Sunday, February 21, 2021

Romans 1:26-32

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. 

Speaking out against the practice of homosexuality can offend a lot of people. It shouldn’t, but it does because it is an obvious example of how far removed people are from God’s spirit. Everything about the natural sexual relationship between a man and a woman is intended to communicate the ideas of design and purpose—wisdom and proper use. Without the ability to see past the physical pleasure of sexual experience, mankind will focus on that pleasure and deviate from sexuality’s proper use to seek it out, even going so far as to engage in acts that are reasonably and obviously improper and without purpose, excepting the pleasure itself. These are “vile affections.” Homosexuality is not the only one, but it should be a stand-out example and has consequences that are fitting for such an aberration of what God has instituted.

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;

So, what happens when society embraces such an aberration? How much of God’s spirit are we without when such things are accepted? What more can God do to try to convince us that we have strayed from what was designed to edify us? That society that does not remember God will be left to their own “reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” Our modern definition of “convenient” tends toward “easy; involving little trouble or effort,” but its primary definition is “fit; suitable; proper.” In other words, at that point, God has no choice but to altogether withdraw from us and allow us to experience the full measure of suffering that comes with our stubborn disobedience. 

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.

Pretty self-explanatory—a sad commentary on our current society.  

It’s almost like Paul could see our day or something. Or perhaps he knew that this is the natural consequence of any society’s failure to repent and turn to God.