3 Uncomfortable Truths About the Reprobate Mind
Listening to the self-sabotage in the mainstream circles of lightweight so-called megachurch Christianity is burdensome.
Not only are the majority of the members of most churches spiritually illiterate, but with the immense lack of discernment there are plenty of churches where psychopaths and wicked people — even unsaved people — thrive, grow, greet, and preach.
This unfortunate reality is due to an absence of acknowledgement when it comes to the limitations of patience that God prescribes for someone to be saved.
Before going any further, let’s address any initial retorts you might be thinking.
Is the God of the Bible loving?
Yes.
Does the God of the Bible desire that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth?
Yes.
Does God allow for patience on His part and give chance after chance after chance for someone to hear and respond to the biblical gospel?
Yes.
Is God allowed to determine when someone is not going to change their mind and believe the truth?
Yes.
If someone is willing to remove God from their thoughts, is it unjust for God to do the same to that person?
No.
Join me in exploring three uncomfortable truths about the reprobate mind found in scripture, starting with defining the term with clear verses.
Defining Terms: Reprobate Means Rejected
We are warned about the fact that there is such a thing as a reprobate mind or reprobate people in both the old and new testaments. In Jeremiah 6:30, we see that the term reprobate is defined within the Bible itself, which is a term that clearly means to be rejected by God.
In context, the part of scripture where the definition for reprobate is defined comes from God describing a people from the north that are on their way to attack.
Let’s back up and cover Jeremiah 6:28–30 so we can get a clearer picture.
They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters. The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away. Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them.
Jeremiah 6:28–30
Now that we have a biblical basis and definition for the term reprobate, I want to cover a clear example from the new testament so that you can see that this is mentioned before and after Jesus’ earthly ministry.
In the first chapter of the book of Romans, the apostle Paul is writing a letter to believers in Rome and describes the process of someone being given over to what’s described as a reprobate mind.
To get the full context, follow with me through Romans 1:20–32.
We’ll start by dissecting verses 20–23:
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
Romans 1:20–23
A few things to quickly point out here.
First, there is no excuse for anyone alive to not know the truth. God has made Himself clearly known through creation and it is by choice through free will exercised that someone is able to or willing to reject the truth.
Second, someone who has been given over to a reprobate mind by God has not found themselves in that position based on one opportunity. In fact, these first few verses indicate that the person was able to have a functioning knowledge of who God is, but chose to reject Him anyway.
Third, the act of rejection is expressed via pride. It is shown through acts like not glorifying God and trying to turn God into an idol that represents something that can be seen and grasped like an animal or another person.
The result of this rejection from God, according to these first few verses, shows that the Bible clearly teaches that their “foolish hearts were darkened” — so beyond this point, something is clearly distinct about them.
We’re getting there.
Pride Comes After Their Fall
You’re about to begin to see a better example of how the mainstream Christian church and their inability to be bold and teach the Bible as it is written is leading to not just a lack of interest in the things of God from the next generation — but an outright rejection of it.
In these settings, you’ve more than likely heard a pastor or someone in leadership say something like “love is love” or that “God calls us to still love others no matter what” and that “God still loves the LGBT community” or something to one of those effects.
While the emphasis on a lack of hate might be thought of as an admirable passion for some (if you’re a social justice warrior or something), but it is not what Jesus taught on the subject and it has never been something that the Bible has been soft about.
Circling back to finishing our focus text from Romans 1:20–32, let’s now look at verses 24 and 25 before turning the lights out on this part of the subject.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever, Amen.
Romans 1:24–25
The reason I am taking my time with this text and showing it to you in chunks is because it is essential to understand why someone is being given over to something like a reprobate mind and having their heart darkened by God.
It isn’t something that you should take lightly.
In these two verses, we see that just like they were willing to change the uncorruptible God into an image that was made to be like corruptible man and animals, God decides to return the favor.
Just as they refuse to give God the place He deserves in their thoughts, God turns them over to uncleanness instead of purity and cleanliness as a result of their rejection of Him.
As a result of this action from God, this same group of rejecting people are now going to dishonour their bodies between themselves — but what does that mean?
Let’s read verses 26 and 27 now.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Romans 1:26–27
So we saw from verses 24 and 25 that God has given them up to uncleaness and that this will result in them dishonouring their bodies between themselves.
From reading the next two verses in 1:26–27, we now can see what is meant by that in how it is stated that men and women will now leave the natural use of each other (referring to a physical relationship) and will now pursue the same gender instead of the opposite.
This leads us only to one clear conclusion — the “LGBT community” is something someone only enters into once they are given over to a reprobate mind and ultimately means they have chosen to reject God so now they are forced to deal with the consequences of their own decision.
Reprobates Cause Chaos In More Ways Than One
When it comes to being aware of the dangers that someone given over to a reprobate mind presents, we must understand that it isn’t just limited to the LGBT observation.
While sure, it is a guarantee in a sense that that particular person has gone too far with God, it is not the only sign or thing to consider. In fact, the remaining verses in Romans 1 give us a decently large list.
The following verses (1:28–32) show us what those who have been given over by God to a reprobate mind are filled with, capable of, and ultimately deserving of according to the judgment of God.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 1:28–32
So far, we’ve expansively exhausted the focus texts in the old and new testament regarding this topic. We’ve covered why someone gets to that point, some of the tell-tale signs and actions they’ll take prior to being given over, who gives them over (God), what they’re given over to and what a guarantee of being given over might look like — now let’s examine what the same group of people are filled with.
Remember — they are filled with these things only after God gives them over to a reprobate mind.
Prior to examining the list, I want to make one quick point on the phrase “even as” that is mentioned in Romans 1:28. Again, like prior verses, it is giving a contrast for us to see that God is giving those who have fully rejected Him the identical type of treatment so that there is no confusion.
Those who are given up and over to a reprobate mind have decided not to retain God in their knowledge — so, accordingly, God removes them from His knowledge the only way that He is able to — removing their ability to be saved.
Now that this element of the topic is hopefully clear, let’s look now at the things that they are now filled with and how the Bible describes them:
- Unrigtheousness
- Fornication
- Wickedness
- Covetousness
- Maliciousness
- Envy
- Murder
- Debate
- Deceit
- Malignity
- Whispers
- Backbiting
- Hatred for God
- Despiteful (synonymous with expressing malice and hate)
- Pride
- Boasting
- Ability to invent or envision evil things
- Disobedience to parents
- Ability to have understanding (is removed)
- Covenant breakers
- Lacking Natural Affection
- Implacable
- Unmerciful
Unrighteousness shows that they are now not able to made righteous before God.
Fornication is a reference to one of the prior verses in Romans 1 that said that they would now commit dishonourable acts between each other.
Wickedness is defined as the quality of being evil.
Covetousness is defined as the disorderly desire for the possessions and/or wealth of another person.
Maliciousness is defined as having or showing a desire to cause harm to someone.
Envy is defined as a painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage.
Murder is the act of unjustly or illegally killing someone (think serial killer).
Debate shows that they will argue anything and everything just to be right or to exhaust you with unnatural amounts of strife.
Deceit shows their nature to exceedingly deceive or trick others and not abide by rules, laws, or other regulations — especially those imposed by the God of the Bible.
Malignity is defined as being synonymous with venom, spite, and malevolence.
By the way — this isn’t even the halfway point.
Does this sound like the kind of people we need to just love a little harder or include in church circles?
Let alone church leadership?
In the presence of children?
Absolutely not — but let’s finish the list so you can get a full grasp of who these people really are.
Whispers and backbiting show that they are the type to constantly start drama, gossip, and lies about others in addition to these other qualities — intentional chaos.
Hatred for God.
Despiteful is defined as being synonymous with vicious, nasty, or cruel.
Pride is defined as exaggerated self-esteem and is synonymous with conceit.
Boasting (the bragging type).
Inventors of evil things shows their unnatural thoughts about creating devices, experiences, or acts against others for the sole purpose of harm.
Disobedience to parents shows their blatant lack of regard for or respect of God-given authority.
Without understanding shows that they have lost their ability to have a full grasp of reality and this will often result in some sort of grand delusion.
Covenant breakers shows that they will be glad to make an agreement — another way of describing covenant — and then without any regard for you or another involved party break that agreement.
Without natural affection shows that the affection they now have (homosexual, etc.) are NOT naturally occurring and therefore they can be described as unnatural, or against nature, themselves. This also alludes to their lack of remorse due to their conscious being seared (inoperable) according to 1 Timothy 4:1–5.
Implacable is defined as not capable of being appeased, significantly changed, or mitigated. This shows that there is no reform that will work for these individuals, leading us into what the judgement from God says should be done to them.
Unmerciful shows that they have lost their ability to show or demonstrate mercy to others. Another way to consider this trait would be in addition to being filled with these things, there is no longer a conscious in them telling them when to stop.
I know that was a lot to chew on, but I don’t want you to come back and try to explain to me that loving them beyond God’s limitations of love for them or grace for them is going to do anything good.
Remember — they are implacable — so even if things seem like they are working, they are also covenant breakers and will find a way to snap and will wait for the right moment when your guard is finally down.
Additional Verses on this Subject
So far, we’ve looked at Romans 1:20–32 and Jeremiah 6:30, but there has to be more in the Bible about this subject, right?
Yes, absolutely.
Below is a list of additional scripture references that will be helpful.
