CAPATIVATED BY “THE DIFFERENT”

Victor M. Eskew

 

            Paul entered into the city of Athens alone.  It was the capital city of Greece.  The temple of Athena was there.  The city was given to idolatry.  Athens was the seat of learning as well.  The wise men and philosophers gathered in the agora, the marketplace, to discuss ideas, concepts, and various doctrines. 

            Acts 17:16-20 tells of the events that led up to Paul’s sermon on Mars’ Hill.  “Now while Paul waited for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.  Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.  Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him.  And some said, What will this babbler say?  other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods:  because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.  And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?  For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears:  we would know therefore what these things mean.  (For all Athenians, and the strangers which were there, spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.)”

            The Athenians loved the new, the novel, the different, the strange, and the mysterious.  Luke’s narrative tells us that they “spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.”  The Athenian citizens were captivated by “the different.”  Fortunately, this allowed Paul to speak to them about the Christ and His resurrection.  It also enabled him to stand before this curious crowd and proclaim unto them the UKNOWN GOD.  Unfortunately, these men did not have hearts that were honest and good (Luke 8:15).  They were simply captivated by the odd and unusual.  When Paul focused in on the resurrection, their attitudes changed.  “And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked:  and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter” (Acts 17:32).

            Many individuals are much like the Athenians.  They are captivated by “the different.”  People get tired of the same, the common, and the usual.  In time, they cease to listen even if the things proclaimed are true, important, needed, and eternal.  This is one reason why false teachers are able to make an impact upon Christians.  Their teachings are new and innovative.  They are presented in exciting and simple ways.  Many times, they tickle the ears of the audience.  Those listening “ooh” and “aw” over the false teacher.  They treat him like the Athenians did Paul, saying:  “May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest is?  For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears:  we would know therefore what these things mean.”  Before long, they embrace the error.  They begin to proclaim it as zealously as the false teacher did.

            All of us need to be very careful about quickly embracing the new and novel.  It may sound good.  It may appeal to our senses.  The question that we need to ask, however, is:  “Is this true to God’s Word?”  Sometimes it is just pop psychology.  Sometimes it is just motivational jargon.  Sometimes it is just a bunch of stories and illustrations.  Sometimes it is just the opinions of men.  We may enjoy it.  We may feel good listening to it.  But, there are times when it lacks the precious Word of God.  If the Word of God is not there, the soul will never be nourished.  We feel good, but we are spiritually malnourished.  If that continues for a long period of time, we will eventually grow weak.  Our spiritual weakness can lead to spiritual death.        

            Audiences need to listen closely to the things that individuals teach them.  Jesus exhorts us, saying:  “Take heed what ye hear” (Mark 4:24).  The “what” matters.  Paul told Timothy to “preach the word” (2 Tim. 4:2).  This same apostle told another young evangelist to speak “the things which become sound doctrine” (Tit. 2:1).  Peter’s counsel aligns with the words of Paul.  He writes:  “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God…” (1 Pet. 4:11).  Remember, if it is not God’s Word that is being proclaimed, it will not do our spiritual man any good.

            True men of God know that it is vital for God’s message to be spoken.  Paul told the church at Corinth:  “And I brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom declaring unto you the testimony of God.  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.  And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and power:  that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Cor. 2;4-5).  One of the problems facing the church in Colossae involved their being led astray by the wisdom and commandments of men (Col. 2:22).  Paul, therefore, warned the church, saying:  “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Col. 2:8). 

            Satan knows that “the different” is tempting.  He knows that men will listen to “the different.”  He knows that men will give “the different” some time and tolerance.  He knows that people will often change the tried and true for “the different.”  He knows “the different” will be defended vigorously by some individuals just because it is different.  “The different” caught the first couple off guard.  Before they knew it, they were in sin, living in a cursed world, and were cast forth from their precious home in the Garden of Eden.  “The different” is not always better.  If “the different” is a different gospel, we should keep Paul’s words to the churches of Galatia in mind.  “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8-9).