Does God Grant the Right to Free Speech?

Introduction

Hello and welcome to Sanctified Mind. I am honored that you are watching this and I hope that it will help you in your journey as followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

‌

In the description below I have provided a link to the website SanctifiedMind.org where you can download a worksheet to follow along in the lesson. Also, I am providing several passage guides on scripture related to speech for further study. These are free to you and do not require that you give an email address.

‌

As always, my intent is to point you to what scripture has to say so we will be looking at various passages together. This is the first video of a series on speech and addresses whether we have freedom of speech as Christians.

‌

Part II will be given in my next video and the topic of that lesson will be about the potential consequences of our speech, so stay tuned.

‌

***Stop Recording***

In the country that I live in, we have a constitution, and our government is supposed to adhere to that document because our system of government is by the people and for the people. In other words, our government in the United States of America, is a one that exists to serve the people. Not the other way around.

‌

The founders of America, after writing the constitution found that it didn’t go far enough to protect us and through a series of amendments, over time, they expanded the protections for Americans.

Now this is not a lesson on the rights of Americans or even a debate about whether these rights are being followed by the government or even if certain rights that we have are even Godly.

‌

It is true that in America, we can say pretty much whatever we want, including offensive and hurtful words. In fact, the ability to do this is something that as a country we even celebrate. Some celebrate this freedom because it allows them to share their faith without fear of being silenced or punished by the government, while others celebrate this freedom in some very offensive ways that include offensive, obscene talk and all kinds of other recognized free speech that leads to all kinds of sin. We are free to do that as Americans.

Even with our freedom of speech, as a country, we have determined that some speech goes too far…even for us. For instance, the courts have found that defamatory speech, false advertising, threats of harm and fighting words are all excluded from this protection. These are only a few examples. So, as you can see, even in America we do have some limits on what we can say, even though we can say pretty much whatever we want to even at the expense of others.

***Stop Recording***

I have just shown you the freedom that Americans have related to free speech. Now, I want to contrast this freedom to our walk as Christ Followers. To do this, first we need to make a distinction between being a citizen of a country whose government serves US and contrast that with being a citizen of a Kingdom to whom WE serve. And this kingdom has a different set of rules that comes from our King and His government to whom Christians belong. It doesn’t matter where in the world you live, if you are a Christian, you have dual citizenship and that citizenship comes with its own rules to follow which are superior to our earthly citizenship.

First let me show you from scripture that you are in fact a citizen of heaven. Let’s turn to the Bible to Philippians 3:17-20.

Now that we know we are under the authority of the Kingdom of Heaven and its rules, let’s see what it says about how we should use our words.

***Stop Recording***

How we should use our words

We should speak the truth

Ephesians 4:25–31 “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”

We should encourage others

Proverbs 12:25 “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.”

3.    We should speak words pleasing to the Lord

Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

Being truthful, encouraging and pleasing to the Lord should be the goal for all of our speech and if there are words other than these, we should keep them to ourselves.

What our speech should not be used for

We should not use our words to curse others.

Romans 12:14 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”

We should not speak hurtful words 

Proverbs 12:18 “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Proverbs 11:12 “Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.”

We should not tell lies

Psalms 34:13 “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.”

We should not gossip

Proverbs 16:28 “A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.”

We should not tell course jokes

Ephesians 5:3–12 “But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.”

These examples, both the positive speech expected of Christians and the kinds of speech Christians are commanded to avoid are only the beginning.

I would like to end this lesson with one final point that I hope will resonate and stick with you as you live your life. Instead of my words though, I will let Jesus speak for himself. Let’s turn to Matthew 12:33–37 ““Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”” .

Matthew 12:33–37 ESV

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Final Words

Its my hope that this lesson is a blessing to you. For some it is a reminder. For others, it should be a warning. As you go along your journey, give careful attention to your words. Think twice before you post something on social media that tears someone down. Don’t use inflammatory language but instead use your words to encourage and to help people find their way to a saving knowledge of the Lord.  

May the Lord bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; and give you peace.

Amen, and until next time...God bless.

*‌**Stop Recording***

‌