City Of Idols

13 CITY OF IDOLS (Acts 17:16-34)

Idols are not limited to primitive societies; there are many sophisticated idols too. An idol is a God substitute. Any person or thing that occupies the place which God should occupy is an idol. Covetousness is idolatry. Ideologies can be idolatries. So can fame, wealth and power, sex, food, alcohol and other drugs. People can be idols – parents, spouse, children and friends. The possibilities extend further to work, recreation, television and possessions. Even church, religion and Christian service can be idolized.

Idols seem particularly dominant in cities. Paul was deeply pained by the idolatrous city of Athens. It was a city of aesthetic magnificence and cultural sophistication, as well as being the world center of pagan philosophy and religion. How do we communicate Jesus Christ to such a city? Paul gave us a marvelous example when he visited Athens.

The clue to interpreting the nature of Paul’s emotion is that the verb that is translated “greatly distressed” is also used in the Greek version of the Old Testament to describe the reaction of the Holy One of Israel to idolatry. Thus, when the Israelites made the golden calf at Mount Sinai, and when later they were guilty of gross idolatry and immorality in relation to the Baal of Peor, they “provoked” the Lord God to anger. So Paul was “provoked” (RSV) by idolatry and provoked to anger, grief and indignation, just as God is himself, and for the same reason, namely for the honor and glory of his name.

Summary: The Areopagus address reveals the comprehensiveness of Paul’s message. He proclaimed God in his fullness as Creator, Sustainer, Ruler, Father and Judge. He took in the whole of nature and of history. He passed the whole of time in review, from the creation to the consummation. He emphasized the greatness of God, not only as the beginning and the end of all things, but as the One to whom we owe our being and to whom we must give account. He argued that human beings already know these things by natural or general revelation, and that their ignorance and idolatry are therefore inexcusable. So he called on them with great solemnity, before it was too late, to repent.

It is not only the comprehensiveness of Paul’s message in Athens which is impressive, however, but also the depth and power of his motivation. Why it that, in spite of the great needs is and opportunities of our day, the church slumbers peacefully on, and that so many Christians are deaf and dumb, deaf to Christ’s commission and tongue-tied in testimony? I think the major reason is this: we do not speak as Paul spoke because we do not feel as Paul felt. And this is because we do not see like Paul. When Paul walked around Athens, he did not just “notice” the idols. He looked and looked, and thought and thought, until the fires of holy indignation were kindled within him. For he saw men and women, created by God in the image of God, giving to idols the homage which was due to God alone. We constantly pray “Hallowed be your Name,” but we do not seem to mean it, or to care that his name is so widely profaned.

Open

What philosophies and pagan religions do you encounter in your world?

Study

1. Read Acts 17:16-34. What caught Paul’s attention immediately about Athens? What did he feel about what he saw?

2. Jesus wept over the impenitent city of Jerusalem. What are the idols in your city?

3. What did Paul do in response to what he saw and felt?

4. It is impressive that Paul was able to speak with equal ease to religious people in the synagogue, to casual passers-by in the city square and to highly sophisticated philosophers. How does Paul open his sermon at the meeting of the Aeropagus (vv. 22-23)?

5. What does his approach to the men and women of the Aeropagus model to us as we consider influencing those in our culture with the message about Jesus?

6. What five things does Paul say about God?

7. What is the significance to the people of Athens that God is the Creator of the universe (vv. 24-27)?

8. Why was it important for Paul to tell the people that God is the Sustainer of life (v. 28)?

9. How did Paul call them to repentance (vv. 29-31)?

10. What different responses to Paul’s message do you see throughout this passage?

11. Compare and contrast the responses to Paul’s message about Jesus to the responses you see today.

Apply

When have you been provoked by the idolatrous cities of the contemporary world? What might it take for the church of Jesus Christ to wake up today?

Pray

Ask God to give you eyes to see where he is being replaced by things and philosophies and to respond to what you see with a passion to proclaim truth and to honor his name.