I was talking with a friend today and she mentioned someone saying that words are neither right or wrong; good or evil. It is all in the mind and heart of the one reading the words that makes something good or evil. But is that true? Are words truly morally neutral?
Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in 1856. Over two million copies were sold in over 13 languages. When President Abraham Lincoln met Harriet in person he stated "So you're the little girl that started this big war". Lincoln attributed Stowe's book as the main influence over the starting of the Civil War.
"Mein Kampf" or "My Struggle" by Adolph Hitler influenced a generation of Germans toward the goal of world domination (I do find it interesting that mein kampf is the Arabic equivalent of "jihad" currently used by Islamisists, but that's another post). His writings convinced thousands that the two great dangers to the world were Communism and Judaism. Years later we can still see the devastating effect this book had on many generations.
The Apostle Paul states that the word of God is "alive and powerful" in Hebrews 4:12. He also tells us that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness". Sounds like more than mere words here!
Words have the ability to get men elected to the highest office, enlist men to fight wars, cause hearts to warm through the stirring of love, awaken injustices that were before unseen and cause men and women to strive to lead holy and quiet lives. I think words have more power than any of us realize! What do you think?
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I've always thought words had more power than people believed. Why else would we memorize them -- why else would people cheer at speeches? Sticks & Stones may break bones, but the hurts from words go deeper and last longer. And what comes out of your mouth reflects what's in your heart.
ReplyDeleteI think it's ridiculous how powerful the Bible says words are, from Genesis right to Revelation. God didn't get his hands dirty until he formed man, everything up until that point was made just by the power of the spoken word alone. That's pretty crazy. The universe was made by God's spoken words. Then in Revelations 19:15 "From His (Jesus) mouth came a sharp sword, so that with it He might strike the nations." And ten there's what Geodave said, from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. I'm sure there's more verses then that.
ReplyDeleteC. Hillbom said:
ReplyDeleteJ.C. commented on how the Spoken word of God created the universe. It is also written that we are made in the image of God. Can you imagine the power, strength, and responsibility we have? If, and we are, made in the image of God - our words spoken into the world we live in can change the atmosphere, the land and the lives of those around us; allowing Him to speak through us.
It's amazing when a few words from a president can emancipate slaves for generations, and 100 days worth of words from a new president can emasculate a nation for at least 4 years. We hold the power of life and death in our tongues!
ReplyDeleteI teach my kids.. oh wait.. that is OK right :)
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, I tell them that their words have creative power for either good or evil. Say the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, and God through His Holy Spirit will often use those words for tremendous miracles.
Say things that are mean spirited, hurtful, etc, and the effects are usually seen immediately, and they can 'create' destruction.