The Power of Words

So I just completed a five-week bible study at work. We talked about Calvinism, Arminianism and Open Theism. There was a guy in the class who I didn't think was particularly bright before it began. But, week after week, he consistently showed a very solid grasp of the topics we were discussing. Then, the day after our last class he came up to me to speak about a bible study that he was a part of at his church.

Basically, they were talking about a scientific experiment that proved that words matter. The guy in charge took some glasses of water and spoke different types of words over them. He would bless some and curse the others. He played heavy metal with evil messages over some, and classical music with heavenly messages over the others. He labeled some 'love' and some 'hate.'

And he ended up with some fascinating results. Those that he blessed had a very different chemical makeup after than those he cursed. Some ended up being toxic due to the words spoken over them, and some water ended up much better. Since most things contain a very large amount of water in their basic composition, this shows the importance of not cursing and the importance of blessing. There was only one real problem with this experiment.

It isn't true. See, these "results" have never been duplicated. No one has been able to prove that words have an actual effect in our world, at least not physically. Many times people will say that they know words are powerful because the bible indicates that they are. And the bible does seem to say that. But is that what the bible means? Do words, in and of themselves, actually have power?

I think they don't. At least not people's words. If words themselves have power, then we could merely run around using the right words to get all kinds of things accomplished. We might even carry some sort of pointing device, and wear a robe and a pointy hat. Words do not have power on their own.

They can be given power, but they can only be given power by some sort of agent, God or others. See, God's words have power because God is power. God can make things happen merely by the force of his will. To think that people can do the same is to elevate people to a level equal with God. People can give words power by the meaning that they ascribe to them. "Love" only means something because someone hears it. "Hate" only means something because someone says it. The words themselves mean nothing.