You Have A Superpower; It’s Called Words

Superhero businessman tearing the suit. Pop art retro illustration kitsch vintage 50s 60s style

Politicians are fond of using the phrase “words mean things” Politicians are pretty good at stating the obvious and it almost made me happy to have found at least one thing politicians were good at. That is until I realized they only used this phrase when it fit whatever agenda they were trying to sell to us. But for real human beings, words do mean things, in fact, words are a superpower.

What Can Words Do?

Words can stir anger, bring tears, and even start wars. But words can also soothe the savage beast, bring calm, and peace. Words have the ability to hurt, shame, and belittle or words can heal, teach, and uplift. This power of words is incredible. It’s truly a superpower that we all share. Some choose to use their words like Superman or Batman, to combat evil and fight injustice. Others choose to use their words like Lex Luther or The Penguin to hurt people for their own personal gain, which sort of brings us back to politicians? Words are most certainly a superpower given to us by God and like our other gifts, God also gave us the power of choice to either use our gifts for His glory or for the glory of darkness; darkness being Satan.

But I Just Mind My Own Business

There are some who would say: “Just because I don’t speak out for the glory of God does not mean I am using my voice for darkness”. Well, there are sins of omission just like there are sins of commission. What if I heard a neighbor screaming for help each night as her abusive husband beat her and I saw the cuts and bruises on her face each day? Would it be wrong for me to ignore that? What if it finally led to her death?

Ephesians 5:11 says: “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them .”

Remaining silent and inactive about evil when we have a chance to intervene is not just cowardly, but sinful. We are called to be proactive in promoting what is good and resisting that which is evil. Apathy, fence-sitting, and refusal to engage are not options for Christians.

The Bible is the absolute best example of words having meaning. Nothing else even comes close. The Bible is “The Word” of words. Here is a beautiful example of Biblical words having meaning:

David Vs Goliath

Goliath mocked David as David was young, of slight build, and had no sword or armor…….

1 Samuel 17:45-47 says: Then said David to the Philistine (Goliath) Thou comest to me with a sword, and a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand, and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into our hands.”

Faithful Words Are Powerful Words

David had a strong faith and he knew God would give him victory over this almost ten-foot-tall giant man called “Goliath”. He could have simply killed him and moved on. But David used words, powerful words to explain what was about to happen, why it was about to happen, and where his power was coming from. Not only did these words serve and Glorify God at the time but the words have served and Glorified God for thousands of years. This is the superpower of words.

Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words, thou shalt be condemned. (you reap the words you sew)

Indifference

There is an axiom that “silence gives consent.” This is true in the case of believers who refuse to openly and audibly denounce sin and wrongdoing in our communities and throughout our country. How can we as Christians say nothing as God is being removed? And we don’t need a list of places, if it’s a place, then God is being removed.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burk.

“The pen is mightier than the sword” was first written by novelist and playwright Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839, but in our current time, I would take the liberty to say that the media is now mightier than the sword. The media in various forms is comprised of what? WORDS. Although there are photos and videos, even those are accompanied by “words.” The news media will usually report a story with images but ultimately selects words to relay the message they want us to hear.

It is up to us as Christians to find the truth and we all know where the truth lies. All news, political issues, social issues, all things must be tested by the Bible. We can trust God to speak to us through his word and lead us in the right direction. Therefore, when we use our words they will be words of truth and grace. They will be proven words spoken with both kindness and strength. Words that come from our God-given superpower.

In Closing:

There are multitudes of Bible verses pertaining to “using your words.” It was hard to select a favorite but I settled on this beautiful poetic verse from:

Isaiah 55: 11 “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”