It really doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from, your age, or what you believe; we all can agree that words are powerful things. Just one word can give you courage to do what you once thought was impossible or pick you up out of the darkest hole. They can also work the opposite way: they can make you feel about as big as an ant or as angry as a hornet. Words are INDEED a powerful thing. If things weren’t beautifully complicated enough here in the United States, for the most part, we can say whatever we want to whomever we want.
Our campus was recently visited by the folks from the group Consuming Fire Fellowship. If you don’t know who they are, you most definitely know what they say. In general, most everyone, (except them of course), is a bad person and if you don’t change God will punish you. The ways you are a bad person and how God will punish you is a rather long list. Regardless of what you believe (or don’t believe), we can probably all agree that these are powerful words. They could elicit feelings of fear, anger, guilt, and shame within you. For some, maybe pride, satisfaction, and even comfort. Here’s the rub; we can all most definitely disagree or agree with what they are saying. One thing we cannot do is not allow them to express their views.
In the spirt of free speech, allow us to share with you some powerful words of what we think God thinks about everyone.
“The mountains and hills may crumble, but my (God’s) love for you will never end.” (Isaiah 54:10 GNT)
"God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. (John 3:17 MSG)
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1John 4:8)
Words are a powerful thing….especially ones that are true.
