President Donald Trump is once again facing a firestorm. This time, over his remarks about not wanting immigrants from what he called "S**Thole nations." The media and his opponents wasted no time in translating his words into the word "racist." Whether it was taken out of context or not, this President should know by now that every word he says comes under great scrutiny, and most of his words will be twisted and used against him. He should, therefore, curb his word usage and be more intentional about the messages he is sending. Otherwise, his effectiveness will erode. If politicians believe Trump to be racist, they will not want to be seen with him or work with him. The Bible has a lot to say about words.
Christ said in Matthew 7:12, " Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." It's called the Golden Rule. It starts out by treating others the way you would like to be treated. This is how we as Christians need to view the world. It should be a foundation of our life's philosophy, something etched in our heart. Christ also said in Matthew 15:11, " Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." No matter how much we want change in this country from the previous ways, we also must not abandon our Christian principles in the process. Accountability is key.
Proverbs says a lot about the words we use. 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." 12:18, "There is that speaks like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health." 15:1, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger." 13:3, "He that keeps his mouth keeps his life: but he that opens wide his lips shall have destruction." 10:19, "He that refrains his lips is wise." 25:11, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." 29:20, "See a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him." There are many who believe our President's harshness is necessary and that some people may deserve it, but scripturally speaking, it cannot be justified.
James 3:5-8 says," Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." Curb your tongue, Mr. President. Words mean things and the meaner your words, the meaner you are portrayed, and the less you will be able to accomplish.
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