Atheists are Nobody’s Fools
Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; they commit abominable acts; there is no one who does good. – Psalm 53:1 (NRSV)
I’m not sure who the psalmist has in mind with the words above, but I dissent.
In my experience, atheists are no more “foolish, corrupt and abominable” than believers. Foolish, corrupt and abominable believers are a dime a dozen. I suspect they have no small role in the steady rise of atheism.
I imagine atheists enjoy a wonderful surprise when they transition from this life to the next, but I don’t think they will be condemned for their atheism. Maybe the heavenly host, and all the saints of light, greet atheists with special delight. “Did you see the look on that one’s face! Priceless!”
My heart tells me that God is far more interested in how we love and serve each other than in our theologies and philosophies. Ideas and beliefs inform our actions, but it’s our actions that count.
On atheism the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “the church is filled up with people who pay lip service to God and not life service…We say with our mouths that we believe in him, but we live our lives like [God] never existed. That’s a dangerous type of atheism.”
If we are ever tempted to judge someone for atheism, let’s pause to examine when we have confessed God with our lips only to deny God with our lives.
Prayer
May my theology and philosophy inspire me to do what matters most to you, O God: to do justice, show mercy and walk humbly.
About the AuthorMatt Laney is the Senior Pastor of Virginia Highland Church UCC in Atlanta, GA and the author of Pride Wars, a fantasy series published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for Young Readers. The first two books, The Spinner Prince and The Four Guardians are available now.