Engaging emerging youth today...Walt Mueller provides excellent insights:
· I particularly like this author's study in chapter nine regarding Paul’s Mars Hill Ministry in Acts 17:16-34 and its application to today’s youth, with similarities that are astonishing.
· As Mueller points out, the messenger is Paul, the place is Athens, the audience is educated pagans, and the method Paul uses to encounter the Athenians is by engaging the pagan world.
· Mueller notes that Paul does not compromise his holiness by being in this polytheistic culture, he isn’t indifferent to the idolatry but rather he is very distressed because of his deep love for Christ and his deep concern for the Athenians.
· “Because of their philosophic frame of reference, both the Epicureans and Stoics react against Paul and his teachings. Their worldviews are so antibiblical that what Paul is telling them is foreign, alien and ultimately revolting.” (205)
· Mueller also points out that the Epicureans were “feeling-oriented” and the Stoics were the rationalists and thinkers of Athens. “Each bears striking similarities to the way many contemporary postmoderns live and think today.” (204)
· We can learn a great deal from Paul’s ministry. Even with the Athenians reactions to Paul, we might think he would be rejected. “But the fact that he has come to them, met them on their own turf, and engaged them at the level of their interests and ideas sets the stage for something amazing to happen.” (206) He leaves them intrigued and wanting to know more.
· Paul addresses them by using statements they could relate to and affirms their beliefs (although misdirected beliefs.) But he doesn’t insult them. “Paul’s cross-cultural approach adapts the unchanging Word without compromise so it can be heard in the Athenian context.” (208)
· “As Paul stands before the gathering of the Areopagus, his opening comments indicate clearly that he not only knows what the Athenians believe, but he also knows their manner and format for discussing their ideas. In our contemporary postmodern situation it is our responsibility as crosscultural missionaries to enter into a discussion of their ideas, in their world, in their manner, but only after we’ve taken the time to be informed and educated on their philosophy, worldview, allegiances and other cultural nuances. Paul addresses their ignorance by telling them about the true God who can be known.” (208) (Emphasis mine.)
· “In a masterful way Paul finds common ground between the truth about the one true God and Epicurean and Stoic philosophy. He corrects their errors by using their own teachings that resonate with biblical truth.” (209)
· Eventually, “Paul calls them to turn away from their idols to the one true God, who will no longer overlook their sin.” (212) “
· “Paul’s message provides a powerful example of how to engage the emerging postmodern generations with a crosscultural apologetic.” (212) “The ancient Mars Hill ministry model is unquestionably suited for our times. It offers the church an approach for infiltrating, understanding and transforming culture with good news.” (215)
· As Mueller helps us to understand this ministry example can help us strengthen and deepen our work in the mission field of youth today, provides us a framework and model for living out the Truth and engaging the culture with “an eye toward effective crosscultural ministry.” (216)
· In this blog I cannot possibly list out all the question we may want to ask members of the emerging generation, but I highly recommend you read this book and look through these questions (217-233)….they are certainly worth the price of admission!
· I particularly like this author's study in chapter nine regarding Paul’s Mars Hill Ministry in Acts 17:16-34 and its application to today’s youth, with similarities that are astonishing.
· As Mueller points out, the messenger is Paul, the place is Athens, the audience is educated pagans, and the method Paul uses to encounter the Athenians is by engaging the pagan world.
· Mueller notes that Paul does not compromise his holiness by being in this polytheistic culture, he isn’t indifferent to the idolatry but rather he is very distressed because of his deep love for Christ and his deep concern for the Athenians.
· “Because of their philosophic frame of reference, both the Epicureans and Stoics react against Paul and his teachings. Their worldviews are so antibiblical that what Paul is telling them is foreign, alien and ultimately revolting.” (205)
· Mueller also points out that the Epicureans were “feeling-oriented” and the Stoics were the rationalists and thinkers of Athens. “Each bears striking similarities to the way many contemporary postmoderns live and think today.” (204)
· We can learn a great deal from Paul’s ministry. Even with the Athenians reactions to Paul, we might think he would be rejected. “But the fact that he has come to them, met them on their own turf, and engaged them at the level of their interests and ideas sets the stage for something amazing to happen.” (206) He leaves them intrigued and wanting to know more.
· Paul addresses them by using statements they could relate to and affirms their beliefs (although misdirected beliefs.) But he doesn’t insult them. “Paul’s cross-cultural approach adapts the unchanging Word without compromise so it can be heard in the Athenian context.” (208)
· “As Paul stands before the gathering of the Areopagus, his opening comments indicate clearly that he not only knows what the Athenians believe, but he also knows their manner and format for discussing their ideas. In our contemporary postmodern situation it is our responsibility as crosscultural missionaries to enter into a discussion of their ideas, in their world, in their manner, but only after we’ve taken the time to be informed and educated on their philosophy, worldview, allegiances and other cultural nuances. Paul addresses their ignorance by telling them about the true God who can be known.” (208) (Emphasis mine.)
· “In a masterful way Paul finds common ground between the truth about the one true God and Epicurean and Stoic philosophy. He corrects their errors by using their own teachings that resonate with biblical truth.” (209)
· Eventually, “Paul calls them to turn away from their idols to the one true God, who will no longer overlook their sin.” (212) “
· “Paul’s message provides a powerful example of how to engage the emerging postmodern generations with a crosscultural apologetic.” (212) “The ancient Mars Hill ministry model is unquestionably suited for our times. It offers the church an approach for infiltrating, understanding and transforming culture with good news.” (215)
· As Mueller helps us to understand this ministry example can help us strengthen and deepen our work in the mission field of youth today, provides us a framework and model for living out the Truth and engaging the culture with “an eye toward effective crosscultural ministry.” (216)
· In this blog I cannot possibly list out all the question we may want to ask members of the emerging generation, but I highly recommend you read this book and look through these questions (217-233)….they are certainly worth the price of admission!
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