“I see that in every way you are very religious.  For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.  Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.”  Acts 17:22b-23

This article is part three of a four-part series based on a sermon I preached at the Deer Run Church of Christ.  As Paul arrives in Athens, he finds himself in the midst of people that he describes as “very religious”.  They are constantly worshipping a variety of objects and gods.  In the practice of their worship, they set up an idol to an “UNKNOWN GOD” — perhaps so that they would not inadvertently ignore a god who could become angry with them.  It is within this context that Paul presents the case for “A God That Is MORE”!

What do you worship?  I know, the “church answer” for Christians is, “Of course, I worship God!”  But really . . . look beyond the proper answer and consider the things and/or people in your life that you give honor to . . . perhaps sometimes more honor than you give to God.  I live in a culture that surrounds me with many objects of worship — each calling out in its own way for me to give it my time, energy, treasure, emotion, and worship.  My guess is that you live in a culture much like that as well. 

So, what makes God MORE than all the other objects of worship calling out for you and I to come bow down to them?  Paul continues his explanation with the fact that God is Resurrected: “For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.  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.'”  Acts 17:31-32

Paul continues his explanation of the God who is unknown to them with the fact that this God has resurrected Jesus from the dead.  He offers this as proof that God has the authority to judge and to administer justice.  Paul understood just how important the resurrection of Jesus is.  He wrote to the Philippians that he wanted “to know Christ and the power of His resurrection”. 

While it is often said there are two things you can’t avoid — death and taxes, we normally put a lot of energy into doing our best to sidestep each of them.  While taxes are a whole other issue ;), the power of death has been defeated through the resurrection of Jesus!  Paul continued his words to the Philippians with a desire to share in the sufferings of Jesus that in becoming like Him in His death Paul might somehow obtain a like resurrection. 

What about you and I?  Do we live a resurrected life now?  The Bible teaches that when we are immersed into Christ we die to sin and are resurrected to live a new life in Jesus.  We have a God that is more because He is resurrected and has the power to resurrect us from the dead life we are in.  Do your neighbors, co-workers, family, and friends see the power of the resurrection at work in your life? 

I pray that you will examine all of the things that call for your worship and realize that you have a God that is MORE because He is resurrected from the dead and holds the power of the resurrection!