.... but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30, 31). Paul is in the middle of his first missionary journey, he has received some very mixed reviews, and he has adopted a variety of approaches to sharing the gospel. In the beginning of the chapter we see Paul entering the synagogue reasoning from Scripture that Jesus was the expected Messiah, that He should suffer and rise from the dead. I have to wonder if he used different Scriptures than I would to this, but I digress. Here in Thessalonica while some believed, while those who did not stirred up and troubles the whole city saying Jesus was a rival king to Caesar.
The brethren sent Paul and Silas to Berea. where the Jews were more more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so (10,11). We can learn from the Bereans, in that when God does something new to our understanding, we too need to keep and open mind and search the scriptures to see if it is of Him. We don't know what we don't know. In this morning's title verses, Paul in in Athens where he has the opportunity to reason in the market place. He begins his presentation from an observation about the city, where there is an alter TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. He proclamations Jesus and speaks the quote. I am put in mind of Paul's statement that he is all things to all men “that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:2). The gospel does not change, but our approach to sharing it needs to. Paul's methods and approaches are worth studying.
Our Western world tends to see Christians as self righteous and judgemental. James 5:16 talks about healing being connected to confession openness and transparency, the Church has a long way to go in this! But we can go too far in that we can compromise truth. Some emphasize truth over love others love over truth. But notice that Paul does not compromise. Turning from our modern idols and our homegrown relative morality is not suggested it is commanded. Compassion is wonderful, truth is liberating, but compassion without truth enables destructive behaviours, and truth without compassion denies the gospel in that it was because God so loved the world that He gave ...
Father, we are such creatures of imbalance. Help us here Lord. In world without meaning, helps us to live meaningful lives and point the way to meaning. In a world without hope, helps us to live hope filed lives and share the hope that is within us. Give us revelation of these things and how to share them and we will give You the honour glory and praise in Jesus Name Amen
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