Scripture refutes that assertion. Paul, an intellectual if there ever was one, meets some other intellectuals on their turf, and lays down a defense of God that leaves them spinning.
Please turn in your Bibles to Acts 17:16-34. If you are using the Bibles in the seats, this passage is found on page 785 (wrong in bulletin outline). I want us to explore three facts about God that Paul lays out to these people in Athens, and three responses we can have to these facts.
And in doing so, I want to encourage you that our faith is a reasonable one, and that you don’t have to check your brain at the door.
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? 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.)
22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 `For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, `We are his offspring.’
29 "Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by man’s design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."
32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
Let’s start off by looking at three facts about God, and the first is that…
I. God is more than a mere philosophy. (vv. 16-21)
In talking to these philosophers, Paul makes a point of distinguishing God from the idolatry and philosophies of the culture.
He’s not just another deaf and mute idol made of metal, wood, or stone.
He is beyond human comprehension.
The key verse here is verse 21:
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
Athens was the intellectual center of the world. They were the ones who anticipated new trends in modern thought. And as the passage shows, they were always looking for new ideas.
It is interesting that in the culture shown here, religion was not a topic to be avoided, as in our culture.
Rather, religion was a hot topic. Everyone who was anyone had opinions on religion, and the more opinions the better!
But while that setting was different in that religion was freely discussed, it was very much like our culture in that the attitude toward religion was about the same: you can take it or leave it, whatever suits you.
Religion was merely a branch of philosophy to them, and if your philosophy didn’t have room for religion, then that was just fine.
In fact, it was almost viewed that it was better to have a philosophy that excluded the need for religion, because reason was all a person really needed to get a grip on life.
Religion, then as now, was seen as just a crutch for the weak. Philosophies such as those given by Socrates and Plato were seen as the paths to wisdom and fruitful living.
We are told to look to ourselves to find our highest ideal; to look to ourselves to find our god, or the highest good.
I have printed a verse in your outline that describes God’s attitude toward earthly philosophies:
Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
Notice the phrase, “which depends of human tradition and the basic principles of the world rather than on Christ.”
The problem with most philosophies is that they are not dependent on Christ, they are dependent on the world and human tradition.
When we use our human selves as the standard for what’s good and bad, we run into a heap of trouble. Because what’s good for me may be bad for you.
There is no standard outside of our human intellect, and that, my friends is dangerous.
It might interest you to know that the Greek culture of Paul’s time was one of the most degenerate and immoral times in human history.
Sexual immorality and corruption in government was at an all-time high. But their philosophies allowed that.
And these things contributed to the downfall of the Roman Empire, which was in control of Greece at the time.
Philosophies based on human traditions and the principles of this world are hollow and empty.
But when we base our philosophies on the unchanging, perfect Word of God, we have something worth noting.
I am not against philosophy, by the way. I think it is important to have thinkers in the Christian world who wrestle with the mysteries of Christ, as much as humanly possible, and be able to explain them in terms familiar to the deep thinkers of our day.
Example such as C.S. Lewis and Francis Schaeffer come to mind. Blaise Pascal and Martin Luther are there as well.
But the bottom line is that God is more than a philosophy, He’s a fact that cannot be ignored, and will eventually be reckoned with at judgement.
God is real. His word is real. His love is real. His working in the world is real.
He is real.
I want to end this section with a bit of a footnote: it says in verse 21 that all these guys did all day was to discuss the latest ideas.
Their religious philosophies had such an impact on their lives they went out to spread these ideas in hopes of bringing about real change, right?
Wrong. It had no impact on them whatsoever. Their philosophies were merely topics of lunchtime conversation – nothing more.
They were all talk and no action.
We who claim that Jesus is the only way need to heed this. We cannot be like these men who just sat around and talked about it. We need to be like Paul, and take the message of a home in heaven and a changed life on earth to the people.
We can’t hole ourselves up in our cliques or even our church. We have to be out where we can touch lives with the Good News of Christ. Because God is more than just a nice idea. God is more than a philosophy.
Next, we look at the fact that…
II. God is active and He is near. (vv. 22-28)
Paul uses this opportunity to explain that not only is God more than some human philosophy, he goes on to explain that God has been active in the affairs of men from the beginning.
He created the heavens and the earth, and places people where He wills. He is outside His creation and cannot be contained by it.
He made men of every nation from one man to inhabit the earth.
And why did He do it? Verse 27 gives us the answer:
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
Unlike the gods of Greek and Roman theology who really had no use for man except to be used and exploited, the God of creation is actively involved in our lives, hoping that we will reach out to Him.
God is near to any who would have Him.
Look at the verse printed there in your bulletin.
Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Folks, you’ve got to understand that though God is greater than all of creation, He wants to be known by you as a person.
He wants to be involved in your life at its most intimate level.
He wants to offer you a relationship not possible with any person. Only God. No one else can offer you forgiveness of sins and eternal life. No one else can offer you a personal relationship with the divine Creator; only the Creator can do that.
No one else can offer to touch you at the deepest level of your being and bring healing from heartache and despair.
And no one else can offer you the unconditional love we all crave.
Reach out. He’s waiting.
God is active and He is near.
Lastly, I want to point out that…
III. God will judge according to His standards, not men’s.
Since God created us, He has the right to decide how to deal with us, whether on earth or facing the hereafter.
This passage tells us that one day God will judge, and Jesus will be the judge.
The standard will be Jesus.
Keep in mind that Jesus is all-holy. He is all-loving. He is perfect in every way. He never sinned. He was the only sinless person to ever walk the earth.
And if He is the standard, we are in a heap of trouble. We cannot possibly meet the standard because we are sinful outside of God.
By itself, that’s not very good news, because us against perfection leaves us wanting big time.
But there is good news there, because Jesus is more than the standard we must live up to in order to gain heaven. He is the way in.
God provided the pardon for our sins, so we could stand blameless before God. God, knowing we could never get to heaven on our own, provided the way in, and it cost Him His dearest possession – His Son.
During the time in the upper room, hour before He was to be arrested and tried, Jesus proclaimed what you see printed in your outline:
John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The immediate outcry from the philosophers is, “You can’t say that! There are many ways to God, if there even is a God.”
Not so! Remember who the Creator is – God. Remember who the creation is – us. Can the clay complain to the potter that it didn’t do the job right?
The Creator makes the rules. The creation belongs to Him and He deals with it as He sees fit.
Before you think that sounds harsh, let me fill you in on something:
We, outside of Christ, are sinners. And we are so good at being sinners, that we could not begin to count our sins against God and each other. And they are not just teeny tiny ones, either.
Some might be thinking, “Come on, Preacher! It’s not like I’ve cheated on my wife or killed anybody!”
Oh yeah?
Have you ever looked at a woman with eyes that should be reserved for your wife? Jesus says you have committed adultery.
Have you ever called in sick when you weren’t really? Scripture says you are a liar.
There is a story of a minister who called in sick on a Sunday morning because he felt he needed a round of golf instead.
While he heads out to the golf course, the angels come to God and ask Him why He is not punishing the minister.
God just tells them to be patient.
The minister is having a beautiful round, but on the last hole, gets his first-ever hole-in-one.
The angels are incredulous. “How could you let him have a hole-in-one when he is being disobedient?”
The Lord quietly said, “Who’s he going to tell about it?”
Have you ever hated someone? Scripture says you are a murderer.
Still not convinced? James tells us that if we know the good we are supposed to do and don’t do it, it is sin.
How many times have you not done something you knew you should have done?
Folks, if we were hauled in front of a judge for all the sins we have committed, he would toss us in jail and throw away the key.
We would be punished for the rest of our existence. Justice would demand it.
Justice demands our eternal punishment for our sins.
But God doesn’t stop at justice. He moves on to mercy, and then to grace.
Justice demands punishment. God sent His Son to take the punishment for us. His perfect sacrifice makes it possible for us to appear before God, the holy judge, not as a shameless criminal, but as a clean child of God.
God will judge according to His standard, not men’s and He has provided the way to meet that standard.
God is more than a mere philosophy. He is active, and He is near. And He will judge according to His standards, not men’s.
Conclusion
Well how can we apply what we have learned today? I find three different applications, and they are displayed in the 3 different responses of the listeners to Paul.
The first response was…
1. Rejection.
Verse 32 says that when Paul was finished speaking, they sneered.
The attitude was that this was just a bunch of hogwash that a thinking man couldn’t possibly accept.
They chose to reject it. My prayer is that you do not do that. It is a mistake, and it will have eternal consequences, unless you come to your senses before it’s too late. Because there will be plenty of second guessing after you die, but there will be no second chance.
But if you have rejected God’s offer in Jesus in the past, you have another opportunity this morning to change that. Don’t leave here today holding God at arm’s length.
The second response, which gives us our second application is…
2. Request. (more info)
Along with those who sneered, there were those who say, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
That is a good option. If you are not yet ready to accept the claims of Christ as Savior, but want more info, then I will do everything in my power to get you the information you need.
I love helping people see how Christ is everything He promised and how it not only gives us a guarantee of heaven, but changes lives as well.
Please visit with me about that. You can call me here at the church, or you can leave a note for me on the response card in your bulletin.
The third option, and the best is…
3. Reception.
Look again at verse 34:
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
Some were convinced that what Paul said was true, and they acted on it. They decided that this Jesus was really the Messiah, and that He held the keys to heaven.
If that is what you would like to do this morning, you will have the opportunity in just a moment.
I want to invite you to make Christ your Lord and Savior by repenting of your sins and calling on Him for forgiveness and eternal life, believing that He died for you and rose from the grave.
The Bible says that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. And that is very good news.
Act on the words of God, will you?
We are going to pray. If you want to pray to take Christ as your Savior today, I want you to pray along with me in your heart. Afterwards, we will have a concluding prayer.
Prayer
