Practical Atheism
An atheist is, not only one who denies the existence of God, but also one who fails to render unto God that honour and subjection which are His due. Thus, there is a Practical atheism as well as a theoretical one. The former obtains wherever there is no genuine respect for God's authority and no concern for His glory. There are many who entertain theoretical notions in their heads of divine existence, yet whose hearts are devoid of any affection to Him.
People do not like to regard themselves as practical atheists. No, they entertain a much
better opinion of themselves than that. They pride themselves on possessing far too much
intelligence to harbour so degrading an idea that there is no God. Instead, they are
persuaded that creation clearly evidences a Creator. But no matter what their intellectual beliefs may be, the fact remains that they are secret atheists. He who disowns the authority of God disowns His Godhead. It is the unquestionable prerogative of the Most High to have dominion over His creatures, to make known His will unto them, and to demand their subjection thereto. But their breaking of His bands and their casting away of His cords from then] Psa 2:3) are a practical rejection of His rule over them. Practical atheism consists of an utter contempt of God, a conducting of ourselves as though there were none infinitely above us, who has an absolute right to govern us, to whom we must yet render a full account of all that we have done and left undone, and who will then pronounce sentence of eternal judgment upon us.
A. W. Pink
People do not like to regard themselves as practical atheists. No, they entertain a much
better opinion of themselves than that. They pride themselves on possessing far too much
intelligence to harbour so degrading an idea that there is no God. Instead, they are
persuaded that creation clearly evidences a Creator. But no matter what their intellectual beliefs may be, the fact remains that they are secret atheists. He who disowns the authority of God disowns His Godhead. It is the unquestionable prerogative of the Most High to have dominion over His creatures, to make known His will unto them, and to demand their subjection thereto. But their breaking of His bands and their casting away of His cords from then] Psa 2:3) are a practical rejection of His rule over them. Practical atheism consists of an utter contempt of God, a conducting of ourselves as though there were none infinitely above us, who has an absolute right to govern us, to whom we must yet render a full account of all that we have done and left undone, and who will then pronounce sentence of eternal judgment upon us.
A. W. Pink