Suppressing the Truth

Romans is an interesting epistle. It was written by Paul to people he had never met. It was written to a church he had never visited. Paul's intent was simply to lay a groundwork of solid doctrine for them in advance of him going to visit. So he has to be as clear as he can possibly be for this group whose doctrinal training and standing is unknown. As such, he explains at the outset,

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. (Rom 1:13-15)

"Under obligation," he says, "to preach the gospel." This epistle, then, is written about the gospel. Paul strongly affirms that he is not ashamed of the gospel "for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom 1:16), and "in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith." (Rom 1:17) Great, so we're all clear at this point. His aim is the gospel because the gospel is the power of God for salvation because it reveals God's righteousness (or justice).

And then he launches into the bad news.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. (Rom 1:18-19)

There's the problem. There's the starting point. You see, what makes the "good news" really good is the bad news. In that contrast this "gospel" -- this "good news" -- is huge. What is it that has raised God's wrath? The suppression of truth. What truth specifically? The truth about God. And it is that suppression of truth that causes all the other problems we see listed in the rest of the chapter.

This isn't, really, a surprise, is it? We are not really caught off guard by the claim that humans suppress the truth, are we? All you have to do is look at the media, look at the culture, look at society. Look at higher education, orginally intended to provide the free exchange of ideas, now blocking and banning such things. Look at everyday conversations and relationships. Lots and lots of deception. Lots and lots of hiding the truth, consciously or unconsciously. We are really, really good at suppressing the truth. We spin stories to arrive at a particular conclusion. We edge facts out with emotions that support our aims. We label things as "fake" and "hate" that just aren't necessarily so. We suppress the truth to others and we suppress the truth to ourselves.

But, remember, while the suppression of truth is pretty normal in everyday human beings, it isn't mere suppression of truth that has stirred up the wrath of God. It is truth suppression that produces "ungodliness" -- the failure to relate properly to God -- and "unrighteousness" -- the failure to do what's right -- all of which is based on the suppression of the truth about God. As a species, we are very, very good at suppressing the truth about God. We replace Him as supreme with just about anything else ... starting with ourselves. We deny His expressed characteristics. We deny His existence. We disregard His instructions. We do all this in word, to be sure, but more importantly in deed.

The gospel is that God has provided a way to avoid His righteous wrath and have peace with Him. Our lives are lived every day demonstrating that we deserve His righteous wrath in the everyday ways we suppress the truth about Him. The more clearly we see that in ourselves, the more we will appreciate "the Gospel" -- the magnitude of that good news. But, of course, if suppressing the truth is our problem, then it is not at all unlikely that we won't see the magnitude of the problem in ourselves or the wonder of His Gospel ... because we don't see Him as He is.