I thought I’d write a quick article to support my last one.
First, take a look at Romans 1:16-32…
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
(NKJV)
This is a pretty hard hitting piece of writing. Notice what is not being said. It does not say that the wrath of God is being revealed against people who are doing depraved things. It says that the wrath of God is (present tense) being revealed against people who suppress the truth. And what does this wrath look like, which is being revealed now? God hands people over to the lusts of their bodies. He removes the restraints. So the cause of the wrath is not depravity, the cause is the suppression of the truth, the result of the wrath is depravity. We see that a suppression of the truth results in homosexuality, futile thoughts, darkened hearts, foolishness, and a bunch of other things as listed in the text.
And what truth is being suppressed? The knowledge of God which is manifest (evident) in all people. And added to this is an unthankfulness. So the truth that God created all things, and that He created all things to be something specific, is suppressed and even despised.
Think of a large spring. To push it down I have to use my whole weight. And once it’s pushed down, I can’t just walk away expecting it to stay down. I have to stay on top of it, always. Even if I let up just a little, that spring is going to pop out from my grip and smack me in the face.
When I write an article against atheism, I do not want to help hold down any springs. I want to kick away the hands holding the springs down. Because I know the world view called atheism is a lie, and people need to be woken up from it. A rude awakening seems to be the only thing that might work.
Careful, those springs have quite a kick.
An excellent book I would recommend at this point is “Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert~An English Professor’s Journey into Christian Faith” by Rosaria Butterfield.
Pursuit of Percipience 