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In Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
At that, Paul left the Council.
Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
Acts 17:30-31
This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
I think curiosity gets a bad rap sometimes.
We have even developed a widely used saying, “Curiosity killed the cat”, which places a negative connotation on the idea of being inquisitive. It’s like we are at risk if we wonder about something.
At its extreme, we find promoters of curiosity using this exhortation, “Question everything.” Those who that hold this life philosophy are skeptical about anything as being absolute truth without absolute proof. Obviously, this doesn’t marry up well with the Christian faith that espouses believers to have “confidence in what” they “hope for and assurance about what” they “do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).
So is curiosity appropriate for Christian believers or not?
I would say that it’s okay in moderation.
In other words, curiosity has its place for all Jesus believers as long as we don’t allow it to press the disbelief button on anything that God or His Son said. This would be the “question everything” crowd on steroids. They would refuse to believe unless they could see something was true much like Thomas refused to believe Jesus was really alive unless he could touch and feel his Savior’s crucifixion wounds. Validation would be demanded from God or Jesus before something could or would be accepted and we know this is a fool’s venture because no man or woman has the right to order God or Jesus to do anything.
So what is a proper application of curiosity?
It’s when we refuse to be close minded and accept the possibility of new learning and understanding because the Christian faith, and specifically the Word of God, will always challenge us to modify and reform our thinking towards the ways of our Lord. Curiosity allows the Jesus believer to receive and accept that the scriptures often move us beyond worldly established principles and conceptions to a place that is often diametrically opposed, a place where we so often find our Lord for His ways are not like the world’s ways.
So curiosity can be good and as we see in our final verses from Acts, chapter 17, not everyone allows their curiosity to bring them to a place of consideration when something is proposed counter to what they choose to believe.
In the passage, we read where the Apostle Paul had finished his message to the Areopagus, a message which he meticulously worked to make sure the Athenians knew the one true God, the Lord unknown to them as they chose to worship idols fashioned out of gold, silver, or stone. Paul’s speech ended with talk about God’s power to resurrect and how this power was on full display as He raised His only Son Jesus from the dead.
How was this received by Paul’s audience?
Some were close minded. The scriptures tell us they sneered about the whole idea that anyone could be brought back to life from the grave. There was an utter refusal to consider anything beyond what they had decided to believe.
Others, however, were curious. After hearing Paul speak, these people wanted to hear him again on the subject and while we don’t know the names of any of the resurrection naysayers, we are given some details on those who choose to believe and become “followers of Paul” which was the same as being followers of Jesus. The new believers included Dionysius, an Areopagus council member, a woman named Damaris, and “a number of others”.
So the response to Paul’s message was split. Some rejected it while others accepted it and desired to know more. I feel we see a similar response today as we continue to follow Jesus’ command to make disciples of all nations. As we share the Gospel, we have many people who listen and are curious about what they hear, so much so that they wish to know more about the Lord and how He applies to life. Conversely, we will always have a segment of people who will stubbornly turn away from the only Lord who can save them.
Continue to help lead the curious to the Lord who will always impart new and relevant knowledge on them. And pray for those who are close minded that they would loosen their hearts and minds to allow the Holy Spirit to enter in and impart new wisdom and understanding. He will always deliver when we receive Him.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
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