And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness.

They are gossips,

slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Romans 1:28-32. ESV

 

Have you noticed how mad people seem to be getting towards one another? Whether it's politics, things in the news, or even sports, people just seem to be at each other's throats. Even the weather has become a point of contention. Just mention climate change and watch the sides divide and the long knives come out. People are going crazy!

 

I've noticed even in small communities similar to the one in which I live how people are taking sides against one another. People are mad at how the city is doing things, how the schools are doing things, and even how the church is doing things. They are either mad about how their neighbors are being treated, or maybe they are simply mad at their neighbors. It seems that people are just looking for reasons to be offended, and they don't have to look very far. It's like that old joke about the guy who would fight at the drop of a hat, and if nobody dropped that hat, he would drop it himself. Only in this case, it's not a joke. People are itching to get mad at somebody - someone to fight, someone to take issue with. 

 

So, what is going on?

 

Paul, I believe, in the passage we read above shed some light on the problem. While the list is long, the source of the problem is plain: When people grow farther apart from God and His word, they start to come unraveled. And after a while, God just lets it happen.  The inspired Apostle Paul said that God just gives people over to a debased mind! In other words, since they are chomping at the bit to leave God's way, God lets them. And then He lets them stew in their own juices because when people reject God, the only alternative is depravity.

 

And maybe that's it. Maybe we are all becoming a little depraved. The list of offenses that occur when God lets us have our own head are distressing. When you combine things like murder, malice and even hating God, it should not surprise us that God views these things as worthy of death.

 

In other words, if we don't repent in time, we will not be going to Heaven! Even more distressing for us should be the next logical conclusion: Those not going to Heaven are bound for Hell...

 

Do you believe that? The fact is that everyone who says they believe in the Bible better, for it is impossible for God to be wrong, just as it is impossible for Him to lie. So, we better take these warnings to heart.

 

One final thought: Did you notice what is included in the middle of this list? Right alongside the murderers and God-haters is this: Gossips!

 

Have you ever wondered why? Maybe it's because gossips always seem to be stirring the pot. They are always fanning the flames of divisiveness and hatred, and they are very good at what they do. And the sad (and scary) part about this is that we have all been guilty of gossip. While we might feel pretty good about ourselves for not taking part in most of that list of terrible sins, I doubt if there are many who can honestly say that they have not taken part in their fair share of gossip. 

 

That being the case, what can we do? The answer is fairly simple: Stop it! Or in more Biblical terminology, repent.

 

And maybe once we stop taking part in gossip, other people will as well. And when we stop adding fuel to the fires that seem to be making everyone more than a little mad and more than a little crazy, I believe we will find that good things will happen.

 

Maybe then we can stop being so angry all the time. Maybe then we can start loving each other as we should have been loving them all along.

 

It's something to think about, wouldn't you agree?