Acts 17:22-34
So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth,having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for
“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;
as even some of your own poets have said,
“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
A friend of mine was talking about the increasing clarity of mission and vision he was working toward in the church he served. As with most churches, this was a long and sometimes-difficult and challenging process. But it was coming to pass, and he was seeing the blessings and challenges unfold in the process. It meant that certain ministries were changed, others were challenged, still others were abandoned. His comment: “Well, clarity has consequences.”
When Paul was speaking to the people on Mars Hill, he spoke about how they were religious people – with an array of gods and idols whom they acknowledged and served. He also reminded them of their own philosophers’ witness to the fact that there is a creator, and that we are his offspring. He remarked about their tribute to “the unknown god” and then proceeded to tell them of this God who had made himself known in Jesus Christ.
All was going well until the clarity of God’s revelation in Jesus included the message of the resurrection. In this case, clarity had the consequence of pushing some of the people away. Those who were too smart for such fairy tales rejected Paul outright. Others struggled with the idea. When God’s true identity comes into focus, and the fullness of the Gospel message, one is led to that “cut bait or fish” moment. Am I just a religious person, interested in spiritual things? Or am I willing to embrace the fullness of God’s revelation in Jesus Christ: his birth, life, miracles, teachings, death, resurrection and second coming?
Is that a question you need to ask yourself today?
David Bahn - Reflections 
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