A Fool Believes There Is No God
Some people think there is no God. They're known as atheists.
If you judge people's behavior, sometimes you'd think there are lots of atheists out there. But how many are there really? Apparently reliable figures are hard to come by. I did a quick search and the best figure for America seems to be around 8%. Its based on subtracting the number of people who claim some religious affiliation from the total population.
It's one thing if you take an "intellectual" position that you're an atheist. But even if you don't say you're an atheist, if you don't live like God exists, you're at the very least living like an atheist. If you're living in a way that doesn't recognize God in any substantive way, how can you claim you believe in God? What sort of god do you believe in? It can't be the God that the Church teaches.
The Church teaches us that God is personal. God knows and cares about us. So to live a life that doesn't acknowledge Him from the moment we open our eyes in the morning makes no sense.
In fact, Psalm 52 says it best: "The fool said in his heart: There is no God." Notice: the fool.
If you don't believe in God, you're a fool. I would add, if you don't live like you believe in God you're a fool.
I don't know about you, but I'm capable of doing some foolish things. Just the other day, I pushed my exercise routine too much. I knew it at the time. I was intemperate (acted disregarding the virtue of temperance). Result: lower back pain. (I thanked God for this little cross; it was bad for a day or so, then eased. I thanked God when it eased up too!)
It's one thing to say God doesn't exist. But saying you believe in God and living like God doesn't exit is foolish. If God exists, everything in your life - every thought, word and deed every day - should reflect that fact.
How about you? Does every thought, word and deed show that you believe in God - that you know love and serve Him. Sadly, I can't say that about myself. So I guess I'm a fool too.
Last week we talked about how most of us work in a "secular" environment. That means that, during most of our day, in our work, we work like God doesn't exist. Isn't that right?
In a secular world, there's a "wall" between God and public life. Public life includes work. Most companies keep God at bay. He can't get past security.
That's foolish too. But it's the way of the world. But that doesn't have to be our way.
That's why it's so important for us Catholic men to sanctify our work and give good example to others - example that ultimately lets them know that we believe in God and live in a manner consistent with that belief.
Look at it this way: It's the only way God gets past security. It's His only way in to the work place. For some people, it might be the only way they get to know God - through you.
So let's make a deal. Let's all stop living like fools. Most of us don't say in our hearts "There is no God" so let's not live like we do. Starting with the moment we wake up, live like God really matters in your life. From the moment you arrive at the job, work like God really matters.
Don't be a fool.
If you judge people's behavior, sometimes you'd think there are lots of atheists out there. But how many are there really? Apparently reliable figures are hard to come by. I did a quick search and the best figure for America seems to be around 8%. Its based on subtracting the number of people who claim some religious affiliation from the total population.
It's one thing if you take an "intellectual" position that you're an atheist. But even if you don't say you're an atheist, if you don't live like God exists, you're at the very least living like an atheist. If you're living in a way that doesn't recognize God in any substantive way, how can you claim you believe in God? What sort of god do you believe in? It can't be the God that the Church teaches.
The Church teaches us that God is personal. God knows and cares about us. So to live a life that doesn't acknowledge Him from the moment we open our eyes in the morning makes no sense.
In fact, Psalm 52 says it best: "The fool said in his heart: There is no God." Notice: the fool.
If you don't believe in God, you're a fool. I would add, if you don't live like you believe in God you're a fool.
I don't know about you, but I'm capable of doing some foolish things. Just the other day, I pushed my exercise routine too much. I knew it at the time. I was intemperate (acted disregarding the virtue of temperance). Result: lower back pain. (I thanked God for this little cross; it was bad for a day or so, then eased. I thanked God when it eased up too!)
It's one thing to say God doesn't exist. But saying you believe in God and living like God doesn't exit is foolish. If God exists, everything in your life - every thought, word and deed every day - should reflect that fact.
How about you? Does every thought, word and deed show that you believe in God - that you know love and serve Him. Sadly, I can't say that about myself. So I guess I'm a fool too.
Last week we talked about how most of us work in a "secular" environment. That means that, during most of our day, in our work, we work like God doesn't exist. Isn't that right?
In a secular world, there's a "wall" between God and public life. Public life includes work. Most companies keep God at bay. He can't get past security.
That's foolish too. But it's the way of the world. But that doesn't have to be our way.
That's why it's so important for us Catholic men to sanctify our work and give good example to others - example that ultimately lets them know that we believe in God and live in a manner consistent with that belief.
Look at it this way: It's the only way God gets past security. It's His only way in to the work place. For some people, it might be the only way they get to know God - through you.
So let's make a deal. Let's all stop living like fools. Most of us don't say in our hearts "There is no God" so let's not live like we do. Starting with the moment we wake up, live like God really matters in your life. From the moment you arrive at the job, work like God really matters.
Don't be a fool.
Comments