Day 10 - Athens, Parthenon & Mars Hill

Last night we shared with the group about the impact of this remarkable Bible tour of Turkey and Greece.  What was evident to us was the impetus of the Holy Spirit that propelled Paul to evangelize to worldly, pagan cultures.  This same Spirit is present to us, to strengthen us in our mission in our everyday lives.  The evening’s sharing, the natural rising this morning, a traditional Greek breakfast, and a noon domestic flight from Thessaloniki to Athens all served to get us ready for the rest of our journey as we headed south in Greece.  

We were met at the airport by our new guide for our time in Athens. She is full of energy, personality, and an abundance of knowledge of ancient and modern Greece, and of first century Athens which Paul visited. Travelers have been drawn to this great city of numerous and magnificent pagan temples from ancient times till today. We trekked up to the Acropolis to stand in the shadow of the partially restored ruins of the famed Temple of Athena. Built using the Pythagorean Theorem to construct grand columns that are curved, narrower at the top, and leaning inward slightly, the Temple of Athena’s optical illusion makes it appear much larger than it is. From there we made our way halfway down from the Acropolis to the Areopagus, also known as Mars Hill. This outcropping of limestone rock overlooking the lower city is the site of Paul’s famous sermon to the Athenians about the “Unknown god.” 

Our leader and teacher, Dr. Craig Hill, read from Acts 17 and presented a teaching on this scripture. He reminded us that from the beginning of Paul’s missionary journeys, he knew his audience. He spoke to them by connecting with what they knew and understood—then Paul made the leap to God’s plan beingfulfilled in the resurrected Jesus who was both Lord and Messiah. To Jews he began with the Hebrew scriptures. In Athens, a city of philosophers and worshipers of multiple gods, he began by referencing their own poets, classics, and their altar to the unknow god. Then Paul announced that the God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth, and He does not live in temples made by human hands. Paul went on to proclaim that the One whom God has appointed was raised from the dead. 

Paul is a great model for evangelization.  He always found common ground with his listeners and used this to connect with them; then he launched with passion into the Good News. We would do well to imitate Paul in this method of evangelizing, by finding common ground, meeting people where they are, and then with conviction share the Gospel. Some will find it a stumbling block, some foolishness, some will become believers. God calls us to be present to the people in our lives on our own missionary journeys.  

Christine and Jack