But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord. Genesis 13:13
And the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, Genesis 18:20
The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah were so horrible and reprehensible that God chose to destroy both cities with fire and brimstone from above. This was the only recorded time God did this to a specific city that I can recall. Maybe you've wondered what "sins" of Sodom and Gomorrah were so abominable that God singled them out to be utterly destroyed. The only two blatant sins that are mentioned in the text are homosexuality and violence, but I often wonder if those were the only ones.
Recently I read Romans 1 and was stunned by the list of qualities Paul lists that are found in people who reject God and engage in all sorts of sexual immorality.
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; Romans 1:28-31
That's quite a list, isn't it? Just above these verses, Paul describes a specific downward spiral from knowing God to finally ending up being a person with these qualities. Yes, these people start out knowing God!
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. Romans 1:21
Here's the downward spiral
They know God
They did not glorify God
They were not thankful to God
Their thoughts became futile
Their hearts became dark
They professed to be wise, but became fools
They worshiped created things rather than the creator (money, sex, power, beauty)
God gave them up
They dishonored their bodies with homosexuality
They ended up having all those qualities listed above.
These qualities reminded me of the ones listed in 2 Timothy 3:1-4
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.
Two things stand out to me about these Scriptures
1. These people once knew God or at least professed to know Him or had a form of godliness
2. How much of these qualities are found in our current culture, particularly in the generation now coming to adulthood. (Which is yet further proof we are in the last days)
Yet there is one more verse in Romans 1 that screams for our attention, the last verse of the chapter
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.
Apparently, even if you don't practice such wickedness but stand by and approve it, you are EQUALLY guilty! This immediately made me think of the many Christians and many churches I've heard of who accept homosexuality, not only in their congregations, but in their leadership. It also reminded me that we, as followers of Jesus, cannot stand by and keep our mouths shut. If we do, aren't we guilty of seemingly approving of such practices?
The take away from all this?
1. The first steps toward evil are simple ones. Not glorifying God and not being thankful to Him. Be careful not to take those first steps down!
2. Stand up for righteousness. Open your mouth and be counted among God's people. When you see evil, call it out. Yes, you will be hated, maligned, ostracized and maybe even persecuted. Jesus told us to expect this. The alternative? Being silent, being safe, and in the end being counted among the unrighteous.
Weighty words. Thanks for bringing these scriptures together, MaryLu. And for not being afraid to stand up for righteousness sake. I wish our pastors and churches would do the same. Love ya!
ReplyDeleteLove you back, girl!
DeleteVery well put, MaryLu. I'm reminded of something Billy Graham said years ago, We have become a society afraid of offending everyone but God.
ReplyDeleteOur Judges and lawmakers have begun denying the importance of Divine Providence in the drafting of our documents that made our country what our Founders fought to achieve.
People are forgetting or maybe never knew that our first school books used scripture in the lesson plan. Scripture was used in learning the alphabet. The children's prayer, "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep..." was introduced in the New England Primer, which was first published in 1690.
God has been taken out of our schools and slowly being taken from our society. Even our Entertainment (and I use that word loosely) ignore their responsibility to their contributions to how things are. Sodom and Gomorrah is a good description of where we are.
And yes, way too many churches have chosen the safe zone, which I believe is one reason people don't attend church anymore. Pastors stand before you and tell you what they think you want to hear, not what scripture tells them they should be telling us. Pastors are supposed to be our guides, our leaders and too many of them have failed in their duty.
Thank you, MaryLu, for your honest and fearless stance on telling us the way it is suppose to be. God love you for caring enough about your readers to guide us in the way your heart tells you scripture is.
They don't teach kids anymore about our founding fathers or that the Scripture was taught in school. It's a shame. I learned all of this later in life by doing my own research. But how many do that? And don't get me started on pastors who won't share the entire WORD. Blessings to you, Evelyn!
DeleteSliding??? I think the world is going like a bullet train! Let's not forget the sin of murder of innocent babies by abortion, too! This old world truly needs Jesus! Thanks for being bold!
ReplyDeleteLOL. I think you're right.. it's more like a bullet train! 60 million babies butchered in our country now since Roe vs. Wade.
DeleteAnother good message! Sodom and Gomorra 1st place sinners have been replaced by this generation. We have dived right into the pool of disaster and evilness and hatred of all goodness and Godliness. The pull is strongly pulling our younger generation into it with open arms and they are being taught all the evilness that is of the world. We need to become the Prayer Warriors for our time. Lifting up our loved ones who are not walking with God and pray even harder for those of who do not know or want to know Jesus Christ. Pray for those who come to church but are just sitting there. Pray for the Holy Spirit to walk up and down the aisles of our church and in between the pews and touch the ears and heart of all who sit there. As we walk the streets of our neighborhood- pray for the people in each house. Pray for our schools and teachers that the Holy Spirit would touch their hearts as they spend and teach the little ones more than what we would have them learn.
ReplyDeleteI want to be available to what Christ would have me do and what He wants me to be. I am in deep unspoken prayer and want to be able to help someone understand the deep and meaningful love of Jesus Christ that will cover any sin no matter what -- if they will only come, bend their knees and heart and confess and ask for forgiveness that they too can have the full knowledge and love of Jesus Christ our Savior.
You inspire me to want more and more of Christ within me.
Blessings to you.
Thanks Elsie! I worry about our young people too. They are literally being brainwashed in schools these days. I agree, we must be in prayer constantly for the lost. There is no greater joy than helping snag someone from the grips of hell. Blessings to you too. :-)
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