A Romans 1 nation
Have we indeed been given over?
I don’t know whether this should be the sequel or prequel to a post I did a few Sundays back:
Regardless, there’s a portion of Scripture that is used to describe reprobate societies, which have always existed. It comes at the end of Romans 1:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
It’s obviously a very long and troubling passage, because it also serves as an indictment of our modern American culture - the farther along we go listening to the “rainbow mafia” and Hollywood hacks, the deeper we sink into the mire. Even more disturbing, at least in my interpretation, is that “God gave them up” once the people began mocking Him.
Am I the only one who interprets the chapter this way?
Yet because there are many of us among those who God gave over to a reprobate mind who don’t mock Him and instead try to live in a way which glorfies our God, I have a glimmer of hope. I’m far from perfect at it, but I’m trying as best I can - after all, I was once more firmly in the wrong camp but was saved through the grace of God. It’s a trite enough statement to be featured on bumper stickers or t-shirts, but it’s true: God permits U-turns. Hey, I was lost and made one at the tender age of 45.
Perhaps the problem we have comes from verse 32: “knowing the judgment of God.” I have been to churches where the service is a show, and I’ve been to churches that more strictly teach the Word of God.
One would think that, with my longtime enjoyment of live music, that I would prefer the former, but I don’t. This is just my way of looking at it, but if you remember the show more than the message, you’re doing it wrong. I have friends who perform in church bands, and I love them and what they do, but to me a good preacher can get the point about the judgment of God across in a memorable way without all the bells and whistles. We have used the “rock concert” approach to draw younger people to church, but it doesn’t seem like they’re taking the lessons to heart in an increasingly secular world.
Each night I pray for the same thing when I go to bed.
One of the last lines of my nightly prayer is a revival in our land; to me, that would be something on the order of a Great Awakening. Could you imagine what our nation would be like if suddenly our people - especially Generation Z - suddenly had their hearts set afire for God? It would make Billy Graham crusades or a Promise Keeper rally look like a church picnic. And if you believe party politics is our god, we wouldn’t have a need for it anymore once something like that occurred.
I know I don’t have a gift for oratory (which is why I’ve never done a podcast) nor do I have the Biblical chops to put down every questioning critic with just the right passage to silence their mockery. You could probably fault my interpretation of the Romans chapter I cite, and you wouldn’t necessarily be wrong.
Writing is perhaps the most effective gift I have to be an influencer, since my words have the potential to touch hearts worldwide. This Substack post was one of those things that was on my heart, so I was blessed with the time to sit down and write it. Even if the realization that we live in a Romans 1 nation right now just points someone in the right direction to repent, I count it as a success. To borrow from an parable Jesus gave in Mark 4, I don’t know the soil I’m casting my seed upon but I can pray that it bears fruit.