We’ve been told the word “they” is a divisive word. For some, the word has become a social cuss word, describing its usage as something divisive and to be avoided. If a person’s heart is not in tune with God’s Spirit, it could be interpreted that way.

It wasn’t divisive in Scripture. It was used to define those who followed the truth of Jesus as the Messiah and those who did not. It’s not a culturally uninformed word. It defines the difference between truth and error, between Jesus as the King of Kings and Lord of lords and the other false gods of this world.

When the Church was birthed on the Day of Pentecost, the word “they” was used without the limiting effect we have attached to it from our socially approved cultural lexicon.

When the Spirit came on that day, a supernatural demonstration of the Spirit was revealed. The difference between “them” and “they” was revealed. It was very impactful and informative, “When THEY heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken” (Acts 2:6).

“Utterly amazed, THEY asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?” (vs. 7-8).

“Amazed and perplexed, THEY asked one another, “What does this mean?” (vs.12). Peter used the difference of “THEY” as a reason to preach the Gospel. “Some, however, made fun of them and said, “THEY have had too much wine.” 13).

The difference between “they” and “them” caused the listeners to Peter’s message to ask, “When the people heard this, THEY were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, Brothers, what shall we do?” (vs. 37). “Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (vs. 38).

After the Spirit was revealed to the Church on the Day of Pentecost, “THEY sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day THEY continued to meet together in the temple courts. THEY broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (vs.45-47). The word “THEY” marked the arrival of a new Kingdom.

A right use of the word “they” defines the difference between God’s Kingdom and the kingdoms of this world that want to rule the world. It defined what makes Jesus a different kind of King. From the book of Acts all through the epistles, the word “they” was used to define that difference.

Near the end of the New Testament Scripture, John wrote, “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; THEY cannot go on sinning, because THEY have been born of God” (I John 3:7-9).

The difference between “them” and “they”, if spoken with God’s redeeming love as its motivator, will draw all people to Jesus. People were created to receive that different Kingdom and the truth it represents.

John continued writing, “This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister” (vs. 10). That difference makes all the difference in this world.