Feeling and thinking in Psalm 14:Functional atheism.

 Feeling and thinking in Psalm 14:Functional atheism.

1 For the choir director: A psalm of David. Only fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good! 2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. 3 But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one! 4 Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn't think of praying to the LORD. 5 Terror will grip them, for God is with those who obey him. 6 The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed, but the LORD will protect his people. 7 Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel? When the LORD restores his people, Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.

Psalm 14:1-7 NLT

“wouldn't think of praying to the LORD”

Psalm 14:4b NLT

This year I’ve set out to explore the humanity of the Psalms through the feelings and thoughts of the Psalmists and the way the writer describes the emotional and mental states of himself, of others and of God. Yes I mentioned God in my search for an authentic anthropology. Why?, you may ask. What does divinity have to do with humanity? I make it no secret that I am a theist and I am furthermore a believer in the Bible. So when the Bible says in the beginning that man is made in the image of God, I believe that. But I am also very interested in the humanity of a particular human, Jesus Christ. I believe He, too, was made in the image of God, like Adam was in Genesis. And also like the first man, Adam, Jesus was made without sin and without a father other than God Himself. And I’ll go one step further and say I am interested in what happens to the feelings and thinking of a person who is saved by Jesus. What alterations to humanity can be expected when they encounter and trust the life changing power of the gospel of Jesus Christ?

I want to know what is human? What is unregenerate humanity and what is common to all humanity and is not sin. Jesus was not a sinner. I believe Jesus lived a human life, that He had to learn, that He had to make choices and had to listen to the voice of God's Spirit guiding Him. I say all this as an introduction to David’s characterization of the atheist. And it is my observation that a person may be an atheist without having gone through the mental process to declare to himself or to others that they don’t believe there is a God. David describes this functional atheist by two characteristics in their thoughts, emotions and actions.

1. God is not on the agenda
2. Mankind is a resource to be used

Could you actually be an atheist? Let’s consider your thought life? Do you pray? Do you wonder what God would have you do? Do you consider and think about what actions are correct? Are your behaviours truly thoughtful? That is to say, have you thought: God wants me to live in a certain way and I don’t want to bring pain or hardship to my fellow human beings, so I will live accordingly. Are you thoughtful and hesitant? This first characteristic is on one side humble and on the other side it is cognisant of someone to please. It is driven by a love for a person who knows best. If your thoughts are not ordered by a love and respect for this best way coming from a better person and you are not talking to Him to get advice and help to do things correctly, then you are in fact an atheist.

Secondly the thoughts of a person who ignores God orders the world always with themselves first. This person is not concerned with the welfare of others, and doing good amounts to how to get the most for themselves. Good is determined by how they can be rich, comfortable and given the attention they feel they are due. These people use other people like a consumable resource. They get their energy out of using others to please themselves. If anything gets in the way of their happiness then they feel terrorised. They are only happy when others bend their time, money and attention to their goal of serving themselves. If you are one of those people, then you will not hesitate to ask others to alter their plans to help you accomplish your own. In fact you will demand good service.

Since the functional atheist has a hierarchy, as everyone does, it would look look like this:


Rule number one:

Protect and look out for self because no one else will.
(Self love first)

Rule number two:

Ignore God, He probably doesn’t even exist or He is not bothered with me or He is mad at me. So keep looking out for myself, because God isn’t doing a very good job……… 

(God’s love is irrelevant)

Rule number three:

People have what I need. Others make the stuff that makes me happy. They feed me, comfort me, they are essential to my happiness or they are not needed and can be ignored.

(Love for others, if they meet my needs and make me happy but if not go back to rule number one.)

I know my analysis, like David's in Psalm 14, seems harsh. I know you are a moral, kind, conscientious person who is concerned about others and you do help others.

So I have just one question. Do you pray? Think about it.

David suggests that the thoughts of a theist work like this:

I love God. I want to do what He says, since I am sure He knows better than me. God will protect me and care for me. I can serve others because God loves them too and God will use me to help meet their needs. I don’t have to put myself first or even prioritise my own needs because God will do that. I pray to God because I think a lot about God. God is fascinating, amazing and good. My God will always rescue me and that makes me happy. I talk to God and tell Him about my needs and when selfish people try to oppress me I trust God to help me. I am always thinking about God. So I love God and that enables me to love others. I know God loves me, and with God busy taking care of me, I don’t have a care in the world. I am free to help others and give everything I have in God’s service by helping others. God will never run out of resources so I don’t have to be worried or selfish. God makes money and in His kingdom it grows on trees just for the picking. No wonder I am happy, I got it good.

Mocking of Christ, 16th century, woodcut by Albrecht Dürer

 “A simple line from the Old Testament--"there is no beauty in him, nor comeliness" (Isaiah 53:2)--was seized upon to justify cruel acts of disfigurement in Passion writings. In this Mocking scene, Christ's oppressors all have some crude means of menacing him, including a screaming trumpet. The assaults were said to leave Christ unrecognizable, an idea suggested by the cloth over his face. “ -Minneapolis Institute of Art