Idolatry
We have a problem in this world. There are too many gods. This isn’t a new problem and it has plagued people since time began. There is only one true God but He is unknown by many people. As with all things in life, we can look to Scripture for guidance about how to deal with this problem. Paul was a bold witness for Christ, and we can learn from his method of spreading the Gospel.

“Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry“ (Acts 17:16).

We know the mythology of these demon gods and goddesses. Zeus was believed to be the “father of gods and men;” they thought Hera was the queen of gods and was married to Zeus; Apollo supposedly was the god of music and poetry; Poseidon was seen as the god of the sea; Aphrodite was called the goddess of love and beauty; and so on. The list of these demons is long, and there’s a god for everything.

The people of Athens were completely taken over by the lust and sin that follow the worship of false gods. Seeing such idolatry grieved Paul, and he was compelled to speak to these lost people. Paul was waiting for Timothy and Silas to join him in Athens, but he easily could have been in San Francisco, London, Paris, Rome, or any other city or town in the world today. Idol worship is everywhere and it comes in many forms.

Paul could have confronted these people with anger, but that wouldn’t have accomplished anything. They would have run him out of town or declared him a lunatic. These were pagan people just doing what they had always done. They didn’t understand that their way of life was sinful because they had no moral standard to follow.

With Zeus, Hera, and the other gods as role models, they didn’t have any moral guide. They didn’t need to hear angry words or disgust from Paul, but they needed to be taught about the One True God. That’s what he set about doing. He met with these people to reason with them and boldly presented the Gospel. They mocked him, but at least they listened.

“Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, 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“ (Acts 17:18).

Paul didn’t pussyfoot around but preached Jesus and the resurrection. That just might work today. The eternal life of people mattered to Paul, and he wanted to give as many people as possible the chance to accept Christ. We all have opportunities to present the Gospel, but too often we just keep quiet for fear of ridicule.

Idolatry
The people of Athens seemed amused by Paul’s presentation of the Gospel. They were always looking for a new god to worship, and because of that they were willing to listen to what Paul had to say. Paul was outnumbered, but the people were curious.

“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you” (Acts 17:22-23).

Too superstitious? Ignorantly worship? This may not be the best way to win friends and influence people, but it is the way to win souls for Christ. Straightforward honesty instead of confrontational indignation. Biblical correctness instead of political correctness. Paul may have smiled kindly when he called them too superstitious, and that would have made his words easier to hear, but today it seems as if the Gospel is less important than getting people in the pews. If we tickle ears and don’t confront sin or disbelief, then all that happens is the collection plate is full.

Why is it that today we hide the Gospel inside entertainment and fluffy sermons in the hope the truth will accidentally reach people? What would happen if we explained that there is only one way to heaven (through faith in the shed blood of Jesus) and there are no individual gods? There might not be as much money in the collection plate but the number of souls saved would rise.

I once heard a preacher who taught pure lies…Jesus is a concept, a feeling, and there’s no absolute truth. A member of the congregation made a sad comment on this supposedly Christian teacher: “I come here and can relax without feeling bad or thinking about anything. I don’t feel guilty.”

The only truth that matters is the truth of God Almighty as found in Scripture.

Paul made an important point to his audience in Athens, and it’s one that needs to be addressed today. Jesus is the Creator. Evolution didn’t happen, nor did any other myth spawned by Satan.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth“ (Genesis 1:1).

If a person is confused about that truth, then they’ll be confused about all other Godly truths. If everything evolved, then there was no Fall, death always existed, sin was always a part of life, and Jesus really had no reason to die on the cross. Do you see why it’s important to understand and believe God’s truth from the first verse of the Bible through the last?

“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things“ (Acts 17:24-25).

Paul spoke to these people in words they understood. Their hands made the idols they worshipped and placed them here and there for convenience of worshipping them. It’s not the created creature who gives life to gods, but God as the Creator gives life to His creation.

We all find ourselves in situations where we are given an opening to speak God’s truth, but do we take advantage of that opening or do we shrink from the opportunity because we don’t know what to say? Never be ashamed of God Almighty.

The audience that Paul spoke to listened and allowed him to fully make his point. The people to whom Paul spoke were pagan Gentiles who had no concept of the truth of God. Paul was Jewish and wanted them to understand that God created all people regardless of their ethnic foundation.

“And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device“ (Acts 17:26-29).

The idolatry of gold, silver, or stone doodads has nothing to do with God Almighty.

In our pagan halls of public education, God’s truth is being undermined. We can wonder how the pagans of the past could believe that Atlas carried the world on his shoulders, but we allow our children to be taught that they evolved from pond scum or some other nonsense. Is it any wonder that drugs and crime are at an all-time high and morals are at an all-time low?

As I write this, there have been two more school shootings. Guns will be blamed but the guns didn’t kill anybody. Human choice pulls the trigger. The young men who murder so many are usually on mind-altering prescription drugs and taught paganism in the school system.

It’s time to return to God’s truth and Biblical morality. It’s time for Christians to confront the lies straight on. First, Christians need to believe God.

The beliefs which the people of Athens held were from Satan. All pagan worship is satanic. It started long ago when Eve first chatted with that evil, lying Serpent. He twisted God’s words and came right out and lied. God said not to eat the forbidden fruit because they would die. Satan presented a new god to Eve. According to Satan, they would be gods.

“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil“ (Genesis 3:4-5).

So, Eve ate the fruit. Satanic lies were believed over God’s truth. History proves who was right. Adam and Eve didn’t become gods, and death is now part of life for all of us. Satan is still spewing his lies, and weak-minded people still listen to him and embrace sin.

The gods of today are many, and “self” is a very dominant god. “Be all that you can be” instead of humbling yourself before God Almighty and allowing Him to mold you into all that He has in mind for you. “Be empowered” is a ridiculous attitude unless that empowerment comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

How many people take a “selfie” and plaster it all over social media? Why? Is it so people who really don’t care about you can see you? It would be much better to let those same people hear about the Gospel of Jesus Christ so they will turn away from their unknown gods and hear about God Almighty, the Creator of all that is and who gave His life so we can have eternal life through faith in Him.

We are admonished to spread the Gospel but we aren’t “graded” on our results. Each person has to make up their own mind as to accepting the Gospel or rejecting it. If the Gospel isn’t presented to them, how can they make a choice?

“And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them“ (Acts 17:32-34).

We have no way of knowing how many people heard the Gospel that day, but we do know that some of them came to faith in Jesus. If Paul had kept silent, Dionysius and Damaris would be spending eternity in the Lake of Fire.

We all have the same opportunity that Paul had, but fear of losing friends or being mocked keeps us silent. Study Scripture to be able to answer questions and defend your faith. Then introduce someone to the God they don’t know. Introduce someone to Jesus Christ before it’s too late.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God breathed.

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Doesn’t a crown of glory sound desirable? Scripture tells of many crowns that can be won by Christians and tells us how to earn each one, and the crown of glory is no different. There’s a lot of responsibility that goes into earning this crown, and most Christians won’t earn it.

“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away“ (1 Peter 5:2-4).

Jesus is the chief Shepherd, and He will reward our work on earth with Heavenly crowns. The context of Peter’s passage speaks to the elders of a congregation. Elders are men who have the responsibility of leading the congregation properly and keeping the flock well fed. It’s a huge responsibility for a man to assume leadership of a congregation. Elders need to lead in the ways of God and teach the congregation, but not be dictators. They need to have the right motivation for taking on that responsibility, which means it’s done for God’s glory.

These men need to know Scripture and follow it in their daily life. If a man desires to be an elder, it should be because he wants to serve Jesus and not in order to make business connections or to line his own pockets with money. If the motive is wrong then there will be no crown given.

It was Jesus who instructed Peter to feed the flock of God. After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples on a few occasions, including a meeting on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was there that Jesus restored Peter and gave him his life’s assignment. “…Feed my lambs” (John 21:15b). Peter was to feed the lambs, the new believers who needed to be nurtured in order to grow into mature Christians. “…Feed my sheep” (John 21:16b & 17b).

The sheep (mature Christians) need different food than the lambs because they should have grown far beyond the need for milk or baby food. Mature Christians need the meat of Scripture in order to stay strong. It’s the responsibility of an elder to feed the new believers so they grow, and then wean these lambs so they are established in God’s word. The elders must encourage the congregation to grow and mature.

Peter knew from experience what it means to fail and then to be forgiven and restored. He was no better than any other elder but had matured in his faith and knowledge of God’s truth. “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder…” (1 Peter 5:1a).  Peter spoke with authority to the elders who shepherd their flocks and encouraged them to grow strong in faith and Christian living.

If an elder does his job well and has the right motivations, Jesus has a crown waiting. Is the desire for that crown why you do your job faithfully? It shouldn’t be. Shepherding the flock is an act of love.

When Christians grow in their knowledge and understanding of God’s word, the congregation is equipped to reach out to the lost people outside of the congregation. A responsible pastor will stand firmly on God’s word and teach the truth, even if that truth isn’t politically acceptable.

Peter and John had been arrested for preaching in Jesus’ name and were commanded not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus anymore. “But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard“ (Acts 4:19-20).

These are the words of a proper elder. The US Government, as well as other governments of the world, has been able to silence much of God’s truth by threatening to take tax exemptions away if a preacher tells the truth about homosexuality and other sins that are sanctioned by government. A responsible shepherd who feeds his flock properly will be more concerned with God’s truth than with tax breaks. As an elder, if you’re tempted to compromise God’s truth—maybe you’re not the man to be teaching.

“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment“ (James 3:1, NKJV).

Don’t compromise God’s word, but don’t forget that your teaching needs to be with Godly love.

We can learn so much about ministry from the life of Paul. He truly loved Jesus and loved serving Him. When Paul knew that he was making a last visit to the men whom he had left in charge of the congregation in Ephesus, he had words of advice that need to be applied today:

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood“ (Acts 20:28).

Pay attention. The blood of Jesus is precious, and the flock which you shepherd was purchased at a great price. Paul’s warning to the shepherds is as necessary today as it was all those years ago. If the elders are weak and compromising, wolves will enter among the flock, divide congregations, and speak lies.

There are many wolves entering into our congregations and our lives today. Television is full of men who deliver a message that sounds smooth and inspiring, but is filled with erroneous teaching. Books are sold that are filled with New Age ideas, and Christians who aren’t taught truth will be taken in. Sheep who aren’t fed properly will fall prey to such lies. Without strong elders the wolves will win.

When Paul traveled on his missionary journeys, his mission was to establish congregations that were solid on a Godly foundation. He would leave men who were schooled in Christian truth to keep the congregation healthy and growing. One such leader was Titus, and Paul wrote to him and helped him understand how to choose men for leadership in his congregation. The same guidelines apply today.

“If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayer“ (Titus 1:6-9).

The man who shepherds his flock well has a great responsibility, and he can’t be a “babe in Christ.” He must be a man who has learned over the years to follow the Lord closely. Experience will have taught this man to trust Jesus and to guide others to also trust Him. This man is to feed the flock, but if he can’t feed himself he won’t be able to feed others; so he must allow the Holy Spirit to increase his knowledge of Scripture.

What about people who aren’t the leaders of a congregation? There are many ways to use your skills to minister to others.

Older women are to teach younger women. “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed“ (Titus 2:3-5).

As I read that passage, some wonderful godly women come to mind; and I am blessed to know these ladies. Paul had fond memories of Timothy’s grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice and their genuine faith which they passed on to Timothy.

Planting a child’s feet solidly upon God’s word is a special ministry. Every Christian has a ministry. There are men and women who minister through music; others reach out into their communities and share the Gospel. It is a ministry to open your home for a Bible study and invite people who may not feel comfortable “going to church,” and there are much needed prison ministries.

In this day and age where there are so many single parent homes and lies being taught in public school, children need to learn what a family consists of in God’s plan: A man is married to a woman, and then they have children. Teaching that truth to young people and encouraging them to know Jesus is an important way to serve our Lord. If you love the Lord you’ll find it a joy to do all you can for Him.

Will you win a crown? Not if you do your service for that purpose. Do all you can for Jesus for the pure joy of serving Him by ministering to others. Too often people have an attitude of “What’s in it for me,” and that’s the wrong way to think about serving our Lord.

What’s the right way to think? “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ“ (Colossians 3:23-24).

We all have tasks set before us; and if we faithfully perform those tasks, our reward will be great. Do all for Jesus.

At the end of his life, Paul could look back on his service to the Lord and feel good about what he had done. “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).

Every Christian has the same ministry…to testify the gospel of the Grace of God. Man or woman, it makes no difference. Share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the lost people in this world. Share because you love Jesus.

Would you continue to do what you’re doing for Jesus if you didn’t think you might win a crown? Are you doing ministry for your own gain or Christ’s glory?

The crown of glory rightfully belongs to Jesus, and you will cast it at His feet. What a joy that will be!

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.