Re:Verse reading–Acts 17:10-12, 16-34 (day five) “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.”
The sin Paul confronts in Athens, is NOT atheism it is religion. The problem with religion is that is it man-made (vs 24). The danger of religion is that it distorts and detracts from God’s revelation of himself (vs. 23). It was natural and easy for those in Athens. It is just as common in our culture today. We turn to and trust things we build and can control. The lie is that a religious life will make more sense and we will be happier. The truth found in scripture is that God is the creator of the universe and everything in it. And real meaning and purpose is found only when we turn to and trust Him.
I agreed that the problem with religion is that it is man-made. Men created their own Gods and worship them. The Bible tells us there is only one God who is the creator of all things on earth.
People tend to believe there is a God for each invisible force that causes bad things on earth. They tend to believe when they cannot answer the “why”. Once they believe in other Gods, it will be difficult to change their minds.
During my childhood, I saw some altars where people worshiped the God of water, the God of winds, the God of the sky, the God of their earthly possessions, such as money, gold, and so on. People worshipped these Gods to ask for favors, especially when they believed that sufferings, illnesses or tragedies were the result of punishment from these Gods. When things cannot be explained through science, people lean toward man-made Gods.
I believe that people still worship these idols which have been ingrained in their religious systems. As I understand, there are about 4,200 religions in the world. I have no knowledge of what and whom they believe in and worship.
I do believe that it is of human nature “to turn to and trust things we build and can control”. We forget that the builder of all things is the God of the universe, not human beings. It is from the only living God of the universe that we have salvation and have eternal life, not man-made Gods or idols. Worship the Lord, not idols. Only by turning to and trusting God that we will have a peaceful and joyful life. I am convinced!!