One of the first people to get
the Christian church going was a man named Paul. During his travels he landed
in Athens where he found an altar: “To an unknown god.”
600 years earlier an epidemic
had fallen upon the city. A poet came up with the idea to let a flock of sheep roam
throughout the city, and wherever each one lay down it was sacrificed to the
nearest god.
If it lay down near the shrine
of no known god it was sacrificed to the unknown god.
Given our current pandemic
circumstance make of that what you will. What I make of it is people pushed
beyond the end of their wits.
In that void then -- and
especially now -- way too many people have way too much access to way too large
an audience within which to offer their quick fixes…
…which are nothing more than their
opinions formed by only what they care about.
They’re paying pay homage to
their own idols and trying to get others to do the same.
Throughout the Bible our
self-cast idols fail to reflect the fullness of God’s goodness which is
reflected in Jesus’ concern for the most vulnerable.
Perhaps as far back as Paul’s Athens
appearance the argument has been made that intellectuals are far more likely to
be converted by a church that does something sacrificial…
…than by a church that thinks
something acceptable and plausible.
People will take notice when
they see us sacrifice our opinion based idols against the factual needs of
others…
…letting go of our idols as we
listen to what’s better for others…
…because as Jesus showed His first followers then and now that’s
best for all.
We're worshiping virtually for this season of COVID 19. Join us by sending your email to prinevillepc@gmail.com, or on YouTube:
Together We Serve,
Pastor Mike