Gainsayer is a strange word that a person may only run across in the scriptures, but yet it has a meaning that could commonly apply to our modern society. The definition describes a gainsaying person as one who is disagreeable and always taking issue with every point that is made. A gainsayer manipulates others and what they say, for their own personal interests.
The way the term is used in the scriptures usually portrays God growing impatient with a stiff necked people such as described by Paul, the Apostle, in Romans 10:21, “But to Israel he saith, all day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” Israel, rather than accepting or embracing the New Testament or the Gospel of Salvation, were taking issue with every point because they were so entrenched in the Law of Moses and their own adulteration of it.
A few synonyms for gainsaying and/or gainsayers include: combative, controversial, cross, disagreeable, disputers, negative, opposer’s, repudiators, resistors. As I review these synonyms I wonder even more, why this word, gainsayer, is not commonly used in today’s communication.
Probably every modern day missionary has been able to relate to what Jacob was impressed to write about gainsayers in the following scriptures: “Behold, will ye reject these words? Will ye reject the words of the prophets; and will ye reject all the words which have been spoken concerning Christ, after so many have spoken concerning him; and deny the good word of Christ, and the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and quench the Holy Spirit, and make a mock of the great plan of redemption, which hath been laid for you?” ( Jacob 6:8)
In the above scripture Jacob used the word quench. Quench means to extinguish or put out, as we put out a fire with water. Gainsayers try to quench as many positive and progressive programs and projects as they can either to get gain or just as their way of involving themselves in society. It seems that wherever one goes, be it church, at work, in social groups, and especially political committees, you’ll find gainsayers.
Some might argue that gainsayers play an important role in these various groups or organizations by preventing things from moving forward too quickly before they have been thoroughly thought through. The weakness in that argument is that they are not slowing the project down for a positive result; They are merely injecting a negative atmosphere into what otherwise may have been a very positive exchange of ideas. The project may have been conducted by positive people, who themselves, were looking into all aspects of the project in order to avoid pitfalls down the road.
Positive progress in families, or in society in general, are most com- monly and expeditiously accomplished in a positive atmosphere by positive people without the injections of gainsayers. I imagine that many wonderful, productive and humanitarian programs have been stalled or set aside because of gainsayers. God bless the leaders in society, whether religious, political, or social, who have been able to benefit their church or community in spite of gainsayers. Would that all good, and inspired leaders, were given the promise made to the Apostles found in the book of Luke: “ For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.” (Luke 21:15)