The Biggest Fool in the World
James Merritt
James 4:13-17
Introduction
1. It is a very dangerous thing to call just anyone a fool: jesus warned that to call a brother a fool would put you in danger of hell fire. (matt. 5:22) on the other hand, we have an obligation to call any- one a fool whom god calls a fool. And god calls the atheist a fool.
2. Psalms 14:1 says, "only the fool has said in his heart, there is no god." the philosophical atheist, the atheist who in his heart and mind truly believes that there is no god, is simply a fool. But the philosophical atheist is not the biggest fool in the world.
3, the biggest fool in the world is not the philosophical atheist, it is the practical atheist. What is a practical atheist? A practical atheist is some- one who believes in god, but lives as if there is no god. He believes in god, but he does not live like it.
4. All the polls tell us that 96% of all americans believe in god. But if you examine their lives you will discover that the vast majority of americans are practical atheists. They claim to believe in - god, but they do not live like it.
5. James is describing a practical atheist, he paints the picture of a first century wheeler--dealer. Here was a man who thought he had the world by the tail, but he did not realize that the world had him by the neck. He paid lip service to god, but he did not give life service to god. He was a man who had no time for god, not realizing that there would come a time in his life when god would have no time for him. Three factors led to this man becoming the biggest fool in the world.
i. His arrogant decision
1. This was a man who thought he had his act together. He had his future all figured out, he had already mapped out in his mind what was going to happen tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that. Indeed, in his mind's eye he already had the next year of his life totally planned out. Or at least he thought he did, thre ...
James Merritt
James 4:13-17
Introduction
1. It is a very dangerous thing to call just anyone a fool: jesus warned that to call a brother a fool would put you in danger of hell fire. (matt. 5:22) on the other hand, we have an obligation to call any- one a fool whom god calls a fool. And god calls the atheist a fool.
2. Psalms 14:1 says, "only the fool has said in his heart, there is no god." the philosophical atheist, the atheist who in his heart and mind truly believes that there is no god, is simply a fool. But the philosophical atheist is not the biggest fool in the world.
3, the biggest fool in the world is not the philosophical atheist, it is the practical atheist. What is a practical atheist? A practical atheist is some- one who believes in god, but lives as if there is no god. He believes in god, but he does not live like it.
4. All the polls tell us that 96% of all americans believe in god. But if you examine their lives you will discover that the vast majority of americans are practical atheists. They claim to believe in - god, but they do not live like it.
5. James is describing a practical atheist, he paints the picture of a first century wheeler--dealer. Here was a man who thought he had the world by the tail, but he did not realize that the world had him by the neck. He paid lip service to god, but he did not give life service to god. He was a man who had no time for god, not realizing that there would come a time in his life when god would have no time for him. Three factors led to this man becoming the biggest fool in the world.
i. His arrogant decision
1. This was a man who thought he had his act together. He had his future all figured out, he had already mapped out in his mind what was going to happen tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that. Indeed, in his mind's eye he already had the next year of his life totally planned out. Or at least he thought he did, thre ...
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