Why would anyone say in their heart “there is no God?” What would lead someone to reject belief in a divine Being? It is not intelligence or the lack thereof. It is a lack of righteousness that leads a person to reject belief in God.
Many people do not object to the idea of a Creator, as long as the Creator leaves them alone to make their own decisions without accountability. What people reject is the idea of divine Being, a Deity, a Creator who demands obedience from His creation. Rather than struggle against a guilty conscience, which itself was created by God, some reject the idea there is a God altogether. They speak falsehood to themselves by attempting to convince their own heart “there is no God” so the moral pull of their conscience is more easily ignored. In effect, they tell themselves, “There is no overseer of creation, no Judgment Day and I can live my life as I please without any accountability or consequences.”
The Psalmist uses the term “fool” both in Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1 to underline how foolish it is to reject the idea of a Creator and Overseer of creation, who places righteous demands upon mankind.
Psalm 14:1 is the verse many Christians like to quote to atheists, believing it is a rebuke of their atheism. However, upon looking at the entire passage, we see a different portrait:
(1)The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. (2) The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. (3) All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Psalms 14:1-3 NIV
The Hebrew word translated “fool” is nâbâl, which is an adjective having the meaning of “stupid, wicked” or “vile person.”
The fool says there is no God. He is foolish because he thinks he can deny there is a God and live a wicked lifestyle with immoral thoughts and behavior. Psalm 14 goes on to say that all people are corrupt and there is not even one who does good; God says that we are all immoral fools. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ that our eyes are opened to see our own depravity and foolishness.
An atheist is foolish because he ignores the evidence of creation that God exists, and is wicked because he refuses to live in obedience to God’s truths. Regrettably, mankind becomes atheists in practice when they ignore God and rely upon their own knowledge. To speak in direct defiance of God is absolutely foolish according to the Bible.
The Bible is God’s moral code, the ‘measuring stick’ for an obedient, righteous and holy life. Denying God’s existence is rooted in carnal desires to lead a disobedient, self-centered life. Several prominent atheists have openly admitted a desire to avoid God’s commandments inspire their disbelief.
