Engaging Pluralism: Humility and Boldness in Faith

Navigating life as followers of Jesus in a city like Vancouver means living in the midst of religious and cultural diversity. Every year, the Vaisakhi parade passes right in front of my house, and it’s a vivid reminder of the pluralism that shapes our daily experience. Sometimes, this diversity can create a sense of tension, especially when our own Christian rhythms and holy days overlap with the celebrations of other faiths. Yet, this is the world God has placed us in—a world where Christianity is no longer at the center, and where we are called to be faithful in what can feel like a kind of exile.

The story of Paul in Acts 17 offers a powerful model for how to engage with religious pluralism. Paul stands in the Areopagus, the intellectual heart of Athens, and begins not with condemnation, but with respect. He recognizes the Athenians’ spiritual hunger, even quoting their own poets to show he understands their worldview. Paul’s approach is marked by humility—he enters into their world, listens, observes, and seeks to understand before he speaks. This humility is not weakness; it is the same humility we see in Jesus, who entered our world and became one of us.

But Paul does not stop at understanding. He also draws clear boundaries about who God is. He challenges the prevailing worldviews of his day, declaring that there is one Creator God, not many, and that this God is personal, not distant or impersonal. Paul calls all people to repentance and points to Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s story—a story that is not just a philosophy, but a reality rooted in history and resurrection.

Holding humility and boldness together is not easy. It requires a deep personal identity rooted in the story of Jesus. Hudson Taylor, the missionary to China, embodied this tension. He entered deeply into Chinese culture, even adopting their dress and customs, but never compromised the core of the gospel. His legacy reminds us that we can be both fully engaged with our neighbors and fully confident in the truth of Christ.

In our own context, we are challenged to examine which way we lean. Are we too quick to judge, or too timid to speak? God calls us to both understand and appreciate those around us, and also to be courageous in sharing the hope we have in Jesus. This week, let’s pray for someone in our lives who does not know Christ, asking God to reveal His heart for them and to give us both humility and boldness as we live out our faith.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Humility is foundational for engaging with those of other faiths. Paul models a posture of respect and understanding, entering into the worldview of the Athenians and even quoting their poets. True humility means seeking to understand before seeking to be understood, following the example of Christ who entered our world. [17:50]
• 2. Boldness and clarity are equally essential. While Paul begins with respect, he does not shy away from proclaiming the uniqueness of the Christian story—one God, one Lord, and the call to repentance through Jesus. This confidence is not arrogance, but conviction rooted in the reality of Christ’s resurrection. [29:35]
• 3. Deep personal identity in Christ enables us to hold humility and boldness together. Paul’s courage and gentleness flow from his rootedness in the story of Jesus—a story he knows intimately and has personally experienced. Our ability to engage faithfully in a pluralistic world depends on how deeply we are anchored in Christ’s story. [32:03]
• 4. Cultural engagement does not require compromise of the gospel. Hudson Taylor’s life demonstrates that we can fully enter into another culture, appreciating and adopting its forms, without diluting the message of Jesus. The gospel transcends culture, and when we are secure in its truth, we are free to meet people where they are. [35:13]
• 5. We are called to both appreciate and challenge the faiths and cultures around us. There is much to learn from the hospitality, devotion, and practices of others, but we are also called to lovingly and courageously share the hope of Christ. This requires prayerful dependence on God, asking Him to reveal His heart for those who do not yet know Him. [41:19]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [03:35] - The Gift of Community
• [04:56] - Vaisakhi Parade and Religious Pluralism
• [06:56] - Christian Holy Days and Cultural Tension
• [08:52] - Faithful in Exile: Series Overview
• [10:03] - Addressing Societal Issues
• [11:22] - Paul in Athens: Engaging Pluralism
• [13:12] - Paul’s Respectful Approach
• [14:09] - Observing and Understanding Culture
• [15:44] - Quoting Pagan Poets: Humility in Engagement
• [19:35] - Paul’s Challenge to Greek Worldviews
• [24:12] - The Uniqueness of the Christian God
• [29:01] - Humility and Boldness in Tension
• [32:53] - Hudson Taylor: Cultural Engagement
• [37:55] - The Dangers of Extremes
• [40:18] - Examining Our Own Posture
• [42:31] - A Challenge to Pray for Others

Bible Reading

Acts 17:22-31 (ESV) —
> 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. 30 The 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.”

Observation Questions

1. How does Paul begin his speech to the Athenians, and what does this reveal about his attitude toward their beliefs? ([13:12])
2. What does Paul say about the nature of God in contrast to the beliefs of the Athenians? ([19:35])
3. In what ways does Paul demonstrate that he understands the culture and worldview of the people he is speaking to? ([15:44])
4. What is the main challenge or call to action that Paul gives to his listeners at the end of his speech? ([25:41])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Paul chooses to start with respect and understanding rather than immediate criticism when addressing people of other faiths? ([13:12])
2. What does it mean for Paul to quote the poets and philosophers of Athens? How does this approach help or hinder his message? ([15:44])
3. How does Paul balance humility and boldness in his engagement with the Athenians, and why is this balance important for Christians today? ([29:35])
4. The sermon mentions that Paul’s confidence comes from his deep personal identity in Christ. What does it look like for someone today to be “rooted in the story of Jesus” in a pluralistic society? ([32:03])

Application Questions

1. The sermon describes the tension of living as a Christian in a city like Vancouver, surrounded by many faiths and cultures. When have you felt this tension in your own life? How did you respond? ([06:56])
2. Paul models humility by seeking to understand before being understood. Think of a recent conversation with someone of a different faith or worldview. Did you listen and seek to understand first, or did you jump to sharing your own beliefs? How could you approach it differently next time? ([17:50])
3. The example of Hudson Taylor shows that it’s possible to fully engage with another culture without compromising the gospel. Are there aspects of your own culture or comfort that you might need to let go of in order to better connect with others? ([35:13])
4. The sermon challenges us to examine which way we lean: Are you more likely to judge quickly, or to be too timid to speak about your faith? What is one step you could take this week to move toward a better balance of humility and boldness? ([40:18])
5. The sermon encourages us to appreciate the good in other faiths and cultures, like hospitality in Sikhism. What is something you genuinely appreciate about another faith or culture you’ve encountered? How might this appreciation open doors for deeper conversations? ([41:19])
6. Paul calls all people to repentance and points to Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s story. Is there someone in your life who does not know Christ? How can you pray for them specifically this week, and what might be a next step in showing them Christ’s love? ([42:31])
7. The sermon says our ability to engage faithfully depends on how deeply we are anchored in Christ’s story. What is one practical way you can deepen your understanding and experience of Jesus this month? ([32:03])