Free speech and God
In America, we cherish our freedom of speech, the right to say what we want to say. Lately there has been quite an uproar over how much, or what kind of, speech should be allowed, or in other words, free.
There have been disruptions on campuses of higher education over guest speakers which have been labeled as 鈥淗ate Speech.鈥� And the reasoning goes that if speech is perceived as hateful, or offensive, then it shouldn鈥檛 be allowed. It then wouldn鈥檛 be free, or a right anymore. Even to the point that speakers are being shouted down to shut them out. Demonstrators are committing physical acts of violence over what they call the destructive force of verbal violence.
While most everyone (hopefully) would agree that statements like, 鈥淜ill the cops, kill whitey, Jews go home, whites only鈥� are patently offensive, and some statements can be considered illegal when inciting physical violence against others, and that is restricted. But the mix of today鈥檚 brouhaha isn鈥檛 restrictions on that kind of expression; it鈥檚 the big gray subjective area of censorship. I don鈥檛 like your ideas or thoughts being expressed, therefore you shouldn鈥檛 express them.
I believe that all of us are offended periodically by the speech of someone else. Think husbands and wives. Think teenagers and parents. Think of co-workers. Should we judge everything that is offensive as hate speech? Maybe it鈥檚 really stupid speech? Maybe it鈥檚 just disagreeing speech? Maybe it鈥檚 thoughtless, immature, disrespectful, foolish, irresponsible speech? The political discourse on speech seems to go in the direction of not just (falsely?) accuse the speech itself, but to now accuse the others鈥� motives. In other words, the political attack is on,鈥� the why of the speech.鈥�
My thought on speech has to be, what does God have to say about the speech of his people? Admittedly, there isn鈥檛 enough space here to say a lot, but here comes some context. Eph 4:29a says 鈥淟et no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths.鈥� Eph 4:15a: 鈥淚nstead, speaking the truth in love.鈥� God is informing us that we are to avoid the gutter when we talk, speak or dialogue and to do it with the right motives. Admittedly, God is concerned about the 鈥渨hy of our speech.鈥� We must exercise restraint in what we say 鈥� James 3:6a says 鈥淭he tongue also is a fire (shortened).鈥� Ecc 3:7b says 鈥淎 time to be silent and a time to speak.鈥�
These few scriptures alone answer the 鈥渨ho, what, when, where, why and how鈥� of our speech. We shouldn鈥檛 purposely be looking for a speech fight. Romans 12:18b says 鈥淎s far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.鈥�
However, there are times to speak up, but when we do, what is our motive? Speak the truth in love, and be decent about it, no unwholesome talk. It appears that many Christian Americans are mixing too much of their American rights/free speech against their Christian walk with Christ. As offensive as this statement is to some, here goes: I am a Christian before I鈥檓 an American! I say it with the motive of reconciling Christians on different political spectrums. We should obey the biblical direction for our speech even if others do not. I鈥檓 offended over choice words that I hear every day on social media, the workplace, in the aisles of stores, or when my wife tells me to clean up after myself (Okay, that last one is a joke). But God also has given us free will to exercise that will towards Him, or ourselves. Just because something is allowed (permissible) doesn鈥檛 make it productive. 1 Cor 10:23a says 鈥淚 have the right to do anything鈥� you say 鈥� but not everything is beneficial.
Just because I have a right to say something, is it right to say it? It鈥檚 okay to disagree, debate, dialogue, but why? How are we going about it? Do we choose our words? Are we using the 鈥淚鈥檓 offended by you鈥� phrase to intimidate or harass the speech of others so we don鈥檛 have to hear what they have to say? According to 1 Cor 13:5b (shortened), 鈥淟ove is not easily offended.鈥�
I wish we all would consider free speech and God!
Tracey Gardone can reached at www.traceygardone.com.