Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!,” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. I Corinthians 12:3, NRSV

In some of the occult films, werewolves can’t touch silver and vampires are kept at bay by garlic and crosses. In the same kinds of movies, the demons disguised as humans can’t touch crosses or holy water without harm, and can’t say the words God or Jesus. While such things make for interesting plot points, Paul isn’t writing about them. The power of words and speech isn’t that simple.

Paul has already mentioned idols that cannot speak, the ones people have left behind when the Spirit led them to follow Jesus. But what about idols that can speak, living people who entice with words? Just because someone is a gifted orator, or seems to be hijacked by the Spirit to speak in tongues, does not mean that the words are the Word of God (another name for Jesus). So how to tell the difference?

Look beyond the delivery to the content of what is being said.

Are the words honoring Jesus and his commandment to love God, self, and neighbor? Do the words point the way to an ever expanding inner life and an increasing generosity toward others? Then those words say Jesus is Lord.

Do the words shrivel the inner life, diminishing rather than deepening? Do the words demand devotion to someone or some ideal other than God and the coming reign of love? Does the speech vilify neighbor and justify harming self and others? Then they are a curse rather than a blessing.

In this age of so many loud voices and a cacophony of words, it’s a good idea to put them to the test before trusting their sources…