The cultural slide into immorality culminating in people exchanging natural sexual relations for unnatural sexual relations is not the cause of our cultural deterioration, it was caused by a larger cultural deterioration. Finally, it is restated in verse 28:įurthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. Third, because people exchanged the glory of God for the lower glory of created things, worshiping them (Romans 1:23). Then, because people refuse to glorify God and give Him thanks (Romans 1:21). First, because people suppress the truth about God as Creator (Romans 1:18-19). Romans 1:18-32 states the cause or reason for this four times. And God gave them over to it because of something- something described in the previous verses.
The reason women and men exchange or abandon their natural relations and take up unnatural ones is because God has given them over to it. Although every sinful behavior will bear bad fruit, or have consequences, the point here is that this behavior is the consequence of something else. The first three words (NIV) are, “Because of this…” in the ESV, “For this reason…”. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. (27) In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. Romans 1:26-27 speaks to this issue:īecause of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Biblically, we should know why this is happening. However, we can say that this greater openness has provided more opportunity, more pursuit, and therefore increased practice of homosexuality in our nation over the last three decades. Whether homosexuality is increasing or that this perception is the result of greater openness to it, I can’t prove one way or the other. In an effort to help believers be effective witnesses of the Gospel, I want to take another look at Romans 1 – 2 and examine how the Scriptures answer these questions: Why is homosexual practice increasing? How do we respond to our gay and lesbian friends, family, or co-workers? Why does America increasingly celebrate homosexual practice? Why is homosexual practice increasing?
Petersburg, the home of the largest pride festival in Florida. This weekend the annual Gay Pride Parade occurs here in St.