Importance of Free Speech to Christian Testimony

‘Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing?’ (Job 16:4)

‘In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned.’ (Titus 2:7-8)

‘Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech.’ (Proverbs 1:20-21)

Do not hector your listeners. Character is integral. You must be prepared to make and be made a public spectacle.

Free speech is a recurring theme amongst the libertarian mindset. It can stem from merely being opinionated, though here I address those inspired or moved by perceived righteous grievance who aim to bring to the fore something hidden or unknown, to seek redress perhaps accountability, to advance knowledge ultimately beneficial for wise just society.

Christians differ in personality outlook mannerisms but all should realise why freedom to speak up for righteousness sake must be exercised regardless of talent, resisting ungodly intimidation and prepared for persecution. Moses rued his lack of eloquence, ‘slow of speech and tongue’ (Exodus 4: 10) yet, aided by brother Aaron, Moses represented the Lord and Israel before Pharaoh’s court in mid-late second millennium BC Egypt. It required courage and obedience to God’s command.

Two of Jesus’ apostles gave inspired testimony before rulers elders and teachers of the law representing the court of the Sanhedrin in first century AD Jerusalem. The Hebrew ‘ruach’ (Greek ‘pneuma’) translates as wind breath S/spirit. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is beyond our control but inherently must involve the will and, in this instance, fierce determination in the face of stiff opposition.

‘When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised they were unschooled ordinary men they were astonished and took note these men had been with Jesus.. they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After further threats they let them go.’ (Acts 4:13,18-21)

Later a court speech by Gamaliel, head of the moderate school, advocated yes moderation in sentencing the apostles, flogging in lieu of capital punishment for their continued preaching. The Jewish penalty of ‘forty minus one’ lashes compared favourably to the brutal Roman administration Jesus endured which many did not survive. Soon after Stephen gave a speech to the Sanhedrin recorded in Acts 7 that was again indeed inspired. This testimony led to his immediate illegal execution contrary to Roman law by stoning outside the city.

A true Christian, regardless of disposition, must view free speech through a different lens to any non-believer. We are called to testify to Jesus in season and out, to see the Lord honoured and to relate how the resurrection is objective truth seismic to man’s past present and future.

This is a brief outline of the context believers ought to bring to the table when considering the importance of defending and exercising free speech as a conduit for testimony.

The immediate cause for writing this flows from a Twitter exchange over an article, where I displayed my ignorance that the Right could fairly be categorised as curtailing free speech when seeking to censor for example Marxist HR policies or trans library hour. It was a different take, on balance fair as academic argument or professed in innocence, disingenuous though if advanced by the knowing authoritarian who amplifies a select narrative only to silence dissenting views.

Students of history understand that with strict theocracy, absolutist monarchy, violent political systems indeed any totalitarian regime, the intent is not one of providing a level playing field for public discourse. The goal is not open discussion but to moderate monitor and if deemed necessary crush dissent, these victors do not share the spoils. Real equality does not play to the interests of an individual or powerful collective. In this regard latter twentieth century Westerners thinking one can say whatever one wants wherever it suits is both an anomaly and abhorration to world culture over time. We are the exception here, so it could be argued the growing cultural restrictions are unfortunately only a return to norm.

Americans invoke Constitutional First Amendment but the value and practise of free speech is tenuous, as elsewhere in the Anglosphere, situation worsening. Trends are about leveraging geopolitical power via globalist institutions, influencing the will of legislatures, harnessing the caprice of judiciary, reinforced by generational permanent bureaucracy and now corporate HR policy, decades of hostile academic inculcation of tertiary graduates trickling down into schools, sadly aided by pastors unwilling to challenge any of this through forceful public evangelism.

Carrots and sticks, bribery and coercion, are as old as the hills. Slowly coming to light is the degree to which sexual blackmail has aided recruitment of key personnel, the logistics provided by intelligence community assets and infrastructure, driven by same or older institutions unclear for now. Bad years compromised and corrupted an ethically malleable socio-economic class, the delinquents now full grown.

Personal beliefs and the lack thereof inform professional approach, absence of direct faith in Christ or beneficial indirect influence, lessons lost from historical ignorance, evil senseless indoctrination, all now lead us to this impasse.

Desire to control the flow of information is spiritual. Speech, the written and spoken word, is a tool a weapon even, as readily utilised by evil in our own culture as wielded by godly in better times.

So when you consider the nature of good versus evil, consider these verses in your own determination to speak out for all that is good, and learn to wield the sword of the Spirit.

‘For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.’ (Hebrews 4:12-13)

‘His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.’ (Revelation 1:14-16)