“O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.” – 1 Timothy 6:20-21
Happy Birthday, America!!! What a joy it is to have an earthly home that’s free. May we never take that freedom for granted and may we each use our freedom well for God’s glory! If you’re in the US, take time today to give thanks to God for the freedom you enjoy.
One of our most cherished freedoms, of course, is freedom of speech. Pretty much anything and everything can be said and it certainly is! However, Paul has a crucial warning for Christians living in an “anything goes” culture of free speech. Hold tight to the truth of the gospel!
We’re flooded with nonsense, babble, and contradictions disguising themselves as “knowledge”. It fills our inboxes, social media streams, and the endless hours of cable news. Countless books are written, endless magazines are published. All are a wonderful expression of the freedom we cherish, but not all of it is beneficial for a follower of Jesus to engage with.
As a Christian, avoid the empty junk, the trash talk, the babble, and the nonsense. Learn to identify what’s worth engaging with and what isn’t. Invest your time and energy in reading and listening to what builds your faith and enlightens you with the truth of God and it’s application to the world. Guard what God has given you, don’t let it be washed away in a sea of drivel. Enjoy your freedom but don’t let it pull you of the path of faith.