21because,
knowing God, they did not glorify [Him] as God, neither were thankful but were
made futile in their reasonings, and their undiscerning heart was darkened.
This is another fascinating passage to study and ponder. The
grammar in v21 is quite a bit more straight-forward than in v20. Where
translators differ is more just in the precise meanings of the words. Even with
that said, though, and granted that the different translations may vary some,
the basic meaning is pretty clear.
The verse is another total bombshell. The whole word has
been sold a bill of goods. It is a “given” of modern existence that we all
started as ignorant savages and slowly progressed to become the distinguished
and highly educated race we are. We are led to believe the “natives in the
jungle” are the remnant of our own ancient existence. However, the entire Bible
and this verse in particular, would tell us otherwise. Adam and Eve were not “ignorant
savages.” They were probably very attractive, very intelligent people. They
didn’t go around grunting and hitting each other with clubs. They didn’t kill
and eat each other. In fact, early in the Bible, we find people inventing music
and developing the science of metallurgy.
So then where did the “natives” come from? This verse and
those that follow answer that question. Man has not evolved. He has devolved. The Bible would have us all
know that natives in the jungle are living testimonies to the horrible, degrading
consequence of godlessness. Read
again the passage, “Knowing God…” What this verse would have us understand is
that people didn’t “develop” religion – they started with it! The human race started with a clear knowledge of the true
God.
But, as the verse says, “Knowing God, they did not glorify
Him as God, neither were thankful…” As we learned in v.20, the very creation
itself is shouting to the world that God exists and that He is very powerful.
In addition, Acts 14:17 tells us, “Yet He has not left Himself
without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and
crops in their seasons; He provides you with plenty of food and fills your
hearts with joy.” Acts 17:25 adds, “…He gives to
all life, breath, and all things.” However, knowing that God exists,
that He is powerful, and that He is very kind, the human race chose to push Him
away and pursue their own lusts and desires.
Where did it get them? When left to run its
ugly course, it turns human beings into ignorant savages who kill and eat each
other. As we learn in Proverbs, “Where there is no vision (of God), the people
perish.” Again, this is a total bombshell, but the plain truth is that only the
Bible stops the awful devolution of man. As Francis Schaeffer maintained in “How
Shall We Then Live,” our Western Culture has only prospered as it has because the
Bible was there to arrest our devolution and to give us dignity. Of all nations
on earth, America was built on the truth of the Bible and the worship of God
and we have arguably risen higher than any nation in history, perhaps besides
Israel. Our forefathers not only acknowledged God but so recognized Him they
set aside a day every year called “Thanksgiving.” In the last 50 years America
has systematically set about to shut out the Lord and where has it gotten us?
Children shooting each other at school and adults carrying on in unbelievable
division and hatefulness. The passage before us would tell us all that we are
following a very predictable pattern and that our only hope would be a revival
and the return of worship of God.
It is interesting to me to note that the
last words of this verse are singular. It says, “…and their foolish heart was
darkened.” Note that “heart” is singular, in what has otherwise been a plural
discussion. I would suggest this tells us Paul is speaking of the human race as
a group. I would suggest that is specifically what he has in mind. However, I
think we would err greatly if we failed to apply this truth to each of us
individually.
What do I mean? First of all, there is
great danger of reading this passage and seeing only “those bad people out
there.” Nathan would tell us, “You’re the man.” If I would be honest, I easily
tend to go about my life, doing what I want, giving little thought to God, and
certainly we can all admit we are far too often unthankful for His blessings.
We take Him and His kindness for granted. And then realize, as Christians, we
do so under the glaring light of the Gospel, under the clear knowledge of Jesus
and salvation by grace. The simple fact is we’re no better than “them.”
And we can see this devolution in each
individual life. When people push God out of their life, out of their family,
where does it get them? Relationships deteriorate and all sorts of bad things
start to happen – alcoholism, drug addiction, homelessness, illegitimate
pregnancies, abortions, and people literally killing each other.
We need
God. We need the Bible. Only the Word of God ministered to us by the Spirit of
God can restore our foolish, darkened hearts and lift us up to the dignity and
freedom God created us to know. As believers, a verse like this should call us
again to remember “the pit from which we were dug” and cause us to humbly beg
God’s mercy, to determine again to be in our Bibles and to consciously be
thankful to Him for His blessings. It should also remind us what’s really “wrong”
with the people around us. They need God. Whatever else may be “wrong” with
them, whatever else they may need, what they need most is to come into a saving
knowledge of the God who does exist, is very powerful, and who is a very kind,
if they only had eyes to see it.
Once again, Paul is telling us in Romans 1
what is “the problem,” but he’s doing so because there is a Solution, the
Gospel of Christ. The Bible would tell us there is an answer for “the problem”
with us ourselves and also for the people around us. Our God is a God of hope!
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