When God revealed Himself through the Scriptures, He did so in order that the lives of mankind would be so much better. His laws, commands and principles for living were designed to benefit and bless us, not to be a burden or to make us miserable. Built into His life principles are consequences; good ones if we obey, and unpleasant ones if we choose to disobey. The standards are His, but the choice is ours. King David noted in Psalm 119 that God’s Word leads to wholeness and helps prevent trouble. Life is just better when we listen to the One who created life.
The Apostle Paul was in wholehearted agreement with King David and said so many times in many ways in his New Testament letters. In Romans 1:16-17, he declared that the Word, when believed and acted upon, brings life eternal with the forgiveness of sins to us, and righteousness. With these mankind can find contentment, joy and freedom from anxiety and fear. This is why God gave us His commands and principles. Wonderful consequences.
Unfortunately, there are some very bad consequences that come to individuals and cultures when the Word from God is ignored or rejected. These consequences are detailed in Romans 1:18-32, which is the clearest and most logical analysis anywhere of the human condition. The truths presented there are just as true now as they were almost 2000 years ago when Paul wrote them. The Apostle reveals what will always take place when people choose to reject God’s ways instead of embracing God’s life principles. And the truths of this section of scripture sobers anyone who observes the current condition of our country. Consider the following points.
They become foolish and their thinking is hollow and empty
When God’s truths are rejected, then of necessity, they are replaced by man’s thinking, which is never quite right, and often terribly wrong. People with great intellect, and often advanced degrees, espouse ideas and philosophies that are devoid of any real substance. These think of themselves as wonderfully brilliant, and yet their words are empty. As the Apostle declares: “professing to be wise, they became fools” (Rom. 1:22). Daily in the American media and educational system, we are amazed by foolish ideas, such as boys can become girls, there are more than two sexes, criminals are equally as important as their victims and so many more. Many in our present culture declare things that are contrary to God’s revealed standards which is always the result when God’s principles are rejected. They hold to their ideas knowing in themselves that this is contrary to God’s revealed truth (Rom. 1:18-21).
They descend into idolatry which always separates from the Lord God
One of the privileges that Adam and Eve had in the Garden was a daily fellowship with their Creator. Worship and fellowship bring a wholeness and completeness to the creature. Mankind is wired for worship. And mankind will always worship. It should be the true and living God, but when it is not then something or someone will be substituted. Go anywhere in the world and you will find worship going on. Yet, most of it will fall into the setting that the Apostle is talking about that “even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God…exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.” (Rom. 1:21, 23). It is encouraging that in America there are many born-again believers who serve the Lord Jesus Christ. However, the culture that we live in is grossly idolatrous. Much of the population worship the gods of materialism and hedonism and often included in their pantheon of deities are musicians, athletes, movie stars and Tik-Tok influencers. Idolatry always occurs when people leave the worship of the true God; and that separation from their Creator-God invariably brings with it an emptiness as that “God-shaped vacuum” manifests itself. Idolatry never does and never will satisfy the human heart. There is great unrest in the lives of many.
They descend into all forms of immorality
Back when Israel was about to enter the Promised Land and drive out the immoral Canaanites, God spelled out what immoral behavior was (Lev. 18); namely, incest, adultery, homosexuality, and sex with animals. Paul explained that when people leave God’s righteousness, they will always descend into immoral behaviors and find such behaviors acceptable. And God eventually allows them to do sexually whatever they want. (Rom. 1:24-27). One does not need to go into detail about the present moral climate of this nation where immoral behavior is accepted by a significant percentage of the citizens. The USA is looking a little bit more like Sodom and Gomorrah.
They reject authority of all kinds
Tucked away in Paul’s descriptive list of their bad behaviors, he includes the unlikely phrase “disobedient to parents” (Rom. 1:30). At first this seems a little out of place as compared to some of the really bad stuff he enumerates. However, it is a very crucial point. The home is the core of families, nations and cultures. Within the family, parental authority is a cornerstone to the well-being of the family, and ultimately to the nation. This is part of the reason why, in the Law Code of Moses, crimes against the family (such as kidnapping and adultery) were capital offenses. Death was the fate of the convicted kidnapper or adulterer. With the decline of healthy family life, and with it of parental authority, resistance to and rebellion against all kinds of authority emerges. This is now regularly seen in protests and riots in the streets, attacks on the police, violence against teachers in the school setting and the use of extreme and deadly force in dealing with disputes. These rebels didn’t just start this when they are seen on the TV news but most likely goes way back to rebellion against parental authority or the absence of it. This aggressive challenging of authority is the direct result of people turning away from God’s standards and principles concerning the home.
They become increasingly violent and depraved
Paul ends his discussion with a terrible list of evils that come about when people willfully choose to turn from God’s wise, righteous standards (Rom. 1:28-32). What is so striking is that God does “give up” on these people and allows them to have it their way: “God gave them over to a depraved mind” (Rom. 1:29). Their minds are “depraved” (“abandoned”), meaning that they have no conscience, and are, therefore, capable of doing the most despicable evils without guilt. They are dead to right and wrong. They commit acts against others without any remorse, and this includes murder and various violent acts. And the Apostle ends by adding this thought: “they not only do the same but also give hearty approval to those who practice them” (Rom. 1:32). This is exactly what we witness today in our country with the media, the educational system, social media and even the courts and politicians. These regularly give support to the vilest of acts and to the most wicked people. Today, these openly celebrate evil acts and wicked people, something unheard of in the past.
What is in the Future?
The prophet Hosea, in the waning days of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, revealed the mind of God about their leaving God’s truth. That generation had purposely walked away from God and His righteous principles. That generation was “destroyed for lack of knowledge” and for “forgetting the Law of God” (Hosea 4:6)The prophet went on to say: “Their deeds will not allow them to return to their God, for a spirit of harlotry is within them, and they do not know the Lord” (Hosea 5:4). Ominously, that generation had crossed a line of rebellion and would never turn back. God’s judgment was coming. But even though the nation was doomed, individuals could still return to the Lord and be saved.
It is hard to think that the righteous Lord will simply look the other way regarding our nation. The future, of course, is securely in the hands of the Lord God. His plans are set though the timing of those plans is unknown to us. The USA is going the way of ancient Israel. Ancient Israel went too far and could not return. Is that true of the USA and western culture? God is rich in both mercy and grace, and desires that people get saved (Eph. 2:4, 7). But if there is no repentance and turning to Him, then as with Israel, judgment will come. His holiness requires it.
And in Hosea’s Israel, conflict, chaos and various disasters became part of their national life. The USA will not escape the consequences. This rebellion against God is not simply a problem for the USA but is a western problem. How will all of this end? Daniel 7 informs us that out of the western nations will arise the Antichrist. He will step into the chaos and promise to bring in order, peace and prosperity. This authoritarian individual will arise, which will bring in the end of the end times.
What to do?
None of us see ourselves as candidates for being a savior in the current situation. However, what we can do is be salt and light in this rapidly decaying western culture. Believers are called upon to wield the “sword of the Spirit” and thereby give a reasonable, compelling defense of our faith in Jesus Christ (Eph 6:17; 1 Pet. 3:15). The advice given by the Apostle Paul to the Ephesian church is very relevant. “And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them…be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 4:11, 13-14). By living an authentic Christian life, one devoted to the Lord Jesus, we can make an impact in our neighborhood, workplace and even our church. We can live truthful lives reflecting joy, peace and purpose, something which people long for. There is no place for hypocrisy (“role playing”) in our Christian lives today.