Freedom of Speech
1/25/2015 (all Bible verses from NASB; used by permission)
Matthew 7:24
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
A little over 3 weeks ago a weekly magazine, named Charlie Hebdo, in Paris, France, was attacked by Islamic terrorists, who killed 12 people. Later, in a hunt to arrest the terrorists, several more people were also killed, a policewoman, and four victims at a kosher market. The terrorists were also killed.
And since then, the debate over the magazine’s freedom of expression has gone viral in the press and on the internet. Why? because the magazine was attacked because it had published cartoons making fun of Muhammad. They were expressing their freedom of speech or the press. The magazine has made fun of just about everyone. They describe themselves as secular, atheist, far-left wing and antiracist. In recent years, they have focused on Muslim extremists. One issue was renamed from Charlie Hebdo to Charia Hebdo, essentially making fun of the Islamic “Sharia” Law, which they said, oppresses women and causes domestic abuse.
Now, Freedom of speech is something that most Americans take pretty seriously. We feel that freedom of speech is an individual’s right. That all Americans have the right to say what they want.
Now, this is precisely written in the Constitution of the United States, in the 1st Amendment to the Constitution, the part known as the Bill of Rights, which says:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
This is known as the clause establishing freedom of religion, freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
I have a few famous quotes on freedom of speech …
1. George Orwell: “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” (1984, Animal Farm)
2. George Washington: “If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”
3. Voltaire: “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.”
4. Benjamin Franklin: “Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.”
And here we are today, in church, exercising our freedom of religion, freedom to assemble, and freedom of speech. But since we are in church; a place of worship, an assembly of God; I want to focus on some words about speech that help us to be better Christians, more genuine, more like Christ.
Jesus spoke about “speech” while exercising His freedom of speech.
Matthew 15:11 (NASB)
It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.
Jesus is saying that what you say reveals what is in your heart.
Luke 6:45 (NASB)
The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.
So we can see that Jesus is more concerned with the hearts of people and how your heart is reflected in your words.
The Bible teaches us that by our mouth we can bless or by our mouth we can curse. By our mouth we can bring encouragement and comfort and love, or we can put down, discourage, and create anger. – by our mouth, - by what we say, by our freedom of speech.
The third chapter of James is about how we can choose to use our speech for good things or we can choose to use our speech for bad things.
He talks about how a horse is controlled by putting a bit into his mouth. Those of you who know about horses know that this is true; by putting a bridle on a horse’s head and inserting a bit into his mouth; you gain control over the horse. With a bit you can make the horse go, stop, turn to the left or to the right.
James 3:3
Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.
So James’ point is that we need to learn to control what we say. That even though we have freedom of speech and can say anything; not all things are good, not all things build up, not all things comfort, not all things contribute to love and hope and encouragement.
Then James talks about how a ship is controlled by a little thing called a rudder. This rudder is comparable to the tongue or “what we say”, what comes out of our mouth.
James 3:4
Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.
Then James talks about how the tongue can start a fire…
James 3:5
So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
Here James a speaking about how the tongue can be used in a negative way to cause damage: To hurt people, to discourage, to cause hatred and pain.
James concludes his exhortation on controlling the tongue in…
James 3:9-10
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.
James is saying that even though we have freedom of speech, we need to exercise self-control in what we say.
And Paul teaches us about wholesome words…
Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
We need to focus or words on edification – building up, encouragement; and not tearing down, slandering, and abuse
Colossians 3:8
But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
And in Colossians 4:6 he says;
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
He encourages us put our words to good use:
Sometimes you have to correct someone: a child, a friend, brother, sister or a spouse. They might be making a mistake or simply misunderstand something.
In many cases; if you have a relationship with that person, you can simply correct them by saying something like. “No, that’s wrong, you do it this way… or “today is not the 27th, it’s the 28th.”
Illus: an air pump my dad was making when I was 4 or 5. The belt kept coming off and I thought the best way to fix the problem would be to glue the fan belt, but you can't glue it because then it wouldn't spin. So my brother corrected me rather harshly by saying, "No, that won't work, that's stupid."
Correction can be a difficult thing to do with grace.
If someone is in a relationship that is destructive… what do you do? What do you say?
Correction can be a difficult thing to do with grace.
If someone you know is showing signs of addictive behavior, abusive behavior, overly self-absorbed… What do you do? What do you say?
You can’t control other people, the best you can do is encourage them in the right direction, pray for them, love them and lead by example.
Paul gives many practical examples of encouragement in his letters…
Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
Prayer and thanksgiving are good uses of our freedom of speech. And they make a good foundation for relationships with one another.
And Paul practices what he preaches by sending co-workers to the Colossians to encourage them (Tichicus, but also Onesimus who was from Colossae)
Colossians 4:8
For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts;
Some Examples of how to use words for encouragement!
Encouragement should be specific; not based on some nebulous idea of beauty or status …
Encouragement should build persistence, determination and patience; not focus so much on self-esteem and pride. (persistence, determination and patience are building blocks to self-esteem)
Encouragement should build faith, hope and love. Because faith, hope and love are also building blocks to self-esteem and self-worth; Encourage people to rely on Christ who is in them.
So we have freedom of speech; but not everything you say is productive.
Lastly… Paul says that you can use your mouth for even more important things; such as making a commitment to Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:9-10
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
We live in a time of uncertainty: A time when it is becoming increasingly unpopular to be Christian. And making a decision to follow Jesus is as important today as it was for Peter, James and John who left their nets and followed Him. There is something about Jesus that has caused men and women for 2000 years to take up their cross, deny themselves… and follow Him.
Jesus calls to you today.
He said, “Come unto me all you that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
He said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
The Bible teaches us that “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Jesus exercised freedom of speech even though He didn't have it and was charged with blasphemy (not guilty, of course) . And in doing so, He chose to encourage people with truth. Through His words; He revealed the Father. Through His words; He revealed God’s will. Through His words; He teaches us how to have peace with God. Through His words, you build your life on a firm foundation.
Matthew 7:24
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. (rain came, floods, wind, but the house stands)
Pray: salvation, healing, peace with God
