Godless Chatter

There is a great deal that I could say about 1 Timothy 6 today. But I am currently preaching through the book of 1 Timothy and I don’t want to preach sermons before their appointed time! Let me just say that I am struck by Paul’s words in verses 20-21. Those verses say: “Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith.” I guess we are tempted to think that godless chatter is foul mouthed speech or bawdy jokes. But note the context of the chapter. Paul is again warning Timothy about false teachers throughout the passage. Godless chatter is not swearing or lewd humor. It is religious talk that has nothing to do with God. The false teachers claimed to be teaching of God, but there reaching was really godless. The power of God was not behind it and people were not led to God through it. We need Paul’s warning today. There are many who are preaching what they consider to be knowledge, but it is not. Turning from godless chatter happens not just in the world. It also happens in the church.