Words Matter… Saying our Northumbria Community Morning Office, (Celtic Daily Prayer), I affirmed my belief and trust in Christ in the words from our Declaration of Faith, “You have the words of Eternal life“.
Words of life, words of blessing. Such a contrast from the words of malediction; destructive, damaging and despicable words heard in our UK Parliament this week, including those uttered by our Prime Minster and the Attorney General.
Words are among the most powerful forces available to us as human beings. We can use them to bless or curse people, to encourage or destroy, to heal or harm, help or humiliate.
The Bible reminds us that words have real power; they convey more than information. They can bring life or destroy life. They can speak peace or stir up conflict, hatred and violence. The gift of words, a unique ability possessed by humans, is something we do well to use wisely. “The tongue has the power of life and death” Proverbs 12:6 
As I contemplated and reflected on the words used in Parliament this week, they were words bathed in bitterness, hatred, loathing, resentment and revealed an absence of any semblance of honour, respect and dignity, that perhaps in my naivete, I expect of those who hold a Government post.
Politicians of all sides and amateur, armchair pundits and ‘experts‘ and all those who engage in the seemingly unaccountable social media would do well to remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 12:36, 37, “I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Yes, words matter! 
It was the apostle Paul who wrote, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (Ephesians 4:29). 
Appreciating that consumerism and hedonism, (the pursuit of pleasure) anaesthetises us from the realities of what’s happening, any thinking person will surely come to a greater realisation of the crisis that we are facing here in Britain. 
This weeks happenings with the Supreme Court ruling, the government‘s response and the terrible scenes in the House of Commons only illustrate further the terrible situation that faces us. 
The language that was used, predominantly by Government Ministers was incendiary to say the least. Words that were deployed by the Nazis in Germany in the 1930s. Words that pit the population, beguiled by lies, manipulation and falsehoods, against Parliament. 
This is such a dangerous precedent for democracy and will lead to ruin, just as it did when Hitler, deploying the narrative and tactics of Goebbels and Göring brought down the German Reichstag government. Göring’s concern was to dismantle the democratic system and pave the way for dictatorial power. 
Former cabinet minister Amber Rudd, who now stands as an independent after rebelling against Mr Johnson’s Government, urged the Attorney General Geoffrey Cox, to “cease this language of pitting Parliament against the people”.
Germay in the 1930’s saw a dismantling of democracy, fuelled by nationalism, racism and the idea of supremacy that demonised any opposition. Goebbels, one of Hitler’s chief aides, was the Reich Minister of Propaganda from 1933 to 1945. He was a brilliant orator, could stir up and motivate vast crowds, (a man of wealth purporting to be on the side of the poor) sowing the seeds of anti-semitism and discrimination towards anyone who questioned, challenged or deviated from the party line. 
I am not accusing the present government of committing such atrocities as those meted upon the world by Hitler and the Third Reich but I am seriously worried about the irresponsibility of those in Government who have resorted to such abysmal language and damaging methodology to pursue, for some, personal ambition and for others, political ends, at whatever cost. 
However things are played out, the task before which every party or parties govern in the coming years, is immense. 
The task of rebuilding civic society is a daunting and challenging one and will require all of us, men and women of good faith and public goodwill, to play our part. 
Pray that God will raise up more men and women of peace to govern our nations; we are going to need them!
With such task it does not help in any way to use the destructive language that we have heard this week. 
Some words of life would be very welcome and are much needed.
May God enable us to use our words as an instrument of His love and peace.