Words Are Weapons To Build Up Or Tear Down

Ron Wood
Ron Wood

"Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me!" So goes the little ditty that we said as kids. We'd sing it back as a chant to anyone who called us names, along with a bring-it-on smirk like a taunt, "Is that all you got?"

I believe words have power. Words can build up your self-esteem or words can puff up your pride. Words can deceive you into wrong thinking or words can guide you to safety. Words can move you to compassion. Words can even heal. Your own words can defeat you since our mental self-talk is the software directing our life.

Some words carry death. "You have cancer." "I want a divorce." "You'll always be a failure!" Because words affect our lives, I reject all hate-filled speech. I also refuse to keep listening to any preacher who berates and shames his audience. Condemning ourselves is not a cure. Nor can we blame others for our sins. Christ has the cure!

Some words are filled with life. Who are you listening to? Try Jesus' words: "The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." (John 6:63 ESB) Words, when anointed by God's Spirit, bring peace, faith, hope, and love. Spiritual words spoken at Pentecost inaugurated God's kingdom, birthing Christ's body on earth, the Church.

With words, we can negotiate deals. With words, we can enter into the covenant of marriage. With words, we can declare war. Words reveal our intent and purpose.

Words are not harmless. Harsh words hurt people, especially children. Words clarify our identity. "You are my son!" Words stir emotions. With words, we form beliefs, which shape our attitudes, which affect our actions. We write our own story.

In societies without liberty, speaking your mind brings harsh penalties. In North Korea, saying words critical of "fearless leader" (the little boy with a nuclear bomb) will get you killed. Totalitarian dictators can't allow freedom of speech.

Jason Stuttman, writing in Wealth Daily, said, "Radical Islamic terrorism is an ideology, and no amount of bullets or bombs can destroy ideas..." We must use words as weapons to change their beliefs. I know the gospel of Jesus can do that.

Freedom isn't free in many nations. Despots, secular or religious, can't coexist with freedom. Where sharia law is, like Pakistan, saying you doubt the Koran is a death sentence. Imams in mosques use fiery rhetoric to stir up hatred toward Jews or Christians or Hindus or even other Muslims. Imams are Muslim preachers. In Shia Iran, Imams are considered infallible. In Sunni Saudi Arabia, their word is like law. Imams, meant to be scholars, are self-appointed zealots, revolutionaries. Islam, unlike Christianity, has no denominational hierarchy to oversee religious leaders.

Ideas about freedom birthed America, "self-evident" ideas. Ideas can be powerful. Take the idea of God as seen in the Bible. That we are created in His image, that human beings have eternal value, that life is precious -- even unborn babies -- these are pillars of truth for any society that doesn't want to self-destruct.

Don't build your life on shifting sand. Discard all lies. Lay claim to the truth. Say it. Believe it. Write it on your heart.

I memorized Bible verses when I was young. I wrote key verses on 3x5 cards that I took to school. I could pull out a card, read it and say it, and commit God's word to memory. Decades later, I can still quote these verses.

RON WOOD IS A WRITER AND MINISTER. EMAIL HIM AT [email protected] OR VISIT WWW.TOUCHEDBYGRACE.ORG.

Editorial on 02/03/2016