Faith and the Public Square
We have a great opportunity to live as Christians and share our faith in an increasingly pluralistic culture.
A Better Way to Engage
Remember a time when you clashed with your parents—maybe they disapproved of something you were doing and confronted you with intensity. Did that heated conversation actually change your heart? Probably not. That kind of argument rarely leads to transformation. Yet, this kind of confrontational style is how many Christians often engage a world that can, at times, disagree with them. We somehow think that if we can just out-argue those who disagree with us, their hearts will warm to us. It did not work with our parents or our children, but we often think it will work with everyone else.
In Acts 17, we find Paul in Athens, a city that had long passed its golden age but still held significant cultural and intellectual influence in the Roman world. Here, Paul encounters a deeply pluralistic society full of competing philosophies and spiritual perspectives. His approach to this environment offers us a helpful and challenging model for how to engage today’s public square with both conviction and compassion.
1. Let Your Heart Be Moved by What You See
“He was deeply distressed to see that the city was full of idols.” (v. 16)
As Paul walked through Athens, he was overwhelmed—not with frustration or outrage, but with deep distress. The city was saturated with idols, and this stirred something profound in him. The language used in the original text implies an emotional and spiritual burden that moved him to act.
Likewise, we should be heartbroken over the idols in our own culture. The challenge, though, is recognizing what those idols actually are. Often, we associate idolatry with obviously immoral behavior, but the truth is more subtle. As Tim Keller puts it, “An idol is anything more important to you than God. Anything you seek to give you what only God can give.”
Many idols in our society—success, family, beauty, personal freedom—are good things that have been elevated to ultimate things. But when we ask these things to bear the weight of our identity, security, or purpose, they will inevitably collapse under the pressure—like expecting a hammock to hold more than it was designed to carry. At some point the hammock splits and we go sprawling on the ground.
Paul’s distress wasn’t born out of moral superiority but out of compassion. He saw people relying on things that could never save them. Our response should be the same: not outrage, but a burdened heart that longs to point people to the only One who can truly satisfy.
2. Pluralism is an Opportunity, Not a Threat
After addressing those in the synagogue, Paul heads to the marketplace—the public square where life and ideas converged. There, he encountered Epicureans and Stoics, two philosophical schools that represented vastly different worldviews.
Epicureans believed that life was about seeking pleasure and avoiding pain, denying any meaningful afterlife. Stoics, in contrast, emphasized virtue and rationality, believing in a divine principle that permeated the universe.
Paul didn’t isolate himself from these groups or fear their ideas. He engaged with them on their turf, with respect and openness. Today, however, the church often avoids these kinds of encounters. We’ve confined most Christian ministry to the four walls of the church and forgotten how to speak into a culture where Christianity is just one voice among many.
But here’s the truth: we don’t need to artificially advantage the gospel. If the gospel is true, and beautiful, and powerful, it will stand out—even in the marketplace of ideas.
Rather than fearing pluralism, we should see it as fertile ground for conversation. When we trust in the compelling nature of the gospel, we’ll stop retreating from culture and start re-entering it with confidence and grace.
3. Dialogue Over Monologue
Notice Paul’s approach: the text says he “reasoned” with the people. The word used here implies dialogue—a back-and-forth exchange, not a lecture. This was Paul’s regular pattern throughout Acts. He didn’t rely on monologue, antagonism, or indifference. He engaged in respectful conversation.
Too often, Christians default to these less effective postures:
Monologue: presenting a rehearsed script without listening.
Antagonism: engaging with the assumption that we must “win” an argument.
Indifference: avoiding spiritual conversations altogether.
But genuine dialogue communicates respect. It honors the image of God in others. It reflects the way of Jesus, who regularly engaged with people through conversation, questions, and compassion. It doesn’t mean that we have to believe that all beliefs are equal, but it does treat every person as equally valuable, and with great dignity.
Engaging in the public square means treating others not as projects to fix, but as people to love. We speak the words of God boldly, but we do so with gentleness and respect—recognizing that our goal is not simply to win debates, but to point people toward Jesus.
4. Faithfulness Matters More Than Results
In this part of Acts, we don’t see immediate revival. In fact, Paul is mocked and misunderstood. Some called him a “babbler”—a seed-picker gathering scraps of knowledge and trying to pass himself off as wise. Others accused him of preaching strange gods, misinterpreting his message about Jesus and the resurrection as polytheism.
Still, Paul remained faithful. He didn’t water down his message or change his tone. He stayed true to the gospel, even when it led to rejection.
This is an important lesson for us. Success is not measured by how many people agree with us. Success is measured by how faithfully we represent Jesus. Our culture often mirrors ancient Athens—curious, cynical, and overflowing with information, but starving for truth. And while the resurrection may still be a stumbling block for many, we must never let our attitude or approach become the real offense.
Let the gospel be the only stumbling block—not our pride, arrogance, or defensiveness.
Reclaiming the Public Square
The public square is not off-limits for Christians—it is our opportunity. But if we want to engage it well, we must rethink our approach:
Ask God to open your eyes to the idols around you—not with judgment, but with compassion. Let your heart be moved by what breaks His heart.
Stop despising the cultural moment. Don’t withdraw or complain. Instead, recognize that God may have placed us here on purpose—for such a time as this.
Engage with respect and love. Don’t default to monologue, antagonism, or indifference. Embrace meaningful, respectful dialogue—even with those who disagree with you.
Remember that our goal is faithfulness, not popularity. Jesus was rejected. Paul was mocked. We should not be surprised if we are too. The question is: are we being rejected because of the gospel or because of how we present the gospel?
Let’s be a people who live boldly and speak graciously—shining the light of Jesus in a world that desperately needs truth, hope, and love. The marketplace is waiting. Let’s step in.