A Test Case…
As little as two decades ago, most Americans (58% according to Pew Research) disapproved of gay marriage. Certainly that percentage was higher during most of the 20th century, but as the 21st century dawned most not only thought that the legalization of same-sex marriage was unlikely in the near future but that public opinion would remain opposed to the practice. Most were wrong.
Same-sex marriage was given legal sanction by the U.S. Supreme Court in the summer of 2015, but opinion had already changed before the ruling. Pew Research conducted polling in 2013 and found that 14% of all Americans had changed their mind on the issue of same-sex marriage (ttps://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/03/20/growing-support-for-gay-marriage-changed-minds-and-changing-demographics/). By 2013 49% of all Americans supported gay marriage as opposed to only 44% who disapproved.
We might assume that younger generations are responsible for the change. There’s certainly some validity to that notion, given that Millenials (70% of those polled in 2013) overwhelmingly support same-sex marriage. However, support also grew among older generations. In 2003 on 17% of those born between 1928 and 1945 favored same-sex marriage, but when polled in 2013 those in favor had grown to 31%. Consider also that those with religious conviction have also changed their view of the matter. While 62% of professed Christians said that same-sex marriage violated their religious beliefs in 2003, that number had shrunk to 56% in 2013.
Unsurprisingly, the percentage of those in favor of same-sex marriage has increased in the past decade. In 2022 61% of Americans had a positive view same-sex marriage, with 36% saying the practice is “very good for society” (https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/11/15/about-six-in-ten-americans-say-legalization-of-same-sex-marriage-is-good-for-society/). And support has grown across political parties, particularly among younger generations: “Among those ages 18 to 29, 83% of Democrats and 64% of Republicans say the legalization of same-sex marriage is good for society.”
What happened? The same thing that happened to God’s people in the Old Testament.
What Happened To Judah?
Jeremiah prophesied during the decline and fall of the kingdom of Judah (Jeremiah 1.1-3). An outside observer in the years preceding the destruction of Jerusalem would have observed numerous problems, all of which were detailed in Jeremiah’s words:
- Judah was in a precarious geo-political position, situate between the great powers of Egypt and the Mesopotamian empires. They would be devastated by an empire from the north, i.e. Babylon (see Jeremiah 4.5-8).
- Judah’s kings were corrupt and abused their power (Jeremiah 22.13-17).
- The wealthy and ruling class were oppressive to the poor (Jeremiah 6.6; 23.1-2).
- There was general moral degradation (Jeremiah 7.9-10).
While all of these were significant issues, they were only symptoms of the real problem: Israel had forsaken the Lord for other gods! Note the Lord’s complaint against His people:
Jeremiah 1:16 (ESV)
16And I will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil in forsaking me. They have made offerings to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands.
Jeremiah 2:13 (ESV)
13for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
Jeremiah 2:26–28 (ESV)
26 “As a thief is shamed when caught, so the house of Israel shall be shamed: they, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets, 27 who say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ For they have turned their back to me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they say, ‘Arise and save us!’ 28 But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you, in your time of trouble; for as many as your cities are your gods, O Judah.
All of Judah’s ills were merely symptoms of this greater issue. Their precarious geo-political position was the result of their having forsaken the Lord for other gods (see Jeremiah 1.14-16). The oppression and immorality of the people was the result the people not knowing the Lord (Jeremiah 4.22; 5.1-5). Idolatry was the problem, and Judah was suffering the consequences: “Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.” (Jeremiah 2:11, ESV)
Symptoms Aren’t The Problem
When we read Romans 1.18-32 we probably feel like Paul is speaking about 21st century American society, and not the world that existed in the 1st century Roman empire. We would note that Paul spoke of the same ills that plague our society: the acceptance and promotion of homosexuality (vss. 26-28), no concern for the common good as men are filled with “covetousness… envy, murder, strife” (vs. 29), and no regard for authority as children are “disobedient to parents” (vs. 30). Just as “God gave them up” then, so He has continued to give man up “to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done” (vs. 28).
But Paul knew that homosexuality, murder, etc. were only symptoms of the real problem: “21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” (Romans 1:21–23 ESV) Idolatry was the problem, everything else was just a symptom.
Imagine a scenario where you visit the doctor because of chronic reflux. The doctor runs a battery of tests and detects advanced esophageal cancer. He knows the news is devastating, so rather than tell you the truth he prescribes an antacid. You take it, your symptoms improve and you feel better. But you’re dying; the symptoms weren’t the problem.
Diagnosing The Problem
Let’s return to our original test case; how did our society change it’s stance on same-sex marriage so quickly? We forsook God and turned to idols! No, not little statues and carved images, but we became idolaters all the same. Our society now worships the gods of sensuality (pursue whatever feels good to you) and of acceptance (we are so enlightened when we tell everyone that they’re fine). Idolatry has always been the problem.
Idolatry isn’t just the world’s problem, it’s the problem that God’s people continue to battle. Consider the admonition of James: “1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:1–4 ESV) James doesn’t use the term “idolatry”, but that is exactly what he was describing. Their quarrels and coveting were symptoms of a greater problem; they had left God for the world. They had begun to worship another god.
The aim of this study is to address the real problem in our lives. We become sick of the lustful thoughts, angry words and self-centerdness we see in our lives. So we get an accountability partner, delete social media and give to charity. We feel better, but we’re still dying. And we won’t be cured unless we start dealing with the real problem.
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