Read this first: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+53&version=NIV
I spend too much time online. You know this as I’m now on around my 50th or so blog post since spring. I see terrible things people have written. One used this verse:
The fool says in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
there is no one who does good.
They used it as justification to call non- believers fools. I said how would that help convert them to Christianity? He responded by saying we were to speak the truth. I clapped back- with a speak the truth in love- fool!
It wasn’t my best moment.
We often use this verse by itself. I guess we can blame Paul in the new testament for that but my understanding is that when a jewish person quotes an old testament passage they aren’t just quioting that part the implication is all the rest as the people at that time knew the whole thing. Why would context be important?
Because this is what comes next:
God looks down from heaven
on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,
any who seek God.
3 Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.
We’re all fools.
Why do I believe while many do not? The grace of God. Try as might to run away- God keeps calling me back. I’m just as sinful as a non-believer if not more so. I have the truth and know exactly what’s right yet don’t do it. So have a heart for fools. You’re one of them!
Marking It Up 