April 3, 2005 Sermon

The gods of the Philosophers
Acts 17:16-34

Last week this preacher spoke of the necessity of believing in the resurrection of Jesus without talking about how to believe in such a thing. In the same way, the last time I preached on today’s passage I zeroed in on two great philosophies found in Athens 2,000 years ago and in the western world today: stoicism and Epicureanism. I wanted you to recognize these two ways of thinking and living, and to ask you not to let them cloud your Christianity. But I did not say how to do this.

Today we take the next step. Today we will ask ourselves how to sift through the many truths people are selling until we find the One Truth on which we can build our lives. Today we will learn how to discard false gods and how to hold on to the One, True God. Find God in Christ. That’s our job. Find God in Christ and hold onto Him.

Seven young people from this church performed in the recently-ended high school musical, Aida. My family lived that musical. Many stories came out of the experience, but I have resisted using them in sermons for a simple reason: our daughter. I do not want to promote my family in front of the church. I also do not want to put them on the spot.

Still, the time has come to tell at least one story. On closing night Linda and I sat on the carpeted floor way up at the back of the auditorium. Other parents of cast members sat around us. The mother of the other female lead singer turned to me and asked, “Don’t you just want to preach sermons about this show?” I nodded, so she added, “How about preaching on the song, We All Lead Such Elaborate Lives?”

Well. I did not have that song in mind. Her daughter sang that song! I wanted a song my daughter sang. Our daughter, Laura, and Kaitlyn Scott shared a role in which they sang I Know the Truth, a haunting song about a young woman who has just learned her fiancée has fallen in love with another, a trusted friend. The longer the show ran, the more this song got to me. At first I cried during it because my daughter (or Kaitlyn, whom I have long thought of as my Alternate Daughter) was singing it. But then I cried because I started to think about its message.

Do we want to know the truth? Sometimes the truth hurts. When a friend betrays us do we want to know it? When our dreams die do we want to know it? Listen to part of the lyrics of I Know the Truth:

I closed my eyes to so much for so long

and I no longer can

I know the truth and it mocks me

I know the truth and it shocks me

I learned it a little too late.

Now imagine your daughter alone on stage, wearing a wedding dress and singing those words. At times the truth breaks our hearts. At times it mocks and shocks us. We develop defenses against the truth. As children we pretend. As grown-ups we tell ourselves fibs about our pasts. As human beings we avoid knowing ourselves too well. Better to go through life in a vaguely satisfying haze than to know the painful truth.

But that’s no way to live. When the Apostle Paul wandered into Athens two thousand years ago he knew the truth. He knew Jesus as his Lord and Savior. But Athens thought it knew the truth, too, and its truth differed from Paul’s. His way of handling this difference speaks to us. Today we hear that all truths have equal validity. All truths deserve our respect. Put another way: today our culture has decided that no truth can claim to be THE truth. Yet Jesus Christ is The Truth.

How did Paul handle this problem with the Athenians? First, he respected the truths found in philosophies outside the Gospel. The Greeks had developed great schools of thought. Paul refers admiringly to two of them. The stoics taught that life consists of much suffering with a sprinkling of joy thrown in. Living rightly requires a mature acceptance of how things actually are. No complaining, no false hopes: just plug away, don’t expect too much, and be happy when life throws you a bone.

The Epicureans believed that pleasure is the highest good. But they defined pleasure differently than we do. They taught that whatever gods exist send good things into this world so we can experience them. We must therefore remain alert to tastes, sights, memories, hopes. When we properly thank the gods for these gifts we experience pleasure.

Paul knew that he could meet stoics and Epicureans anywhere. Athens in his day had more than its share of both. So does America in our day. Paul saw that if he wanted to earn a hearing for his preaching about Jesus, he needed to show respect for these basic philosophies. He had to start with the truths they contained and work from there over to The Truth as found in Jesus. So should we.

We need to accept the truth found in our philosophies, then move on to Jesus. Many of the truths by which we live have no Christian basis yet do not hinder our walk with Jesus. So here’s our first how-to: pray that the Holy Spirit might help you see which truths lead you to Christ. Do not reject everything outside the Gospel, but pray that you might focus on what leads you to Jesus.

This acceptance of other truths leads us to Paul’s second strategy: no matter the concessions he made to other philosophies, he would not compromise The Truth about Jesus. Paul proclaimed him crucified and resurrected. He stood tall where he had to stand.

We face the temptation to soft-pedal the truth about Jesus. Maybe if we take away the more challenging parts of his story others will believe in Him more easily. Maybe we will. But here’s our second how-to: learn everything you can about Jesus.

Bible study is crucial. We offer Sunday School for all ages for a reason. (Here’s a hint: it’s not to give us something to do at 9:00 on Sunday mornings.) Small groups, youth groups, the Bible studies that meet on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings: all offer the chance to learn more about our Lord and Savior. Knowledge about Jesus strengthens our faith. But knowing is not enough. Virtually every European attended compulsory religion classes throughout school. Yet on Sunday mornings the Christian churches of Europe stand empty. Why? Because though the people have heard the truth, they never believed it. Hear and believe the story of Jesus. Learn that you might believe.

Accept truth wherever you may find it. Use the truth to lead you to Jesus. Paul had one more arrow in his quiver. When he preached to the Athenians he challenged them to enter into a relationship with the living Savior. Our faith cannot stay in the head. We need it in the heart, too.

This church exists to help you become a disciple, a follower, of Jesus. We try our hardest to teach truth. We pray together. We offer fellowship in various settings. We do all these things for one reason: to help each other have living, breathing relationships with God.

When Laura and Kaitlyn sang about knowing the truth, they played a character for whom it brought tragedy. We need not fear the truth. Jesus himself said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” The truth can free us from doubt. It can protect us against despair. Let it happen for you. Pray. Learn about Jesus. Enter into a saving relationship with Jesus—and with your fellow seekers.

Jesus is The Truth. Don’t learn this “a little too late.”