"Profane and Vain"

2Tim 2
14 ¶  Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.16  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.17  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;18  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
 
We live in a day where there is profanity and vulgarity on every hand! At school, at work, in the media, on the radio, on the TV...everywhere you turn! We live in a day where people can hardly express themselves without using obscenities and lewd expletives. These terms are now even included in our modern dictionaries. 

Our society today, generally uses the word..."profane" in the way I have previously described. Many people, especially believers, don't realize that the word "profane" also has a broader meaning...it also includes language and words that are...common, secular. Many students of the Bible understand the usage of the word 'vulgar'...meaning 'common'...from which we get the words 'vulgarity' and 'Vulgate'...hence the 'Old Latin Vulgate' (Vaudois).

Years ago, Bible preaching/teaching filled the airwaves...today 'Talk Shows' have replaced much of the same airwaves with not only obscenities, but also with the secular. Talk that is just plain void of God. Some believers think that as long as it is not obscene it is OK. According to the passage above...(vv. 16)...we are to "shun profane and vain babblings"

"shun" - turning a cold shoulder to; not paying attention to; to keep away from (a place, person, object, etc.); take pains to avoid; as shunning

"vain" - devoid of real value, idle, unprofitable, worthless, empty, waste

Many believers waste much time listening to secular talk that is void of God. the Bible says in (vv. 14) they are "words to no profit". 

The Bible says that these "babblings"..."increase unto more ungodliness". Even if they are words void of obscenities, strictly secular talk, void of God...they still lead to more "ungodliness".

According to (vv. 17) "profane and vain babblings" will eat away your 'godliness' as "doth a canker"...like a cancer!

The Lord tells us in (vv. 15)...how to combat "ungodliness"...

(vv. 15) "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Instead of wasting our time focusing on the secular, "words to no profit"...we should be spending our time focusing on the WORD that is "profitable" (2Tim 3:16). 

News stories will come and go...and will be forgotten over time. The headlines of today will hardly be thought of in years to come...

Mt 24:35  "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

Isa 40:8  "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

Why do we focus on that which will "pass away", words that "fadeth" over time when God has given us His WORD that will "stand for ever" and will increase unto godliness?

You see, words that we might consider harmless or 'neutral', will over time "increase unto ungodliness"!

We cannot be neutral, we cannot not sit on the fence...

Mt 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

...if we are not speaking words for the Lord, we are speaking words against the Lord...even in our silence! God help us to speak/listen to "profitable" words! 

This world needs a constant influence of the proclamation of the Word of God, not "profane and vain babblings"!

Believer...is your speech full of 'profanity'? Do you lend your ears to 'vulgarity'?

(vv. 16)  "But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness."