A couple atheists have said that I shouldn’t be using the term “Fool” in reference to atheists. They refer to the above verse as proof of what they say. Atheists have as much chance of interpreting this verse correctly as they do any verse including the one about judging; which by they way to use to judge people who they deem to be judging others.
Anyhow, in Psalm 14:1 God inspires the Psalmist to describe as Fools, those who look at the universe and declare that it all came about by chance, no Creator, just chance, a random act of nothing since nothing is exactly what existed prior to the singularity.
Since God Himself has described atheists as fools, it’s obvious that Matthew 5:23 is saying, Don’t call someone a fool who is NOT a fool. For what could be lower than being told you have as much wisdom as an atheist; someone who has exchanged h/her ETERNAL heritage for 70 or 80 years of arrogant grandstanding here on earth?
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My bible's version of psalm 14:1 says "The wicked".
ReplyDeleteWOW! REWRITING THE BIBLE NOW! (Also, you got the verse number wrong)
Okay, let's look at the context of the verse, Jesus says that adultery can get you in trouble with the law but in His eyes, even looking at a woman with lust is adultery. Then he says calling someone dishonest will get you brought before a court of law but in His eyes even just calling someone a fool will send you to Hell.
The rewriting comment is about how you've rewritten Jesus's words to be the opposite of the original verse.
ReplyDeleteThere's a simple explanation, Rod is Jesus.
ReplyDeleteThe general idea is repeated again in Psalm 53:1
ReplyDeleteAlso, this fool appreciates you borrowing the idea from my earlier comment.
ReplyDeleteWhich reminds me: Atheist Day is coming up April 1st...
I always find it amusing when atheists, who have no place for God, much less the Bible, don't hesitate to quote it. Some of them even purport to be Bible scholars.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, I have perused through about 6 different translations of Psalm 14:1 and all of them use the word "fool". I have not found any that use the word "wicked", though it might arguably be an alternate translation. The word for fool is also used often in the book of Proverbs.
Given the warning of Matthew 5:22, I have been careful not to use the term cavalierly, and I am sure you take equal care. I remember hesitating to use the term with one of the other faithful members of your Greek chorus, I forget who, when after I quoted Psalm 14:1, he accused me of resorting to the "same shameless scripture quoting to point out my damnation."
I was careful in my response:
"Not necessarily to point out your damnation, because no one is beyond the grace of God. But you do correctly perceive that if Psalm 14 is true, you are literally a damned fool. I should know because at one point I was a damned fool. Though I would never have called myself an atheist, I was worse. I was living for myself, in essence being my own god or living as if there were no God. That is why I was all the more quick to quote Titus 3:3-5: 'At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.'"
I always find it amusing when atheists, who have no place for God, much less the Bible, don't hesitate to quote it.
ReplyDelete'cos atheists think the Bible verses might have some effect on the Christians they are talking to. Atheists'll quote Qua ran verses to Muslims.
TMC: While I did not make the comment, and indeed the English translations by Christians tend to use "fool," the word is inaccurately translated. I am married to a woman raised Jewish who speaks Hebrew, and I have actually spoken to Jews about Psalm 14:1 (as well as 53:1). With the original Hebrew in hands, they translated it to me as "evil," "wicked," "degraded," and "polluted." They said it did not in any way suggest "lack of intelligence."
ReplyDeleteAccording to an English translation of the Tehillim, they went with "degraded." There is also an intro to each Psalm which is ommitted from the Christian translation, "For the Conductor, by David." This opening is repeated at the start of several Psalms, and is left out of most Christian translations. Just something to consider when reading your translations and believing it to be the unerring word of God...
As I said, I can see the rationale behind translating the word as "wicked". Most of the Bible translations I have seen actually footnote the word "fool" with something to the effect of "The Hebrew word for 'fool' usually denotes someone who is morally deficient."
ReplyDeleteWith regard to the introduction of many of the Psalms with phrases such as "To the Conductor", I have seen this often in the translations I read, so I am not sure which "Christian translations" you are referring to that leave these notes out.
"They said it did not in any way suggest "lack of intelligence."
ReplyDeleteNeither is this intended to mean a lack of intelligence. There are some very intelligent fools.
Fools that leave their spouses and children for another partner.
Fools who embezzle bzillions from pensioners. Fools that promote easy divorce thinking it’s good for the kids.
Fools that promote casual sex and on and on and on.
All of these might be very intelligent people.
All are lacking in wisdom which leads them to make choices that are destructive to themselves and others.
Wisdom; something that "begins with a fear of Creator God."
I think that what we have here is a cultural problem rather than a linguistic one. And even there, I believe it's rather easy to comprehend.
ReplyDeletePaul states in Romans that every man is without excuse when it comes to knowing that there is a God. The invisible things of God, even His Godhead, are made manifest in things that were made.
So, when you step back and look at the Gospel:
1. God created everything and owns everything.
2. Man sinned, and caused separation from God and death.
3. God sent His Son to die in the place of man, so that man can be restored.
4. Man has but to repent and believe and he will be saved.
When it comes to the choice of Hell or Heaven, of sin or righteousness-- that one would choose the former and refuse the latter is what I would call foolish. There is everything to gain and nothing to lose.
Fearing a Creator God is the furthest thing from wisdom I can imagine.
ReplyDeleteYou are indeed a long, long way from wisdom.
ReplyDeleteIf YHWH was real, of course you should fear him. He is a blood-obsessed monster, ready to torture by default.
ReplyDeleteEven knowing that on this date you would call Him a monster, your Creator paid the penalty for your sins so that you could spend eternity in paradise. Lacking wisdom, you turn against the only One who can save you from yourself.
ReplyDeleteThat's sad.
What's sad is you worship this evil imaginary being. A being you believe is going to torture the majority of the world's people. And instead of blaming the torturer, you blame the tortured?
ReplyDeleteLet us be clear. It is not YHWH that makes me sad. He is clearly imaginary. It is the fact that you worship torture, blood and evil.
Creator God is not going to torture anyone. He has set a time when evil is going to be removed from the universe. People CLEARLY have a choice as to where they will spend eternity - in the presence of evil or in the absence of evil. It's a choice. Change your decision or quit complaining.
ReplyDeleteSome choice! Spend eternity worshiping an evil monster or spend eternity in a place of torment that this evil monster created.
ReplyDeleteCan I still be a Christian and think God is evil?
Are there any branches of Christianity or religion that believe "YAHWEH" the god of the Christians is evil?
The very nature of fear is unwise. It is a state of ignorance, usually premised on uncertainty. Why should I fear God if He loves me and He is not truly the one who will condemn me? You are mixing your emotions and combining the nature of many gods, from vicious war deities to love divinities. There is nothing mystical about the logical fallacy of simultaneous love and fear.
ReplyDelete