A Pattern for Destruction: Part One
ROMANS 1: 14 – 17
About 500 B.C. “The Greek Miracle” emerged. In the lovely city of Athens, the Greek culture was born. Their striking architecture was revolutionary. They raised knowledge of math to a new height. They became the first civilization to write history as such. They developed a new system of thought called logic.
Our American culture is indebted to Greek thought. They impacted the entire world.
The Greeks were the first to make their gods in their own image. Greek gods were like human beings. They said beauty is truth and truth is beauty.
Romans 1:23 describes this process: “and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man; and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.”
Man was made the center of the universe. Humanism was given a major boost. Our society is currently following their trend.
Societies that do this should expect the result. Romans 1:24 reveals the result: “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves…”
The term “God gave them up” means God took off all restraints.
God gave them up to depravity. Verse 18 notes the “wrath of God is revealed” against such persons. Romans 1: 21-23 chronicles the behavior resulting in being given up.
IMPUDENT – “They did not glorify God…”
INGRATES – “Neither were they thankful…”
IMPOSING – “They become futile in their thoughts…”
IRRATIONAL – “professing themselves to be wise…”
IDOLATERS – “They changed the glory of the incorruptible.”
God gave them up to “vile passions” (Vs. 26). That is, passions of dishonor.
Other societies that have become hardened in this attitude have experienced the “wrath of God.” It is said God gave such persons “over to a debased mind.” That means a person is incapable of making a correct moral judgment.
Verse 22 says, “Professing themselves to be wise they become fools.”
As verse 18 says we have “suppressed the truth with unrighteousness.” The truth has now become so unpopular in certain instances that it is thought to be wrong.
A second characteristic emerges in verse 32. It shows people seek agreement on sin. “You approve of my sin and I will applaud yours.” The ploy is not only to cover sin, but to get society to applaud it.
This classic example of a society’s degradation is a pattern from which America needs to learn. There are no exemptions. Only revival can change a culture. The people must change in order to change the culture. Are we listening?