Your Own Poets

In Acts 17, we find Paul in Athens, talking with the Jews and God-fearing Greeks and the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers about Jesus Christ and the resurrection. These were tough conversations for Paul, filled with argument, debate, dispute, and challenge by the learned philosophers in the marketplace there.

Paul also spoke at Mars Hill, and the people there considered his teachings to be "strange ideas to our ears." Paul never gave up, even in the face of relentless questioning and argument. He noted how they were religious people, and used that idea to teach them more about the God who made the world and everything in it. Paul also spoke about repentance and judgment and justice and salvation.

One of the most important things that Paul said to them can be found in Acts 17:28, when he says, "For in (God) we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'"

Paul hooked many of them with that statement. Paul was able to use the words of their own, respected, secular poets to help lead the people of Athens to God. Acts 17:34 tells us that a number of men and women became followers that day.

We can do the same thing to reach the world today. Secular culture should not be something we fear, but rather something we leverage to reach others with the good news of Jesus Christ. In our church, we have used songs by U2, the Beatles, Hoobastank, Bobby McFerrin, Daniel Powter, and others to reach people for Christ. Paul did it then, we do it now, and you can do it, too. Don't fear secular culture. Paul didn't, and neither should you. Instead of fearing it, use it to reach others for Jesus Christ. It worked for Paul in Athens, and it will work for you, too, wherever you are in the world today.