Per MDPI, “Thermal runaway is an uncontrollable, self-accelerating reaction process in LiBs, characterized by a heat generation rate that far exceeds the heat dissipation capability, leading to a rapid temperature rise. This process is typically accompanied by the release of large quantities of gases, which accumulate within the confined battery enclosure and result in continuous pressure buildup. Once the internal pressure exceeds the mechanical tolerance of the battery casing, venting, rupture, or even explosion may occur. Meanwhile, thermal runaway initiates the decomposition of internal battery components, producing a range of flammable and toxic gaseous species.“

Here is an example of thermal runaway caused by a lithium battery in a hybrid vehicle.

“Thermal runaway” is an appropriate metaphor for what happens to the culture that Paul describes in Romans chapter 1. Cultural thermal runaway is characterized by a collective rejection of the Natural Law (Romans 1:19-32) with everyone creating their own moral standard (Judges 21:25), with the disintegration of both marriage and family unit (Malachi 2:16; 2 Tim 3:2), with escalating greed (1 Tim 6:10), with spreading moral confusion consisting of the extensive celebration of evil as good and authoritarian pronouncement of good as evil (Isa 5:20), and expanding government corruption (Prov 29:2) with people inventing new ways of doing evil (Romans 1:30). Paul indicates that the end state for cultural thermal runaway is a direct attack upon the image of God consisting of the widespread acceptance, affirmation and celebration of a homosexual lifestyle (Romans 1:24-28).

At a certain point in a culture’s willful rebellion, God finally says “your will be done” and cultural disintegration becomes a self-accelerating process that ultimately leads to devastating and catastrophic consequences. When thermal runaway happens to an EV lithium battery, it burns everything to the ground. When thermal runaway figuratively happens to a culture, it ultimately burns everything that is culturally good to the ground.