Words Are Powerful Little Things

Common Sense Commentary: What I am interested in, under the above title, is human behavior in reaction to words.

I. SEMANTICS - Words are the product of Semantics (sema=a sign + ics =to see) which is, to mentally see something said or written. Words do that through our ears or eyes to our brain. Semantics is the science of meanings as contrasted with Phonics which is the science of sounds or enunciation.

Webster says that "words" are "an articulate sound or series of sounds which symbolizes or communicates an idea or thought".

Words can be thought or communicated audibly or written with a tiny bit of ink or black lead on a page. As powerful as they are mentally, emotionally and educationally, words are physically no more than a breath of sound or that tiny bit of ink or lead on paper. It is their meaning, arrangement and volume wherein lies their power.

II. ACTION and REACTION to Words - We are all, from time to time, faced with unpleasant situations and harsh words. Some personalities are addicted to intimidating others. Conversely, others are easily intimidated. (1) Intimidation is an action over which the intimidated person has no control; but they DO have control of how they react to it. We do not have to be intimidated by any human no matter their position, power, fame or relationship. For instance, the intimidator may have a dominating, intimidating personality which they are well practiced and expert in using. This personality flaw usually isn't even recognized by themselves; they do it automatically. The targeted person cannot be intimidated unless they ALLOW themselves, by their REACTION, to BE intimidated. We cannot be intimidated with WORDS alone unless we put ourselves in that position by our own reaction. (2) Anger, whether with or without justification, is usually a reaction to something someone said or wrote. Again, anger cannot arise without our having given place to it. It is a reaction. You cannot be forced to be angry. (3) Insult is the same. No matter how bad someones words may be, if they call you all kinds of terrible names, just remember that their words are reflecting far more about themselves than about you. If you know who your are and what you are not, you cannot be insulted unless you react negatively and let words wound and insult you. It really is your choice not theirs. (4) Scared is also, obviously, a reaction to a perceived threat, whether real or imagined. It too is a reaction which may or may not be useful in a bad situation. More often than not it is not useful.(5) Offended - Offensive words may be cast at you in artillery barrage proportions but, unlike sticks and stones, they cannot hit or hurt us unless we react to them. Being always sensitive to negative WORDS
about or to us is similar to someone throwing a rubber ball against a wall. If it always bounces off the wall and back to the hand of the thrower, he will continue bouncing you off the wall. STOP REACTING !

All of the above emotions are not actions but reactions and therefore are within our own power to be hurt or not. "The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." 1Cor.15:28

III. Words Beat War - God's Word says "There is a time for war and a time for peace". Ecc.3:8. I really believe that if just Christians would stand up against tyranny and evil, and speak out vocally and by the pen, and be absolutely committed to resisting it, that most wars could be avoided. Notice I said "most" not all. Edward Lytton coined the phrase, "The pen is mightier than the sword" which I believe is true. But the problem is .... getting the right people to faithfully put "The Pen" to work until the tyrant is de-horned. Words on the internet dethroned Mubarak and Words elected many recent political candidates.

Sound reasoning, communicated by spoken and written words, is our greatest weapon against power hungry politicians and in strengthening a civilized, free society. If we do not step up and speak out, we will lose our nation to those who tend to scream, demonstrate, and expect the Government to support them with our taxes.

We must not just be intimidated or angered or insulted or offended or scared of the enemies of freedom and of political tyrants; WE MUST ACT NOT REACT. WE MUST STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT. WE MUST USE OUR WORDS WISELY AND OFTEN IF WE ARE TO WIN BACK AMERICA.

Sticks and stones may break my bones but WORDS will never hurt me. The first half of that childhood idiom is true enough but it is rarely true that "Words will never hurt me". I think that could only be true if a person were so close to Christ as to be in His shadow. Few, if any, there be who are so selfless and secure in Christ within , as to refuse to allow themselves to be intimidated, insulted, offended or scared by words alone. W.E. Henley penned these last words of his poem, Invictus. "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." Though the poem is powerful, it is also presumptuous to the extreme, but it has an element of truth in it. You alone must accept responsibility for your own soul''s decision as to whether you will accept or reject God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. He has done everything necessary to save you. He will not force himself upon you. It is your decision and if you die without Christ ... God is not at fault.

IV. THE CORRECT PASSWORD - Words come in hundreds of languages and in a dictionary full of different meanings. Words range from Heaven to Hell, good tidings and bad tidings, a declaration and a question, a promise and a curse, compliment and criticism, accusation and denial and thousands of others.

A correct Password will open a million locks on the Internet highway. Another correct Password will open the windows and gates of Heaven to those who have it ... and that Password is JESUS, the living Word of God. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God....And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the ONLY BEGOTTEN of the Father, full of grace and truth." Jn.1:1 & 14.

Pass it on. RB