When a Nation’s Leaders are Turned Over to a Depraved Mind
“Our nation’s leaders have lost their minds!” That is the answer that many people would give for the current state of the nation, and western culture overall. When a government creates policies that attack the family and the sanctity of marriage, that promotes the large-scale murder of children in the womb, and who target Christians for surveillance by intelligence agencies, then it is a fair assessment that the people in charge have lost their minds. Viewing the current situation through a biblical lens, we will make the case that the lack of discernment and common sense by many of the world’s leaders is because they have been turned over to a depraved mind. They have lost the ability to make rational decisions, and are unable to determine right from wrong, or truth from error. Rebellion against God over the years has brought God’s judgment on these leaders who have inspired, approved, and celebrated directives against God’s commandments.
Rebellion and Judgment in the Old Testament
“Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am going to set My face against you for woe, even to cut off all Judah.
(Jeremiah 44:11, 15-17)
Then all the men who were aware that their wives were burning sacrifices to other gods, along with all the women who were standing by, as a large assembly, including all the people who were living in Pathros in the land of Egypt, responded to Jeremiah, saying,
“As for the message that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we are not going to listen to you!
“But rather we will certainly carry out every word that has proceeded from our mouths, by burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, just as we ourselves, our forefathers, our kings and our princes did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem;”
In the opening quote from the book of Jeremiah we see a group of rebellious people who are confronted by the prophet with a declaration of judgment from God against them. Instead of fear and repentance, they respond with bold defiance against God by proclaiming their intention to continue offering sacrifices to an idol in direct violation of the Mosaic covenant and God’s commandments. The rebellion was quite clear, and so was God’s judgment. (This group of Israelites had fled to Egypt when Northern Israel was conquered by the Assyrians). They would fall victim to the Babylonians when they invaded Egypt, and the remnant there would never return to Israel.
Again, in Psalm 81 the rebellion of the Israelites is recorded as they worshipped foreign gods and ignored God’s call to repentance. God’s judgment turned them over to the thoughts of their own stubborn hearts. They would no longer be influenced by God’s wisdom but by their own foolish guidance.
The result of being given over to their own stubborn hearts is that God removes His hand of restraint over sin, which allows the person to be guided only by a heart that is inclined to sinful thoughts and actions. God’s restraining power acts as a barrier between our temptation to sin and actually yielding to the temptation. When people no longer have the ability to follow God’s wisdom and are abandoned to their own counsel then they quickly become lost in the kingdom of darkness.
Judgment in the New Testament
The pattern of God’s judgment on a rebellious people continues into the New Testament teachings. In chapter one in the Book of Romans, the Apostle Paul explains how the wrath of God is delivered against all forms of ungodliness by those who conceal God’s truth. They are in rebellion against God and will therefore reap His wrath and judgment. In verses 1:21-23, Paul gives the details of the judgment where they will have their hearts darkened and their minds will lose the ability for rational thought. They will claim to be wise but will become Fools! Paul continues in verse 1:28, where he uses the term, “depraved mind,” to expand on this concept.
“And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper.”
Romans 1:28
The Depraved Mind– (Some translations render it, The Reprobate Mind). The depraved mind as it is described as a judgment on those who are rebellious against God is the central topic of this article. This judgment has been used by God at various times in biblical history, and it may have been given to various world leaders in these current times. Those who have been given over to a depraved mind are described as being unable determine between truth and error, between right and wrong, or between evil and good. They no longer seek or retain the knowledge of God’s direction; they instead pursue all manner of sin and depravity. Their mind is driven by wicked passions doing what is contrary to God’s laws and commands. They also give approval and encourage others to engage in the same disobedience. The results of the depraved mind are given by Paul in verses 1:29-32. These offenses including the following: wickedness, evil, greed, depravity, envy, murder, strife, deceit, and hostility. Those under this judgment are also described as undiscerning, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful, God-haters, rude, arrogant, and boastful. Do these attributes describe many of our current leaders? Can we see many of these conditions increasing due to the decisions of these leaders?
The Importance of God’s Restraining Power Over Sin
God is sovereign over all of creation and He alone controls everything that happens. Even though the world fell into a state of corruption after the Fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden, evil is kept under control so that the world does not fall into a total state of lawlessness and chaos. God keeps a restraining power over evil as part of his work of Common Grace. For a full explanation of Common Grace see my post, Chaos and Disorder Part II: Common Grace. For a brief but thorough explanation, a quote from the great 20th century pastor, Martin LLoyd Jones, is perfectly sufficient.
“Common Grace is the term applied to those general blessings which God imparts to all men and women. It is those general operations in which He exercises a moral influence whereby sin is restrained, order is maintained in social life, and civil righteousness is promoted. This is why God has appointed governments, authorities, magistrates and powers: it is to keep sin within bounds.”
Martin Lloyd Jones, Great Doctrines of the Bible, vol. II.
In regard to God’s common grace on government leaders, in His sovereignty God directs and guides them to provide for the common welfare, and protection of the people against the forces of darkness who oppose God’s order. In times when God relaxes His restraining power these dark forces are able to operate more freely to create chaos, division, and further rebellion. Boa and Kruidenier in their commentary on Romans give us insight into this principle.
“One can only cringe at the “wrath of God” that awaits those public officials in government who, by passing legislation which not only does not restrain evil but in fact encourages it, have made it possible for millions to yield to the temptation to sin. It is true that many, weak in conviction, conscience, and caring, will not sin when they think that public sentiment is against them. But remove the restraints of moral imperatives, and sin multiplies. One of the responsibilities of leadership is to encourage righteousness and thereby restrain sin (see Rom. 13:1–7).”
Boa, K., & Kruidenier, W. (2000). Romans (Vol. 6, p. 57). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Weaving together God’s judgments, mankind’s rebellion, Common Grace, and God’s restraining power, a case can be made displaying the possibility that what we are currently experiencing at this time is God’s judgment on our world’s leaders for their sinfulness and rebellion against God’s righteous commandments. Unable to think rationally they believe that they are wise, but they have become fools. Unfortunately, the actions of our leaders have consequences for all citizens, (believers and unbelievers), which will bring death, suffering, and corruption. Christians can take heart though, because there is hope and light in the midst of all these tribulations.
Hope Through The Light of the World
Those who are in control of world governments with evil intentions are under the judgment of God for their rebellion against His ways. They praise the darkness and amuse themselves in their actions that bring wickedness, immorality, and disorder. Let us not fall into despair and confusion, because we are sons and daughters of light, (John 12:35-36). Christ came as a light into a world of darkness.
“I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”
John 12:46
God is known for bringing about good from the bad. We should look upon this time of judgment as an opportunity to act as lights of hope to those who are lost in the darkness of sin. There are many who have not come to faith, but who do not embrace the evil and are afraid of the darkness. They are lost and in need of direction through the light of our witness. Christ is our strength and the source of all righteousness. Trust in Him and draw closer to His presence through His Spirit. Stand firm in His truth and present yourselves as His instruments of light for a world blinded by darkness.
Hosea 4:6 Teaching Ministry 
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