City of Idols

A CITY OF IDOLS (Acts 17:16 - 31)
As Paul gets further away geographically from Jerusalem, he also is further away theologically. In Athens people were polytheists; their gods had to be appeased for favours.
Paul's preaching tactic also changed. He did not start from the Old Testament. Here he began with the God who created all things, but his sermon was still biblical.
Theologically the world of Athens was very similar to our culture with our secular humanists, and LGBT&Q groups.
Athens was also a city full of idols. Today our cities may not have many carved idols but we have our idols of money, ideology, bodies, jobs, networks, all gods to give people meaning and 'salvation'.
PAUL'S INITIAL REACTION TO THE CITY
Bearea had been an ideal place for preaching. From there, Paul arrives in Athens, leaving the others behind in Berea. Athens was stunning in beauty with statues, exquisite artwork and architecture. While Aristotle moved to Athens, it was where Plato and Socrates came from.
Paul's reacted differently to the city from others. He was provoked by the idols. We ought to feel like this when glory is being robbed from our Creator. The whole earth is filled with His glory. He is the one who has.to be worshipped.
Peter tells us that Lot was a righteous man, because his soul was greatly distressed and tormented by the unrighteousness around him. We should be provoked by the idolatry in our own lives and in our city, no matter the beauty and intellectual sophistication.
What should we do about it. Vs 17. Paul reasoned in the synagogue and in the marketplace. Christians should not shame others. Our God is not a reasonless grumpy God. He is the very basis of knowledge. In Christ are hidden all knowledge. We don't destroy arguments by shouting and canceling others. This approach gives us joy, as we reason clearly in stark contrast to the ambiguity of Athens and our city today.
THE CITY'S INITIAL REACTION TO PAUL
These sophisticated individuals call him a babbler. When the Christian worldview comes in contact with a pagan worldview with
Epicureans (who thought they were masters of their own destiny and did not need God) and Stoics (who felt that life was meaningless and therefore they ought to pursue pleasure). Both groups that there was no judgement and no after life. They dismissed him as a babbler, someone with a birdbrain. Indeed we are considered fools for Christ.
When Paul is invited, he goes to the Areopagus where civil cases were handled. There he spoke publicly, beginning his talk with what he had observed in their city, he gives them the Biblical worldview. The Bible's message holds up to and destroys the lofty opinions of man.
About the gospel
1. This city with so much does not satisfy. They were still looking for something new. Our modern idols of jobs, money, family, and ideology cannot satisfy, as they are elevated to be something they were not intended for.
The only thing that satisfies and saves is the God who made you.
2. Despite the variety of ideas, the gospel was new to them (vs 20). Every system tells people to find God and serve a set of rules. Christianity is the only one where God finds you and serves you. Athens had multiple shrines to the unknown God. They would observed certain sheep to see where they settled for the night. They believed that a god close by was claiming it. So, they sacrificed it to the closest idol. If there was no idol near the sheep that lay down to rest, they made an altar to the unknown God that they thought was claiming the sheep and sacrificed to it. In contrast, our God came looking for the sheep and sacrificed Himself. The world needed to hear this gospel then and does so now. Let us take this gospel to the world.