George Washington in his farewell address said that democracy requires morality: "Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government." (Smithsonian Art Museum Link). After reading Romans Chapter 1, it struck me that we in the United States are at risk of losing this critical underpinning of our government. In absence of this can our government, even our nation, survive?
Don't get me wrong, I love the United States and I consider myself blessed to be a citizen and live here in this nation that clearly God has blessed. But I believe that the blessings and freedom came because of a foundation built on a commitment of the founders to loving and serving God and loving and serving one another. We are moving to a society of loving and serving ourselves and the creation over/above and instead of the creator.
Downward Spiral
Paul describes in Romans 1 verse 21 and following downward steps that occur in individuals as they move away from God. Our society is made up of individuals and as each of us goes, so goes the whole of society. At the first step people know God, but don't honor him or thank him. This causes futile thinking and darkened hearts. In the next step down people think that they are wise apart from God but actually become fools. Then the next step down is the worship and honor of the creatures (created things - everything in the universe) rather than the creator. God is removed from the picture and so people, animals and the material universe are viewed as all that exists and all that should be recognized. The result of this is that God gives people over to the impure desires in their hearts, to dishonoring their bodies among themselves.
There are more downward steps to go, but let's stop and consider the gravity of those statements!
Giving Over to Ourselves
First God giving people over to themselves and their evil desires is a very scary proposition! God doesn't force us to worship or follow him because he gave us a freewill. He created us and he loves us so much that he gave up his life to rescue us from destruction (John 3:16). But for us to love him in return, we must have a free choice since true love cannot be forced. But here is described a stage in the relationship where rather than speaking to us, warning us of dire consequences ahead and running after us, he effectively says,"OK, if that is what you truly want, I'll give you over to your own decisions" and he lets us go. Imagine parents of an unruly teen who is getting into trouble, hanging out with the wrong crowd, staying out past curfew etc. Finally after the teen refuses to listen and refuses all help and effectively says to the parents "You are dead to me", the parents reluctantly let the teen go out on his/her own. Obviously what happens in such a situation is that the teen jumps headlong into a lifestyle and choices that are harmful and will potentially kill them. The bad behavior escalates and grows worse and all one can hope is that the teen will come to their senses before they get killed. That is effectively the situation where God gives us over to our own sinful, impure desires.
The second part of note is the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves. Obviously there are strong sexual connotations in this statement as Paul describes sexual sin as a sin against our bodies (1 Cor 6:18), but there are other ways that we degrade and dishonor the temple of our bodies - drugs, tattoos, cutting and other mutilations.
So we must ask ourselves, "Are we going down these spiraling downward stairs?" If so, can we identify how far down we've gone?
The Spiral Continues Down
But Paul goes on and says that because we've worshiped the creation rather than the creator, he gave us over to dishonorable passions - homosexuality (verses 26-27). While homosexuality is a current hot-button in our society and Christians often react very negatively against it, in reality it is part of the spiral of sin just as adultery, heterosexual fornication and lust are, each one of them destroying our lives, dishonoring our bodies and leading us to destruction. I intentionally say "us" and "our" because it is far too easy to point the finger at others. We look at the unbelievers or we look at other Christians and see their sins but we don't look at our own lust, greed and deceit. Look at the end list that Paul gives: "They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless" (Romans 1:29-31). We need to look at our own envy, deceit and gossip first! Judgement begins with the house of God! (1 Peter 4:17).
Do we have hope?
When I look at this list, I see that it really describes us and our nation to a greater and greater extent each day. And if that is true, can this nation stand without a moral base? I think that the cracks that we are currently seeing in our economy, government and place in the world are a testament to the fact that we cannot. Our only hope is to be like an unruly teen who comes to their senses - similar to the prodigal son that Jesus spoke about (Luke 15:11-32). But we cannot be waiting and looking for others to change first - we must make a change. Though I don't take Michael Jackson as a source for life direction, I believe his song "Man In the Mirror" said it right - "If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change." It starts with you and with me.
"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14). Amen! Let us humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face and turn from our wicked ways! Let us get back to the top of the steps and honor and thank God! We need God to forgive our sin and heal our land!
Don't get me wrong, I love the United States and I consider myself blessed to be a citizen and live here in this nation that clearly God has blessed. But I believe that the blessings and freedom came because of a foundation built on a commitment of the founders to loving and serving God and loving and serving one another. We are moving to a society of loving and serving ourselves and the creation over/above and instead of the creator.
Downward Spiral
Paul describes in Romans 1 verse 21 and following downward steps that occur in individuals as they move away from God. Our society is made up of individuals and as each of us goes, so goes the whole of society. At the first step people know God, but don't honor him or thank him. This causes futile thinking and darkened hearts. In the next step down people think that they are wise apart from God but actually become fools. Then the next step down is the worship and honor of the creatures (created things - everything in the universe) rather than the creator. God is removed from the picture and so people, animals and the material universe are viewed as all that exists and all that should be recognized. The result of this is that God gives people over to the impure desires in their hearts, to dishonoring their bodies among themselves.
There are more downward steps to go, but let's stop and consider the gravity of those statements!
Giving Over to Ourselves
First God giving people over to themselves and their evil desires is a very scary proposition! God doesn't force us to worship or follow him because he gave us a freewill. He created us and he loves us so much that he gave up his life to rescue us from destruction (John 3:16). But for us to love him in return, we must have a free choice since true love cannot be forced. But here is described a stage in the relationship where rather than speaking to us, warning us of dire consequences ahead and running after us, he effectively says,"OK, if that is what you truly want, I'll give you over to your own decisions" and he lets us go. Imagine parents of an unruly teen who is getting into trouble, hanging out with the wrong crowd, staying out past curfew etc. Finally after the teen refuses to listen and refuses all help and effectively says to the parents "You are dead to me", the parents reluctantly let the teen go out on his/her own. Obviously what happens in such a situation is that the teen jumps headlong into a lifestyle and choices that are harmful and will potentially kill them. The bad behavior escalates and grows worse and all one can hope is that the teen will come to their senses before they get killed. That is effectively the situation where God gives us over to our own sinful, impure desires.
The second part of note is the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves. Obviously there are strong sexual connotations in this statement as Paul describes sexual sin as a sin against our bodies (1 Cor 6:18), but there are other ways that we degrade and dishonor the temple of our bodies - drugs, tattoos, cutting and other mutilations.
So we must ask ourselves, "Are we going down these spiraling downward stairs?" If so, can we identify how far down we've gone?
The Spiral Continues Down
But Paul goes on and says that because we've worshiped the creation rather than the creator, he gave us over to dishonorable passions - homosexuality (verses 26-27). While homosexuality is a current hot-button in our society and Christians often react very negatively against it, in reality it is part of the spiral of sin just as adultery, heterosexual fornication and lust are, each one of them destroying our lives, dishonoring our bodies and leading us to destruction. I intentionally say "us" and "our" because it is far too easy to point the finger at others. We look at the unbelievers or we look at other Christians and see their sins but we don't look at our own lust, greed and deceit. Look at the end list that Paul gives: "They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless" (Romans 1:29-31). We need to look at our own envy, deceit and gossip first! Judgement begins with the house of God! (1 Peter 4:17).
Do we have hope?
When I look at this list, I see that it really describes us and our nation to a greater and greater extent each day. And if that is true, can this nation stand without a moral base? I think that the cracks that we are currently seeing in our economy, government and place in the world are a testament to the fact that we cannot. Our only hope is to be like an unruly teen who comes to their senses - similar to the prodigal son that Jesus spoke about (Luke 15:11-32). But we cannot be waiting and looking for others to change first - we must make a change. Though I don't take Michael Jackson as a source for life direction, I believe his song "Man In the Mirror" said it right - "If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change." It starts with you and with me.
"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14). Amen! Let us humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face and turn from our wicked ways! Let us get back to the top of the steps and honor and thank God! We need God to forgive our sin and heal our land!
Great articulation of sound point. I only fear that not many think the way we do or should.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Craig Dean
After watching the documentary "Transformation" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dyrho_hoz5s) this Sunday morning, I believe if Christians continue to sincerely pray to God the Lord Jesus for the people around us, the community, and the nation, people can have hope to live in a better living place.
ReplyDeleteI my understanding, praying to God Jesus indicates we are helpless and hopeless, and really need the help, guidance, confidence, encouragement, comfort, and joy from God. It also indicates we would like to thank God for His mercy on us and the people around us.
I like the words, "If you want the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change", and hope I can do this.