One of the things that I absolutely love about scripture is that if you are struggling for an answer on an issue, you can find it in scripture. Recently, I have really been having a hard time understanding how someone that is a Christian can "give themselves over" to a lifestyle of sin. Not only live in that sin, but believe that what they are doing is not a sin. The times in my life that I have lived in habitual sin, I still knew it was sin. I do not remember trying to convince myself that it was not. I have realized through this passage that God is so merciful and that if I had continued on that road, I would have been given over to a "depraved mind".
This passage deals with many tough issues. Homosexuality being one of them. Homosexuality is always described as a "shameful lust" and "sexual immorality", therefore we can know from scripture that those type of acts are wrong in the eyes of God. However, let us not think that we are off the hook from this passage if we are not a practicing homosexual. Idolatry is the first and foremost sin that is pointed out. When we allow the created to take the place of the Creator in our lives we are committing idolatry. When the place of God is taken by something or someone else, a downward spiral begins in our lives that ends with a "depraved mind".
What exactly does it mean to have a "depraved mind"? I looked up the word "depraved" and it means "corrupt, wicked, or perverted". When a person is given over to a depraved mind, many other characteristics show up in their lives. Slander, malice, envy, gossip - just to name a few. And finally, they end up as faithless, heartless, senseless human beings. The last verse actually portrays the most extreme form of sin. Verse 32 says "...they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." This literally means that they are applauding, rather than regretting, the sin of others.
This is hard stuff! Where do we find "tolerance" in these verses? We do not, but that does not mean that we do not continue to show the absolute unconditional love of God to every human being on the planet.
My prayer for us today is that we would ask God to show us any sin in our lives that He has convicted us of and we have ignored. What do we need to get out of our lives so that we ourselves will not be given over to depravity in that area. I also want us to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ that have chosen a life of sin to the point that they have been given over to a "depraved mind". Let us pray that they will see the truth and that the truth will truly set them free from sin today.
"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts..." Hebrews 3:15
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