Defined as: living life without regard for the existence of God, actions and decisions that reflect a lack of belief in God, regardless of ones professed belief.
(Ps 14:1) “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.”
When David speaks here of the “fool” he is not speaking of the ignorant or mentally deficient individuals but of those who are morally perverse. Those who are “stubbornly contradictory” or those who are “deviating from what is considered moral and right.” All their works are abominable or causing moral revulsion. “They are corrupt”. They are corrupt because they know better and reject what they see and know. Apostle Paul takes from Ps 14 & 53 and clarifies and expands what David is saying in (Rom 1:18-21 & 24-25)
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
(vs 24-25) “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
One commentator points out that the “fool” of which David writes is not an atheist in the theoretical sense but in his action and by what he chooses to believe he is a practical atheist. Thus, David says they are corrupt in choosing to do the abominable works and there are none with this heart condition who does good.
This thought of “practical atheism” or behaving as if we don’t believe there is a God or that He isn’t watching or knows what we are up to caused me to pause and consider my own behavior and why. I know that there is The God and have no doubt that He and our Lord Jesus are all knowing and that one day I will have to give an account for the things I have done (Mt 12:35-37 & Rom 14:12). I understand also, that knowing and having faith in what I know about God is a process of growth. We are all given varying degrees of faith (Rom 12:3 & 6). Through our God allowed experiences, that faith should be always increasing and building up with our knowledge of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Although, I might never be so foolish to say, “There is no God”, I am daily confronted with little things that pit the old man and that selfish way of life and the new man I am striving to be all the time.
(Phil 2:3) “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”
These types of opportunities come up routinely and especially now, that I am mostly retired and not pressed for time as before, when my mind is on Christ and I am “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” I find time to think that other’s time is more important than my own. However, when I am pressed for time and get impatient, do I not exhibit my “practical atheism,” that I behave as though God is not there or doesn’t really care?
We profess ourselves to be disciples of Jesus Christ and we will not be judged by what we profess to be, but what our actions show us to be. Let our episodes of “practical atheism” large and small be ever fewer and fewer.
Br. Bruce
