Certainly, as an American citizen, one has the right to generally say whatever one desires about whomever or whatever one may choose as a right protected by our nation’s constitution. Benjamin Franklin once stated:
Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government; when this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved and tyranny is erected on its ruins.
However, in March of 2016, a post-grad student at the University of Sheffield was expelled from a college course for making a personal Facebook comment about same sex marriage. Felix Ngole, a committed believer, was found guilty of “bringing the profession into disrepute” because he quoted a biblical text in his post. While we, as American Christians, are indeed empowered to stand against those attempting to make a mockery of our faith and our right to speak openly and freely, we also have a higher mandate and deeper obligation to align ourselves in our personal speech with the truths that we claim to uphold and adhere to in/with our lives.
Unquestionably, Jesus spoke freely concerning truth, whether rightful in the sight of the law, the lawmakers, or the audience. However, His words were always (100%) molded and guided by God’s Holy Spirit … actually being the exact same response that God the Father would have spoken in the same situation. Was He prepared to offend? Surely. God created human beings with the ability to use logic, reason, and participate in forms of argumentation. In fact, many of Christ’s teachings were designed to appeal to these exact traits found within humanity. We are not to be treated as delicate little feathers who must be personally protected from dissenting views.
In reality, there will always be a vocal minority, or in even in some cases, the majority who will oppose almost anything. Some will be totally against truth — anything having to do with God, Christ, or the Bible, as well as any concepts working to distinguish the absolutes of right and wrong, or values and mores of righteous Christian living. Therefore, are believers free to say anything they want about anyone or anything they want, whenever they want? Colossians 4:6 reminds us:
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
Actually, at least for me, it’s difficult to combine GRACE (the idea/spirit of unmerited/undeserved favor) with SALT (endurance, offering preservation against corruption, wise, moral value, wholesome, and a lasting or proven worth) as part of the same ideal/concept in my speech … with my words. Yet, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, this is my scriptural admonition.
In the above stated passage, believers are instructed concerning their conversations. The very words that are spoken should both exemplify and recommend the ways of Christ and His word. Let them be not only pure, as well as holy, but wise, gracious, and intelligent. Often a harsh method of defending or proposing sound doctrine and/or a Christian lifestyle only serves to repel individuals from the truth they so desperately need in their lives, including the forgiveness of sin and Christ’s indescribable gift of salvation.
This verse also encourages a judicially managed discourse … “so that you will know how you should respond to each person .” In Acts 17:16-34, the Apostle Paul is ministering at the Areopagus. Instead of using biblical texts and arguments familiar to a monotheistic God-fearing group of native of proselytized Jews, He communicates reasonably, graciously, and persuasively with truth in an uncompromising fashion. However, guided by God’s Holy Spirit, he speaks to a biblically illiterate, pagan audience in a style and with terminology they can fully comprehend. That’s GRACE and SALT!
Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, “We shall hear you again concerning this. Acts 17:32-34
So Paul went out of their midst. But some men joined him and believed.
While most of us find great joy in the liberty we call “freedom of speech” as Americans, it’s difficult to support this concept as a pure “Christian right.” We speak or share the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Christians do not allow their speech cause them to sin (Ecclesiastes 5:6), and in fact, we put aside abusive speech (Colossians 3:8). According to Titus 2:8, believers speak soundly, which is above reproach, and not against one another (James 4:11). It actually all comes down to this from Colossians 3:17:
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Our freedom of speech, as faithful followers of the Lord, Jesus Christ, is a tremendous blessing and great opportunity of speaking that which glorifies the Lord and is guided/directed by His Holy Spirit in agreement with His word/truth. We are equipped, as no others … just as Christ was while carrying out His mission on earth … just as the Apostle Paul did in Athens, to speak as the utterances of God (I Peter 4:11) in, and to, every situation and circumstance.
What do you think, can we do this? — PF