The longheld practice of twisting Scripture has been used by many cults and heretical church movements. However, it is worth noting that twisting accomplishes more than selfish gain. Among one of the most misquoted verses in Scripture is Proverbs 18:21, or the power of the tongue.
I pray that this comprehensive presentation will serve to correct any and all misconceptions about this verse, and unmask any and all of the strategic deceptions that Satan has promoted through these citations.
Purpose
The purpose of conducting this Biblical investigation is primarily based on an experience I have been going through since the start of my junior
To protect the privacy of those involved, I will not tell you every sule part of this situation, nor do I intend to give names. However, I will give you a shorter vforsion of my shpeal.
In short, I have been going through a difficult situation with a young lady at school, who consistently brought up my dark past, attributing minor faults to that of which I have since overcome through the wonderful work of Jesus. We used to get along so well before Covid. But, when she found about what I did for the virtual God vs Satan movement, things have since gotten heated.
Out of all of the scandals I have been involved in this year, there were two instances when she quoted Proverbs 18:21. After the first incident, I decided to lead an investigation, as I suspected that something seemed very fishy. I have since had the wonderful privelege of talking to Marques Jeffries, who is a regular follower of this website, while collaborating with him in sharing my findings.
What I am about to present to you is a collection of disturbing, yet crucial evidence that I have found through my research, as well as through prayerful examination of Proverbs chapter 18 as a whole. Through the incorporation of Scripture and the observation of behaviors seen over the past year, it is of my firmest conviction to believe that there are three purposes Satan aims to accomplish through the citation and misinterpretation of this verse. For this presensation, we will use the acronym CAP (Censorship, Avoidance, and Pressumption).
Proverbs 18:20-21
To build context into my argumentation, allow me to give you a short excerpt from chapter 18 of Proverbs, verses 20 through 21. I have bolded specific words for emphasis.
20, A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21, Death and life are in the power of the tongue; Those who love it will eat its fruit.
What Is The Book Of Proverbs?
“The book of Proverbs shares short sayings of God’s wisdom. They remind us to fear the Lord and offer practical instructions on how we can live well.“ (Bible Project). The book was composed by King Solomon, one of the wisest writers of Biblical history. His writings serve as a testimony of the power of diuine wisdom that comes from the Living God.
The book contains a genre of Biblical writing called wisdom literature. “Wisdom literature is a genre of literature common in the ancient Near East. It consists of statements by sages and the wise that offer teachings about divinity and virtue” (Wikipedia).
Ploverbs Chapter 18: Basic Plot
False accusations can destroy relationships and have an extremely negative impact on others. There is a great story through which the meaning behind Proverbs 18:21 can be explained. It is about an old man who spreads gossip around town that his neighbor is a thief.
That neighbor is eventually proven innocent, and even though he was discharged by the court, he still felt completely humiliated. So, he decided to sue the old man for wrongly accusing him.
The old man was sure that his accusations were just inconsequential comments. So, he was instructed to write those comments down on a piece of paper, cut them up, and throw them away on his way back home. The next day, when he returned to court, the judge then instructed him to collect all the ripped out pieces of paper that he previously threw away.
Shocked at the judge’s request, the old man tried to explain to the court that there is no way that he could collect those papers. He said, “The wind must have blown and spread them away, and I won’t know where to find them!”
Little did he know, that is exactly what the judge was anticipating. And so the judge replied to the old man: “In that same way, comments are able to shatter the honor and integrity of a man so much that he will never be able to completely restore it.” Hence, the old man apologized to his neighbor and promised to choose his words more carefully in the future (Earles).
Unmasking The Lies and Misinterpretations
A common motif emphasized throughout this chapter, as well as many of King Solomon’s other compositions is that words have power. Words have the power to encourage or tear down. Words have the power to heal or wound the soul. The tongue can spark or spread a fire, or illuminate a community stricken by tragedy. The tongue can be an instrument that can bless someone, or inflict torment. Either your mouth is a realm of sin, or a comfortable home one can go to in their darkest hour.
Unfortunately, Satan has been very successful in his effort to twist and embelish the tongue’s power. A common example we have seen in the past is the incorporation of an Occultic or magical spin to imply that one can speak things into existence (see part 2 of presentation). This leads to the first part of my argumentation.
CAP: Censorship, Avoidance, Pressumption
1. Censorship
Now, turning the attention back to my current situation. For this presentation, I will use a recent incident that happened two weeks ago.
After Spring Break, my school began a new system that lasted until Teacher Appreciation Week. It was called Staff Member of the Week, where the student body filled out a voting form to elect three teachers who receive the award every Monday. The person whom I have worked with for three years received the award two weeks ago. She was the first person to receive the award since this new system began. The lady leads an black student union organization in the school, and is an author who writes children’s books.
Here’s the deal. I am not against her writing talents, nor am I against her being involved in something promoting equity and inclusion for black and marginalized communities. I am also not against her receiving an award like being Staff Member of the Week. The only thing I am against is her haughty and cocky attitude. Nonetheless, catching her red-handed in so many lies and accusations, bringing memories of my past. Then, she has the audacity to use the Word of God to justify her actions.
It all started after I got out of science class. I said and wondered out loud who was going to be staff member of the week. Then, the woman flaunted her titles at my face, indirectly turning the attention to a time during my freshman year of high school where I would throw a tantrum if I did not get the highest grade on an exam. Then, she accused me of lying and used Proverbs 18:21 to silence me. What started off as an innocent joke turned into a conversation that aim to elevate oneself above others, robbing others of their successes.
You see, at the height of a great victory, it is tempting to feed our egos and use our status to attack and accuse others of wrongdoing. Here, the use of Proverbs 18:21 was a means to silence the speaker, or shoot the messenger. What sounded like a loving rebuke or correction was actually a fiery dart and attack, which solely fixates on my past sins. This is exactly how Satan uses such citations to “accuse the brethren” and censor his Godly defense.
Rather than outright saying “I don’t want to hear it”, Satan will add a spiritual “spin” to make it sound like a reminder from God or constructive criticism when in fact it merely attacked the opponent being accused, elevating the person nuoting that passage. The lady stated “There’s power in the tongue”, while ommitting the ⠏⠕