Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble.

Yehuda Berg

I have been thinking a lot about the power of words, especially as current political events have unfolded. Particularly, I have been struck by the blatant verbal abuse, intentional telling of lies—plus the casual and callous dismissal of solemnly sworn oaths of public service, which invoke the name of God—and the defense of it all—by elected officials who call themselves Christians.

This is the first of a series of articles that explore what—or more specifically, who—may be in the details within what we say, do, and think: God or not? This article will address how words, their meaning, and their misuse in the political arena matter—and should matter to everyone—especially those that call themselves Christians. 

Words Have Power

There are numerous Biblical references to the power of words: The Word, people’s words, the word of God, saying “the word,” and so on.

Words Are Important

Lawyers hire stenographers to record sworn-under-oath deposition testimonies. Additionally, courts hire stenographers to record / document—word for word—sworn verbal testimony, court proceedings, rulings, and verdicts. The documented words of verbal testimony become court records.

Court records, with sworn verbal testimony, can be used to assert reasons for a mistrial. Additionally, they can be used in other judicial procedures—appeals. Documents including sworn testimony can be used as a reason to vacate a judgment and / or overturn a verdict.

Words Carry Weight

Judicial verdicts can be overturned and / or upheld based on the review of documented words. Contracts can be made null and void—or upheld—based on just one or two words.

In addition to business being transacted on the basis of a written contract, some business transactions are commenced by, in some cases, additional verbal consent—and ended by a verbal command of “no” or “stop.”

Declarations of war have been issued in both written and verbal form. Peace treaties have also been presented in both verbal and written forms.

Words Transmit Energy

I have been on the giving and receiving end of both “negative” and “positive” words. Based on personal experience, I can attest the following: 

Words carry, transmit, and project the energy
in which they were created and transmitted by the speaker.

Words Should Matter—Particularly as They Relate to Politics and Politicians

Being a public servant is an honor and a privilege. One is elected to serve the public—not to be self-serving. Public service is a position of self-less service—not selfish service.  

Before one can even begin serving in the position to which they were elected, each member of Congress must take a verbal oath of office. 

“I, _________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”

Even the president of the United States must take a verbal oath of office prior to commencing any presidential duties. In 2017, our duly elected president stated: 

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability,  reserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me God*.” 

*Yes. Trump actually did say: “So help me God.” 

Because of the oath of office that elected representatives verbally swear—before God and everyone—to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, their words—in all forms and platforms—matter.

Looking Ahead

Additionally, the oath that senators will take prior to the upcoming impeachment sessions will be as follows: 

“I solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Donald J. Trump, now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws: So help me God.’’

Nowhere in that sworn oath is there mention of working with and being “‘in total coordination with the White House counsel and attorneys for the accused’ … and to ‘pretend to be a fair juror here’” as “top” Republican senators have stated they will be doing. As a matter of fact, they are swearing—again, before God and everyone—not to be doing exactly that! 

Yes! I do agree and affirm—so help you God—to all of the elected officials who are doing the same thing—that your words and the oaths that you swear to do matter … especially in the light of knowing that you are invoking God. Even more especially—for those representatives in Congress who profess that they are Christians and lead their conversations, campaigning, and talking points with “I am a Christian”—shouldn’t your words especially matter? As Christians, aren’t we supposed to be true to our words and The Word?  

My questions to you: if you are lying or not intending to follow through with what you have sworn to do or the duties you’ve sworn to uphold—before God and everyone—how can you expect anyone to believe you are a self-proclaimed Christian? Or is claiming you are a Christian—just like your swearing of oaths–something that is “coordinated and a “pretend”—invoked to simply ingratiate yourself with Christian voters? 

Stated another way: Are your words professing to be a Christian to be viewed with the same disregard you give to your sworn oaths? How can you expect anyone to respect, accept, or believe any of the words you say—including stating you are a “Christian”—if you are not even willing to follow through on your oath to God when you say those words? 

The President’s Words Matter

Words—especially those spoken by all elected government officials—should be taken seriously and should be scrutinized. This should be the case—especially as it relates to the words of the highest elected official in the United States—the president. 

CNBC, Forbes, and other news outlets have reported correlations between the stock market and Trump’s tweeting. The country of North Korea, with which the US finds itself in a tentative, fluid, and prickly relationship, labeled Trump a “heedless and erratic old man.” 

I am equally as uncomfortable with these types of statements from both countries: statements from the leadership of a country whose nuclear weapons program is being ratcheted up—and with whom we have a dangerously precarious relationship with, at best. The other part of my uncomfortable equation: having a “heedless and erratic old man” (and not a self-proclaimed “stable mental genius”) in charge of our nuclear capabilities and response.  

Words Should Not Be “Ignored”—
Especially Those from the President of the United States

Words should not be ignored—particularly the POTUS’s words. Rick Santorum, former congressman, and presidential nominee, however, states that ignoring Trump is exactly what he and his fellow Republicans routinely do! He says that Republicans / congressional Republicans ignore almost all of what the president says and “tweets”—in spite of the tweets being declared to be “official statements” by the White House officials. 

Specifically, when on Anderson Cooper 360°, Rick Santorum stated, “The reality is we [Republicans / Republican members of Congress] ignore about eighty to ninety percent of what the president says because he is doing what he is doing … we do! Look at—look at his tweets! We ignore most of those things he tweets. It is Trump being Trump.” 

“Trump Being Trump” Words

Demeaning, belittling, and mocking language; name-calling plus swearing; misogynistic talk; disparaging and racists remarks against different people and places; condoning violence against journalists and perceived “enemies” are all descriptors of the type of languaging Trump generates and he—along with other Republican enablers—propagates. Detailing some of the descriptors, here are a few examples: “crooked bastard,” “Pocahontas,” “shithole countries,” “grab them by the pussy,” and “blood coming out of her whatever.” 

“Trump being Trump”—therein lies the problem. 

Words—Who Is in the Details?

While I have often heard the idiom, “The devil is in the details”—it derives from a German proverb: 

“God is in the detail(s).” 

Much later in time, the quote has, seemingly, been misattributed to architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886–1969). Regardless of the attribution, the point, I believe, is that it is God—not “the devil”—who is intended to be found in the details. 

I find this to be such a beautiful metaphor. Additionally, I believe it can be used as a literal statement and a means to discern what or where the potential source of one’s details—in this case, words—originate: from a lower or higher source?  

This exploration inspired an inner exploration. I focused on words—particularly those used by politicians and elected officials. 

My “Who Is in the Words / Details” Query

Regardless of the platform used, do the details (words) emit and / or do I experience a sense of more God / Spirit / Highest Self –“in the details”—or not?

I believe that by paying attention to the details, one can more clearly spot what they are looking for. After all, if you do not know what you are looking for, how do you know if you have or have not attained it? 

“The devil” may be the source of some people’s “details” (aka “alternative facts,” that is, lying by intentionally creating and propagating misinformation. The Truth (capital “T”), however, comes from a higher, more elevated and illuminated origin: God / Spirit / Highest Power. The Truth—all Truth—is what will, eventually, be revealed for all to see and hear—and should be transparent for all to see and hear. 

Discerning the Source of the Details within Words

Focusing on words—particularly words communicated by politicians and elected officials such as the POTUS—I decided to create a way to discern where the energetic source of “the details” originated. Here are some examples of some tools I use to assist with the discernment. 

First, I take a moment to become still. Next, being as objective as I can be, I ask myself these questions about the words of the elected official—particularly the POTUS’s: 

Do their words divide?                        or         Do their words unify?

Abusive toward others?                      or         Neutral-to-constructive?

Come from one’s ego?                        or         Come from care and concern?

Closed toward “others”?                    or         Open toward others?

Insulting and assaulting?                    or         Respectful, supportive, and uplifting?                                                           

Put in a more spiritual / energetic context, I ask myself: 

What type of spiritual or energetic qualities do
I experience or feel the most regarding their communication? 

The category on the left is what I would discern to be coming from a more negative, egoic, and, energetically speaking, a lower vibratory level. The category on the right is what I would discern to be coming from a more positive, egoless, or God / Spirit / Highest Power-infused energetic level.

In a somewhat humorous, simplified, and “religious” manner, this entire process could be distilled to the following: Who would say this: the devil or God? 

In that same vein and stated in another way: “Which would Jesus say?” 

My Political “Who Is in the Details” Challenge to You

You always have a choice. I am simply asking you to take a moment to consciously discern and decide: Whose details / words / energy are you supporting? Whose circle do you want to be a part of?

Bottom line:
In your own life and in your discernment process, which will you ally yourself with—your elected officials’ discourse details / energy or the God-kind of infused details / energy?

My Conclusion: YES! Words and Details Matter!

As it relates to politics, to ignore or make excuses for the POTUS’s words is irresponsible, misguided, inappropriate, immoral—and simply wrong. The same applies to any politician and / or elected official.  

Just as the recent volcano in New Zealand gave warnings of being increasingly active and volatile, so should the president’s words—and the energy, attitude, and temperament behind the words he uses. 

The POTUS can only “do whatever I want” only if you allow him to do so. Are you okay with that? Personally, I am not. 

The Apostle Paul’s Urging—and My Own

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.” (NIV Romans 16:17–18) 

A friendly reminder: “Smooth talk” and “flattery” are not the only tools of deception. Any and all kinds of words of a lower energetic nature / source, ignoring others’ assaulting and divisive words, and even adding misleading communication to obfuscate the Truth can be equally deceptive—and destructive. 

In Part ll I will shine a light on actions—and inactions—particularly of elected officials and their political party. I will offer suggestions to assist in the discernment of the energetic source of the details their actions: God or not? Stay tuned … 

God bless you. God bless everyone. God bless America.