The Power of Words

Michael Richards, who played the actor Kramer on Seinfeld, went on a public tirade during one of his comedy routines by calling African-Americans in the crowd the “n” word and shouting many other obscenities.

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me.” Remember that catchy little phrase growing up as a young person. At first, this saying seemed to be so true. How could something you can’t see or physically touch hurt you?

You can inflict pain by throwing a stone at a person or beating them with a stick. This makes sense. Surely air with sound in the form of language can’t be harmful. Life has taught us this is not true.

Proverbs 18:21a says, “The tongue has the power of life and death.” Once again the Bible’s wisdom is proven superior to human wisdom. Although words will never hurt a person externally, they always have the power to impact our souls with the power of life or death.

If words will never harm a person, why did so many African-Americans get upset over Michael Richard’s behavior? If words will never harm a person, why did the place where Richards was performing ban him from ever returning? If words are harmless, why would many people leave a comedy routine after paying money to be entertained? If words have no power and are harmless, why did Richards apologize to a national crowd during the Letterman Show for his inappropriate behavior?

The repercussions of Richards’ behavior remind us that our words carry tremendous power to impact people’s lives.

During his apology Richards, baffled by his outburst, tried futilely to explain his behavior. Dazed and confused he said, “I’m not a racist…that’s what is so crazy about this…it’s said…it comes through me…it fires out of me.” In other words, he was trying to convince everyone watching that he is a “good guy” despite what his words and actions were displaying for all to observe. His confused state of mind is called deception. I pray for God to touch Kramer and reveal Himself to him.

The Bible gives a clear picture of people who have not received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Romans 3:10, 23 says, “(10) There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. (23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” How many lies does it take to be a liar? You guessed it...one!

We all have sinned with our tongue by speaking words to people that are inappropriate and hurtful. James 3:2 says, “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.”

Our tongue should be used to praise God and say kind things to people. Instead, we so often use it as a weapon to inflict harm on people. James 3:9-12 says, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. (10) Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. (11) Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? (12) My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”

Just as two forms of water cannot flow from one spring, and a fig tree can not bear a different kind of fruit, a person cannot be evil and good at the same time. By not repenting of our sins and receiving the cleansing that Jesus offers us through His sacrifice on the cross, we remain evil and our words confirm this fact by reflecting the condition of our heart.

In Matthew 12:34 Jesus says, “How can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. (35) The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. (36) But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. (37) For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

The reason we say evil things to people is because we have evil in our hearts. Have you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior and allowed him to change the evil condition of your heart? If not, it is obvious by the words you speak.

Like toothpaste that oozes out its flavor of fluoride as pressure is applied to the tube, the trials of life will uncover the good or evil that dwells within our hearts. Let’s learn from Kramer’s diatribe and allow God to remove in us that which does not belong.