I’m going to write series of a few posts on a topic, which actually started with my post on Wednesday.  The topic will be revealed as the answer to a little quiz.  You can cheat, the answer is in Romans 1, but just for fun I’d like to see answers and guesses in the comments before you look (I’ll post the answer by the end of the weekend).

There is a litany of sinful behavior listed in Romans 1, and there is one attitude of the heart that is listed as the root cause.  The litany of behaviors follows, the question is: what is the root cause?

Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.  For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Man, I looked and I still don’t know. Is there a “not smart enough to play” card?  Looking forward to the series, though.

Hey Jim, is it pride? I am familiar with that passage but can’t remember for sure what the cause was but it seems to me that pride would cause all of those behaviors.

Oh man!  I think I know so I probably shouldn’t say.  I really want to play though!  I will wait it out a little.  Jim, do I know (you can read my mind after 18 years, right?)?

Believing lies instead of the truth? Worshipping the creature rather than the Creator?

Okay, I gave everyone time.  Is it ungratefulness?  I am going to go check now.

OK, I can’t take it any longer.  Just can’t keep my mouth shut.  Barbra, the key is to look for words like “because” or “therefore” which indicate a cause and effect.

21For 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. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 THEREFORE God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts…

Pride certainly has a role, as does worship of earthly objects.  But the root… at the beginning of it all is in verse 21:  They did not glorify God nor gave thanks to Him.

A lack of appreciation for Him and the lack of a thankful heart leads to searching for gods in other places and starts a slide into complete Godlessness.  Thankfulness… who knew it was so important?