Free Speech. THE HOTTEST TOPIC in quite awhile.
But speech has always been free! Sure, there may be consequences from what is said, but anyone and everyone can freely say what they want.
Phil Robertson said what he wanted to say, in regards to homosexuality and sin in general. No one put a gun to his head before or after he spoke. Sure, he lost his job. He’d probably rather duck hunt, anyway. But he freely said what he wanted to say. And I applaud him.
I understand the First Amendment is part of our United States of America’s Bill of Rights. It gives each and every American the right to free speech. But the government can’t give you what God has already given every human being. They also can’t take away something they couldn’t give in the first place.
Free speech, like it or not, doesn’t mean people can say what they want without the risk of consequences.
Believe it or not, not everyone is going to love what you have to say!
It looks as though the free speech battle is heating up. Proponents from all camps are mustering their troops, spinning their spin, and pushing their agendas. Each side wants the “right” to say what they believe without any signs or words of disagreement. Each camp screams, “Foul,” when it looks like others get special treatment regarding what they can say or not.
Someone once said, “Pick your battles. Make them large enough to matter, and small enough to win.”
The battle for free speech is one believers ARE NOT going to win! Regardless of whether you are right or wrong, you will not win.
But YOU HAVE FREE SPEECH! You just have the things that go along with it.
Things Jesus, Paul, and others already told you about.
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. “Remember the word that I said to you, ’A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:18-20 NKJV)
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: “of sin, because they do not believe in Me; “of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; “of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” (John 16:7-11 NKJV)
By the way, though Jesus speaks of the Helper (Spirit) convicting the world of sin… that doesn’t mean they will respond in a positive manner when convicted. In fact, throughout the book of Acts there seems to be quite a number of people who got quite angry when convicted!
“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22 NKJV)
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of…” (2 Timothy 3:12-14 NKJV)
“But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done.” (Acts 4:17-21 NKJV)
We have freedom of speech, and we also have spiritual forces wanting to shut our mouths! Why? Because the spirit of this world, the spirit of darkness, wants to continue dragging people to the place of the damned, forever!
We have freedom of speech! What’s more, we have a mandate, a command, to speak! “Go into all the world and preach, proclaim, the Good News!”
Quit looking to the government to give you something you already have. And stop expecting the government to side with your beliefs and make people leave you alone!
There’s a bigger battle out there, involving much more than the “First Amendment”.
It’s a battle for souls!
So speak freely, wisely, and lovingly. And God will back you up!
“And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” (Mark 16:20 NKJV)
Jan Grace 