Acts 17:22 KJV: Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars Hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
I can’t believe that I have had the privilege to write for Historic Union County for over two years. Our first article was published on Dec. 12, 2017. I say “our” because were it not for the publishers of HUC, I would not have this platform to share what I have learned about life and the Bible. In truth, the publishers twisted my arm to get me to write for this paper. One of the principal publishers of this paper is the most doggedly determined person I have ever known. The co-publisher of this paper and former editor is one of the most supportive people I have ever met. To both of them, I say thank you!
For our new readers and for longtime followers, let me remind us all together that these articles for this printed paper and the online version at www.historicunioncounty.com are about “rightly dividing the word of truth” (see 2 Timothy 2:15). If interested, you can find our very first article at https://www.historicunioncounty.com/article/rightly-dividing-word-truth . That being said, our goal is to teach others how to better understand the Bible, just as we have been taught. Over the last couple of years, I have learned a few things from writing these articles, not the least of which is to keep them as short as possible!
So how does our article title relate to Acts 17:22 and New Year’s resolutions? Well, for starters, the celebration of the new year is steeped in tradition. In my family, according to tradition, eating collard greens, black-eyed peas and hog jowls on New Year’s Day will bring prosperity and good luck in the coming year.
Many citizens of the United States believe that kissing a loved one as the clock strikes midnight will ensure those feelings continue for the remainder of the year. Most people don’t realize that blowing noise makers, horns or ringing bells at midnight originated from a belief that the noise would scare off evil spirits for the coming year. These traditions and others are all based on superstition.
The leaders which Paul spoke to on Mars Hill nearly 2,000 years ago in Athens were very educated, progressive people. The text plainly tells us many of them where philosophers, the leading thinkers of their time.
Yet these enlightened individuals allowed the common people to live in ignorance by encouraging idol worship, thereby promoting ancient superstitions. All of this manifested itself by the selling of idols in the markets, which provided false hope. An idol can be anything, but it is usually typified by something made by man’s own hands.
In Acts 17:22, when Paul says to the Athenian leaders that they are “too superstitious,” he is actually insulting them in order to get a response to his preaching of Christ. FYI: “too” is a synonym for “also”, which is the basis for Paul’s jab at these arrogant leaders. The insult is that these supposedly wise philosophers are also superstitious like the uneducated people they are duping into serving them.
In Paul’s letter to the Romans he bluntly told those intellectuals the same thing when he said; “Professing themselves to be wise they became fools...”. By promoting superstition and teaching false principals, one class of people can gain dominance over a less educated class of people.
Knowledge is key to equality among men. When we obtain the knowledge of the truth, we can be set free from bondage. The truth is that Jesus died and was resurrected so that lost sinners might find joy in the blessed hope that we too can be raised to eternal life through Christ Jesus.
There is nothing wrong with resolutions, especially if you can keep them. There is nothing wrong with traditions—properly applied tradition can bind us together. Therefore, by the power of Jesus I resolve to tell more people about his resurrection this year.
Will you tell more people this year about the power of the Gospel?
Philippians 4:13