As Americans, we have freedom of expression.
Merit: 1st Amendment, United States Constitution: 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...
We have so much room to speak, express, insult, degrade, and, in some circumstances, lie – all while nestled safely within the protective sanctuary of the United States Constitution.
As Christians, we do not.Merit: Psalm 34:14 "Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit."
Let's not be quick to undermine the word evil. Evil doesn't necessarily mean something detrimental to society, but anything contrary to holiness.
That article that intentionally misrepresented our opposing politician...
The status that purposely left out that one piece of information thus making it sound like our point was indisputable...
The time our simple desire for attention came at the expense of someone else's pain?
Those are examples of evil. Consider the following as a filter next time you feel like being controversial:
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." – Philippians 4:8
When we're quicker to claim "freedom of speech" than we are to ask "does this conflict with an example of Christ?" we have substituted our faith with our politics... and that is not good.
"So what you're saying is we should all just shut our mouths and allow the government to run as tyrants over us?" (Somebody was going to accuse me of it.)
No. Indeed we are commanded to take action against injustice.
Instead of seeing our Christian faith as a restriction on our American freedom, we should see our faith as a challenge to critique our freedom to be as poignant and effective as possible.
" God Almighty has placed before me two great objects: the suppression of the Slave Trade and the Reformation of Manners (morality)." –William Wilberforce
Wilberforce, champion of slavery abolition in Great Britain, claimed that his fervor for political action was based on conviction.
If your argument is right, then you're right and you should be able to formulate an intelligent delivery for it instead of resorting to name-calling or other fallacious means of arguing. If you're rooted in truth and rooted in Christ, then there will be no need.
