ALL ROADS LEAD TO HEAVEN–RIGHT?
Acts 17:16-34
INTRODUCTION:
ILL> A stranger entered the church service in the middle of the sermon and seated himself in the back pew. After a while he began to fidget. Leaning over to a white-haired man at his side, evidently an old member of the congregation, he whispered:
"How long has he been preaching?"
"Thirty or forty years, I think," the old man answered.
"I’ll stay then," decided the stranger, "He must be nearly done."
I don’t plan to speak long this morning, but if God has a different plan I’ll follow His lead. This morning I want to focus in on our ever changing world–a world that is changing faster than ever before. Before I go on I thought it would be a good idea to check something (open fortune cookie and read it)
How many of you have eaten at a Chinese or Japanese restaurant or carry-out in the past year? If I would have asked that same question 15 years ago, how many of you would have raised your hand? Who would have thought when we moved here in 1990 that someday Mt. Gilead would have its own Chinese carry-out? Changes are taking place everywhere–even in our own little community
One of the things that has changed is the misconception that all roads lead to heaven. For years people have been saying, "It really doesn’t matter what you believe, after all, we’re all going to the same place!" Now 15 or 20 years ago what people meant was that it didn’t make any difference whether you claimed to be Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, or Church of Christ, it didn’t make any difference what you believed. However, that statement carries with it a whole new idea these days. Today when people say, "It really doesn’t make any difference what you believe..." they are saying that it doesn’t make a difference if you’re a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist, or whatever as long as you believe in something. The world is changing–has changed.
ILL> From “The Emerging Church,” by Dan Kimball
On a beautiful Fourth of July afternoon. We gathered at my in-laws’ house for a picnic. The American flag proudly waved in the breeze above picnic tables decked with red-checkered tablecloths. Even the paper plates, cups, and napkins bore American flags. We looked like a Norman Rockwell painting. As mealtime approached, my father-in-law led us in a wonderful prayer thanking God for our freedom. He then closed with a statement something like, "And thank you, Lord, for making us a Christian nation. Amen."
From my father-in-law’s perspective, this was a true statement. After all, America has been considered a Christian nation for most of his adult life, and most of his friends are Christian. But I’ve thought back on the closing of that prayer many times, and I no longer believe it reflects our nation today.
QUOTE> From “Lost in America,” by Tom Clegg and Warren Bird
"The unchurched population in the United States is so extensive that, if it were a nation, it would be the fifth most populated nation on the planet after China, the former Soviet Union, India, and Brazil. Thus, our unchurched population is the largest mission field in the English-speaking world and the fifth largest globally."
Even though the world in which we live is in rapid change, it’s really not all that different from the people that Paul talked with in Acts 17 in the city of Athens. For those of you that have studied Roman and Greek mythology you already know that the Athenians worshiped a variety of gods. Instead of being intimated by all of the false gods and idols around the city of Athens, Paul saw it as an opportunity to tell them about the one true God–Jehovah God. So as he reasoned with the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers and anyone else that would listen, he began to tell them about Jesus who had risen from the dead.
READ: Acts 17:22-34
I> A WAYWARD CITY
It is said that it was easier to find an idol in the city of Athens than it was a man. The streets were lined with idols and just about every kind of god that could be imagined was worshiped in that city. They had statues and pillars and altars built in honor of their gods and Paul noticed that they even had one altar that had been built to an "Unknown God" just in case they had left any out. The people of Athens were confused about which god or gods to worship, so they chose to worship them all.
Now, before you dismiss these people as uneducated people that didn’t know any better, you need to remember that Athens was the center of learning in its day–this was where the intelligentsia hung out. One of the greatest universities of the ancient world was located there. It was the center of philosophy, literature, science, and art. Many of the world’s greatest philosophers were from Athens: Sophocles, Euripides, Plato, Socrates. Athens was dedicated to the search for truth and wisdom. However, when it came to God they didn’t know what truth to embrace. They didn’t know which god or gods to worship, so they came to the belief that they were all somehow equal.
In some ways, that is the situation we are in today. We have so much information available about so many different things that a lot of people don’t know what to believe.
QUOTE> This can be seen in this statement by Actress Halle Berry
"I believe in God. I just don’t know if that God is Jehovah, Buddha, or Allah.
QUOTE> Madonna
"I go to synagogue, I study Hindiusm...all paths lead to God."
There is a feeling in the world today that the more intellectual you are, the more tolerant you are of what others think and believe. Because of that many people are unable to discover the truth about God and many people look at religion as simply being a matter of opinion instead of what God actually says in His Word.
ILL> I had a guy in my office yesterday afternoon that told me, "I don’t think it really makes any difference if you go to church as long as you try to serve God, be a good person, etc."
While that may seem like a nice and fluffy attitude and acceptable in this age of tolerance, just think for a moment how ridiculous that idea is–that all paths lead to God."
ILL> "The Ticket"
There was a certain man who had worked all his life and was ready for a vacation. He wanted to go to a far away place he had never been before. He thought to himself; you are a good person, you’ve helped the poor and took care of the needy. So you deserve this trip.
He went to the airport and got in line to get on the plane. In his mind, he felt no need to buy a ticket because of all the great things he has done for people in his lifetime. He thought he had earned this trip. As the line got closer and closer to board the plane, he grew more and more anxious to start enjoying himself on his journey.
It came his turn to pass his ticket in and to the amazement of the ticket collector, he told her he didn’t have a ticket because he deserved a free trip. He went on to explain what a good person he was and how he never hurt anyone or caused anyone any sort of pain, but the ticket collector told him, "you still need a ticket sir"
He told her "I have never stolen from anyone, nor cheated anyone in all my life", but still she stood firm and insisted he could not board the plane unless a ticket was given to her.
He said "I have given money to the poor and fed the needy", but still not being moved the ticket collector said if you want to get on this plane you have to have a ticket. No exceptions.
The man was shocked. He walked away with his head held down low and thought to himself, "I figured if I was a good person, who never hurt anyone and took care of other people, surely I would be able to get a free ride on the plane, but I guess I was wrong".
God created you with free will which means that you have the ability to believe whatever you want. However, if you want to spend eternity in heaven, you had better see what God says about it. If it doesn’t matter what you believe then why did God go through all the trouble of giving us the Bible? If it doesn’t matter what yo believe, then why did He go through the turmoil of seeing His only begotten Son die a hideous death on the cross?
For many people religion has been put into the same realm as our taste in clothing or color of houses. "There’s no right or wrong to it–it’s just a matter of personal taste." "If you like Hinduism as opposed to Buddhism or Christianity, it’s no big deal as long as you believe something!" It’s like preferring Burger King over McDonald’s or Wendy’s–it’s a matter of taste. The only problem with that is–God never said to have it your way! If God is only what you want Him to be then He is not God at all–He is you!
II> A WRONG BELIEF--WHAT YOU BELIEVE DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE
One of the things that has gotten Christians in trouble is a lack of tolerance of different beliefs. You need to understand something here–Jesus was not tolerant in what you could believe. The Apostles were not tolerant.. nor does God expect us to be tolerant in this area either. He wants–He demands that we follow His Word.
John 14:6 (NIV) says, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” Acts 4:12 (NIV) reads that “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
Paul is saying the same thing here. Paul said that in the past, God overlooked such ignorance–going after all these false gods, but now people need to turn to Jesus Christ. God calls for repentance–not open-mindedness. God calls for faithfulness to His Word–not tolerance to any and every belief.
People will not go to heaven praying to Buddha. People will not spend eternity with God dabbling in witchcraft or the occult, following astrology, or horoscopes, or even fortune cookies.
ILL> The Imperials used to sing a song called "Old Buddha"
It won’t be old Buddha that’s sitting on the throne
And it won’t be old Mohammed that’s calling us home
And it won’t be Hari Krisna that plays that trumpet tune
Cause we’re goin’ to see the Son–not Rev. Moon.
III> A WARNING FROM PAUL
The crux of Paul’s argument is simple to understand–repent because Judgment is coming. Let me repeat that--repent because Judgment is coming.
There is a segment of today’s population that feels that it’s just not nice to tell people that they are wrong–"we need to be able to embrace all beliefs." But let me ask you something this morning–which is more wrong. Disagreeing with someone who does not want to follow God’s ways. Or being nice to people who are destined for a godless hell. We cannot afford to be open-minded and tolerant when it comes to the ways and the commands of God. This really is a matter of life and death–eternal life and death
IV> CONCLUSION:
VS 34 - A few men became followers of Paul and believed. So what are you going to believe? Are you going to believe in the latest fad, the latest movement, that thing which is radically different. Or are you going to believe in the One who started it all and someday will bring everything to a close?
I know that some of you here this morning are thinking about making a commitment to Christ–why not make that commitment this morning? What is it that’s holding you back? When Paul appeared before King Agrippa he pleaded the cause of Jesus and told Him about the Savior who died for Him. Acts 26:28 says, “Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian.’" Sad words - almost persuaded. How sad it would be to face God someday and say, "Almost. I almost gave my life to You."
