The Downward Spiral
Could such an ordered, systematic creation be the result of mere
chance? No more than shaking a paper bag filled with watch parts
might produce an accurate timepiece. But evolutionary atheism is
nothing more than "futile speculation," explanations devised by
people who want to suppress the truth about God from their own
consciences. Thus, their foolish hearts are darkened (v. 21).
The human race is devolving, not evolving. Instead of ascending into
freedom and enlightenment, mankind, having rejected the true God, is
receding into the bondage and gloom of its own sin and unbelief.
When men and women refuse God, they become enslaved to sin,
enveloped in darkness, entrapped by futility. Forsaking God, they
forsake truth, light, and eternal life. They spurn the basis of all
morality and start on the downward spiral Paul describes in these
verses.
Spiritual darkness inevitably accompanies moral corruption. People
who reject God necessarily forfeit righteousness. Godlessness
inescapably leads to moral perversion-and vice versa. Unbelief and
immorality are thus inextricably woven together.
The death of common sense. "Professing to be wise, they became
fools" (Rom. 1:22). Those who refuse to honor God lack spiritual
understanding. Even their rational faculties are corrupted by their
unbelief. Their thinking is especially twisted with regard to spiritual
matters, because their sin is spiritual rebellion. They have no means of
discerning between truth and falsehood, right and wrong. Having
rejected God, they have no hope of reasoning their way to spiritual
truth. They are fools in the most profound sense of the word: "The
fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they
have committed abominable deeds; there is no one who does good"
(Ps. 14:1; cf. 53:1).
The foolishness that verse describes is a comprehensive spiritual
blindness. It is the worst foolishness of all. It corrupts the conscience
and leaves the unbeliever incapable of right thinking about any
spiritual matters.
Our society is shot through with spiritual foolishness. It seems moral
judgment has been completely overturned. Public schools cannot
teach the Bible or even morality but are encouraged to instruct
children in sexual technique, then supply them with free condoms.
School nurses are not supposed to dispense aspirin without parental
consent, but they may send young girls to abortion clinics without
informing anyone in authority. Baby whales and baby seals have
more legal rights than unborn infants. Courts are more concerned to
protect criminals' rights than victims' rights.
Common sense rarely figures into public policy or society's sense of
morality. Professing wisdom, our culture has enshrined its foolishness
proudly for all to see.
MacArthur, J., F., Jr. (1994). The vanishing conscience (Electronic
ed.). Logos Library Systems (62). Dallas: Word Pub.
There is no hurry?
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All Blessings,
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