Evan 101: A Study in Sharing Jesus With Pluralists (Acts 17:7; 1 Thess. 1:9)

I’m half-way through a book by John Ortberg called Who Is This Man? The Unpredictable Impact of the Inescapable Jesus.[i]  The thesis of the book is stated in the first paragraph of the first chapter.  Ortberg writes that, “[Jesus’] impact on human history has been unparalleled.”  The book contains evidence after evidence of the ways in which Jesus has radically impacted history.  For example, Ortberg cites the cities on the map which have been named after prominent followers of Jesus, like San Francisco.  He discusses how our calendar hinges on Christ, being divided between the era before Christ’s birth and the era after Christ’s death.  Ortberg shows how society’s view of children has been profoundly changed by Jesus and his followers.  He discusses how Jesus’ treatment of women ushered in a paradigm shift regarding the value and role of women.  Ortberg shows how Jesus’ emphasis on the mind and his followers’ focus on learning led to the establishment of schools and universities around the world.  He reveals how Jesus’ teaching undergirds many of the constitutions and laws of the land.  Ortberg indicates that Jesus is the one responsible for making humility a desired trait when it was once considered undesirable.  He discloses how Jesus’ movement led to the development of hospitals and charities across the globe.  To summarize, Ortberg quotes Yale historian Jaroslav Pelikan: “If it were possible, with some sort of super magnet, to pull up out of the history every scrap of metal bearing at least a trace of his name, how much would be left?”[ii]  Jesus’ impact is unparalleled. 

 

It’s true not only for history.  It’s true for humans—like you and me.  Consider the unparalleled impact of Jesus’ on your life.  Jesus has changed how I view myself and my mission in the world.  Jesus has changed the way I view others.  My job and my career have come from Jesus.  My choice of a wife was influenced by Jesus.  The way Kendra and I raise Jordan and Jacob is dictated by Jesus.  Our philosophy toward money and resources comes from Jesus.  Our move from New Mexico to Tennessee was driven by the belief that Jesus was calling for the move.  The bracelet and necklace I wear have significance that comes from Jesus.  I can endure suffering because of Jesus.  I don’t have to fear death because of Jesus.  I get to anticipate heaven because of Jesus.  Jesus’ impact on my life is unparalleled.  There’s hardly anything in my life that doesn’t have Jesus’ fingerprints all over it—where I live, where I work, the words I speak, the books I read, the books I write, our budget, etc.  If it were possible, with some sort of super magnet, to pull up out of the history of my life every scrap of metal bearing at least a trace of Jesus’ name, not much of my life would be left.  Jesus’ impact on my life is unparalleled.  How about an “Amen!” if the same is true for you?

 

Now, consider this: none of Jesus’ impact—in history or among humans—would have been possible without one thing.  What is that one thing?  Evangelism.  Jesus’ unparalleled impact is made possible by evangelism.  All of the art, music, hospitals, charities, schools and paradigm shifts made possible by Christianity would never have happened if the only people who ever knew of Jesus were those first generation Christians.  It was the passing down from generation to generation of the Christian way and Jesus’ message which made Jesus’ impact on history possible.  And it was the passing down from generation to generation of the Christian way and Jesus’ message which made Jesus’ impact on you possible.  All of the positive things in your life brought by Jesus would not have happened without someone sharing Jesus with you.  Jesus could make an unparalleled impact in your life because someone evangelized.

 

Matthew Parris is a writer for the London “Times.”  He is an award-winning author.  And he is a firm atheist.  He has deep convictions about the non-existence of God.  Parris grew up in Africa.  He returned recently to cover a nongovernmental development organization for the Times.  He writes this astonishing statement:[iii] “Travelling in Malawi refreshed [a] belief…I’ve been trying to banish all my life, but an observation I’ve been unable to avoid since my African childhood. It confounds my ideological beliefs, stubbornly refuses to fit my world view, and has embarrassed my growing belief that there is no God…Now a confirmed atheist, I’ve become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people’s hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.”  Even an atheist can see that Jesus and Christianity have had an unparalleled impact in Africa.  They’ve been able to do what no one else could.  And even an atheist can see that impact was made possible by one thing: evangelism.  Jesus’ unparalleled impact is made possible by evangelism.

 

Jesus could impact me because Gary Cox evangelized me.  This high school senior shared Jesus with me when I was a sophomore and my life was forever changed.  For some of you it was a coach or a teacher.  For others it was a youth minister or a preacher.  For still others it was a parent or a sibling.  But every person here this morning who’s been impacted by Jesus was impacted because someone evangelized you.  Jesus’ unparalleled impact is made possible by evangelism.

 

We find a remarkable confirmation of this in the Bible in an ancient city called Thessalonica.  Luke, a Christian doctor and historian, writes about Paul, Silas and Timothy who told people in Thessalonica about Jesus.  We find Luke’s account in Acts 16-17.  Paul, one of those who evangelized in Thessalonica, later wrote his own account of what happened.  We find Paul’s record in 1 Thessalonians 1-2.

 

There are two qualities of the evangelism in Thessalonica recorded in Acts 16-17 and in 1 Thessalonians 1-2.  First, Thessalonica was the site of some of the earliest Christian evangelism.  Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is one of the first letters written in the New Testament.  1 Thessalonians may be the first letter written in the New Testament.  In fact, it may have been written within about twenty years of Jesus’ death.^[iv]  In this letter we read the earliest account of Christian evangelism in the Bible.

 

Not only was Thessalonica the site of some of the earliest Christian evangelism.  Second, it was the site of some of the most effective Christian evangelism.  Luke tells us in Acts that as a result of Paul’s evangelism in Thessalonica, “some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.” (Acts 17:4 ESV).  In fact, so many people turned to faith in Christ in Thessalonica that a power-hungry group of local leaders claimed Christians like Paul were “turning the world upside down” (Acts 17:6 ESV).  Can you imagine Highland become so effective at evangelism that city leaders in Memphis begin to accuse us to turning the world upside down?  And in 1 Thessalonians Paul describes how the new Christians in Thessalonica started sharing their faith with everyone in the region they lived in, called Macedonia and Achaia.  Paul writes, “For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere…” (1 Thess. 1:8 ESV).  Jesus was having an unparalleled impact on the Thessalonians because Paul, Silas and Timothy evangelized them.  And Jesus was having an unparalleled impact on people in Macedonian, Achaia and everywhere because the Thessalonians were evangelizing.  This is an early picture of some of the most effective evangelism ever recorded.  And that’s why we’re going to spend the next 6 weeks exploring this record.

 

One of the first things we notice about Paul’s evangelism in Thessalonica is that he shared Jesus with two different groups.  Luke focuses on one group in his record in Acts 16-17.  Paul focuses on the other group in his record in 1 Thessalonians 1-2.  Luke tells us in Acts that Paul shared Jesus with a group we’d call “monotheists.”  These were people who believed in one God—in fact they believed in the God of the Old Testament.  But they did not believe in Jesus as God’s Son.  So, Paul spent time trying to help them come to faith in Jesus.  Next Sunday Dr. Evertt Huffard from Harding School of Theology will join us to talk about how we can share Jesus with a group of monotheists today—Muslims.  Muslims believe in one God.  But they do not accept Jesus as God’s Son.  Next Sunday morning, Dr. Huffard, who grew up in the Middle East, will help us explore sharing Jesus with Muslims.

 

But there was another group Paul evangelized in Thessalonica.  Paul tells us about this group in his account in 1 Thessalonians: ⁹For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thess. 1:9-10 ESV).

 

Paul shared Jesus with a group of people who worshipped idols.  Notice they “turned to God from idols.”  We know there were many gods or idols worshipped in the Thessalonica.  There were groups who worshiped the god Serapis and the closely associated goddess Isis. Zeus appears on much of the money from Thessalonica and was worshipped there.  Other gods such as Asclepius, Aphrodite, Dionysus and Demeter were worshiped in Thessalonica.  On the west side of the city was a large gate welcoming visitors to the city.  On this gate were images of pagan gods who acted as guardians of Thessalonica.  In addition, worshippers in Thessalonica showed devotion to the goddess Roma and to the Roman Caesar who had a temple built to himself in Thessalonica and who was considered a god.^[v]

 

Thessalonica was filled with people we’d call pluralists.  They believed in many gods.  They followed numerous gods.  They bowed before a plurality of idols.  And while people certainly had strong preferences for one god or goddess over another, there was a sense in Thessalonica that so single deity could claim sole allegiance.  You had to respect and revere a plural number of gods and goddesses if you wanted to have a good life.  Thessalonica was filled with pluralists.

 

In many ways our culture is filled with pluralists.  Like Paul, we face the challenge of sharing Jesus with pluralists.  Stuart Ruch calls our culture’s approach “The Religion of Chipotle.”[vi]  Chipotle is a burrito bar where you can pick and choose whatever you want for your burrito.  This, Ruch says, is how most today approach religion.  They say, “I’ll have some of that evangelicalism. I like their energy and cultural adaptability. I like the regal nature of Roman Catholicism, and it seems kind of ancient, and I also need a little dab of mystery in my life—but not too much, please, because I also want to figure things out for myself. Give me a dash of Hinduism because I sure like that open-endedness; and if I’m a good person, I’ll be reincarnated in a higher life form. I like the calmness and detachment of Buddhism. But once again, give me just a small portion because I don’t want to quench all of my earthly desires. Wow, Islam has some seriousness and discipline. That would sure help me stay on track. I’ll put a little bit of that in there. Oh, but that judgment of God stuff—that’s too spicy. And that “Jesus is the only way to God” salsa—no, I don’t want to limit myself to that option.  Please keep that out.”  This is pluralism.

 

A recent study of Christian teenagers found that over 60% of them do not believe Jesus is the way to God.[vii]  He is a way.  But he is not the way.  And these are Christian teenagers.  But even for them, Jesus is one of many available.  This is pluralism.  Just like Paul, we face the challenge of sharing Jesus with pluralists.

 

Let’s look at how Paul handled pluralists in Thessalonica: ⁵  But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. ⁶ And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, ⁷ and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”  (Acts 17:5-7 ESV).  Notice how the enemies of Paul characterize Paul’s evangelism in Thessalonica: “they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”  There’s truth to that accusation.  Paul is accused of describing Jesus as the king.  Not a king.  The king.[viii]  The enemies use this to get Paul in trouble. They claim Paul is trying to take down Caesar, the “king” of the Roman Empire.  They are partially right.  Paul is trying to take down kings—all the kings which all the idol worshippers were following.  Paul came to Thessalonica to talk about Jesus as the one true king.  The one spiritual being worthy of being in charge of their life and their world.  The one spiritual being worthy of being the source of meaning in life.  Paul’s message in Thessalonica was essentially this: “Jesus reigns.  Jesus reigns over all other powers and if you’ll let him reign in your life, things will be so much better.”  Even among pluralists, our message is this: Jesus reigns.

 

Author Frank Viola writes about this text.[ix]  He says, “As a young Christian, I was taught that the gospel is a plan—”the plan of salvation.” Some Bible teachers used to frame that plan into “Four Spiritual Laws” and “The Romans Road.”  In the first-century Roman world, however, the word “gospel” was used to describe the announcement that a new emperor had taken the throne. “Heralds” would be “sent” throughout the Roman Empire to announce this “good news.”  Their message was, “We have a new emperor. His name is Tiberius Caesar, adjust your life and bow the knee.” …Consequently, when the apostles (“sent ones”) used the term “gospel” and declared that Jesus was now the Lord and Savior of the world, it was a direct affront to the Roman hierarchy, especially Caesar (see Acts 17:7, as an example)  In a pluralistic culture where there were many human and spiritual kings, Paul’s message was this: “I’ve got good news—we have a new king.  His name is Jesus.  There’s no better ruler than him.  Adjust your life and bow the knee.”

 

Listen to Paul’s description of his evangelism: ⁹For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God… (1 Thess. 1:9 ESV).  Notice that description: “living and true God.”  We can’t be sure, but it may be that Paul is alluding to an Old Testament text.  One of the only other places in the Bible where this phrase—“living and true God”—is used is in Jeremiah.  The prophet Jeremiah calls God “living and true.”  It comes in the context of a discussion of idols.  And it comes in the context of describing God as King:  ⁸ They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but wood!  ⁹ Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz.  They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith; their clothing is violet and purple; they are all the work of skilled men. ¹⁰ But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King (Jeremiah 10:8-10 ESV).  In a world of many gods, in a world of many idols, Jeremiah said, “God is the living and true God.  God is king.”  And in a city of many gods, in a city of many idols, Paul proclaimed, “God is the living and true God.  Jesus is king.”

 

And this is exactly the message needed in our pluralistic world.  What’s needed is not some new-fangled way of packaging Jesus so that he doesn’t offend pluralistic listeners.  What’s needed is not some cutting edge way of re-imagining Jesus as one who is a good choice but no better than other choices.  What’s needed is talk of Jesus as king.  What’s needed is a message that says “Jesus reigns.  Here’s the one who can give you what no other idol has ever given you.  Here’s the one who, if you let him, will bring peace as he rules your life.  Here’s the one who, if you let him, can restore and repair this broken world and use you to help.”

 

And this message is exactly what our pluralistic society needs because so many have bowed to the wrong king or the wrong idol.  In his book Counterfeit Gods New York author Timothy Keller writes about how money, sex and power have become the kings of this age, the idols to whom so many bow today.[x]  But a life lived under the rule of money or sex or power becomes broken and dark and terrifying.  What our culture needs is good news about a good king.  Good news about a good ruler.  Good news that says Jesus can rule our lives in a way that brings meaning and hope and purpose.

 

It is this message of Jesus as King that ultimately sets Christianity apart from all other faiths.  In King’s Cross Timothy Keller writes this: …there is an ancient Roman inscription from about the same time as Jesus and Mark.  It starts: “the beginning of the gospel of Caesar Augustus.”  It’s the story of the birth and coronation of the Roman emperor.  A gospel was news of some event that changed things in a meaningful way.  It could be an ascension to the throne, or it could be a victory.  When Greece was invaded by Persia and the Greeks won the great battles of Marathon and Solnus, they sent heralds (or evangelists) who proclaimed the good news to the cities: “We have fought for you, we have won, and now you’re no longer slaves; you’re free.”  A gospel is an announcement of something that has happened in history, something that’s been done for you that changes your status forever.  Right there you can see the difference between Christianity and all other religions, including no religion.  The essence of other religions is advice; Christianity is essential news.  That is the great difference between Christianity and world religions.  Christianity is not advice.  It’s not a plan.  It’s news.  It’s the news of the ascension of one god over all gods.  It’s the proclamation that Jesus reigns, that you’re now free, and your status has been forever changed.  It’s the announcement that all who wish to live under his benevolent rule may—no matter their race, their moral background, their religion or their age.  And when you share that news, when you evangelize, you make it possible for Jesus to have his unparalleled impact on one more person