The Power of Words

Sticks and stones break one's bones, but names will never hurt one. It appeared in The Christian Recorder, a publication of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, on March 22, 1862, where it was presented as an "old adage" in this form: Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.

We more than likely grew up knowing this children's nursery rhyme. I'm sure it was to encourage young ones, when they were being picked on or called names, that words could not really hurt them. Fast forward to the 2000's and everyone will tell you WORDS HURT.

I was surprised to learn the origin of the nursery rhyme came from religion. In the same vein, I'm not surprised that this familiar saying can be traced to religion. Many spiritual practices and various faiths put a great deal of importance on WORDS.

The much maligned practice of Witchcraft uses words for spells and encantations.What is the difference between a spell and an incantation? Spells are the generic term for all magical “actions.” Charms are a subset of spells (also hexes, jinxes, and curses). Charms affect the behavior of the “recipient” (human or object), but don't change its nature. The incantation is the word/words that the user actually says. (not my beliefs) - It is said an incantation can be used to turn a negative or limiting belief or thought into a positive one. Incantations have the power to rewire your brain and get you to take a positive action. Incantations are about speaking what you want to become. You can literally re-create yourself using incantations. It has also been said that we learn SPELLING in education, the process of being able to put our thoughts and intents into words and then sentences; casting spells. I think spelling may have been hyjacked.

One of the earliest records of a witch is in the Bible in the book of 1 Samuel, thought be written between 931 B.C. and 721 B.C. It tells the story of when King Saul sought the Witch of Endor to summon the dead prophet Samuel’s spirit to help him defeat the Philistine army. The witch roused Samuel, who then prophesied the death of Saul and his sons. The next day, according to the Bible, Saul’s sons died in battle, and Saul committed suicide.

Words have power. One positive or negative word from us to another person can affect their entire day. Words have the power to inspire, motivate, comfort, and heal. But they can also cause harm, pain, and damage to ourselves and others. Yet we throw words around so cavalierly, without much thought daily and especially on social media. WHY?

Many spiritual people meditate and use words of affirmation. According to the English American Dictionary, the definition of “to affirm” is to state that something is true. When applied to the spiritual life, an affirmation is a statement of truth which one aspires to absorb into his life. For the spiritual person, any negative, thoughts, speech, and/or actions are a no no.

Among a variety of religious activities, praying and chanting are quite common forms of practice in major religions including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Chanting is a form of rhythmic, repetitive vocalization practiced in a wide range of cultures. It is used in spiritual practice to strengthen community, heal illness, and overcome psychological and emotional difficulties.A mantra can be a letter, a sound, a word or many words or sentences. Om is the most important and widely known mantra in Hinduism and Buddhism. Asian Indian ancient religious writings are of many mantras and rituals, as in the Vedas.  They constitute the most important expression of ritual offerings in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, etc.  Mantras with their meaning and intonation, are ritualistic offerings to the Godhead. 

In Christianity, both God and Satan exercise power through SPOKEN words (Gen 1:26, 3:4-5). God's words are true, eternal, and unchanging and the Bible is the living word (John 1:14). Satan's words are twisted truth, lies, and deception (Gen 3:4-5). Christians use words in the form of praying as a personal communication or petition addressed to a deity, especially in the form of supplication, adoration, praise, contrition, or thanksgiving. Prayer is seen as a form of spiritual communion with a deity. 

Words can wound people or build people up. The Bible is very clear about WORDS. In James 3:5 "Likewise the TONGUE is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a WORLD of EVIL among the parts of the body. It corrupts the WHOLE person, sets the WHOLE course of his LIFE on fire..." It goes on to say no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless EVIL full of deadly poison. It can praise God in one moment and curse others the next moment and it should not be that way. Freshwater and saltwater can not flow from the SAME spring and blessing and curses can not spring from the same source of the mouth. One will be true and the other will be false.

We are living in a time when everyone seems to be complaining, dissatifies, distraught, and out right miserable. The words coming from their mouths are highly negative. It almost seems as if this condition of 'meanness' is contagious. America has turned into a nation of BICKERERS. There is a constant pattern of opposition no matter the topic. People are offended and taking hard stances on any and everything. NOTHING is too small to spar about.

We have lost sight on how important our words are and that our words matter. Words can heal or cause harm. Mature mentally healthy people know the importance of their words and act accordingly. Once again, the Christian Bible states in Proverbs 10:19, “Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.” Even when praying the Christian is told in Matthew 6:7, "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." This is where the saying "You have ONE mouth and TWO ears for a reason" makes sense. Listen more than you speak.

Most people write off the Christian Bible as just a book filled with fairytales. I'm not here to argue about that. What I will say is there are many great passages that would serve humanity well if they were taken to heart. Ephesians 4:29 states, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” If you say I use this verse often, you're right. Guilty as charged.

During this presidention election, I would love for the presidential candidates to remember their words have power. Their words can be positive or negative. Their words can build or destroy. I also emplore those who listen to the candidate to be aware both GOOD and BAD words cannot flow from one source. Either good will be true or bad will be true. A good person does not issue from their mouth horrible things and a bad person doesn't present you with good from their mouth.

I leave you with this James 3:13-18:

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Don't forget to buy my book The Politics of Prayer available on amazon.com and please like, share, comment, and follow this blog. Thank you.

Burning Books and Witchcraft

 

    Pastor Greg Locke has decided to publicly burn books. Harry Potter and Twighlight was set afire. His burning of these books was done because he said such material was a threat to religious beliefs, and freedom, and belief system. Wicca is a pagan religion that practices witchcraft. So, it's one religion attacking another religion who both have the right to practice their faith in the United States.

    The book burning comes after a Tennessee school board moved to ban Art Spiegelman's Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel Maus, which depicts Polish Jews' experience after they survived the Holocaust. Minn County School Board also banned the book for the use of the words "God damn" and naked pictures. Such acts, censorship and burning books, does little to maintain an ideology of purity which is the real goal, to keep people or children pure in an idealistic definition made up by parents or religion. 

    There are 4,000 recognized religions in the world. Sooner or later, unless children live in a bubble, they will find out their religion is not the only religion. If they act by example, then they will set out on a crusade to persecute other religious believers because their religion is threatening their religious beliefs, rights, and freedom. Not the way to go. Instead, stop burning books and have a teaching moment with your children in your home about what they encounter in school and the world. After all, that is part of parenting and witnessing for Christianity. So, what is the real scoop on the hocus pocus threatening Christianity? There has been incorrect teaching or no teaching at all on the subject in Christianity. The reason why will become evident as you read on.

     Exodus 22:18 explains in its section of public responsibility "thou should not suffer a witch to live" The Salem Witch Trials went overboard and did not suffer any woman to live and thus we lost valuable folk cures for ailments. They completely left the biblical definition of witchcraft. People are returning to natural remedies and holistic healing practices for healing and health with success in many areas. Medicines begin from using combination of components found in nature. During the burning of the witches, those tried-and-true home cures bit the dust, or one could be seen as a witch able to cure people of sicknesses. 

                                                                

    Deuteronomy 18:10-12 under the section of detestable practices tells us "There shall not be found among you anyone that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire (child sacrifice), or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord; and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out before thee." 

    Also, in the Bible the Levites, (those who performed subordinate services associated with public worship were known as Levites. In this capacity, the Levites were musicians, gate keepers, guardians, Temple officials, judges, and craftsmen), made use of the Urim and Thummim (two objects worn on the breastplate of a Jewish high priest) and various forms of sacrifice as instruments of divination (the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means) to determine guilt and innocence in law cases Deuteronomy 33:8-10. The silver chalice Joseph placed in his brother Benjamin's sack when he was leaving Egypt is described as being used by Joseph for divination, often taken as a reference for scrying (foretell the future using a crystal ball or other object such as a mirror) Genesis 44:2-17.  Joseph interpreted dreams that foretold the future. These people, favored by God, in essence practiced witchcraft. Why was it okay for them to do divination? Read further to find out the reason. 

     It is clear that witches were recognized as people not sanctioned by God. Whether they had real power or not did not matter. They were not the type of persons for God's people to hang around with. I always found the story of the Witch of Endor, in the Bible funny (1 Samuel 28:3-25). Saul himself had put a prohibition (actually expelled them from Israel) on going to fortune tellers, but when he needed a wise word, he went to a witch to help him to contact Samuel, a prophet, who was dead. He needed Samuel's counsel in a matter bothering him. The Philistine Army had set up against Saul and he was frightened by their number, so he consulted the Witch of Endor. When the witch was able to raise the spirit of Samuel from the dead, she seemed shocked herself. The spirit of Samuel spoke to Saul and told him "Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me" 1 Samuel 28:1ff. It is clear through the words of the Bible that there was a such thing as witches (actually a necromancer). 1 Samuel 15:23 states that "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king." This was Samuel speaking to Saul before Saul banned witchcraft. 

    We often state that the Old Testament is of a time so far removed until it cannot be used in the 21st Century in the same way. Let's look at how witchcraft was viewed in the New Testament and see if it can be applied to life today. In Galatians 5:16-21. a section of the chapter begins speaking about life by the Spirit. The people are told to live by the Spirit. Then a list follows telling the reader the acts of a sinful nature which are obvious: "sexual immorality (adultery), impurity and debauchery (fornication), idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." 

      In Hebrew the word sorcerer, from the Old Testament, is Kashaph, meaning to alter or change the very essence of a plant, animal, or human. In Greek, in the New Testament, the word for witchcraft is pharmakeia to alter or change the root of something. The modern translation of witchcraft as involving assistance from Satan is inconsistent with Scripture.

 

     What does this word "witchcraft" really mean in Galatians? It is defined as pharmakeia from medication (pharmacy), which was believed to be magic or sorcery. It signified the use of medicine, drugs, spells; then poisoning, then witchcraft as in Galatians and Revelation 9:21 and 18:23. In sorcery the use of drugs whether simple or potent, was generally accompanied by incantations and appeals to occult powers, with the provision of various charms, amulets, etc., profusely designed to keep the applicant or patient from the attention and power of devils. 

    But as with anything man does, witches/sorcerers started to use their knowledge to impress the applicant with the mysterious resources and powers of the sorcerer (themselves). So, in essence the New Testament believed that witchcraft was used more or less for the sorcerer to be seen or held in high esteem by those seeking them out. The person using medicines began to say "I can help you with MY powers" which of course was contrary to the fact that it is to God we look to for help. So, now you have the core of the reason for witches and sorcerers to not have favor with God's people. It was not because they could cure people, see into the future, or talk to the dead, it was because of corruption of their powers. The greatest Commandment is thou shall have no other god BEFORE me. The command does not say not to have any other god. The command could have easily said have no other god but me, period, but it doesn't. The problem comes when you place someone or something above God. Shocking huh?

     Today, many people are turning to the 'religion' of Wiccan. It is one of the fastest growing religions of the 21st century. We must ask ourselves why someone would seek such a religion with a stigma? We are quick to say because they are 'evil' but many people will tell you that they are looking for a religion of peace, harmony and love. We must ask ourselves is this the face of Christianity today (peace, harmony, love)? The Scripture tells the Christian to live a life and carry themselves in such a way people will be drawn to Christ by their example. People should say "I want what they have" because you example something desirable. You are happy, loving, peaceful, positive, honorable, humble, caring, truthful, emotionally stable, helpful, and all the other characteristics that draw people towards you not away from you and this will give God the glory. 

    Demanding ignorance and burning books is not how Christianity will survive. Being dedicated to actively know and live the religion will ensure its survival for generations to come. God says his word draws people. We should live as the living word to draw people to Christ.