The Wisdom of a Still Tongue

Freedom of Speech

ILLUSTRATION: Bill to punish hate speech. Ample concern that religious groups can be prosecuted if they make statements that some can consider hurtful or hateful.

LINK: I condemn hate speech that denigrates a person’s ethnicity, culture, religion, physical condition or factors beyond thier control. I having myself been a victim of it on certain occasions.

However, so called free speech has been a guise for bigotry of all types…including in God’s Kingdom, and sadly and heinously invoking God’s name. Further, free speech has given rise to all sorts of expressionism that while some of it can be creative and praiseworthy, often becomes silly and of course offensive, blurring the lines of good taste, good form and good outcomes.

“Silly talk” or expression is a topic that is well covered in the Bible. James in particular explains how we can use our words effectively and appropriately in a Christian setting.