A friend asked me to examine the claim - based on Proverbs 18:21 - that our words can cause physical sickness or healing.
"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."
Some people teach that this means that our words alone can heal or cause sickness and death. Not true.
"Words create actions, good and bad. A judge or jury, by simply saying a word, can cause a person to be killed or to live. Words often save lives: a doctor advises surgery, a weatherman issues a tornado warning, a counselor gives hope to a suicidal person. Conversely, words can also kill: murders are often initiated because of arguments or verbalized hatred. In the sense of causing action, then, the tongue does indeed have the power of life and death." Got Questions
Proverbs are wise sayings, but they are not promises unless they are stated as promises elsewhere in Scripture. And no other passage in Scripture attributes man's words with absolute power to bring healing or sickness, life or death.(1)
In fact, James three devotes 18 verses to the power of the tongue, but never addresses physical sickness, healing, or death. If our words could affect our health as some people claim, surely it would be directly addressed in multiple Scripture verses.(2)
We can pray for another person's healing, and if it's God's will, they will be healed. But it's not our words that heal them. It's God's power and purposes.
If we think that we can control God's power or purposes with our words, we are sadly mistaken.
Words are powerful. They express love, hate, kindness, hypocritical judgment, truth, or lies. They can encourage or discourage. But Scripture doesn't support the belief that human words cause sickness and death or healing and life.
In fact, Deuteronomy 32:39 says God alone has that power.
"Words create actions, good and bad. A judge or jury, by simply saying a word, can cause a person to be killed or to live. Words often save lives: a doctor advises surgery, a weatherman issues a tornado warning, a counselor gives hope to a suicidal person. Conversely, words can also kill: murders are often initiated because of arguments or verbalized hatred. In the sense of causing action, then, the tongue does indeed have the power of life and death." Got Questions
Proverbs are wise sayings, but they are not promises unless they are stated as promises elsewhere in Scripture. And no other passage in Scripture attributes man's words with absolute power to bring healing or sickness, life or death.(1)
In fact, James three devotes 18 verses to the power of the tongue, but never addresses physical sickness, healing, or death. If our words could affect our health as some people claim, surely it would be directly addressed in multiple Scripture verses.(2)
We can pray for another person's healing, and if it's God's will, they will be healed. But it's not our words that heal them. It's God's power and purposes.
If we think that we can control God's power or purposes with our words, we are sadly mistaken.
Words are powerful. They express love, hate, kindness, hypocritical judgment, truth, or lies. They can encourage or discourage. But Scripture doesn't support the belief that human words cause sickness and death or healing and life.
In fact, Deuteronomy 32:39 says God alone has that power.
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(1) To believe Proverbs are always promises, you must believe that all bad people die young and lose their fortunes and all good people live long lives and die wealthy. More on this: A Proverbial Mistake,
(2) These false teachers claim that multiple passages teach this truth, but none of the passages they use directly address their claims.
If you need more to convince you that your words do not have the power of life and death, sickness and health, please take a few moments to work through the Bite Size Bible Study today. I think you will benefit from the extra explanations and Scripture passages.
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For more on healing:
Not All Promises Will Be Fulfilled on Earth
Wheelchair Miracle
Endured or Cured
The Power and Limit of Words
Misunderstandings About the Stripes of Jesus
A Message About Healing in 1 Timothy 5:23
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(1) To believe Proverbs are always promises, you must believe that all bad people die young and lose their fortunes and all good people live long lives and die wealthy. More on this: A Proverbial Mistake,
(2) These false teachers claim that multiple passages teach this truth, but none of the passages they use directly address their claims.
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For more on healing:
Not All Promises Will Be Fulfilled on Earth
Wheelchair Miracle
Endured or Cured
The Power and Limit of Words
Misunderstandings About the Stripes of Jesus
A Message About Healing in 1 Timothy 5:23
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If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. English Standard Version
ReplyDeleteHi AO,
DeleteThe Scripture you quote speaks of salvation - a wonderful promise.
And it makes it clear that it's not simply words that save us but heartfelt belief in the work of Jesus as Savior and Lord.
I praise God everyday that He has saved me.
This devotion, however, speaks of physical sickness and physical death (note this clarification in the first paragraph).
God bless you,
Gail
:) God bless you too.
ReplyDelete