Romans 1:22 - “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”
Before his death in 1980, the noted French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre told a close friend, "I do not feel that I am the product of chance, a speck of dust in the universe, but someone who was expected, prepared, prefigured. In short, a being whom only a Creator could put here; and this idea of a creating hand refers to God.” Sartre was one of a school of philosophers called existentialists, which was divided into two groups – Theistic existentialism and Atheistic existentialism. Sartre was in the former group – Frederich Nietzsche, of “God is dead” fame, was in the latter group, which is also the more prevalent today.
It is unusual for a worldly wise philosopher to even believe in God, much less believe that God created all things. Man has become so wise in himself that he must be the cause of all things – the means of all things – the end of all things. Today, we refer to it as humanism. This is no new idea – it’s merely the latest in a long line of satanic beliefs that encourage anything other than the truth. Some examples include evolution, Gnosticism, agnosticism, mythology, and many more. Of course, Satan is the root of the problem – but he knows that he has a willing accomplice in man. He knows that man is too rebellious to accept the truth of God’s sovereignty. So just as he did to Eve in the garden, he supplants thoughts of doubt in man’s mind – and because of his rebellion, man is all too ready to comply.
Romans 1 shows the progression of man’s rebellion: v. 21 – “They knew God, (1) they glorified him not as God, (2) neither were thankful; (3) but became vain in their imaginations, (4) and their foolish heart was darkened.” Then (5) “they became fools,” and from there it gets worse and worse, ending with man being given over to a reprobate mind. But Christ tells us throughout the Scriptures that it doesn't have to be so. He tells us that we can submit ourselves to His control - give our hearts over to His love - give our bodies over to His mercy - give our minds over to His Will - and He will present us faultless before the throne of grace. Think about it!
It is unusual for a worldly wise philosopher to even believe in God, much less believe that God created all things. Man has become so wise in himself that he must be the cause of all things – the means of all things – the end of all things. Today, we refer to it as humanism. This is no new idea – it’s merely the latest in a long line of satanic beliefs that encourage anything other than the truth. Some examples include evolution, Gnosticism, agnosticism, mythology, and many more. Of course, Satan is the root of the problem – but he knows that he has a willing accomplice in man. He knows that man is too rebellious to accept the truth of God’s sovereignty. So just as he did to Eve in the garden, he supplants thoughts of doubt in man’s mind – and because of his rebellion, man is all too ready to comply.
Romans 1 shows the progression of man’s rebellion: v. 21 – “They knew God, (1) they glorified him not as God, (2) neither were thankful; (3) but became vain in their imaginations, (4) and their foolish heart was darkened.” Then (5) “they became fools,” and from there it gets worse and worse, ending with man being given over to a reprobate mind. But Christ tells us throughout the Scriptures that it doesn't have to be so. He tells us that we can submit ourselves to His control - give our hearts over to His love - give our bodies over to His mercy - give our minds over to His Will - and He will present us faultless before the throne of grace. Think about it!
They Became Fools
I don’t believe the naysayers,
Who do not trust the Lord,
Who try to find some other way
To go to their reward.
I don’t believe the modernists,
Who scoff at God’s true Word.
They try to alter Holy Writ
So all the lines are blurred.
I don’t believe the monkey-men,
Who say that we evolved –
Those who say the riddle of
Life’s origin they’ve solved.
I don’t believe the bone peddlers,
Who teach eons of time.
They say that homo sapiens
From lower forms did climb.
The way it all boils down, now,
For man in his own eyes –
More foolish he continues,
Though thinking himself wise.
© 2006 Paul Stultz
Quote – “All the ills from which America suffers can be traced to the teaching of evolution.” – William Jennings Bryan
I don’t believe the naysayers,
Who do not trust the Lord,
Who try to find some other way
To go to their reward.
I don’t believe the modernists,
Who scoff at God’s true Word.
They try to alter Holy Writ
So all the lines are blurred.
I don’t believe the monkey-men,
Who say that we evolved –
Those who say the riddle of
Life’s origin they’ve solved.
I don’t believe the bone peddlers,
Who teach eons of time.
They say that homo sapiens
From lower forms did climb.
The way it all boils down, now,
For man in his own eyes –
More foolish he continues,
Though thinking himself wise.
© 2006 Paul Stultz
Quote – “All the ills from which America suffers can be traced to the teaching of evolution.” – William Jennings Bryan
