Gates of the City

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”

PLEASE, if you recognize the following, please get past it to my main point. The verse above is continually used by believers to stress the fact that those who do not believe in God are fools. But perhaps one of the most foolish things I have seen is this nonsense below about these supposedly legal cases where a Texas judge, or a Florida judge . . . or a judge from whatever state the next promoter of this fictitious never-dying-story decides to select. The story goes –

In (pick-a-state), an atheist became incensed over the preparation for Easter and Passover holidays and decided to contact the local ACLU about the discrimination inflicted on atheists by the constant celebrations 
afforded to Christians and Jews with all their holidays while the atheists had no holiday to celebrate.

The ACLU jumped on the opportunity to once again pick up the cause of the godless and assigned their sharpest attorneys to the case.

The case was brought before a wise judge who after listening to the long, passionate presentation of the ACLU lawyers, promptly banged his gavel and declared, “Case dismissed!”

The lead ACLU lawyer immediately stood and objected to the ruling and said, “Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? Surely the Christians have Christmas, Easter and many other observances. And the Jews–why in addition to Passover they have Yom Kippur and Hanukkah .and yet my client and all other atheists have no such holiday!”

The judge leaned forward in his chair and simply said “Obviously your client is too confused to know about, or for that matter, even celebrate the atheists’ holiday!”

The ACLU lawyer pompously said “We are aware of no such holiday for atheists, just when might that be, your honor?” The judge said “Well it comes every year on exactly the same date—April 1st!”

“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.'” Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53:1

HOORAY FOR THIS JUDGE!

Now, it is truly a sad thing that a believer would feel the need to generate a lie to try to attack an unbeliever as a fool, especially since it can never bring glory to God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. I am not even sure what sort of “Christian” or Torah believing Jew would be willing to stoop to such nonsense. For it seems so very clear that a lie is always going to be a lie, regardless of the motive.

Ro 3:5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)  6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”? –as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.

God doesn’t inflict wrath except when His righteous precepts are ignored (hint: you can’t go around telling lies) and isn’t really swayed by what your justification might be. How irrational it is to think that this type of gibberish might prove others to be fools while engaging in such obvious foolishness themselves. You can never prove others wrong by doing wrong and attempting to call it right, at that point you are the one who is putting forth bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Perhaps it is time for some to reconsider this fool’s verse in Psalm 14, which for the purpose of establishing a point I am going to use the KJV  –

Psalm 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that does good.

Now what I want to point out is that in the KJV when the translators used italics, it was because they were adding English words that were not in the original in belief that it would help clarify the meaning.  But what if in their effort to clarify, they actually altered the original intent and completely change the whole meaning of the text? Consider the verse without the “there is.”

The fool has said in his heart, “No God,” or perhaps using a comma, “No, God.”

Surely this isn’t a hard concept to grasp, at least not one in my own mind to recognize. So I will go straight to my point and simply ask, just who is the greater fool, the one who doesn’t believe in a God and doesn’t obey Him, or the person who does believe in Him and still says “No” to His revealed will? Mind you, it doesn’t really matter if the “no” is verbally spoken either, for actions speak louder than words . . . as we can see in the follow parable.

Mt 21:28 But what do you think? A man had two sons; and he came to the first and said, “Son, go work in my vineyard today.” 29 He answered and said, “I will not.” But afterwards he repented and went. 30 And he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, “I go, sir,” and did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father? They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax-collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.”

Brothers and sisters, let us not try to out run the atheistic fool in his folly, lest he be proven to have more integrity than the disobedient fool who knows in truth there is a God. There is never acceptable justification for sin in our lives with God. Surely knowing human nature,  there have been unbelievers who used  this to mocked these “Christian” people who keep spreading this garbage, and sadly that they are just and correct in calling them liars for this “Fool’s Day” nonsense.  How much more condemning when that “accuser of the brethren” can justly accuse a believer of sin before his God?

Please, consider these verses –

Luke 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

James 4:17 Therefore to him that knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin.

Remember, the whole world is always watching us and we must at all times be endeavoring to perfect holiness in the fear of God, who will not be mocked. We cannot be “Christian” in name only and walk contrary to His teachings; otherwise we are guilty sin and of confessing His name as our Lord in vain.

2Corinthians 6:1 But working together, we also call on you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 (For He says, “In an acceptable time I heard you, and in a day of salvation, I helped you;” Behold, now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.) 3 We are in nothing giving cause of stumbling, in no way, so that the ministry may not be blamed.

2Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are His. And, Let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Let’s live righteously for the King!!