God Unknown?

Today’s Epistle describes St Paul speaking at the Aereopagus, near the Parthenon in Athens. I hope it doesn’t remind us too much today that we are unlikely to have holidays in other countries this year.

Athens is a fascinating place which is well worth visiting. There is so much history there, and it has influenced Western civilisation in art, philosophy and religion. Of course, if you wish to see some antiquities from the Parthenon you don’t need to go there, merely wait until the British Museum re-opens (as one day it must, surely soon) and view the Elgin Marbles.

To walk to the Parthenon now you probably need to walk through the “lively Plaka district” which is an area of restaurants and shops which provides a great deal of entertainment, often promoting bouzouki music, loud. It is cosmopolitan and in Paul’s day the city must have been similarly dedicated to education and entertainment. Paul sees the many shrines and altars in the city and among the many lifestyles and attitudes of the people of his time he begins to speak about Jesus.

Paul notices the Altar to the Unknown God. The Greeks were very concerned about belief and left an open option for a deity which they had yet to identify. Paul knows just how to use that, like any preacher worth their salt. He tells them clearly the new Christian concept that God has been waiting and has now revealed himself supremely in his Son, Jesus, who came among humanity and laid down his life for all people to bring the hope of newness and resurrection. What strikes me about this situation is that it is another picture of Paul’s confidence and sheer courage. Speaking of an unknown faith could have got him into serious trouble in Athens, just as it did elsewhere.

We have a situation today where there are no public altars in our town squares (though Hertford can become more lively than the Plaka district at the weekends). But we do have a largely Unknown God. Many people no longer seem to have the background and upbringing to begin to relate to the idea of God in our modern times. God is summarily dismissed as belonging to a past, unscientific age. And having a good time is so often seen as the main purpose of life. Challenging the existing zeitgeist takes courage and creativity today as it did for Paul in breaking through the Greek ideas of deities and their own wisdom to bring the centrality of love and hope of salvation. This remains the task today for the Church, to proclaim the faith in ways that speak to this generation, to have the courage and trust to stand up for Jesus in a changing world and to make his love and salvation known.

All my hope on God is founded; he doth still my trust renew,
me through change and chance he guideth, only good and only true.
God unknown, he alone, calls my heart to be his own.

Pride of man and earthly glory, sword and crown betray his trust;
what with care and toil he buildeth, tower and temple fall to dust.
But God's power, hour by hour, is my temple and my tower.

Still from man to God eternal, sacrifice of praise be done,
high above all praises praising for the gift of Christ, his Son.
Christ doth call one and all: ye who follow shall not fall.