What does the "...gave them over to..." in Romans 1:24, 26, and 28 mean?

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

Answers

As I understand it, it means God removed his restraining hand and allowed them to indulge their own perverse lusts. The CEV renders it, "God let these people go their own way" and "God let them follow their own evil desires."

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

And, strongly implied in the statements is the idea of letting them personally discover the consequences of their choices.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

John,

You have said, "...God removed his restraining hand and allowed them to indulge their own perverse lusts."

Does that mean that God restrains us at times from sinning? I believe that God restrains Satan from tempting us beyond what we can handle (with God's help)... but does God limit our reaction to temptation? If so, how does that fit in to our 'free will'?

What is behind my asking the original question of this thread? I have a couple (heterosexual) in a Sunday School class that I teach that are convinced that homosexuality is NOT a choice (which is the argument put forth by the homosexual agenda and believed by many... even in our churches). I am working on a future lesson(s) to address this and would like to have a good understanding of these verses.

IF God removed His restraining hand from Satan... and allowed them to be tempted beyond what they could resist... then they did NOT have a choice, did they? Do they?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

Sam,

You have said, "And, strongly implied in the statements is the idea of letting them personally discover the consequences of their choices."

Don't we always "...personally discover the consequences of [our] choices."? (brackets mine)

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

Of course homosexuality is a choice. Everything we do in life is a choice. We choose whether to get up and go to work in the morning or stay home. Of course, if we choose to stay home, there are negative consequences to our actions.

I assume the couple in your Sunday school class believe they were "born that way." So what? Even if it is proven that people are born that way (and it hasn't been!), what difference does it make? Supposing (and I don't doubt that this will eventually happen!) they find a gene that makes people predisposed toward pedophilia? Does that make it OK to be a pedophile? Of course not, what absurd logic! How is homosexuality any different? It is still a sin! God expects us to rise above our fallen nature, and holds us accountable when we willfully refuse to do so. Whether or not we are predisposed to it, we still have a choice.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

John,

I agree.

But still don't understand what "God removed his restraining hand and allowed them to indulge their own perverse lusts." means....? What is God normally restraining that he decided not to in this case? Us from sinning... or Satan from tempting... or something else?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

Apparently, as long as man shows some semblance of moral direction, God displays some providential restraint on evil, but when man completely rejects any sense of morality, God says, "fine, have it your way" and removes His providence. That's my guess, anyway.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

Just as heterosexuals have the choice of not sinning by committing fornication or adultery, homosexuals have the choice of not indulging their lower natures.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

John

I am not a MD nor PH.D but I am old and do have a lot of common sense and years of experience.

I have dealt with many child abusers,(arrested them), in the last 20 years. I have never met such a person that I did not feel was a product of their enviornment. It seems that early childhood development contributes to this. A second contributing factor is often porn. This would also apply to the homosexual's of whom I have looked into their backgrounds because of police matters.

I will never believe that lifestyle is because of a genetic factor. It is based upon and rooted in sin. These things are not a disease but sin. I believe the, (genetic factor) excuse will be eventually sold to the public.We in our nation seem determined to emulate Sod. and Gom. When the church accepts the (genetic factor) I suspect he next step is homosexual weddings, homosexual preachers, further denial of the scriptures and condemnation of those that might still believe they are the word of God.Already these things are running rampant on university campuses and our tax dollars are paying for their furtherance.

Robin

I see, (God gave them over)as, they were pulling so violently away that God released them.I do feel that not only does God limit Satan in our lives but helps us resist temptation by the Holy Spirit. Most lilely if it were not for the Holy spirit we would succumb more often and more easily. I am at work now but will look for the scriptures to verify my pre-conceived ideas when I am at home.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000