Acts 17 + A Trip to Gameworks = A 21st Century Application

"As Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by the all the idols he saw everywhere in the city...."

Lord, I am deeply troubled by the idols I see everywhere around me and within me. These are some of the idols I see and experience:

1. Fear of standing out; embarrassment; offending another - even for the sake of Truth
2. Comfort; safety; entertainment; luxury in body, mind, and spirit
3. Freedom and tolerance in spite of Godly boundaries
4. Work, career, identity, approval
5. Power, control, status, success
6. Fitting in with worldly culture

My parents are visiting from Oregon for two weeks, so Thursday afternoon we packed up, drove to Columbus, and stayed the night in a hotel. Friday we took the kids to Gameworks at Easton. The purpose of Gameworks was 100% for the entertainment of the kids. Such establishments give me a headache - I really DO NOT like gaming. This was our first visit as a family and we were unfamiliar with how to purchase a game card. Upon learning the details, we knew this adventure was going to cost more than we had planned, so we ended up purchasing less game time. This option also required the boys to share a card (heaven forbid!). They pouted, complained, and generally frustrated me with their attitudes.

As they went on to play their games with grandma in tow, I set up a table for me to study. Since my quiet time has been lacking the last week, I decided to review my memory work first. The verses in Acts 17 took on a whole new meaning:

"While Paul was waiting for them in Athens,"
While I was waiting for Tanner and Tyler to play at Gameworks....

"he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city."
I was disturbed by the extreme draw my kids experience towards gaming, electronics, and technology; by the way they idolize the experience; by their complete lack of understanding towards those less fortunate (i.e., their extreme selfishness).

"It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas."
I have read that some of the Athenians represented in this group of philosophers were Epicureans. The focus of their lives was pleasure and happiness, like that of modern day materialists and hedonists. As I "fully experienced" the atmosphere and purpose of Gameworks, I felt so sad thinking of the materialistic pleasures on which my children depend.

"Men of Athens, I notice you are very religious, for as I was walking along, I saw your many alters...."
Later today, Tanner asked why he was not paid money for doing a good deed. I responded by asking him why I am not paid for doing nice things.... He said, "I should be paid to go to school...." To which I responded with something along the lines of, "Someday you will be paid as a result of your commitment to learn." Tanner wasn't impressed!

Paul was able to speak with the philosophers and leaders of his day in Athens because he was well-schooled. He had a broad base of knowledge; he was well-spoken and persuasive; he spent his life thinking and reasoning about the Scriptures. As Christians, education is important because we must be able to reason and relate with many kinds of people. We must be able to think critically about complex topics. We must understand, evaluate, and synthesize a variety of viewpoints to create Christlike responses in ways that our intended audiences will hear and respond.

Today, the focus of my critical thinking is related to how I should respond to my children; how I might influence their self-centered thinking; how I might guide them away from their addiction to entertainment and technology. Applying Christlikeness to daily living is difficult and sooooo counter-cultural. Oh my Lord, how is this possible? I need your guidance, strength, and power!