Sermon Recap+ Sept 14, 2025

The Foolishness of Knowing God But Living Like He's Irrelevant

When we think of foolishness, we often picture reckless behavior or poor judgment. But in Psalm 14, David presents a much deeper understanding of what it means to be foolish.

"Fools say in their hearts there is no God." This isn't just about atheism. David is addressing a spiritual condition that affects even those who claim to know God.

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What Does Biblical Foolishness Really Mean?

For David, foolishness isn't about behavior like throwing people into pools or making impulsive decisions. It's a spiritual condition. And surprisingly, he's not addressing the world at large - he's speaking to God's own people. The first 41 Psalms focus on God's covenant with individuals. Within this context, David acknowledges a painful truth: sometimes the worst representatives of faith are those who claim to be righteous. Biblical foolishness occurs when you know the reality of God, have experienced His power, yet behave as though He doesn't exist or is irrelevant to your daily life.

How Do Christians Act When They Think God Isn't Watching?

Psalm 139 reminds us that God is always watching us - which can be comforting or concerning depending on our behavior. Yet many believers live irresponsibly, acting as if God is irrelevant to their decisions, words, and thoughts--think social media. Consider how this appears to those outside the faith. Imagine you're not a Christian looking at how believers behave, especially on social media. What would you see? Often, it's hypocrisy, division, and conflict... and you must ask, who profits from this division? Well, social media platforms that benefit from "hook" of our arguments and outrage. We spend countless hours watching and reacting to content designed to divide us rather than unite us in Christ.

Where Is God in Our Divided World?

David wrote in Psalm 14:2, "The Lord looks down from heaven." But our reality today is different. God is not distant - He is here with us and within us. God no longer requires a fancy temple to dwell in. He lives inside believers, equipping us not just to say or think the right things, but to behave in the right way. When facing difficult moments - like sitting with someone who is dying - theological knowledge alone cannot resolve the situation. In those moments, we're called not to talk like Christ but to behave like Christ - to touch, to feel, to be present.

What Does It Mean to Be Righteous According to the Bible?

What our nation needs right now is righteousness. But biblical righteousness might not mean what you think. Righteousness has nothing to do with performance. It's about relationship. This truth appears throughout scripture:

• Psalm 1:1-2 shows that the righteous delight in God's law, meditating on it day|night

• Micah 6:8 calls us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God

• Matthew 5:6-10 connects righteousness with hungering for God, showing mercy, having a pure heart, and making peace

The greatest commandments confirm this: love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Righteousness isn't about knowing what's right - it's about how we relate to God and one another.

How Can Christians Respond to Division and Conflict?

"A house divided is easy to conquer." Our nation is vulnerable when Christians behave foolishly, acting as if God is irrelevant and prioritizing being right over doing what's right.

When visiting someone on their deathbed, the most important thing isn't opening the Bible to find the right verse. It's holding their hand, kissing their forehead, and offering your warmth when their body grows cold. It's saying, "Don't be afraid" and being present.

Christianity isn't about knowing the right things but doing what is right. We've moved beyond anger into danger, and we need practical ways to respond:

1. When angry, drink a glass of room temperature water until you're no longer thirsty. Let it remind you how God's presence brings living water that quenches spiritual thirst.

2. Take a nap before reacting, especially on social media. Don't act in anger - sleep it off and wait.

3. Go for a walk and intentionally greet people. Offer compliments, even to those who might seem like "enemies."

4. Think about the future beyond yourself. Plant a tree that won't bear fruit until after your prime. Invest in something that outlasts you.

Life Application

We are divided, making us vulnerable not to foreign nations but to spiritual forces. We don't wear the armor of God (Ephesians 6) enough, leaving us as easy targets.

This week, challenge yourself to:

• Identify one area where you've been acting as if God is irrelevant. How would your behavior change if you truly believed God was present and active in that situation?

• Before posting or responding to something divisive online, practice the "nap before you react" principle. Give yourself at least a few hours of distance.

• Intentionally find common ground with someone you disagree with. What values or experiences do you share despite your differences?

• Invest in something that will outlast you - whether planting a literal tree or mentoring someone younger.

Remember, we are first united under the banner of Christ - one baptism, one gospel, one good news. Be purposeful like Christ. Don't be foolish by knowing God exists but living like He doesn't matter.