Responding to people who vaguely believe in God

— From a belief in God to a trust in Jesus

The Parthenon temple in Athens

Belief in some kind of God
- Many people believe in God (A recent poll in the USA 91%)
- Scott Hafeman: it’s Jesus they have a problem with
- How do we talk to such a person?
We will look at two passages
- The first they believe in a vague God (similar to the new-age today)
- The second they are looking to a dead religious system
- In both cases, the problem is that they need their eyes opened to Jesus
Acts 17 — Paul in Athens
- He was astonished at the level of false spirituality around him
- He was invited to give a presentation on his teachings
- Here is the place where it probably happened

Mars Hill, where the Areopagus council met

The God they were vaguely aware of was the real God (v.3)
- Paul could have started with “everything you believe about God is totally wrong”
- But actually he validated some of their beliefs
Paul was going to tell them more about him

This is very relevant for us
- People today will usually pray in a vague kind of way when in trouble
- They have an idea of a supreme being

He is the creator of things, so
- they were making a mistake in trying to limit him to a temple
- or think he was dependent on them for food offerings etc, since he in fact is the source of life
He is the creator and sustainer of all people
- He has been there behind the scenes causing things to happen in your life to make you search for him
- He wants you to try and grope your way towards him in the darkness
- (He is not far away—he surrounds us) NOW READ 17:24-29

How far can we go along with them?
- Are all “gods” the real God underneath?
- What about cruel pagan deities?
- what about impersonal new-age beliefs, like “the force”? (discussion with Tom)
- How far do we say “yes you are right”?
This is the wrong question
- The question is not “how much of their God is the real God”
- where does the real God show through in their system
  - Paul was able to pick out areas
- We don’t start with their system and try and build on it
- We start with the truth God, and point out which bits they already believe
  - but clearly contradict the bits that are different
  - (e.g. idols made with hands, no end to history)
  - Paul even showed their own contradictions
Knowledge of God as sustainer
- Cecil (hairdresser)
- Many people can see God’s hand in their lives

But now God has revealed himself through Jesus
- There will be a day of judgement
- Jesus will be the judge
- the proof is that he was raised and is alive NOW READ 17:30-34

Most people think there will be some kind of day of reckoning
- sense of justice
- (The problem is that they thing they are fine!)

God opens their eyes to the glory of Jesus
- We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth (John 1:14)
This is well explained in 2 Corinthians 3:7-18
We respond by:

Other verses:
- John 2:11 Jesus did this as the first of his miraculous signs, in Cana of Galilee. In this way he revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
- John 17:22 The glory you gave to me I have given to them, that they may be one just as we are one
We don’t appreciate that we are actually carrying the Glory
- (as Moses didn’t realize)
- It is the work of the Spirit
Jesus is amazing
- compare him to new-age/Bhuddist karma
- compare him to impersonal Allah
- His glory is truly amazing!!