Should we reject weaponized words?

I’m a big believer in the saying that words matter. Both in form and function, words have the power to change hearts and minds. To build up and to destroy; to bless and to curse (James 3). And because that is true, we need to be careful with how we use them. Words—especially good ones—can so easily be weaponized.

This is a danger to us in the American church, in our particular moment.

A good word, wielded wrongly

In the middle to late 20th century, one word in particular became popula...