“We all worship God and just call him by different names,” goes the apologetic for Universalism. Muslims and Christians pray, give, serve, and proselytize. And we are all very sincere. But worship is useless if it is offered to the wrong god.

The Italian film, Life is Beautiful, is a foreign film about an Italian Jew set in Italy in the time of the Nazi occupation of Europe. The film is disturbing and very sad, but its charm lies in the many comedic events in the life of the clumsy, loveable main character, Guido Orefice.

One incident involved a crowd of villagers who had spent considerable effort in planning a local street parade to welcome the King of Italy who would be driving through their tiny town.  They had banners, flowers, and a band. The town’s folk were dressed in their Sunday best, and were patiently awaiting the king’s imminent arrival.

Meanwhile, the ever-accident-prone Guido is a passenger in a car whose brakes have failed. As the car comes rushing down the hill toward the parade, Guido begins to gesticulate and wave for the unsuspecting crowd to get out of the way and clear the street. The people hear the honking, and see a man making what looks like the ‘Heil Hitler’ salute, and they assume it’s the king. They begin to cheer loudly, throw petals in the air, waving, clapping, and whistling for the king. The band plays and there is great excitement.

Then, as the car whizzes by without stopping, the crowd turns to watch him zoom away in anti-climactic astonishment. The despondent and disillusioned crowd begins to dissipate. Some are still mulling in the street when the real king arrives. His car gets jammed in the pedestrian traffic. There is no fanfare, no music, and no adoring reception. His driver desperately honks to clear the way but people are paying no attention to the perplexed king whatsoever.

Was the parade a success?

They pulled off the welcome exactly as planned. But it was directed at the wrong person. They were sincere. But they turned out to be sincerely wrong.

Many people view Islam and Christianity as merely two different paths leading to the same destination. “We all worship God and just call him by different names,” goes the apologetic for Universalism. Muslims and Christians pray, give, serve, and proselytize. And we are all very sincere. But worship is useless if it is offered to the wrong god.

Which is why Paul became provoked at the sight of sincere worshippers in Athens.

Acts 17: ²² So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. ²³ For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. ²⁴ The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, ²⁵ nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. ²⁶ And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, ²⁷ that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, ²⁸ for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ ²⁹ Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. ³⁰The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, ³¹ because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” ³² Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” ³³ So Paul went out from their midst. ³⁴ But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

3 Keys that Unlock the Door to Let Light into Darkenss:

1. Acknowledgment: Come with Respect

Acts 17:22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.

Athens was the epicenter of Greek religion.

Greeks were proud of their rich mythology. They carried statuettes in their pockets, had shrines in their homes, and spent time and money to fund and build temples for idol worship.

Idolatry was so ubiquitous that one ancient historian quipped that if you threw a stone in Athens you were more likely to hit a god than a man.

Paul wasn’t a fan of pantheism. He didn’t think all the statues were fascinating. He didn’t snap a selfie with his arms around an idol, nor did he gaze in wonder at the magnificent architecture of the many temples.

His spirit was provoked: 16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.

And yet notice his opening line to this room full of idolaters: 22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.

He doesn’t start with “Men of Athens, I perceive that you are very…stupid. What kind of idiot bows down to a piece of stone he found in the local market’s bargain bin? And you Greeks invented math? Not so smart in the religion department!”

No, Paul addresses them respectfully.

He acknowledges that they are in every way very religious, which was a compliment.

He observed their practices. He isn’t saying he agrees with them, just that he noticed them. He isn’t praising them for their idolatry, he’s acknowledging that they show concern for spiritual priorities, i.e. they are people who take their religion seriously.

If there is one thing you can say about Muslims it’s that they take religion seriously.

It’s not the same as evangelizing an atheist, whom you first have to convince there is a God at all, that there is right and wrong, and an afterlife, and that he or she is a sinner.

No, with Muslims, you can skip the whole apologetic for the existence of God. They believe there is a creator God, they believe in an afterlife, in right and wrong, and that they are sinners in danger of hell. Muslims already know some of God’s will: they know about prayer, giving, modesty, morality, doing good. So acknowledge that.

Here is a sample opening line: “Hi Yusuf, my name is Bob, I don’t know much about Islam, but I can tell that you seem very religious. I have observed that Muslims are very serious about their duties to God.”

You aren’t compromising the gospel or endorsing their beliefs. You are merely acknowledging that they are committed and serious about eternity like Paul did to the Aereopogites. This is a key that opens the door for further content you can share.

Paul’s respect unlocked a door for the word. He starts sharing some of his beliefs and they listen… 24-25 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

Paul states his belief without bashing theirs.

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