A Catalogue of Sin

A hundred years ago a French psychologist named Émile Coué believed that his patients could be cured if they repeated to themselves daily the words: “Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better.” We don’t hear this kind of advice very much today. The television news, which tends to focus on trouble and violence, persuades many of us that every day, in every way, things are getting worse and worse.

That is certainly the impression we get from Paul in today’s reading, an appalling catalogue of sin. This is the start of a long argument. I don’t think it will spoil your reading of it if I tell you how it ends in chapter 8, with one of the most glorious declarations of joy and hope.

How does Paul get from this dire description of how things are to how they will be—or rather can be now for those who believe in Jesus Christ?

He begins with the observation that the root of all evil is failing to worship the one true God. Even those who have never heard the good news of Jesus Christ have no excuse. They can see something of God in the world he has created. The colours of a sunset, the care of a bird for its fledglings, the growth of a plant from a seed, the miracle of the human body, are all clues to the nature of God. But ever since Adam and Eve human beings have rejected him for idols of their/our own choosing. We no longer make idols like the ones he is talking about here. But we have our own more sophisticated objects of worship.

And so “God gave them over” to all kinds of evil. Paul says this three times (vv 24, 26, 28). He respects our free will. He does not want automatons to worship him.

He found another way to win us back. That’s what Paul’s letter to the Romans is all about.

Respond in Prayer

Father God, please forgive me for the times I choose to worship anything, anyone, other than you, and for the many times I have fallen into the ugly sins I read about here. Help me to fix my eyes on Jesus and to worship him alone. Amen.

Annabel Robinson