The Leaf

Introduction

My dad told me at a young age that a good preacher (in his opinion) was one who could speak to children and they could understand what was being said. He said that adults will get it or not but preachers needed to be sure that the children could understand the point. I was a teenager when he was telling me this and his words still affect me. Let’s try a simple illustration. I am giving you permission to talk to me. A leaf. What do you see? What does this leaf express to you? What meaning is there to the leaf?

Every person is a philosopher. Most do not understand that aspect of life but let’s start with nature. Is nature to be appreciated on its own or does it point to something else? This is a philosophical question. Many look at the changing leaves and exclaim about its beauty. They speak of its beauty as something that goes beyond their understanding and their ability to comprehend. Some may look at the beauty and give a scientific explanation and in doing so reduce the beauty to an explanation with science as its foundation. Such is still philosophical for it is to deny the transcendent beauty and relegate it only to an expected occurrence. What makes it philosophical is that one in extolling beauty acknowledges something greater; the other acknowledges human ability to dissect and understand. Two different philosophies. But both try to point out beauty — the beauty of a creator and the beauty of science.

We gather today not to engage in philosophy but to understand that we have come into the presence of the Creator. The one who gives beauty throughout the year, is the One who also brings us into relationship with him. Let’s share in a responsive reading.

Paul in Athens

By the time Paul gets to Athens, the glory days of Athens are gone. While the city still has influence, it is based upon its history. Roman emperors will favor the city but the city will never return to its glory days of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. But even though in decline, the city was viewed as the center of philosophies. Paul comes into the city and encounters two — Epicureans and Stoics.

The Epicureans were disciples of Epicurus (341–270 BC) who viewed life through the lens of pleasure. They were like agnostic secularists. All that really mattered was trying to live life well and to minimize pain as much as possible. They believed that the gods were disinterested in them and thus they were disinterested in the gods.

The Stoics followed the teaching of Zeno (340–265 BC). They believed that humanity should get along. They believed the truth mattered and that one through reason and logic could not only come to know the truth but would adhere to it through virtuous living so that the outcome was happiness. They believed the gods mattered. Two very different philosophies and Paul speaks to them.

Paul stood in a place where many before had stood. He was given an opportunity to explain his own philosophy and his own brand of religious thought. There are a number of ways to discuss his speech.

We could spend time demonstrating how he used the techniques of his day to invite others to join him in thinking about philosophy. We should do that too.

We could talk about how he appealed to their own poets to make his points. Thus, providing a foundation that both could build upon. We should do that too.

We could talk about not shying away from the resurrection even though he knew that such talk would push the boundaries of what was accepted by Greek philosophers who did not believe in a resurrection. We should not shy away from the resurrection either.

But I want to approach this in another way. A way that is inside Paul’s speech and one which we all need to be reminded of. Remember Paul is speaking to those who do not believe in one God. His listeners believe in multiple gods if they believe at all. This is part of his distress (v. 16). Thinking about life but failing to see the reality that is in front of them. To declare that there is an Unknown god just to cover all the bases and not be aware of the one true God. One philosophy says the gods don’t care. The other philosophy says the gods care but they leave it to us to figure it out. Either way, the gods are not near. This is the point that Paul contends they must change — God is near.

So What?

I am speaking to people who believe that there is one God. I am speaking to people who placed faith in this one God. I could use Paul’s speech to talk about how to talk with those who do not know God but I’m not. I want to use Paul’s speech to confirm what you know to be true but don’t always find it easy to believe.

This is what Paul affirms and confirms:

God is the Creator. He doesn’t need a building. He doesn’t need an altar. He needs nothing from us. As Creator he has given us life. Every breath you take comes from the Creator. Your ability to think, move, engage, build, sustain, investigate, create, motivate, and propagate all comes from the Creator.

God has put you where he wants you. Nations rise and fall at the plan of God. People come into this world at the time and place where God wants them to be. You live in 2021 because God wanted you to live in 2021. We can’t know all the reasons why he put you in the family he did. We can’t know why he let you live now versus 100 years ago or 100 years in the future. What we can know is that God put you where he wants you. And since he did, we can learn to be content and learn to trust him. This is what Paul says in verse 27.

To know God we must search for him. This is the one that presents the greatest challenge. God pursues us. He created us. He planned for us. He thought about us. But we must also pursue him. The ancient Greeks thought God was far away and uncaring. Verse 27, God is not far from every one of us. Reach out to him. Seek him. He pursues you. Turn and find him. The philosophers didn’t seek the gods; they sought their ease or they sought moral excellence. But either way they sought only what they wanted.

I am speaking to people who trust God. What are you doing to seek him? He is not far away. He is here even now. How do you let a person know that you are pursuing them? We go after what is important to us. Seek God. Find in him the assurance and confidence to go out and take a leaf with you and explain the Creator.

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