When Belief in God Declines Declines, so does the World

 

 A statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff in New Mexico said: "We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail.

"This is an active investigation - however, at this time we do not believe that foul play was a factor."

Hackman was 95, and his wife - a classical pianist - 64.

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 G.K. Chesterton about "believing everything" is complex. However, the essence of his thought on this matter is widely recognized, and it revolves around this concept:The idea that when people abandon belief in God, they don't necessarily believe in nothing; they become capable of believing in anything.^{1 G. K. Chesteron}

This concept is often paraphrased in ways like:

• "When men choose not to believe in God, they do not thereafter believe in nothing, they then become capable of believing in anything."²³

Here's a breakdown of what Chesterton was getting at:

• He observed that a decline in traditional religious faith didn't lead to a purely rational or skeptical worldview. Instead, it often resulted in people embracing various other beliefs, sometimes uncritically.
• He highlighted the human need for belief. When traditional faith weakens, that need doesn't disappear; it seeks other outlets.

Therefore, while a single, perfect quote might be elusive, the core message is that a lack of grounding in a solid belief system can lead to a susceptibility to believing in a wide range of things, potentially without critical discernment.

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 The phrase "believe a lie and be damned" comes from the Bible, specifically from 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12. To understand it, it's essential to consider the context:

• Context:

  • This passage discusses the "man of lawlessness" (often associated with the Antichrist) and the "coming of the lawless one."
  • It describes a time of deception where false signs and wonders will mislead people.
  • The core issue is the rejection of "the truth" and taking pleasure in "unrighteousness."

• Meaning:

  • "God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie": This indicates that those who deliberately reject the truth will be susceptible to deception. Some interpretations suggest that God allows them to fall into deception because they have already rejected the truth.
  • "That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness": This signifies that the consequence of choosing falsehood over truth, and delighting in evil, is condemnation.
  • Essentially this passage is saying that people who refuse to accept the truth, and instead prefer to live in unrighteousness, will be subject to strong delusions, and therefor will believe lies. This action of believing lies will bring about their damnation.

• Key points:

  • The emphasis is on a deliberate rejection of truth, not simply being mistaken.
  • "The truth" in this context refers to the gospel and the teachings of Jesus Christ.
  • "Damnation" refers to the spiritual consequence of rejecting God.
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The idea that when people abandon belief in God,
 
they don't necessarily believe in nothing  
 
they then become capable of believing in anything."  

In summary, the phrase highlights the serious consequences of choosing to believe falsehood and rejecting the truth, particularly when that rejection stems from a desire to indulge in unrighteousness.

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This verse, Romans 1:23, is a powerful indictment of idolatry and a key component of Paul's argument about humanity's descent into sin. Let's break down its meaning:

Context:

• Paul is establishing the universal need for salvation. He argues that both Gentiles and Jews are under God's wrath because of their unrighteousness.
• He begins by demonstrating that God's existence and attributes are clearly visible in creation (Romans 1:19-20).
• Despite this clear revelation, humanity has chosen to suppress the truth and turn away from God.

Analysis of the Verse:

• "And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God...":
  • "Glory" refers to God's inherent majesty, splendor, and worth.
  • "Uncorruptible" emphasizes God's eternal and unchanging nature, in contrast to the fleeting and decaying nature of creation.
  • "Changed" indicates a deliberate act of substitution, a replacing of the true God with something else.
• "...into an image made like to corruptible man...":
  • This highlights the absurdity of idolatry. Humans, who are themselves mortal and flawed, create images of themselves and worship them as gods.
  • This points out the human tendency to lower God to human levels, rather than recognizing His transcendence.
• "...and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.":
  • This expands the scope of idolatry beyond human images. It includes the worship of animals, representing a further degradation of God's glory.
  • It showcases the wide range of idols that people create, from the grand to the seemingly insignificant.
  • This also shows a decending order of creation, from man, to flying animals, to larger land animals, to smaller ground animals. This highlights the degradation that man has subjected God's glory to.

Key Interpretations:

• Idolatry as a Rejection of God's Revelation:
  • Paul argues that idolatry is not simply a harmless cultural practice. It is a fundamental rejection of the clear revelation of God in creation.
• The Degradation of Humanity:
  • By worshipping created things, humans diminish themselves and their understanding of God.
• The Substitution of Truth with Falsehood:
  • Idolatry involves exchanging the truth about God for a lie, a fabricated image that has no power or reality.
• Spiritual Decent:
  • This verse is part of a larger section of Romans 1 that shows the spiritual decent of humanity. The rejection of God leads to more and more ungodly behavior.

In essence, Romans 1:23 portrays idolatry as a profound act of ingratitude and rebellion against God, a deliberate choice to exchange the Creator for the creation.