Keeping a Biblical Worldview in a Culture of Sin

For many Christians we are dumbfounded when we look around at what is going on in our society. We look at the sin that seems to prevail in our country and world and we ask ourselves, what is going on? That is the very question that I want to answer today from the book of Romans. 
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Romans 1:18-32
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Professing to be wise, they became fools, and 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.

Therefore, God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error.

​And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they do not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. 

​I know that this passage is very sobering. It is a hard truth to read and hear. But we must know it and believe it in order to have a correct understanding of what is going on and then to be able to walk away having the joy of the Lord in it. 

So what is going on? Look at verse 25. Why does it seem as though our nation is changing rapidly and losing all sense of morality? It seems inconceivable to us that we would continue to legislate sin like abortion, same-sex marriage, no-fault divorce, and on and on the list goes. Why does Romans 1:18-32 look like a prophecy for our day and age? For one, nothing is new under the sun. But for two, this is what happens when God gives people over to their depraved minds. 

There is no excuse for any person to not find themselves worshiping Christ. The gospel has been preached here in America, creation itself screams out its makers praise. Christ deserves and commands the worship of every citizen in America. But what do we see? 

People refusing to give honor where it is due (verse 21). We would rather call our judges who preside over the court room “honorable” than attribute this title to the One who presides over all of creation. Our nation has darkened its heart against God by refusing to acknowledge Jesus as Lord. 
 
We proclaim on the rooftops how wise we are (verse 22) and put all kinds of pride-filled letters after our professors’ names while they blaspheme the Holy One. We have created gods in all kinds of forms and fashion (verse 23). We have worshiped the earth and ourselves far and above the One who spoke and all things came into being. We have a day that we set aside in April to celebrate mother earth and at the same time we call it hate speech to preach the infinite Creator’s written revelation of Himself and His glorious attributes. 

Why is same-sex marriage legal today (verse 26)? Why do we have people who are exchanging that which is natural for that which is unnatural and sinful in sexual relations? Because God will give people over when they reject Him. We have people who are rejecting God’s creative perfection saying that He got their gender wrong at birth. 

We have people who have the audacity to take the life of our most precious and vulnerable. The greatest scourge that could ever come on our nation is the scourge of abortion. Who do we think we are, to take the life of the most innocent among us? Shame on America for allowing this to happen and calling it lawful! Look again at verse 25. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie. We have begun to worship self in such an egregious way that we now say that having a baby is an inconvenience to my life. Or we excuse ourselves and say that the child may have health problems, or it was unplanned, so he or she must be terminated. And we wonder why God would give a nation over to its own depravity?

All unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil, slander, malice, the list goes on with what we are seeing in our country. Look at the last piece of verse 32. They give hearty approval to those who practice them. We have organizations dedicated to preserving institutions of sin. Planned Parenthood? Who plans life but God alone! Law firms dedicated to seeing sinners go free? Our national language has turned into “whatever is right for you” instead of “what does God’s Word say?” I cannot confidently say that God has given us over in every way to these things, but I can say according to this passage, it should not surprise us if this is the case. That is my point if you were wondering where I was going with this. 

I am in no way seeking to be political today, I am seeking to be biblical in how we view the world and what is going on. Our worldview needs to be shaped by the Word of God. We look at this list in Romans 1 and pray fervently that God would either withhold His hand of judgement so that we can repent as a nation or that He would strike and strike hard to purify this nation for His glory. 

I am writing this to make sure that we understand what is going on in general. The wrath of God will be revealed against a nation that thrives on ungodliness and unrighteousness. He will not sit idly by while a nation claims wisdom as it blasphemes Him and rejects His Word and even His gospel. Our Lord will reveal His wrath in His timing and on His scale, but it will come.

Let us never be caught in the worldview that says that America will be preserved because we are a Christian nation. When we exchange the truth of God for a lie (there are many listed out here), then He will give them over and they will be destroyed. When a nation legislates sin, you can be sure Romans 1:18-32 applies to it. 

All that to be said, I want us to be encouraged by this passage. Not because this is good news for us as a nation, but because at least now we can understand what is going on. This passage explains a lot! This passage should be one of the go to’s that shapes our response. We need Romans 1! I want us to be informed people. Because people who are informed by the Word of God are people who are not shocked when a passage such as this comes true of their nation. 

And never forget this; do not let your heart be troubled, your hope is not in a nation. If you are in Christ, then your hope is infinitely tied to the Eternal Governor and Prince of Peace, your hope is in the Author of Life and Savior of souls. Our nation may one day be given over to its sinful principles and it may be destroyed for it, but your eternal life and eternal security is found in Christ alone. 

Let your worldview be driven by the Word of God, even if it is a hard truth to swallow. It is good to look around at what is going on and be grieved at the level of public and even lawful sin, but we know what is going on because God’s Word tells us. So be encouraged, your worldview isn’t blown out of the water by a sinful world. It is what we are to expect. 

Now go and share the good news of Christ to those who fall into the categories of sinful behavior that we have in our text for today. As long as they have breath, there is hope! Right before our passage today Paul tells us this, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” Our nation may be condoning sin and encouraging sinful lifestyles, but the gospel is still just as powerful to change lives! The gospel of Jesus Christ has not lost any of its luster just because sin reigns in the hearts of men. It is still the power of God unto salvation!

​In Christ,
Pastor Brian

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