“…men who suppress the truth…” Romans 1:18c

In 1976, Francis A. Schaeffer published the book, “How Should We Then Live”. In the book, Schaeffer compared the philosophic, scientific, and religious similarities of ancient Roman culture to the post-modern culture of America. Schaeffer used those similarities to predict the downfall of America from within. He exposed the impending relativistic thought of post-modernity and predicted how it would lead to a growing fragmentation of American society, leading to the collapse of long-standing mores and an embrace of relativism in education and law.

Mankind rarely learns from the mistakes of the past, which is why history repeats itself. Paul presented an argument similar to Schaeffer’s by contrasting absolute truth and relativism, outlining relativism’s progressive degeneration of thought. Like Schaeffer, Paul even used the art of his day (the sculptured works used as idols) to support his argument against illogical thinking and the decline of society through choosing self-satisfaction over absolute truth (vv. 22 – 23).

Paul began his argument by stating those who live righteous, good lives, do so through the dynamic of faith (v.17). The intangible nature of faith seems to be a frequent roadblock to secularists who cannot get past their preoccupation with pleasure. So, Paul confronts secularists with the certainty of an accountability before God, stating God’s wrath, “…is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness…” (v.18). Paul was presenting the certainty of absolute truth and its enduring quality for every generation. To support this premise, Paul then revealed the reality of God’s existence, using creation as proof:

“…since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (v.20)

Paul then asserted that relativists do not begin that way. As a child, faith is an easy concept to grasp, and discipline is accepted as a constant; also, children learn to trust caregivers, learning to believe the caregiver(s) know(s) what is best because of past experience (proofs of caring). Paul, then explained how childlike faith is abandoned for futile thinking in adulthood:

“…although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.” (vv. 21 – 23)

Idolatry was prevalent in the Roman civilization – the more ‘gods’ that could be created, the greater the acceptance of the emperor being a living god, leading to further compromise of reality and rational thinking. The dynamic hasn’t changed… secular humanists still propagate the lie of relativism based on the needs or desires of the individual. This one presupposition is the platform for many who fall into the trap of self-distrust, leading to questions of gender identity and sexual preference… both of which, at their core, are sensual gratification – the self-soothing behavior adapted in infancy (sucking a thumb, holding a stuffed animal or blanket, etc.).

Men who suppress the truth seek to propagate a system where others can be manipulated for their selfish purposes and continue the cycle of dysfunction and social destruction. We will discuss this destructive pattern tomorrow. For now, we are to be the people of the truth, expressing the truth of God through love that connects hearts to the heart of God. How is your life connecting others to The Way, The Truth, and The Life?

Have a blessed day…