How can we discern environments lacking "fear of God" today? Scripture Focus Romans 3:18: “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” What the Verse Reveals • Absence of reverence: “No fear” signals open disregard for God’s holiness and authority. • Vision problem: The phrase “before their eyes” shows the heart’s posture is displayed in daily outlook and choices. • Corporate scope: Paul applies this description to societies steeped in sin (Romans 3:9-17); it is not merely an individual issue. Recognizable Marks of Places Without the Fear of God • Sin is normalized and celebrated (Isaiah 5:20). • Truth is relative; God’s Word is mocked or sidelined (2 Timothy 3:1-5). • Justice is twisted—evil is rewarded, righteousness penalized (Micah 3:1-3). • Words show open hostility toward the Lord: blasphemy, casual profanity, derision of biblical morality (Psalm 73:8-9). • Unchecked pride and self-promotion eclipse humility or dependence on God (James 4:6). • No repentance after wrongdoing; instead, excuses, spin, or applause (Jeremiah 6:15). • Pleasure and material gain hold central place; eternal realities are ignored (Philippians 3:18-19). • Leadership rejects divine accountability, making policies contrary to clear commands of Scripture (Acts 4:18-19). Practical Discernment Steps • Listen: What fills the conversation—gratitude to God or grumbling, boasting, and crude talk (Ephesians 5:4)? • Observe priorities: Are schedules, budgets, and celebrations shaped by worship or by self-indulgence (Matthew 6:21)? • Evaluate entertainment: Does it glorify sin or promote what is true, honorable, and pure (Philippians 4:8)? • Note responses to Scripture: Is the Bible opened with eagerness or met with eye-rolling and dismissal (Acts 17:11-12)? • Watch authority structures: Do leaders humbly seek wisdom from the Lord, or rule by intimidation and ego (1 Peter 5:2-3)? • Check treatment of the vulnerable: Is mercy shown to the weak, or are they exploited (Proverbs 14:31)? Contrasting a God-fearing Environment • Sin is acknowledged and repented of quickly (1 John 1:9). • The name of the Lord is honored in speech and action (Psalm 34:3). • Humility and teachability saturate relationships (Colossians 3:12-13). • Scripture shapes policies, ethics, family life, and recreation (Joshua 1:8). • Eternal accountability is kept in view; choices are weighed in light of Christ’s return (2 Corinthians 5:10-11). Living It Out • Test every setting—workplace, classroom, media feed, even church culture—against the verse’s diagnosis. • Where the fear of God is absent, guard your heart, shine light through holy conduct, and pray for awakening (Matthew 5:16; Jude 22-23). • Seek fellowship with those who revere the Lord, “spurring one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). |
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