1 Timothy is a New Testament letter of advice from the Apostle Paul to a young pastor by that name. The last bit of advice in the book begins “Turn away from godless chatter.”
Upon reading this we may ask “And what IS godless chatter?”
It’s wise to seek precise definitions. But the instinct to begin with that question reminds me of a man who asked Jesus…
“what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” He replied. “How do you read it?” [The man] answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:25b-29)
Instead of answering the man’s question, Jesus shares about a ‘Good Samaritan’ (and two other men who don’t help a person in need as the Samaritan does). Jesus finishes his parable by posing a question to the Questioner…
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” (Luke 10:36)
In other words, Jesus turned his questioner from considering “who is my neighbor?” to “what does it look like to act neighborly?”
The fact that we would ask “what godless chatter is” or “who my neighbor is” may serve as a helpful Diagnostic– that we want to justify our current actions rather than repent and strive for a purer, more loving course of action.
Life’s many complexities occasionally make it difficult to define what is and is not “godless chatter.” But I believe we may find answers in another letter from Paul.
Since all human language begins with thoughts in the speaker and results in thoughts in the listener, consider Paul’s words on thinking…
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)
Time is precious, friends. The words we hear and share shape us and the world.
So may you constantly participate in God-filled chatter.
