The Answer
Posted by Melissa
Spiritual or religious? That seems to be a question a lot of people are asking today. There are many who claim to be spiritual but not religious. Apparently, people have redefined the terms, making “spiritual” things seem much more personal and private, while religion is seen as something much more public. People do not want to be associated with public church life. As a result they have created their own personalized religion without a church. Know anyone like that?
Read Acts 17:22-25, and ponder verse 22.
Where was Paul, and to whom was he talking?
How were the people religious?
Can you be religious and not be a Christian? Explain.
What did the inscription say? Why is that important?
What are the “unknown gods” of today?
Do you know anyone who says he or she is spiritual but is not into religion or Christianity? Where is he or she seeking answers?
How will you reach out to that person with the Truth this week?
The people Paul was talking to were trying to cover all their bases. They figured there might be a god they missed, so they made a statue to it as well. They were very spiritual, but they were also very confused. They were searching for answers that only Jesus could provide, but they were looking in all the wrong places.
So how do you reach out to “spiritual,” searching friends? Help them encounter the one true God. Just like Paul did all those years ago in Athens, you can introduce them to the One who knows the answers they’ve been searching for.
Then Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. —Acts 17:22
Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2010 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission.
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