Posted on 11/08/2011 1:37:05 PM PST by NYer
thanks you for that.
The future depends on well raised children. You’re doing you part!
Many sinful behaviors are mentioned, but sexual corruption is a key step in the chain of depravity and marks a critical transition. Here's the succession of events described in Romans 1:
God reveals the descent into evil. At some point he ceases striving to save and actually hardens the hearts of people, giving them over. They become "reprobate", rejected. According to Romans 1:26 God has rejected the sodomite.
I agree in the main. If there is a picky point of possible dispute in interpreting the events of the passage, it’s whether the “meanness” part must logically precede the “perverted” part, simply because Paul has chronicled them in that order. I think it many cases it does, as meanness can be learned or resolved upon as a young child while some degree of sexual maturity is needed before perversion appeals to somebody. IMHO, the devil likes the perversion because that’s such a mean thing to do to the image of God. Angels, bad or good, are not documented as being interested in sex for its own sake. And we must admit, we see a lot less frank idolatry in America than we do homosexuality.
I should say, whether the “meanness” part cannot logically precede the “perversion” part.
Just because some noted bible scholar has restated Paul in chronological fashion doesn’t mean that’s all that can be validly perceived about the events described in the passage. Evil is a full court parallel press, not a Von Neumann machine.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.