The Marketplace of Ideas is Full of Chatter

The marketplace of ideas is full of chatter.

The marketplace of ideas is filled with so much noise that it is difficult to hear and distinguish the differences in the ideas available for examination.

How does Christianity fit into the modern marketplace of ideas; for there are many ideas about Christianity that fill the marketplace? There are, of course, many denominations clamoring for attention in the marketplace, and there are various and sundry groups within those denominations crying out for consideration. Whose right?

As we walk through the modern marketplace—real or virtual—we will hear various philosophical ideas, sociological concepts, psychological reflections, political impressions, religious conclusions and more. And once more we ask…whose right?

Can we, like some, divide the ideas into liberal and conservative without anything in between? We now live in a time when more people are embracing the idea because much of modern media makes a profit on promoting either a liberal or conservative view, and many people, busy with making a living, raising children, and pursuing careers, don’t have the time, or take the time, to think through the massive amount of information we are fed every day.

Sadly, in today’s marketplace of ideas, rather than using common sense, logic, and reasoning, we have a steady diet of name calling, threats, personal attacks, divisive language, and angry words. When ideas don’t stand up to common sense, logic, and reasoning, the obvious result is to resort to the above—name calling, threats, personal attacks, divisive language, and angry words, and let them try to cover up and “noise over” the truth and reality.

When we’re walking through today’s marketplace of ideas—real or virtual—we must be careful who and what we believe, and we must ask ourselves if this is a false perception, or is it reality?

The Apostle Paul barely escaped Beroea without being arrested, as some believers in the city helped him get to Athens, the great city of culture and learning. Here’s Luke’s description of the marketplace of ideas in that great city of learning, “Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there would spend their time in nothing but telling or hearing something new.” (Acts 17:21) Intellectual curiosity filled that ancient city. Paul was not one to miss an opportunity to share the gospel in the marketplace: “So he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and also in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.” (Acts 17:17) In this great city of intellectual curiosity and learning, Paul presented his arguments about God the Creator, and about a “fixed day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31)

When Paul delivered his message in that great marketplace of ideas, some scoffed, some wanted to hear more, and some became believers in the gospel.

In the marketplace of Thessalonica the believers faced this accusation, “These people who have turned the world upside down have come here also.” (Acts 17:6) It was a backhand compliment; for the very idea of the kingdom of God turns the world upside down so much so that even some Christians have a difficult time embracing it fully.

If you want a biblical view of the modern marketplace of ideas, go back to the city of Ephesus and read how the message of the gospel upset the economic marketplace where Demetrius and other sellers of idols felt threatened by the gospel. (See Acts 19:21-41.)

Here’s how Luke described it: “Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.” Sound familiar? When one’s ideas don’t stand up to scrutiny start making a loud noise, issue threats, and just start shouting one thing and another.

So, here are our questions for today.

1. Can Christianity compete in the modern marketplace of ideas, or is it outdated, and relegated to a simpler past?

2. With all the loud noises in the modern marketplace of ideas, will the message of the gospel be drowned out?

3. In today’s information age, who will take the time to listen to the teachings of the scriptures in the modern marketplace of ideas?

4. The modern marketplace of ideas is crowded, and sometimes dangerous, so how can the message of love, grace, and mercy compete in a marketplace filled with hate, anger, and bitterness?

5. Can the message of the gospel break through in the modern marketplace of ideas that has become filled with threats, intimidation, name-calling, divisive language, and angry words?

For Christians, the Apostle Paul was inspired to write the fruit of the Spirit. (Note he used the singular “fruit,” and not the plural “fruits.” Why is that?) How does this fruit of the Spirit fit into the modern marketplace of ideas? “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)

The modern marketplace of ideas is filled with hate, misery, chaos, impatience, unkindness, greed, faithlessness, spitefulness, and unconstraint. To describe the “works of the flesh” the Apostle Paul used words like, “strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy.” (See Galatians 5:19-20 for a complete listing of the “works of the flesh.”)

To negotiate the modern marketplace of ideas requires a wisdom beyond our own, and for the message of Christianity to compete in today’s marketplace of ideas requires us to have and utilize a wisdom beyond our own.

We close today with the word of the Lord: “For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.” (James 3:16-17)

We have two choices.

1. The wisdom that does not come from above, a wisdom that is “earthly, unspiritual, devilish”; the one that is filled with envy and selfish ambition.

2. The wisdom from above, a wisdom that is “pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.”

Choice number 1 produces disorder (chaos) and wickedness of every kind.

Choice number 2 yields a “harvest of righteousness…sown in peace.”

Choose!