Where the heck is Mars Hill?

"Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "People of Athens! 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. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you." Acts 17:22-23

In January, my family went to San Antonio for my sister's wedding -- Yeah, Jenny and Jason!!!

While there, I had a bit of a Mars Hill experience. In the church, we often conjure the "Mars Hills reference" when it's necessary to defend watching certain movies, listening to certain music, having three earrings, etc.

In the last half of Acts 17, Paul addresses the Greek intellectionistas on their home turf -- the Areopagus, Mars Hill. As he strode through Athens, Paul, a cultural connoisseur, took note of what was around him, fashioned the data for his argument and then proceeded to affirm the sensibilities of the Stoics and Epicureans, all the while steering them towards the Gospel.

It would appear that Mars Hill is a historical note, with the notable exception of a couple of church signs in WA and MI. However, during our week stay in San Antonio, my family stayed in Mars Hill.

How is that possible? Glad you asked.

Mars Hill has moved from the shadow of the Acropolis to an apartment near you. We spent a lot of time walking around, looking carefully and taking note of the objects of worship in our host's home. Everywhere, there were signposts of a seeker so close to Jesus that it was almost funny; painfully so. The books on the shelves were varied: law books, politics (conservative), Christian intellectuals and non Christian best-sellers. There was an application for Casa on the desk. All indications said that this was a person whose heart was tuned to humanity and in tune to humanism [flirting with transcendental humanism from the looks of the person's benevolent bent]. Our host was in fact in India observing local elections while we "house sat." This particular individual was clearly hungering for purpose and meaning.

Were we in the same room at the same time, a quick walk through the apartment would have given us the means to speak as Paul did. Everything I needed to begin a relevant conversation about the Gospel was in plain sight.

When was the last time you found yourself in the home of someone who doesn't go to your church?

Mars Hill is where you are.

Are you paying attention?