Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

GODLESS CHATTER - PART 2

January 3, 2011

Okay, there's more to "godless chatter" (that I mentioned last post) than gossip, and idle conversation.

Avoid godless chatter...Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.


                                                     - 2 Timothy 2:16-18 TNIV

Gossip is one thing, and it's a real poison. But another form of godless chatter is mere speculation. I'm not here referring to legitimate inquiry and the free sharing of doubt, but I refer to speculation disconnected from God's Word, the foundation or launch pad for "Godly chatter." Evidently it's an age-old thing. The "what if's" and "what might be's"--Christians love to do it. We ponder the fate of other people, the timelines of the ages, and even rationalize the fancy of it with little more than, "Oh, c'mon, it's fun! What do you think?" Paul challenges Timothy and us: We are to avoid speculations and godless chatter. We must not focus on what we don't know but on what we do know. Speculation and "What if's?" might be fun for some, but Paul warns it is harmful. "Don't do it," he tells Timothy.

What makes us think he's not also talking to us?


Joyfully,

Dale Patterson