Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-10
St. Paul at Athens
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD W. TOMI<INS.
Text; Acts xvii. 1881.

l'aul' TO read the twenty seventh chap
ter in which the gifted English writer
pictures Athens ana st. paul's expert
cnccs there This great Greek city
was the center Of art and literature.
rivhlcd by Corinth only in athletics.
Although when St Paul visited il
Athens was under the control Of the
Roman Empire. yet IL stll retained It's
beauty, and the people worshipcd art
and were carried away by the tcmp,a-
tions which art always brings when
separated from Christianity. There
were two great bodies Of philosophers
there. called the Epicurcans ana the
Stoics The Epicurcans worshipcd
pleasure, and the StoiCs worshipcd self
control In both cases the philOsophics
had practically led the people into all
sorts of sin. The placc where Epi-
Gurus taught what was at first thought
a reasonable philosophy, had become
den Of vice; and the truth which Xcno
taught had become excuse for
suicide.
Everywhere Paul saw tho most beau
tiful works of art ana the most Won
dcrful buildings.
But tho people were carried away
with the desire for something new.
Restless In their lives. ana caring little
even for their heather religion save
as represented by their gods ana god
desses, they had little thought for
truth or goodness, and. indeed. had al
most dcspared Of anything worthy.
Lot us cat and drink. for tomorrow
we die cried many Of them. follow
Ing tho philosophy Of EpicurUs. Let
us take things as they arc. and when
wo get tired Of lie. end it," cried the
Etoics. Into this strange atmosphere
came Paul. He had journeycd from
Bcroea. accompanied by some friends
who saw him safeiy landed, and then,
having sent for Silas and Tmothcus TO
como TO him. nc began his lonely
Ci. iS
loneliness so great as that which fails
to find God in tho hearts and lives OF
people. No comforts OF life, no luxury.
no strength Of conviction. can make UP
for the emptiness of world where
God is not worsh!pcd.
INDIFFERENCE 70 RELIGION
FOUND IN GREAT CITIES
ST. Paurs faith never weakened, but
his heart sank MS he saw these foolish
people carried away by their dolatry.
wond9r II we fee! tho same way when
we sec in great cities SO much in
dinerenoy to religious things, or when
We find lsrra country districts where
people never. go to church? This is a
loneliness inGscC, Wa,..'I proves that
We love God, but which is akin 10 the
pain which Christ suffered whom Iic
said. "Yo VIII not como unto Me that
ye might have lifc.' We must d. all
We can. urging and praying, 70 bring
people to God We must rcnliz" the
danger Of any earthly philosophy which
leaves God out OF it's thought, and or
beauty which is simply sensuous. and
know that true happiness can only
come where one .ervcs God and tries
TO do His Will.
Again ST. Paul entered into tho syna-
EoEuc. for there were some Jews in
Athens; and MISC hc talked, ns was
quite customary in Athens. in the mar
hct place and gathered about him a
few who Were Interested In his
strange teaching" He preached Jesus
and tho Resurrection. They had never
heard Of Jesus christ, and at the story
OF the Resurrection they simply
Knocked. Thcn thinking that they
might discover something now 10 sat
isfy their faded senses, they brought
him TO Mars ii!ll. and told him To toll
them what his doctrine was. Tho pic
ture is suggestive one: Paul, stand
ing in the very center cf refined and
intellectual heathen!sm and telling the
old. old story,
But that story IS never out Of place
Wherever II is told it Will touch some
hearts. and il has soothing message
when sinners listen and weary souls.
heavy in despair. cry out for hclp.
There Is no finer picture in all tho
New Testament history after the death
OF Christ. than this or Paul preaching
on Mars H!ll We ought 10 prcacn
the Gospel more than we do in public.
is no reason why VIC should hide
Christianity or hid" our worship, or
refrain from warning people concern
ing SIN No hin is too prominent. no
hall too glorious for the Gospel story
TO be told there.
SHOWED HIS WISDOM
AND FEARLESSNESs
The way III which ST, Paul began his
message shows at once his wisdom and
his fcarlcssncss. II" spoke of finding
an altar bearing the inscription, ITO
tho Unknown God" 81 have come" he
said. ito tell YOU about this God whom
you do not know: for He not only made
the world. but He sent His Son TO tel
US or His love, 10 die that our sins
might be forgiven. and TO rise again
that we might know there is life be-
yord the grave" IN those few verses
(Acts xvii 22-3D we nave n wonderful
condensation OF the whole story of
Christianity. They may well be studied
word by word. Many Of the sentences
have become a part OF our religious
life; for instance: God hath made ~f
one blood all nations OF men for to
dwell on all the face of the earth;
Though He be not far from every one
Of US; God hath appointed day in
winch He VIII judge tho world"
Can we not imagine st. Pauls voice
ringing out and see the amazcmcnt of
the people at his seeming audacity in
they boosted that they knew all there
was to know? Doubtless 81 Paul
thought it was harder to convert the
educated AthcnianS than To deal with
the widest people whom he hal met.
Alas! it is so to-day. The pride of i'm
tellcct builds barrier which it is diff
fcult to break down. Education ought
TO lead us to God, but in many cases.
alas! because ii is partial and not COM
pletc, education blinds our eyes and
hardenS our hearts. There was Il
pathos in our Lords cry, as we read
between the lines, Thou hast hidden
these things from the wise and prudent.
and hast revealed them unto babes"
When st. Paul spoke Of the Rcsurrcc-
ton, at once there began 10 be Il little
tumult. People began 10 laugh and to
mock and some OF them to threaten.
There 10 an Easter carol which we
OFTEN sing IN the church where | am
privileged to be a minister called "St.
(aul at Athens" Let me quote a verse
"r two. as telling the story. very
graphically:
While he spako nEainst their gods