Many in the modern western Church are extremely influenced by western liberal ideology, far more than they know it. Such influence is far greater on western Christians who are young, or who went to university during the late 1960's onwards than those who did not go to university, or those who are originally from Central or Eastern Europe.
The idea of "freedom of speech" and the "right" to "freedom of speech" is held onto by so many western Christians as an unquestionable, if not a sacred tenet, as if attacking freedom of speech is to attack the "freedom" of Christians which they so love.
Such is the way that whenever anyone critiques or even questions the veracity of "freedom of speech" from a Biblical perspective, one is simply dismissed, or rebutted in a straightforward way, as if the critic of free speech is just deluded.
However, if one is a true follower of Christ, one must view all things from a Biblical perspective, being guided by the Word of God, and never deviating from it, bending it or trying to circumvent any part of it to justify one's sins or desire to avoid obedience to God. As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
All Scripture must be accepted to obey God, and that all of the works of the true follower of Christ must be guided by it to be able to do good works. This means one's mindset must be governed by Scripture.
Many professing Christians simply accept "freedom of speech" as a legitimate doctrine to absorb into their mindset, all without thinking it through. However, as soon as one tries to attack or critique "freedom of speech", he is met with all kinds of excuses and false arguments from other Christians, like the excuse that the church leadership will dominate over them, or that homosexuals will burn down the Church when there is no so-called "freedom of speech".
"Freedom of speech" originated from French revolution philosophy. Voltaire, an 18th century French philosopher, and anti-Christ advocate of the revolution, which saw millions of clergymen butchered, was a proponent of "freedom of speech". It was fundamental to the French revolution in overthrowing church authority, and therefore the authority of God. For what "freedom of speech" really meant was to justify blasphemy and the promotion of all kinds of anti-Christian ideas and doctrines.
A century later, it was promoted by John Stuart Mill, a liberal philosopher of the 19th century who believed that as long as one does not "harm" others, there is nothing wrong with what one does. He was indeed the father of the "harm principle" which dominates the entire western system, including its legal system.
The pro-"free speech" Christian may argue that "free speech" enables him to fight evil, such as the evils of feminism, liberalism, or the homosexual agenda. However, that something can be used in a certain way does not mean that it is right in principle from the Biblical perspective. As such, that "free speech" can be used for good does not justify it as righteous or good.
"Free speech" at its core is a doctrine which purports that a person can say absolutely whatever he wants. As such, it means that a person can blaspheme God, or promote the most evil despicable ideas, and yet justify it on the grounds of "freedom of speech".
This means that an atheist can burn the Bible and call God a liar, and be justified. A heretic can say that Jesus is not God and be justified. A feminist can say that a woman does not need a husband, and child does not a father owing to IVF surrogacy, and be justified. A transgender activist can say that children have the "right" to be the sex or gender they want, and be justified. All such evil and perverted statements can be justified, and even seen as wholesome owing to the "honesty" of expressing such vies, all on the basis of "freedom of speech".
No where does the Bible ever say that a person can say whatever he or she wants. No where! Show me where the Bible ever says that.
The Bible has very strong warning for how a person is to use his or her tongue, that is, how he or she is to speak. James 3:3-12 makes it very clear:
Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
You may argue that James 3:3-12 relates to how we are the speak, not what we are the speak. That is a foolish argument. How one is to speak is precisely concerned with what we are the speak as indicated by James 3:8 which refers to the tongue as that which is full of "deadly poison". You may further argue that it refers to not speaking sinful things, but beyond that one can say as one wishes.
Such a mindset is itself wrong, in seeking to claim one's liberty to speak whatever one wants, as long as the Bible does not explicitly prohibit it. Such is a despicable minimalist approach to holy living in seeking to go as close to the Biblical boundaries, in a legalistic way, as opposed to striving for holiness and righteousness being focused on how one can glorify God in faith.
Of course a Christian must let not sinful speech come out of his mouth as per Ephesians 4:29. However, that is not enough. He or she must speak words that edify others, as per the same verse. Speaking words that edify others is against the spirit behind "freedom of speech" which insists on what is legally right to say, and beyond that, does not care.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers (Ephesians 4:29).
Many, if not most, of the verses about speech concerns how one is to speak, rather than what one is not to speak or how one should not speak. This means there is a greater emphasis on how to speak righteously, and in a godly way, rather than to say whatever one wants, as long as it does not contravene the Law of God:
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man (Colossians 4:6).
The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked (Proverbs 10:11).
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit (Proverbs 17:27).
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles (Proverbs 21:23).
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver (Proverbs 25:11).
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness (Proverbs 31:26).
The doctrine of "freedom of speech" is an earthly, worldly doctrine. The true follower of Christ must flush "freedom of speech" out of his system.
To Hell with "freedom of speech"!
The idea of "freedom of speech" and the "right" to "freedom of speech" is held onto by so many western Christians as an unquestionable, if not a sacred tenet, as if attacking freedom of speech is to attack the "freedom" of Christians which they so love.
Such is the way that whenever anyone critiques or even questions the veracity of "freedom of speech" from a Biblical perspective, one is simply dismissed, or rebutted in a straightforward way, as if the critic of free speech is just deluded.
However, if one is a true follower of Christ, one must view all things from a Biblical perspective, being guided by the Word of God, and never deviating from it, bending it or trying to circumvent any part of it to justify one's sins or desire to avoid obedience to God. As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
All Scripture must be accepted to obey God, and that all of the works of the true follower of Christ must be guided by it to be able to do good works. This means one's mindset must be governed by Scripture.
Many professing Christians simply accept "freedom of speech" as a legitimate doctrine to absorb into their mindset, all without thinking it through. However, as soon as one tries to attack or critique "freedom of speech", he is met with all kinds of excuses and false arguments from other Christians, like the excuse that the church leadership will dominate over them, or that homosexuals will burn down the Church when there is no so-called "freedom of speech".
"Freedom of speech" originated from French revolution philosophy. Voltaire, an 18th century French philosopher, and anti-Christ advocate of the revolution, which saw millions of clergymen butchered, was a proponent of "freedom of speech". It was fundamental to the French revolution in overthrowing church authority, and therefore the authority of God. For what "freedom of speech" really meant was to justify blasphemy and the promotion of all kinds of anti-Christian ideas and doctrines.
A century later, it was promoted by John Stuart Mill, a liberal philosopher of the 19th century who believed that as long as one does not "harm" others, there is nothing wrong with what one does. He was indeed the father of the "harm principle" which dominates the entire western system, including its legal system.
The pro-"free speech" Christian may argue that "free speech" enables him to fight evil, such as the evils of feminism, liberalism, or the homosexual agenda. However, that something can be used in a certain way does not mean that it is right in principle from the Biblical perspective. As such, that "free speech" can be used for good does not justify it as righteous or good.
"Free speech" at its core is a doctrine which purports that a person can say absolutely whatever he wants. As such, it means that a person can blaspheme God, or promote the most evil despicable ideas, and yet justify it on the grounds of "freedom of speech".
This means that an atheist can burn the Bible and call God a liar, and be justified. A heretic can say that Jesus is not God and be justified. A feminist can say that a woman does not need a husband, and child does not a father owing to IVF surrogacy, and be justified. A transgender activist can say that children have the "right" to be the sex or gender they want, and be justified. All such evil and perverted statements can be justified, and even seen as wholesome owing to the "honesty" of expressing such vies, all on the basis of "freedom of speech".
No where does the Bible ever say that a person can say whatever he or she wants. No where! Show me where the Bible ever says that.
The Bible has very strong warning for how a person is to use his or her tongue, that is, how he or she is to speak. James 3:3-12 makes it very clear:
Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
You may argue that James 3:3-12 relates to how we are the speak, not what we are the speak. That is a foolish argument. How one is to speak is precisely concerned with what we are the speak as indicated by James 3:8 which refers to the tongue as that which is full of "deadly poison". You may further argue that it refers to not speaking sinful things, but beyond that one can say as one wishes.
Such a mindset is itself wrong, in seeking to claim one's liberty to speak whatever one wants, as long as the Bible does not explicitly prohibit it. Such is a despicable minimalist approach to holy living in seeking to go as close to the Biblical boundaries, in a legalistic way, as opposed to striving for holiness and righteousness being focused on how one can glorify God in faith.
Of course a Christian must let not sinful speech come out of his mouth as per Ephesians 4:29. However, that is not enough. He or she must speak words that edify others, as per the same verse. Speaking words that edify others is against the spirit behind "freedom of speech" which insists on what is legally right to say, and beyond that, does not care.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers (Ephesians 4:29).
Many, if not most, of the verses about speech concerns how one is to speak, rather than what one is not to speak or how one should not speak. This means there is a greater emphasis on how to speak righteously, and in a godly way, rather than to say whatever one wants, as long as it does not contravene the Law of God:
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man (Colossians 4:6).
The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked (Proverbs 10:11).
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit (Proverbs 17:27).
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles (Proverbs 21:23).
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver (Proverbs 25:11).
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness (Proverbs 31:26).
The doctrine of "freedom of speech" is an earthly, worldly doctrine. The true follower of Christ must flush "freedom of speech" out of his system.
To Hell with "freedom of speech"!
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