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Reaching The Religious
By George Stroh
December 6, 2021
So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. (Acts17:22)
We find that the most religious people are the most reluctant to listen and believe the true gospel. They may understand and agree that they are sinners, but they believe that because of their religious affiliation, their well meaning good works and self-righteousness, God will forgive their sins. The Apostle Paul preached to religious people in Athens; For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription,'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.
Paul went on to proclaim the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to these religious, yet ignorant, men; "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead." (Acts 17:30)
Although a few heard the gospel, believed and were saved, most of these religious men were not yet persuaded and were even offended that Paul did not have regard for their gods and their self-righteous religion that rejected a future resurrection and judgment; Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said,"We shall hear you again concerning this." (Acts 17:32) When confronted with the true gospel and coming judgment, self-righteous religious people who refuse to immediately repent and trust Christ alone, become defensive, hostile and usually even more hardened to the truth.
That, of course, does not mean that we ought to avoid witnessing to religious people. On the contrary, these people need to hear the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. (Romans 10;1-3)
Maranatha!
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