Romans 1:22-23 // The Isms

Based on Romans 1:22-23

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

The ancients seem like fools to us, bowing down to their statues (using their imagination too) and giving them food. But in their day this was considered wise and appropriate, and was important to function in society. Today we have different idols, and they are just as important to our lives, as we try to look smart by becoming fools. This can apply to so many people; empiricist biology professors, rationalist marxist revolutionaries, pragmatist capitalist businessmen or the idealistic liberal activist. But I am really thinking of the Doctor of Divinity. I have never met one, I am not talking about a specific person. But those who have received a liberal arts education in theology of any brand do not seem to be profited by it. Most learn to depend on the authority of experts to form their opinion and cannot understand why others have the arrogance to read the Bible for themselves. Any scholar that opens the door for textual criticism and doubts about the Bible is becoming a fool in order to seem smart. Oh, it is so tempting to seem smart, it is tempting to study theology, but any education that builds my pride and tears down my faith is a foolish education. But at what cost do I burn the idol of liberal education? I will need to serve God in places I do not like, filling roles I do not like. Do you see how God can surely lead us by the principles of his word?

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

The power and goodness of God who does not compromise with evil has been changed, as people willingly compromise to liberalism, materialism and scepticism in order to function in society. People are remaking God in their own image, I've done it and you probably have too. Our imaginations are so limited, I thought about it once, I was into imagining things different from reality but I realised that I could not imagine anything totally original, it always had some kernel of precedent in reality. I have repented of my vain imagination and try to stay in reality now. So the ancients made God into a host of animals which represented various traits these animals had, this is hardly different from our modern isms, which give people a sense of meaning and a way to understand the world. But any of these that are based on our own thinking and our observations of the creation - not based on genuine revelation from God - are idolatry. Follow God's counsel and spend time reading it, so your world view will be based on the truth of the creator himself.