EDITORIAL COMMENT
Mere W o rd s
good living teaching others the “ef fective” use of words. In a demon stration of speaking ability in prais ing Helen of Sparta, Gorgias states, “Persuasion is a powerful potentate, who with the frailest, feeblest frame works wonders. It can put an end to fear and make vexation vanish; it can inspire exultation and increase com passion. These men were not afraid to distort truth, inflame the listener, or over-simplify a matter. Their goal was results—not honesty and integ rity. Today we are as much, if not more, adept at wielding words to our ad vantage. We can involve and mold the feelings of the reader as does John Steinbeck when he describes a
The old cliche, “sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me” is misleading. Al though words may be nothing more than empty vessels, they can be pow erful. Words bring to life our thoughts when skillfully used. Words poorly used can confuse, mislead, antagon ize, and obscure. As Christians, we are counseled to bridle our tongues and take care in the words we use. Yet, we still devour one another, still distort, and frequently seek subtle ways to gain our goals. Even twenty-four hundred years ago, it was well known that words could move an audience or destroy an opponent. Such ancient sophists as Gorgias and Prodicus earned a Page 4
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