Chatter

Paul instructs Timothy to turn away from godless chatter. I'd like to do the same. But the the questions wells up, what is it? And does godly chatter exist? Or, is chatter by definition always ungodly. I believe Paul only talks about chatter twice; in 1 Tim. 6 and 2 Tim. 2. In both cases it come as a package together with "unholy"; unholy godless chatter. Only in 2 Tim. we get a little bit of context; guys who are spreading the news that the resurrection has already taken place. In 1 Tim. 6 most of the chapter is about money.

Throughout its history, and up till today, an unbelievable amount of ball and baloney is being chattered about. Maybe those are the words we would use: ball and baloney.
A couple of things:

While the church keeps on chattering about politics, money, baptism, speaking in tongues, buildings, organisation; millions are going to hell.


While the church is at it and a working group has to make some tough decisions regarding carpets and sinks and/or the colour of the urinals, thousands of children die because of malnutrition and/or contaminated water.

While we are writing, publishing and reading thousands of books and articles (all good Christian stuff) with a lot of chatter stuff in it, tens of thousands don't even have access to a copy of the word of God.

While we keep on chattering on the position and the role of women in the church, millions of women don't even have the most basic role or position.

While we refine, tweak and fine-tune our theology of worship and spend millions on sound equipment, instruments and sound engineering we don't even realise that all these things are the contemporary equivalent of chatter and most of it is utterly unholy.

I could go on and on but I won't because I know I will get depressed if I keep chattering on.

But the sad reality is that it is true. We chatter away at interpreting the meaning of chatter while precious time leaks away into oblivion.

Yet, isn't it true also that we need some chatter. Chatter that will point us back into the right direction. Chatter that will shake us up a bit.
I believe it's possible. I believe holy chatter is possible.