As much as scripture tells us mankind knows there is a God, it also tells us just how much we want His throne. For the atheist, the solution is to simply pretend He doesn't sit in it. Denying God's authority is the perfect excuse to claim it for yourself. But atheism requires the suppression of some very basic instincts, which is almost as hard to do as to convince yourself the brown spots on a banana taste like chocolate. It's possible to do, but it requires some serious mental training.
But the advantages of atheism are rather alluring, are they not? Even Christians, who are quite in love with our Lord, must admit that obeying Him is often easier said than done. Humans of all religious persuasions share a common weakness when it comes to sin, and so it's not hard to see why some might favour atheism. Those who cannot bring themselves to take that leap, however, have an alternative strategy: Treat God like their own personal sock puppet.
Christianity is what I like to call a "codified religion". That is, we are not left fumbling in the dark to either make random guesses about God, or just make things up as we go along. Rather, we have scriptures. Properly studied, these 66 books tell us everything we need to know about our faith. It is entirely possible to know God, from what He wants for us to what He wants from us. But there are 4 little words that can be used to claim the benefits of both Christianity and atheism: "That's just your interpretation".
With these words, people can claim to be Christians, while simultaneously living as atheists. The things they like about Christianity, they keep as pure as possible. The things they don't like, they change. But my brethren, there is a very important lesson we all have to learn: If your "god" always agrees with you, your god is you. The fact is that as sinners, we will always strive against God in some way. The holy and unholy will always clash, and so if all of your interpretations of scripture magically line up more with your own opinions than with what the words actually say, you're doing something wrong.
Needless to say, scripture speaks against this in no uncertain terms. The Lord has a very "all or nothing" attitude. If you call Him Lord, you have no excuse for disobedience, and if you willingly live a life of disobedience, you have no right to take His word in your mouth. In the eyes of God, the choice is simple: Pick a side, or it will be picked for you. If you are for God, act like it. No excuses, no compromise, no fence sitting. If you are against God, don't pretend you are for Him, and do not imagine He does not know where your loyalties truly lie. As the Lord says in Matthew 12:30 and Luke 11:23, "he who is not with me is against me". Be for Him.