Title: The Unknown God / Acts 17:22-25
Acts 17:22-25
Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus court and said: “Citizens of Athens, I see, you are religious in every way. As I went and looked at the objects of your worship, I saw an altar inscribed with 'To an unknown God. I will tell you the object of worship. The God who made the universe and everything in it is Lord of heaven and earth, and therefore does not dwell in temples built with human hands. He is not served with hands, but He is the One who gives to all life and breath and all things.
Isaiah 45:5-7
"I am the Lord. There is no one else but me. There is no other god but me. Even though you did not know me, I will give you the power you need. So that people will, wherever the sun rises and where the sun goes down, I I will let you know that there is no other god. I am the Lord. There is no one else but me. I make light and create darkness, give peace and cause calamity. I, the Lord, do all these things."
John 14:15-17
You will love me and keep my commandments. I will save my father. Then the Father will send you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. Because the world neither sees nor knows him, it cannot receive him. But you know him. Because he is with you and he is in you.
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The torrential rains that fell on Mt. Jiris did not find and recover all the bodies that were devastated. However, the torrential rains over the past few days have resulted in 218 lives and enormous property losses. Truly, we feel the powerlessness of humans in front of the power of nature, and we only come to realize that humans are only fragile creatures like grasshoppers in the nature of the universe. In particular, last week was not able to deeply mourn the pain that felt like tearing the intestines of the victims' families who were grieving over the loss of their loved ones, their young children, their families, their wives, husbands, or elderly parents due to this disaster. We repent of our dullness of heart. When I think that the body of my kin, who was sacrificed in the heavy rain, has not yet been properly collected and is decomposing in the muddy water of the river or in the mud, what should the Sunday sermon say in front of this reality? ?
In the first text, Acts 17:23, the phrase 'to an unknown God' is found. In human religious life, we find the divine absolute, partly experience it, worship it, and live while explaining the object of worship through doctrine or theology, but in essence, the 'ultimate reality of the universe' cannot be fully elucidated. It means that there is always an 'unknown dimension'. In fact, when we think about it, what kind of God could a God who no longer has any mystery to us? If a God can explain the power, majesty, height, and depth of that incomprehensible divine attribute with human brain and words, then it is a God who controls the human head as he pleases. A human being possessed would be a greater being than a numbered god.
Today, about 1950 years ago, the apostle Paul, who reached Athens, the center of intellect and philosophy, carrying the gospel of the cross and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth in Galilee, was arrested and taken to the Areopagus court for trial I read some of the Japanese speeches he gave as the main text. On the Areopago hill near the Acropolis Hill, which tourists pass by without much interest, there was a civil court that adjudicated citizens' lawsuits. As a free city-state, it gave them an opportunity to express themselves as much as they could before condemning all new theories and beliefs. Paul stood in the court court built somewhere on the Areopagus hill and expressed the contents of Acts 17:22-31, which we read today. The faith and courage of Paul, who preached the intention of the gospel of Christ, did not shrink in the slightest despite the Parthenon standing in the distance, as if daunting in the midst of dozens of Epicurians, Stoic scholars, and Athenian intellectuals stopping by. I remember.
To those who are heartbroken after losing their loved children, brothers, couples, parents and friends in the muddy waters and graves in a disaster, and to those who are lost in a flood after washing their fortunes, silent comfort and donations are collected to help them recover even a little Let's encourage courage. That is the voice of the 'unknown God' whispering within us.