This morning I was listening to Donald Trump speak. Love him or hate him, you can’t deny that his delivery has a certain authenticity to it. He wasn’t glued to a teleprompter or rattling off prepackaged lines, he was just talking to people, like you’d talk to a neighbor across the fence. Whether you agree with his message or not, that style is what makes him stand out.
And it got me thinking about the power of speech. Some of history’s most captivating figures, Barack Obama, Joel Osteen, even Adolf Hitler, share a common thread. It sounds like a strange mix to lump them together, but whether they’re politicians, religious leaders, or authoritarian rulers, each drew massive followings through the same means: words. Not necessarily because of what they said, but because of how they said it.
Style Over Substance
The slick talker is smooth, polished, and charismatic. They know how to work a crowd. Their sentences roll off the tongue like silk. They sell ideas like a used car salesman selling a ’95 Nissan as if it were a 2005 Corvette. People aren’t buying the car, they’re buying the feeling. They’re not drawn into critical thought about whether it’s reliable or even roadworthy. They’re being sold on what they want to believe in that moment.
But once the shine wears off and reality sets in, the substance just isn’t there. That’s the danger of the slick talker. They can fill stadiums, flood airwaves, and dominate headlines, but when you peel back the layers, what you find is often insincerity and self-interest.
Why It Works
Humans are wired for emotion. A powerful speech can make us laugh, cry, cheer, or march. And when our emotions are stirred, our critical thinking often takes a back seat. That’s why people can follow someone all the way into destruction without ever stopping to ask, “Does this make sense? Is this true? Is this in my best interest?”
Great orators throughout history knew this. Some used their gift to inspire hope and unity. Others used it to manipulate, divide, and control. The skill is the same, the intent makes the difference.
The Call to Discernment
The Bible doesn’t shy away from this reality. It actually warns us:
- “By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.” (Romans 16:18)
- “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:13)
Words are powerful, but not all words are trustworthy. That’s why discernment is so important. The true leader may not be the most polished. They may stumble, pause, or even sound unrefined. But they stand on truth. They care about people more than applause. Their words may not always feel good, but they are good.
Closing Thought
In a world flooded with voices, platforms, and personalities, it’s tempting to let charisma carry the day. But we need to ask ourselves: Is this person feeding my emotions, or feeding me truth? The slick talker thrives when we don’t pause to think. But wisdom requires us to listen carefully, to test everything, and to hold fast to what is true.
Because at the end of the day, it’s better to follow the plain-spoken truth-teller than the slick salesman with a shiny pitch and nothing under the hood.
Troy P Zehnder 