Musing – Did Paul Understand How Civilizations Decline?

Hebraic Musing – Did Paul Understand How Civilizations Decline?

I think Paul understood how a nation can destroy itself, and he spelled out the steps clearly in the book of Romans 1:21-32.  And we the people have no excuse according to the preceding vs. 20 – “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” NIV  

How did Paul describe the decline process in seven steps in Romans 1:21-32? 

1.  KNEW GOD (past tense) - v21  For although they knew God,

2.  REFUSED TO WORSHIP OR BE THANKFULL  - they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him,

3. RESORTED TO FUTILE FOOLISHNESS  -  but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools

4. AND IDOLATROUS  -  v.23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. (Evolution drawings?!?!)

5. RESULTING IN GROSS IMMORALITY  - v.24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.

6. LEADING TO DENIAL & TOTAL DEPRAVITY  - v.25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.  26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.  Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.  27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.  Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

7. THE FINAL RESULT, TOTAL SOCIETAL CHAOS -  28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.  29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Points to ponder   and/or   RSVP

Did you see those things in today’s newspapers, TV news or “entertainment” media?

Why is the “Religion of Evolution” promoted?

Our nation was founded on Step 1 above – “knowing God.”  Where are we now?

In the next verse, 2:1, Paul said “You, therefore, have no excuse…”  Who was Paul talking to?

“…choose for yourselves… But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      January 7, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Reflection from messages viewed at the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter.