Rev. Dustin ParkerThe God of Agnostics
Concordia Lutheran Church
6th Sunday of Easter, May 29th, 2011
We Live With God
Acts 17:16-31
† IN JESUS NAME †
May you realize the difference it makes to know that because He is risen, we live with God, now and forever. For this is the grace of our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Intro: A Very Devout/Reverent Group
Devout, Reverent worshippers
Would reason thoroughly about teaching
Watching them, Paul was concerned..
They were a group of people that were applauded for their devotion, for their reverence. They were sincerely searching for answers to life, and seriously considered and thought through what they were told. They tried to worship, indeed it was a hallmark of the community, with a multitude of places to worship. It was their focus, it was how they preferred to spend their time.
They even knew to ask the “Lutheran Question”, the question that fills our small catechism – “what does this mean?”
Yet, as the apostle Paul walked through their city, his spirit was perplexed, he was concerned, and bothered by what he saw in these very religious people. Seeing their places of worship, where they adored god, it bothered him more. Enough so that he would dare to enter into their discussions.
He as concerned for their salvation, for while they knew of god, they didn’t know God.
By their own admission, they were agnostics, and they needed a God who knew them.
When he was asked to explain “what does this mean?” He introduced them to the God who seeks to prove His devotion to man, to assure them of His presence, and His judgment.
What Provoked Paul’s Heart
But the reverence was of fear
God’s in marble boxes… or are they tombstones
They were agnostics
They wanted to seek out, to know…
Paul noted these people were very religious, based on the numerous altars and temples in Athens. Paul describes them with very specific terms. The reverence they have for the divine is based on fear, on superstition. It is based on not understanding the nature of God, but thinking that there must be some way to influence whatever deity is out there, either affecting our lives by causing suffering, or not responding when we do.
Such were the religious people that gathered in Athens, both its natives and those who travelled there for answers. Perhaps it was some medical issue, for Athens was a place of medical expertise. It is no different today as, we question God and why he allows illness and suffering. Perhaps it was because they looked for answers for natural disasters, as the people of Joplin do this morning. Maybe it was those who tried to deal with evil’s existence, or teaching that failed, or perhaps their own failures, their inability to do that which they knew they should.
The small temples, and altars looking much like cemetery mausoleums and tombstones were dedicated to the gods they thought they can influence. Not much more than granite and marble boxes in which the gods they created in their minds would live, and therefore would protect or bless them. Diligence in ministering, serving these gods would release blessings or prevent curses, or so went the theories.
Perhaps we are more sophisticated; we don’t see so much people putting up temples anymore. However, there are significant numbers of superstitious people, from athletes who wear the same underwear each time they play, to people who hang rosaries from their mirrors, to those who read astrology predictions, or seek psychic advice. We even make promises about going to church, or doing this or that, hoping God would hear bless us, or protect our families, or remove some illness or perceived curse. Some people might even be here today, thinking that by their being here, they have some kind of religious insurance for today, and eternity.
For what reason are you here? Are you any different than those in Athens? Do you know God exists, but not sure of His feelings toward you? That is where the heart of agnosticism springs from – knowing there must be something divine, but not knowing how to find Him, or approach Him.
We have the same blessing as the Athenians gained that day, when they asked Paul to explain “what does this mean?” We have the same answers, the same promise, the same hope. We have these words, his writings, and indeed the entire Bible. Those words that reveals to us that the answer is not just Paul’s, but the very answer of God, revealing Himself that those who know of His existence, but do not know Him, would be able to know Him, intimately
The God who would hear Agnostics
One who has all authority
One who doesn’t need to be served
One who seeks them
One who is devoted to them, and gives to us life
A few centuries before they asked Paul to explain what the resurrection meant, a philosopher-prophet named Epimanedes was hired by Athens to consult on how to appease the gods through a time of great turmoil and stress. In an act similar to Gideon’s fleece in the Biblical book of Judges, the prophet devised a test that showed that none of their gods were responsible, and none could deal with their trauma. He said this did not lead them without hope, indeed it pointed out they needed to know the God who would answer them. Epimanedes told them they needed to worship and pray to this unknown god, that he would solve their crisis and someday, as he willed, reveal himself to them. They followed the prophet/philosopher’s advice, and their prayers were heard. The crisis stopped, and the people rejoiced and built that altar Paul would talk of in our reading. After the miracle, the people longed to know of this God. They never knew their descendants would know Him.
Would our God have heard their prayers to a god they could not call on by name? Would he love them enough to care for them, even as they confess their ignorance of Him?
Paul’s answer is to reveal the One true God to them, to explain what the resurrection meant, to answer their search by introducing them to Jesus, and to the Father, as the Holy Spirit would work in their lives.
Would God so love these agnostics, that He would not only send Paul to reveal His affection and devotion to them, but also prove that, by sending His Son to live and die and rise from the dead?
Gloriously – YES!
This is a God, Paul tells them, that is the Creator of all, and the Lord, the Master, the One who reigns over all.
This is the God who cannot be held within marble or stone walls, who cannot be put in a box, or manipulated. Instead He is a God in whom His people live, and move, and are.
This is not a God who needs to be served, He doesn’t need to be encouraged or have His ego stroked. He came to serve those that could not recognize Him, who did not love Him, to serve them and bring them healing for the wounds caused by sin.
This is not a God who needs to be search out, a hidden treasure, but a God who search out man patiently, carefully, desiring that none perish, but that all would come to have the mind of Christ. TO know the hope of glory, that Christ is in you!
And lives with us..
This is your life…
This building, this altar is not here for God to live in, for what building could contain Him. This building is here, this altar, the music we sing, the readings we hear, this and every sermon preached in this place, has one goal.
It all exists to reveal to you the heart of God. It exists to reveal to you your hope of glory – Christ in you.
That’s what the very religious Athenians could not comprehend, a God who would come to us, who would serve us, who would assure us of His love, by removing our sin, and all unrighteousness, by giving His Son to die, that we would rise with Him.
My friends you live in God, He is never far away. We don’t need to impress Him, or appease Him, or try to control Him. We just walk with Him. He loves us, He is with us, bearing our wounds, our struggles, healing us, nurturing us, serving us.
That we would live in the joy of His peace. The peace of God which passes all understanding, in which we are kept, we are secured in, by the Lord Jesus Christ!
AMEN? AMEN!
6th Sunday of Easter, May 29th, 2011
We Live With God
Acts 17:16-31
† IN JESUS NAME †
May you realize the difference it makes to know that because He is risen, we live with God, now and forever. For this is the grace of our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Intro: A Very Devout/Reverent Group
Devout, Reverent worshippers
Would reason thoroughly about teaching
Watching them, Paul was concerned..
They were a group of people that were applauded for their devotion, for their reverence. They were sincerely searching for answers to life, and seriously considered and thought through what they were told. They tried to worship, indeed it was a hallmark of the community, with a multitude of places to worship. It was their focus, it was how they preferred to spend their time.
They even knew to ask the “Lutheran Question”, the question that fills our small catechism – “what does this mean?”
Yet, as the apostle Paul walked through their city, his spirit was perplexed, he was concerned, and bothered by what he saw in these very religious people. Seeing their places of worship, where they adored god, it bothered him more. Enough so that he would dare to enter into their discussions.
He as concerned for their salvation, for while they knew of god, they didn’t know God.
By their own admission, they were agnostics, and they needed a God who knew them.
When he was asked to explain “what does this mean?” He introduced them to the God who seeks to prove His devotion to man, to assure them of His presence, and His judgment.
What Provoked Paul’s Heart
But the reverence was of fear
God’s in marble boxes… or are they tombstones
They were agnostics
They wanted to seek out, to know…
Paul noted these people were very religious, based on the numerous altars and temples in Athens. Paul describes them with very specific terms. The reverence they have for the divine is based on fear, on superstition. It is based on not understanding the nature of God, but thinking that there must be some way to influence whatever deity is out there, either affecting our lives by causing suffering, or not responding when we do.
Such were the religious people that gathered in Athens, both its natives and those who travelled there for answers. Perhaps it was some medical issue, for Athens was a place of medical expertise. It is no different today as, we question God and why he allows illness and suffering. Perhaps it was because they looked for answers for natural disasters, as the people of Joplin do this morning. Maybe it was those who tried to deal with evil’s existence, or teaching that failed, or perhaps their own failures, their inability to do that which they knew they should.
The small temples, and altars looking much like cemetery mausoleums and tombstones were dedicated to the gods they thought they can influence. Not much more than granite and marble boxes in which the gods they created in their minds would live, and therefore would protect or bless them. Diligence in ministering, serving these gods would release blessings or prevent curses, or so went the theories.
Perhaps we are more sophisticated; we don’t see so much people putting up temples anymore. However, there are significant numbers of superstitious people, from athletes who wear the same underwear each time they play, to people who hang rosaries from their mirrors, to those who read astrology predictions, or seek psychic advice. We even make promises about going to church, or doing this or that, hoping God would hear bless us, or protect our families, or remove some illness or perceived curse. Some people might even be here today, thinking that by their being here, they have some kind of religious insurance for today, and eternity.
For what reason are you here? Are you any different than those in Athens? Do you know God exists, but not sure of His feelings toward you? That is where the heart of agnosticism springs from – knowing there must be something divine, but not knowing how to find Him, or approach Him.
We have the same blessing as the Athenians gained that day, when they asked Paul to explain “what does this mean?” We have the same answers, the same promise, the same hope. We have these words, his writings, and indeed the entire Bible. Those words that reveals to us that the answer is not just Paul’s, but the very answer of God, revealing Himself that those who know of His existence, but do not know Him, would be able to know Him, intimately
The God who would hear Agnostics
One who has all authority
One who doesn’t need to be served
One who seeks them
One who is devoted to them, and gives to us life
A few centuries before they asked Paul to explain what the resurrection meant, a philosopher-prophet named Epimanedes was hired by Athens to consult on how to appease the gods through a time of great turmoil and stress. In an act similar to Gideon’s fleece in the Biblical book of Judges, the prophet devised a test that showed that none of their gods were responsible, and none could deal with their trauma. He said this did not lead them without hope, indeed it pointed out they needed to know the God who would answer them. Epimanedes told them they needed to worship and pray to this unknown god, that he would solve their crisis and someday, as he willed, reveal himself to them. They followed the prophet/philosopher’s advice, and their prayers were heard. The crisis stopped, and the people rejoiced and built that altar Paul would talk of in our reading. After the miracle, the people longed to know of this God. They never knew their descendants would know Him.
Would our God have heard their prayers to a god they could not call on by name? Would he love them enough to care for them, even as they confess their ignorance of Him?
Paul’s answer is to reveal the One true God to them, to explain what the resurrection meant, to answer their search by introducing them to Jesus, and to the Father, as the Holy Spirit would work in their lives.
Would God so love these agnostics, that He would not only send Paul to reveal His affection and devotion to them, but also prove that, by sending His Son to live and die and rise from the dead?
Gloriously – YES!
This is a God, Paul tells them, that is the Creator of all, and the Lord, the Master, the One who reigns over all.
This is the God who cannot be held within marble or stone walls, who cannot be put in a box, or manipulated. Instead He is a God in whom His people live, and move, and are.
This is not a God who needs to be served, He doesn’t need to be encouraged or have His ego stroked. He came to serve those that could not recognize Him, who did not love Him, to serve them and bring them healing for the wounds caused by sin.
This is not a God who needs to be search out, a hidden treasure, but a God who search out man patiently, carefully, desiring that none perish, but that all would come to have the mind of Christ. TO know the hope of glory, that Christ is in you!
And lives with us..
This is your life…
This building, this altar is not here for God to live in, for what building could contain Him. This building is here, this altar, the music we sing, the readings we hear, this and every sermon preached in this place, has one goal.
It all exists to reveal to you the heart of God. It exists to reveal to you your hope of glory – Christ in you.
That’s what the very religious Athenians could not comprehend, a God who would come to us, who would serve us, who would assure us of His love, by removing our sin, and all unrighteousness, by giving His Son to die, that we would rise with Him.
My friends you live in God, He is never far away. We don’t need to impress Him, or appease Him, or try to control Him. We just walk with Him. He loves us, He is with us, bearing our wounds, our struggles, healing us, nurturing us, serving us.
That we would live in the joy of His peace. The peace of God which passes all understanding, in which we are kept, we are secured in, by the Lord Jesus Christ!
AMEN? AMEN!
