Posted by
Charles Robert Zierle on Thursday, July 20, 2006 12:41:41 AM
The Apostle Paul makes an unexpected stop during one of his trips. Whereas certain adversarial Jews from Thessalonica were stirring up trouble for Paul in the town of Berea, he was conducted on ahead by the saints to Athens, Greec"e, and there, he awaited he two friends, Silas and Timothy.
Paul waited for them at a place called the "Areopagus" = "The Rock of Ares" a Greek deity of war. The marketplace or "agora" was the place Paul always chose to take his message. Dr. Luke states, "For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spend their time in nother else but either to tell or to hear some new thing." (Acts 17:21)
As much as things have changed, they have remained the same. Today, our world is literally on the precipice of something huge, eternal. We, as a global community are coming face to face with a monumental paradiagm shift. I envision that our world maps, and many other things may look quite different in the next decade or two.
I once heard Mr. Bill O'Reilly say, "There is a silence in the pulpits of America." I believe Mr. "O" was issuing a challenge to the preachers of our country.
There are two reasons for the perceived "silence" as I see it. I will present my reasons, attempt to offer facts in support of my thesis, and then hopefully offer some solutions,
1. Stereo-types Are Hard To Overcome The left-wing, media has succeeded in engraving the ridiculous images of preachers, christians, and people of faith. These range from the fanatical, out of touch iamge of Flanders on "The Simpsons", to the money grubbing, info-mercial, tel-evangelist. Say the word "evangelical Christian" and many have the mental image of a gay hating, card carrying member of the N.R.A. Couple that with those who the media constantly turns to for comments at points of crisis, Jerry Fallwell, Pat Robertson, Al Sharpton, & Jesse Jackson. Once in a while if they want a true answer they'll call on Billy or Fanklin Graham. But for the most part, they turn to the most outspoken and extreme to respresent the large tent called "Christendom". Haven't we always been taught that prejudice and ignorance is wrong. Perhaps, the church has done a little bit of reaping some of the superficial judgment we have been sowing.
2. Fear of Retaliation - History has shown us that those who would step to the center and grapple with the issues of their day will always encounter opposition. There is a price to be paid for speaking the truth. Few are willing to make themselves vulnerable, or to lose their place in ministry, or in their career. The opponents of truth can be relentless, ruthless, and cruel in their attacks. We know that they frequently leave the issue on the table and search for some "skeleton in the closet" which will marginalize the messanger. Yet, who among us is perfect. Here is the great enigma: "A Perfect God has prepared a perfect message and has entrusted it to be delivered and shared by imperfect, weak, vulnerable men!"
Paul did not shrink from the intellectual, theological, or moral issues of his day - neither should we. The Town Hall is a great "Aeropagus" a place for the free exchange of ideas. It is my hope and prayer to begin to add the voice of my pen in order to add a little noice to the "Sound of Silence."
"And the Silence says the words of the Prophets are written on the subway walls,
and tennement halls,
Echos the Sound of Silence!"
Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel
Charles Robert Zierle