A culture of commentary versus ... a handful of quietness

There is only one Apostle Paul; but there are endless commentators on what he wrote. Endless.

You can't count all the commentators. Not only those who write about his epistles (which, indeed, comprise about 50% of the New Testament).

But also those who every Sunday preach on passages he wrote -- from Ephesians, for instance, or Galatians, or Philippians, and so on and on. Let's listen in:

"Ah ... Our text this morning is Ephesians 2.10 ... Last Sunday we spoke on such and so ... and today I want to further elaborate on just what Paul meant when he said that we are the workmanship of God. You see, this word for workmanship is poeema. What a wonderful thought ... we are God's poetry!!!"

And he's off to the races... with all the good people in the pews taking notes ... because there's going to be a midweek discussion group on the passage ...

I don't mean to demean any earnest commentator or preacher, or Bible discussion groups. Of course not.

But I am suggesting that a culture of commentary substitutes -- actually inhibits -- genuine ability to live out the truth of the Word of God.

In a culture of commentary, everybody is reading the Word not so much to humbly receive from it, so as to humbly submit to it, so as to quietly live out the truth of it, in daily life, minute by minute.

I'll say it again:

In a culture of commentary, everybody is reading the Word not so much to humbly receive from it, so as to humbly submit to it, so as to quietly live out the truth of it, in daily life, minute by minute.

NO. None of that. I've got a Bible Study to lead on Ephesians chapter 2, and I've got to PREP for it. Oh my goodness, it's tomorrow and I've got nothing to say ... Well, lemme check these commentaries ...

I wonder how much of American evangelical culture is more a culture of commentary than a culture of quiet submission:

The radio programs; the piles and piles of study guides; the endless conferences and retreats; and so on and on.

It fosters ambitions and aspirations to comment; to be an expert commentator. (Maybe someday I'll be a conference speaker ...!).

But when you quietly submit, nobody notices you. Or at least very, very few will. But it may be at the heart of godly living.

And then there are those who blog about this problem ...

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Ecclesiastes 4.6 Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.