Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present. And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. – Acts 17:16-21

In a recent Facebook post I read (yes, I still regularly look at and comment on Facebook) amongst the numerous accolades that have surfaced on my feed following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, there was one rather snide comment implying that God doesn’t need us to go around debating unbelievers. 
It was only after I had scrolled on that my thoughts returned to the subject. It is both true and untrue. It is true that the God who brought the universe into existence is not dependent on us debating unbelievers to prove his existence, but he does call us to go out and tell people about him, in order to open their eyes to the truth of his existence because, as those of us who know his son Jesus can testify, being in relationship with the living God is totally life transforming. 
So much so that his followers, Christian believers, have been engaging in debate with unbelievers for the last 2000 years. Take Paul, in the passage I quoted from Acts 17. He engaged in debate in every town he visited during his three long missionary journeys throughout Asia Minor. Athens was no exception, and the Athenians clearly were open to debate. This debate is largely how the Church spread, sharing the Word of God and demonstrating the love of God.
When I was at Art College in the early 1970’s I probably spent more time ‘debating’ than creating Art. Politics, Religion, you name it, we debated it. In the intervening years, and accelerating in the last decade or so, there is less and less room for debate, only for the spreading of one prevailing opinion or narrative. This is saddening because it means that people are less open to new ideas, less able to think for themselves, and certainly less able to think outside the box.
Christianity remains outside the box. How can you even attempt to put God in a box? I think we need to learn from the example of the Greek philosopher’s here, because although the message of Jesus and his resurrection is not new in itself, it is new to each new generation, and needs to be preached anew. Christianity is not something to absorb by osmosis, because we live in what was once a ‘Christian’ country. This is how faith flounders. The flame of faith must be renewed in the heart of each and every individual, and it WILL be ignited for everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
Sharing our faith, sharing Jesus, is still the calling given to each believer. And it was given by Jesus himself. I share here the Amplified Bible’s version of Matthew 28:19, because it amplifies it in a very helpful way!
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
The only way to do that is to fearlessly preach Jesus. Yes, some will call us crazy, but that is nothing new. Paul was called an “idle babbler”. But at least the Athenians wanted to know more, and to understand the meaning of what Paul was proclaiming. We need to pray for today’s church to be more courageous in preaching Jesus and for the ears (and minds) of our listeners to be opened and ready to hear.
As it says in Romans 14:14
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
With love in Jesus,
Sarah
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