"Preaching in the Twitter-verse" - Sermon for the Fifth Sunday of Easter

Preaching in the Twitter-verse
Easter 5 – Narrative Lectionary 4
April 29, 2018
Grace, Mankato, MN
Acts 17.16-31

There is much hand-wringing going on in our churches these days.  I call it “ecclesiastical angst.” It occurs at all levels from congregation to synod to denomination to Christianity at large. The landscape is well documented: declining church attendance, multiple scandals, a question of relevancy, young people ignoring the church in droves, and the rise of the “nones” as the largest growing religious category, those who don’t relate to any spiritual base. And then there are those who identify themselves as “spiritual, but not religious.” All these phenomena exist in a context of incredible religious and spiritual diversity mixed in a pot of rampant social media that make communication virtually instantaneous. Some dub this the “Twitter-verse.”

This news would be incredibly disheartening and overwhelming, except for one thing: the church of Christ has been here before. The apostle Paul is bringing the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection to the Gentiles, one of the three broad sweeps in the book of Acts. The story moves from Peter’s leadership to Paul’s proclamation; from a focus of proclamation to the Jews to that of Gentiles; and from a beginning in Jerusalem to an “ending” in Rome, signifying a spread of the gospel to the ends of the earth. Paul is not yet in Rome, but is now in Athens. The Romans may have conquered the known world, but it is Greek culture and philosophy, a mulligan’s stew of thought and religions, that has conquered culture. It’s not been easy for Paul as the former persecutor is now the persecuted. Paul had to leave Beroea because the internet trolls of the day, the Thessalonians, weren’t content with having him leave Thessalonica. They just couldn’t let go of him and his message.

But Paul faces a different challenge in Athens: a group who are ignorant of Jesus and skeptical of what Paul is telling them, yet also inquisitive as to this “new thing.” Paul’s strategy in proclaiming God’s love Jesus is unique but something we can learn from as we seek to preach in the age of the Twitter-verse. First, Paul meets the Athenians where they are, both literally and figuratively. Although he starts in his usual place, in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearers, he quickly moves to in the marketplace and subsequently the Areopagus, a central meeting place. Although he’s distressed by all of the idols he sees, Paul connects with them by complimenting them on how religious they are and even cites an altar to an unknown god as proof that they want to know God.

Second, Paul talks their language, again both literally and figuratively. Paul has been taught Greek culture and philosophy so he uses terms they are familiar with to talk about God. In fact, he quotes their own philosophers when he talks about the God in whom we live and move and have our being. This unknown god of theirs is in fact the creator of the universe who not only made all things, but doesn’t need anything made by human hands. Paul doesn’t throw scripture at them or lead them through the four spiritual laws to a Jesus prayer. Rather, he speaks to their natural curiosity about their role in the universe and meaning of life.

Finally, Paul makes an invitation to them to make changes in their lives, not based on new knowledge but rather based on a relationship with God, one that he is modeling for them. Remember that the Greek word for repentance means to change one’s mind, to turn around and go the other way. Repentance for them doesn’t mean the same thing as it does for us; it means to change their lives. Paul won’t force them, manipulate them, berate them or shame them; he’ll simply invite them into a new life. Some of them will scoff and reject, some will want to know more, and some will come to faith.

I think Paul has a strategy for us as we share our faith in a multicultural and often indifferent world, the world of the Twitter-verse. It’s important to respect where people are and meet them there, asking questions about their journey. And when we do meet them, talk in a way that uses language that’s understandable and meaningful to them. Then we issue an invitation to worship with us or engage in the life of faith that seems appropriate, trusting God to work in them to respond. For his internship project, Vicar John is going to work on outreach into our community and I hope you will help him. It’s not easy, but it’s not complicated either. Amen.