St Paul in Wrexham
Reflection on Acts 17.22-31
If St Paul were to walk through the streets of Wrexham, I wonder what he would notice. When he came to Athens, Luke tells us that he was “deeply distressed to see that the city was full of idols.” The worship of stone or brass images was common in the ancient world, but alien and upsetting to anyone who lived according to the ten commandments. “You shall not make for yourself an idol” says God to the Israelites in the desert. Their worship was to be different from that of Egypt, the country they had just left, with its multiple deities. “you shall have no other gods before me.” This was the faith that Paul had been schooled in; he was disturbed by what he saw in Athens.
When we are disturbed or distressed by the views or the beliefs of others, what do we do? Sometimes we abuse them; perhaps Paul should have started to tear these idols down, demonstrating that they were false. Sometimes we ignore people we disagree with, not wanting to get into an argument; so Paul could have brushed the dust of Athens off his feet, leaving the people to the judgment of God. I wonder how often we are willing to engage in dialogue with others, wanting to understand them as well as sharing with them our own perspective?
If St Paul were to walk through the streets of Wrexham, he would undoubtedly notice a degree of material wealth which would dazzle him, even in a town that is not hugely privileged. He might notice our places of worship but he would also see the cinema, the bingo hall, the night clubs and restaurants, the shops, the football club, the car dealerships and the great god B&Q. Much of this would echo what he saw in Athens; and some of it would look to him like idols, things to be worshipped as much as things to be owned. If he happened to be walking through town on a normal Sunday morning, he might see the worship of chariots at the car wash as well as the worship of fashion in the clothes shops – but maybe not at the moment.
Western materialism is being challenged by the current pandemic and it is interesting to hear people say that we might now live a simpler life, with a more environmentally sensitive attitude, valuing people and green spaces above manufactured goods and holiday destinations. I wonder how much will change and how we will look back at this time in two, three or ten years’ time.
Paul’s approach, when he comes to the site of the ancient court in Athens, is to make a connection with the culture of the city he is visiting, not to directly challenge it. He sees that the Athenians are “extremely religious”; the proliferation of places of worship suggests to him that people are looking for a focus for their worship. They have tried so many gods that they even have an altar dedicated “To an unknown god.” They are willing to give anything a go. Paul’s approach to them is compassionate; he sees that they are spiritually hungry. He recognises that there is a human search for God – and people “perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’”
Paul assumes that there is one God – but people in different places and different cultures are looking for God in different ways. Everyone has God close to them – but they don’t always recognise him.
As we are confined to our homes, it is good to be reminded that God is with each one of us. It is good to remember, with St John, that “those who live in love, live in God.” We can give thanks to God for all that he has created, for the beauty of our world but also for the beauty of its people. The good things that are emerging in communities, in families and in individuals during this time of trauma in our world, these arise because that is how God has created us – to be loving and compassionate, working for the good of others. Thank God that so many people are experiencing this at the moment.
But the story that Paul shares, whilst it is common to humanity, is also specific; he points them to Jesus. “What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.” He tells the story of a creator God who will also call us to account – and the story of a man appointed by God who was raised from the dead, demonstrating God’s victory over even the greatest enemy.
If Paul were to walk through the streets of Wrexham, he would notice the signs that people have not yet given up on God or given up on good. But he would remind us that we would not be here if we did not have a creator, that God has given us a way to live which is enshrined in ancient commandments but which was embodied in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Paul would call us, and the people of Wrexham and beyond, to a new normal that was guided by faith in God and inspired by the teaching of Jesus. He would warn us that we can’t continue to live as if we are gods – and that we will be measured for the love that we have shown for others.
Our love for one another will be shown in acts of service, some of which are greatly to be admired at this time of crisis. Our love will be shown in acts of kindness, which bring joy to those around us, a light in the darkness. But our love will also be shown as we point people to the one true light – Jesus, the son of God, who we worship as the one who is, and was, and is to come. May he be praised and may our lives be changed.