The Wrath of God Against All Unrighteous: Gentiles and Jews 1: 18 - 3:20

Romans 1:18-32

In Romans 1:18-32, Paul focuses on God’s wrath towards those that have followed a life indulgent to worldly living. These people who God focuses his wrath on are described in words such as “inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, and ruthless” It’s hard, as a born- and-raised Christian, to read a passage like that and not immediately revert to some heathen mental image that we first created in Sunday school when our teacher described in a scathing voice the cities of Sodom & Gomorrah. We think of chaotic sin blaring like late night TV with scenes of a hellish frat house partying in the background.

      Paul describes these people as those who did not see fit to acknowledge God, and explains that because of this God gave them up to “a debased mind.” And as a Christian, I easily read this and think: “Well obviously, they deserve it.” My internal monologue begins to justify why I would never be on that list. And though I can almost write myself off the guest list for such a setting, I slightly cringe to think that I could probably have quite a good time around this type of person. If these are the inventors of evil, I am sure their jokes are pretty original and clever. If they are people who covet, you know they will drive the best cars. And who didn’t think that being haughty was something to aspire to? It means you make other people not think they are as good as you.

      It’s right about this point in the digression, that a horrible thought hits me: If this is the accountability that God holds people to that may not have ever heard the story of Jesus but should simply believe because “what can be known about God is plain,” then what kind of disgust does he feel towards me when I allow myself these worldly pleasures?

      For if there is any person on this earth that can not use the excuse of living without hearing the truth in this life, it isn’t me. I have been immersed like many of us in the culture of Christianity since birth, in studying of scripture since I could read, and married to a believer who is there to hold me accountable when I am weak. I am surrounded by faith. I have no excuse. I am therefore more responsible for my actions and the way that I live my life since I have been shown so much about God and his nature.

      Perhaps I should take great comfort in the redeeming blood of Jesus at reading this, but sometimes it can be hard to fully believe that his grace is sufficient for a sinner like me. Thankfully Paul does an equally convincing job of that in latter chapters, as he does in convicting me in this section.