Romans 1:26-32: a reflection

26For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature. 27Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error. 28Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers, 30backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.

This is a hard and sobering passage, part of Paul's sweeping diagnosis of what goes wrong when humanity turns away from God. He describes a downward spiral: when people suppress the knowledge of God and refuse to honor him, God gives them over to disordered desires and a darkened mind, and a flood of brokenness follows. Paul is not singling out one group; he is describing the human race in rebellion against its Maker, and the wreckage that rebellion produces in every direction.

What is striking, if we read honestly, is how the long list of sins that follows implicates everyone. Alongside the more obvious sins, Paul names envy, strife, gossip, slander, arrogance, boastfulness, disobedience to parents, and being unloving and unmerciful, the everyday sins that live in every human heart, including our own. No one reads this list and comes away innocent. Paul's point is not to let us condemn others while excusing ourselves, but to show that all of us, in one way or another, are caught in this rebellion. This diagnosis leads directly into his conclusion, a few verses later, that every one of us has sinned and needs grace.

The right way to read this passage is not with a finger pointed at others but with an honest look at ourselves. Paul holds up a mirror to the whole human race, and each of us finds our own reflection somewhere in it, if not in the more obvious sins, then in the pride, the envy, the harsh words, the unmercifulness. And that is exactly the point: to bring us to the end of our self-righteousness and drive us to the grace that Paul goes on to proclaim. Do not use this passage to judge others; let it humble you, and send you to the mercy of God in Christ, which is the answer to the whole diagnosis.

Lord, this sobering passage diagnoses what goes wrong when we turn from you, and if I read honestly, I find myself in the list, in the pride, the envy, the harsh words, the unmercifulness of my own heart. Keep me from using it to judge others while excusing myself. Let it humble me instead, and drive me to the grace you offer in Christ. I am not innocent; I need your mercy. Thank you that in Christ it is fully given. Amen.