Journey Into Wholeness- ethos and practise for a Mind Body and Soul/ Spirit Exhibition
Paul did not find himself in Athens by choice- he had had to flee for his life, and Athens was a waiting point, he'd been helped in his escape- and this is where he'd been dropped off!
Athens was a strange place- different- full of idols, and as he looked around Paul became more and more distressed- even angry; when we go to these exhibitions I hope that you too will sense a disease and an anger at some of the things that happen there, but I hope also that you will allow that disease and that anger to compel you into positive action, just as Paul did. It is OK to become angry, to feel distressed, Jesus himself became angry at times- think of the clearing of the temple- the way he threw out the money changers and traders, but although we may feel like doing that these exhibitions are not the place for such action, and so we listen to and take our pattern from Paul in this case, for Jesus was at home in Jerusalem, and in going to these exhibitions we find ourselves in a strange land like Paul.
His first action was to seek out the Jews and to reason with them, bringing to them the good news of Jesus, but also I suspect sounding them out about the culture they found themselves in; I wonder if an exclusive attitude had caused them to feel comfortable within their own "bubble" and they lived quite apart from the rest of the city... or if they had become so immersed in the culture that they simply did not notice it anymore! I challenge you to open your eyes and take a look around you, supermarket shelves contain magazines like Spirit and Destiny, womens magazines are stuffed full of adverts from mediums and psychic's, horoscopes are in our daily newspapers and usually viewed as a bit of harmless fun, alternative therapies abound and Waterstones Mind Body Spirit section grows it seems on a weekly basis.
So seeing all of this we become distressed, we feel aggrieved , what do we do? I love Paul's reaction, he didn't withdraw and pray against the idols and the religious practises surrounding him ( although I am sure prayer played a significant part in his response); he listened... he took himself out onto the streets of Athens and he listened to what was going on around him. Journey Into Wholeness was at the outset a listening ministry, and at heart it still is, the heart of any good and sensitive evangelism is I suggest listening- first to God, then to the culture, and then to God again.
From his listening Paul began to form a response- others now began to listen to him- some scoffed- but others listened, and his wise words drew enough interest that he was invited to speak in the Areopagus.
We can learn from this; for the invitation to be extended Paul must have been on the whole well received- he had treated the citizens of Athens with respect- when we go into these exhibitions we must treat our fellow stall holders and the event organisers in the same way. Too often Christians come across as those who disapprove, those who hold a negative view of all alternative spirituality's and alternative practises.... I suggest to you that when we take the approach of listening with respect that we will find much to affirm and celebrate, that when we take the approach of listening with respect we will find many genuine seekers!
In this way, and with prayerful listening we gain the opportunity to speak- here too we need to be careful to choose our words and approach wisely; Paul did not make an immediate dive for the scriptures, although I am sure he would have been more comfortable starting from there- instead he quoted from the Athenian poets, and complemented them for the way they took their religion seriously...
...he went on from there to speak of the creation, and how the great creative Spirit who made the whole universe , currently unknown to the Athenians could be known; pointing to the resurrection as a sign of Gods immense and recreative power...
Many spiritually minded people today will attest to the presence of a creator, and acknowledge that although they do not know this creator, they are aware of a power in the universe...many therapists and practitioners will speak of tapping in to spirit, of channelling spirit; whilst this language is foreign to us, I suggest to you that we need to listen and respond creatively... when we pray for healing and wholeness we become channels for the Holy Spirit- how might we use this to explain prayer to someone approaching our stall? How might we explain our relationship with God, our relationship to God, how He supplies us with power for living:
Romans 8:15-16 (MsgB)
(For) This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children.
Paul went on to proclaim the full gospel, speaking of judgement and calling people to a radical life change, I suspect that we will not often gain the opportunity to proclaim the message in all its fullness as we speak one to one with people coming to the stall, and that we need to be discerning and aware of the fact that we have been given the privilege in our conversations of accompanying folk on their spiritual journey, and presenting them with an opportunity to take steps towards that radical life change that comes through knowing Jesus...
We go into these Exhibitions as signposts to the Kingdom of God, as Christs ambassadors- let us go boldly compelled by his love- let us walk humbly with a desire to show his grace and mercy in our lives and words.
