Reprobate Mind

[sampa]

How can one tell when someone is of a reprobate mind? The definition says void of judgement - a mind that can no longer tell the difference between right and wrong.

Romans 1:28-29 "Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a retrobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness" (KJV)

Is this something over time happens to a person or could say someone that is 19 or 24 years old already be of reprobate mind? Examples?

 

[alfrodull]

I think there are different levels of reprobateness. (Yes, the dictionary says that's the actual word.)

Have you ever noticed that when you give in to a certain temptation frequently over a long period of time, that sin seems less and less wrong? And if you commit several sins frequently over a long period of time, the concept of sin itself gradually begins to fade.

So, to a certain extent, I would say that even a teenager, and even a Christian, could have a form of reprobate mind.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

He's talking about giving them over to whatever they are doing wrong, because they have no sign of repentance in their hearts. No sin is without consequence. Some people just can't be convinced that what they are doing (whatever sin it might be) is wrong, so God says in that respect go ahead, have it your way, but he knows that eventually they will see the err of their ways and come back to him.
The intent precedes the act.
Their outrageous conduct was not due to total ignorance of what God required, but to self-will and rebellion. So it really doesn't matter what the age of a person is (except we aren't talking about children here) but moreover their attitude regarding sin. It doesn't necessarily mean they can't at some point come back to God and be forgiven. Part of the great lie is that man can exist without God but WE who are saved know differently.

 

[bithiah2]

i would say that one of the signs of a reprobate mind is when a person has no conscience about what they do, no matter what. a person who can do wrong, and feel nothing about it, a person who can hurt animals or people and feel no shame, a person who can do all kinds of lawlessness and feel no regrets, is reprobate. and it has nothing to do with age. kids are not kids anymore today, they are exposed to so much by the time they are three years old, they are already jaded... unless someone teaches them what is right.
bithiah2

 

[sampa]

Thanks alfrodull, memoriesbymichelle and bithiah2 all good thoughts. I’m still searching through a couple of personal experiences. I was just thinking I should put up verses before and after Romans 1:27 to give some context.

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.” (NIV)

And then after 28 and it goes on in 29-32 a list of evidences of the depraved mind.

“Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” (NIV)

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

So what exactly are you trying to figure out? You mentioned personal experiences. Can you elaborate, so maybe we could better understand how to help you?

 

[327]

I love this scripture, people think that they can continue sinning and always expect God to forgive them. They keep sinning and obeying the flesh to the point that God is not even in the picture. Let them have a bad day though, thats when they want to repent and etc. In my family we call that trying to play God. God knows our hearts and He knows when we desire to change even when we make mistakes. This scripture to me proves that eventually the Lord will let you go and do your own will. He will give you over to a reprobate mindset where your conscience is seared. I bet you that hurts Him too....I can imagine how must that feel....

Thats okay God, We love you!

 

[BoazB]

Interesting... a reprobate mind.
Yes I've met someone with a reprobate mind... she was 12 years of age, lived in a school hostel and could lie convincingly, repeatedly, to all around her. Whether she believed her own lies, ... well we'll never know.

It's the stuff of psychopathes, and judging by the fact that she was starting from that age, there will be a very interesting finish (check your newspapers )... Maybe even a con artist in the making

 

[sampa]

So what exactly are you trying to figure out? You mentioned personal experiences. Can you elaborate, so maybe we could better understand how to help you?

thanks memoriesbymichelle, at the moment I don't want to elaborate. It seems Romans 1 has come up at various times in my life and yesterday I was very saddened when a guy was dismissed from work. I'll probably be praying for him for a while. The heaviness of this verse is weighing on my mind.

 

[Im_A]

How can one tell when someone is of a reprobate mind? The definition says void of judgement - a mind that can no longer tell the difference between right and wrong.

Romans 1:28-29 "Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a retrobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness" (KJV)

Is this something over time happens to a person or could say someone that is 19 or 24 years old already be of reprobate mind? Examples?

well to go with the scripture you quoted, ask God and see if God gives you an answer because it was God who gave them over.