We Are Family

Someone once said that the Assyrians, Babylonians, Phoenicians, Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans had their many gods—They had gods of war, gods of industry, gods of agriculture, gods of cities, gods of towns, and many others. But in all of their galaxy of gods, there never was one called “god of hope” or the “god of mercy” or the god of love” (Evie Megginson).

Those nations had numerous gods… but they didn’t have gods who cared for them. Their gods had to be appeased and bribed not to harm them.

By contrast, one ancient scholar said “I have read from Plato and Cicero sayings that are very wise and beautiful; but I never read in either of them: ‘Come unto me all you that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.’” Augustine of Hippo

According to our text in Acts 17…Paul was preaching in Athens, and Athens was the intellectual center of the world. They had one of the greatest universities of that day. Their city was a center of philosophy, literature, science and art. Some of the greatest philosophers and thinkers lived there: Euripides, Plato and Socrates, and it was here in Athens… where the idea of Democracy took root. (Eerdmans’ Handbook to the Bible)

They also had lots of gods… just like every other nation did. Someone noted that in Athens it was easier to find an idol than it was to find a man. It’s estimated that they had over 30,000 idols in the city that they worshipped - and just in case they missed one they had an idol to an “unknown god.”

30,000 idols??? That’s a lot of gods. And Acts 17:16 tells us that Paul’s “spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.” It had been drilled into the minds of God’s people (like Paul) that idols were essentially worthless. Not only did they NOT offer mercy, hope or love they didn’t offer anything else either.

Psalm 115:3-8 mocks the idea of idols. It says “OUR GOD is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. (But) their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; Eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; Noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; Feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat.”

Their gods couldn’t say anything, do anything or go anywhere without help.

Essentially, anyone who worshipped these useless idols was foolish. And the Psalm ends by saying “O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is your help and your shield.” You can count on your God. He will always be there for you! Not like those lifeless idols.

So here in Athens – the center of wisdom and learning in the ancient world - the place where the true intellectuals of the day lived – the city of Athens had 30,000 of these worthless idols. And now Paul has been invited to preach to these folks at a place called the Areopagus - a place where respected leaders and intellectuals would gather to discuss important matters. (https://www.gotquestions.org/Areopagus.html)

One of the internet sites I visited said that this was the classic confrontation of reason and religion. NO IT WASN’T! This was the confrontation of faith and foolishness. It was the confrontation of the one true God vs. the graveyard of empty idolatry.

Now Paul knew that you never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression, and so Paul doesn’t start by insulting or demeaning his audience. Instead, he says “I can see you are a very religious people.” And he was right… they’ve got like 30,000 idols. But then he said something like this: “You know I couldn’t help but notice that you had one idol to an unknown god. So, let me tell you about Him.”

And then he says: The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind…” Acts 17:24-26

You know, that’s why we’re here today. We believe that every nation on earth has descended from a man named Adam, and this is our UNITY SUNDAY. It’s a special worship, to celebrate the fact that we are one people. One family. We may come from various parts of globe - South America, Mexico, Burma… and more, and we may speak English, Spanish, and Burmese. But our God created all of us from one man (Adam). We are one people, one family, because there’s only one RACE of people on earth - the race of Adam. We are all descendants of Adam and Eve.