Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me! Do you remember reciting those words on the playground when the class bully would would launch his/her verbal assault at you?
Repeating this expression gave you that temporary shield of confidence, yet deep down inside you know it actually affected you. Even today as adults, spoken words; and likewise letters on a screen have the same power they once held long ago. Little did you know, the scriptures actually teach this truth, yet tucked away in a book that is not widely known or read.
Face to face interactions (or even online) are the obvious situations where words have consequences. However, some of the most notorious devices used against one another are slander and gossip.
Slander:
- Oral communication of false and malicious statements that damage the reputation of another.
- A false and malicious statement or report about someone
Gossip:
- Rumor or talk of a personal, sensational, or intimate nature.
- A person who habitually spreads intimate or private rumors or facts.
- Trivial, chatty talk or writing.
Slander and gossip carry a deadly and highly contagious poison. Here’s some scripture you may not have ever seen regarding it.
Slander has shaken many, and scattered them from nation to nation, and destroyed strong cities, and overturned the houses of great men. Slander has driven away courageous women, and deprived them of the fruit of their toil. Whoever pays heed to slander will not find rest, nor will he settle down in shalom (peace). The blow of a whip raises a welt, but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones.
Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 28:14-17 Included in the 1611 KJV
You know that feeling when this happens to you. Why would you do it to someone else? Even if it doesn’t get around to them, why would you speak death over another?
Treat people the same way you want them to treat you.
Luke 6:31
As we’ve mentioned in a previous video, many experiments using living organisms such as: plants, trees, rice, water, bananas and more have proven that words literally have power in creation, for good or evil.
Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have fallen because of the tongue. Happy is the man who is protected from it, who has not been exposed to its anger, who has not borne its yoke, and has not been bound with its fetters; for its yoke is a yoke of iron, and its fetters are fetters of bronze; its death is an evil death, and Sheol is preferable to it. It will not be master over the godly, and they will not be burned in its flame. Those who forsake Yahuah will fall into its power; it will burn among them and will not be put out. It will be sent out against them like a lion; like a leopard it will mangle them. See that you fence in your property with thorns, lock up your silver and gold, make balances and scales for your words, and make a door and a bolt for your mouth. Beware lest you err with your tongue, lest you fall before him who lies in wait.
Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 28:18-26 Included in the 1611 KJV
Guard your ears and mouth family, as we will be accountable for every idle word (Matthew 12:36).
Never repeat a conversation, and you will lose nothing at all. With friend or foe do not report it, and unless it would be a sin for you, do not disclose it; for some one has heard you and watched you, and when the time comes he will hate you. Have you heard a word? Let it die with you. Be brave! It will not make you burst! With such a word a fool will suffer pains like a woman in labor with a child. Like an arrow stuck in the flesh of the thigh, so is a word inside a fool. Question a friend, perhaps he did not do it; but if he did anything, so that he may do it no more. Question a neighbor, perhaps he did not say it; but if he said it, so that he may not say it again. Question a friend, for often it is slander; so do not believe everything you hear.
Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 19:7-15 Included in the 1611 KJV
There’s no better time than now to make imperative changes to what comes out of your mouths (and fingers), it is of the utmost importance!
Shalom.
