Words have
the power of life and death. Words
reveal wisdom and foolishness. Words we
say can either help or hinder. As the
Proverb says, "The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the
mouth of fools spouts folly" (Proverbs15:2).
As Kevin
Hall explains in his book, Aspire: Discovering Your Purpose Through the
Power of Words, words are the basic material for communication. Stephen R. Covey says in his foreword to
Hall's book, "words have an inherent power, a force capable of lighting
one′s paths and horizons. Used correctly and positively, words are the first
building blocks for success and inner peace. Used incorrectly and negatively,
they are capable of undermining even the best of intentions. This is true in
business, in personal relationships, and every other walk of life." Words create thoughts ... thoughts create
ideas ... ideas linked with feelings create actions ..., and actions produce
results (good or bad results). Words
paint mental pictures of reality, and set the forces into action to bring the
picture alive.
This
becomes very important because a person's reality is determined by what he
believes to be true. A person's beliefs
may be based on truth, or beliefs may be based on falsehood. Beliefs based on truth produce constructive
actions. Beliefs based on falsehood yield destructive results. Every lie contains enough truth to make it
believable. Discerning truth from
falsehood is not always easy, especially when words are incorrectly used to
intentionally confuse or mislead the hearer.
Euphemism
is a common technique used to hide the truth.
The dictionary definition of the word "euphemism" is, "the substitution of an
agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend
or suggest something unpleasant."
Because of the human innate bent toward the negative, the truth is often
disagreeable with our natural inclinations.
But whether we agree or not, the truth is the truth. If the truth survives our self-made test of
"agreeableness," then it faces our emotional condition also bent
toward judgmentalism and taking offense.
Many times the truth hurts. But
trying to hide the truth in order to avoid disagreement and pain undermines
(destroys) accuracy and trust in communication.
Euphemism
is commonly used by people trying to engineer social change. Socially acceptable terminology is crafted
to sensitize acceptance of otherwise unacceptable practices. Words become the weapons for the
battleground of debate. Over time, the
meaning of some words are intentionally (and unintentionally) altered in
attempt to shift a "new normal."
One such example in my lifetime has been the word "choice."
Americans
place a high value on choice. Options
are a good thing. But options have no
value without life itself. The truth is
that life trumps choice. Any falsehood
trying to discredit this truth would exalt choice to a higher value than life
itself.
Thus, the
word "choice" has become the key to the debate for or against
abortion. But the real issue is life
vs. death, not pro-choice vs. anti-choice.
Abortion does not give a choice to the baby whatsoever, but it claims to
be "pro-choice." This is a
lie made believable by denying the life of a baby. So, never should a person who supports the rights of a baby's
life use the term "pro-choice" to identify abortion advocates. In reality, abortion means babies have no
choice. In reality abortion is
pro-death, and makes mockery of the word "choice." The pro-abortion movement uses the
"pro-choice" label in an effort to hide their true pro-death
actions. Hence the word
"choice" is used to twist the truth by hiding an unfavorable action
to highlight a more acceptable idea.
For
pro-lifers to use the term "pro-choice" is speaking agreement with
destruction of life. The debate is defined by the words used to
describe the ideas. Use the correct
words (to describe the truth), and the debate can be won. Use the wrong words (in agreement with
the opponent), and the debate is lost
before it begins.
The recent
presidential election demonstrated more than ever that the establishment media
is one-sided on matters relating to politics and social issues. In my opinion,
the establishment media has become mostly propaganda at the hands of skilled
deceivers. I believe this because words
are used over and over again to manipulate the truth and influence people's
minds with falsehood. When lies are
used to hide, ignore, or twist the truth, you have deception. When deception is used to hide, ignore, or
twist the facts, you have propaganda.
As someone has said, "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion,
but no one is entitled to the wrong facts."
The major
so-called news outlets have often abandoned factual reporting for sensational
scoring. They have proven themselves
inaccurate and untrustworthy communicators.
Their misuse of words and ideas to negatively influence their hearers'
thinking and behavior is very
destructive. A number of books have
appeared recently written by journalists and others who have been stonewalled
in bringing the truth to the public.
One such book is by Sheryl Attkisson called The
Smear: How Shady Political Operatives and Fake News Control What You See, What
You Think, and How You Vote.
Attkisson goes into much greater details than I can here.
My point is
not to bash the media, but to raise our awareness that words matter. "Political correctness" (PC) ranks
high on the list of enemies of the ideals our nation was founded upon. PC is a favorite media technique. PC devalues words and the imagination of the
hearer. PC devalues free speech and
communication. PC devalues individual
thinking and expression. PC must be
recognized and eliminated from our conversation. Another Proverb says, "Using the speech of a fool makes you
one too. Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like
him" (Proverbs 26:4).
My hope is
that those reading this will make a choice for truth over falsehood. Euphemisms like casual sex, affair, and gay
are replacements for the truth of fornication, adultery, and homosexuality
(respectively). "Fake news"
is deceptive propaganda. "Gender
identity" is a term often used for gender confusion. The phrase "separation of church and
state" was crafted to limit religious speech and faith practices in the
public square. The phrase has no origin
in the US Constitution and no legitimacy for preventing people to practice
their faith. The list goes on .... What terminology can we think of right now
that would be another example of word manipulation to hide, ignore, or
misrepresent the truth?
Words
matter. After we discover the incorrect
use of words, the next step is to re-program our minds to use the correct words
in our speech. Make a choice to buck
the trends of "political" correctness, and simply speak
correctness. Whenever we hear words
put together in a way we haven't heard before, we should stop and ask
ourselves, "What is the REAL meaning behind these words?"
Will we pay attention to words and language we use to communicate, or
will we let others dictate our thinking, speech, and behavior in a negative
direction? Let us make our choice of
words ring truth and life! by Ed Hersh, Blue Rock BnB Healing Ministry
