The Power of Words

In one of my conversation with my friend he said, "I think the best way to prevent Covid-19 is not just to lock people from going out but to have a silent day, abstinence from words ." Hilarious thought I would say, but interestingly reasonable. At least, it can stop several droplets or airbone that potentially harm others. But how can we stop people from saying a word everyday? More difficult than just stopping the mobilization of people, isn't it? This is foundational of human being. Human is social being and one of the means of connecting with others are through words. Words can bring and create connection. Word can heals, Word can inspire but of course the opposite can be happened as well that word can also confused people, especially when we are using many words but without much relevant point to be said (Peter Meyers his book, As We Speak show three things that we need to focus on while communicating: Outcome: What we want to achieve?, Relevant: Why others care?, Point: What's our message?).

Undeniably, word is powerful. In fact when we remembering certain people besides we remember their action, their interaction with us, one definite thing is surely their word. Several Words even have changed the world, take for instance the case of Martin Luther. Jr who say, "I have a dream." This four words have shaped the history in a very significant way. Even one word has proven to also impact the globe. Historian have found that in the early draft of Declaration of Independence, Jefferson changed the word "subject" to "Citizen" and this change, have redefined the history of America. Many more examples that we could bring, especially on our personal experiences dealing with words. Even by calling people with a wrong name, one word missing or misspelled can bring us to a great trouble! Have we experienced this before? 

The Bible also mentioned about the greatness of words. In the Gospel of John, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Of course the Word here is not merely a sound or wind that convey  syllables, it is Logos embodied in Person. It is God himself as the Word, who also Speak. The echoes from the book of Genesis chapter one was evident here in the opening of Gospel of John. In other Words, what John want to say, the God in the Old Testament who says, "let there be light" was the one who now come to the world, in a revealed person of Jesus Christ. What we can draw here also that there was a significant power of Word to create reality and not just simply reflect reality. And for me personally, this is a very important concept we ought to notice. With our words, we can create a better reality or even worsen the reality. To make the reality better, our word need to be couple with the Word. If we would like to worsen the reality, just use our word and exclude the Word! Our words need to be tune up and in line with The Word of God.

Word that come out of our mouth base on the Word of God not only could change people but also Transform people. It could create alternative reality, especially when the word coupled with Word, it lift people up above. In fact, there is a imperative from the Word, "Preach the Word" in good or bad seasons (2 Timothy 4:2) for it is not about the situations that matters but about whether the Word is uttered or not, in every situations. Furthermore, we can say that the Word of God is powerful because it is a "power of God" that bring people to salvation (Romans 1:16).  Therefore, we should not be ashamed to proclaim the Word and thus, not to remain just silent. If the Word of God can bring hope and even salvation, to hold to say any word from the Word to others is probably is like an "act of crime", hyperbolically speaking. Why? Because God call us to share those Words to others other than us.  

Practically, when we share the Word of God with words to others, it is important we follow these three memorable steps.  First, "I". Second, "We" and third, "You." Why these there steps are important? because the Word we shared need to experienced first by us, what God speak to us personally and then, through this word what the word speak of both of us and our listener and then, lastly, we share how this Word speak to them. We cannot skip the steps. We cannot say this word only speak to me (First step) or only speak to you (Third step). Universally, what true about God in his Word is true to us and also others. Because Word of God is truth, and truth is always relevant in any society and time. 

Indeed, the method that God uses to change people is primarily through the living Word (Christ) and the recorded Word (The Sacred Scripture) and also the Word-Bearer (Every Christian). Thus, every astonishing reality that is created through our Word proclamation must attributed to the Glory of God, to Christ who be our Corner-stone who speaks from Himself and also the Prophets and Apostles in the past. Our part is only to remain faithful communicator of what God has said previously, translated with the guidance of the Holy Spirit in today context and circumstances. In every condition and situation, in every ages, we believes that there is a Word of God to people of God that He want to deliver for us today. And this Word has an outcome, relevance and point for us because God act through His Word, especially from the Word of Promise that he spoke and recorded in the Bible (Speech Act Theorist called this as "Illocutionary Acts") was the eternal Word that create reality. His Word is not for the certain people in the past but also for everyone in all epochs. J Todd Billings wrote in his book, 

"If through the action of God's Speech, God change the state of affairs, then we must consider to respond. How am I to see my life, my marriage, my workplace in the light of the fact that God of Israel makes promise to me and my faith community?" 

By all means, yes, God change the state of affairs through His Word. And the Word of God in His promise will move us to respond, and by responding to the Word correctly through the lens of faith, we will see how God will change things as He promised before in His eternal Word. Maybe not now as we wish but He Will, and we long for that time to come, with faithfulness. In The Pandemic Covid-19 situation of our time, what we can do is to once again hold strong to the power of the Words. Not human words, but His Words. After we ourselves cling to the power of the Words, we should share this word to others because beside the power we received from the Word, we will found out that we are "powerless" (Read Psalm 40:12) and have no power to live against the storm of life. May I conclude that only God Word can bring and create the reality beyond the bleak reality of sorrow we experiencing now. This is the power of the Words and in this bedrock truth, we trust wholeheartedly.