"Freedom" of Speech

We all live in a society that promotes the freedom of speech. It is a basic common right that every person is entitled to. But, I wonder if people are truly given the freedom to express their ideas and opinions openly. Of course, I understand that there must be certain restrictions on this freedom otherwise people may abuse it to create troubles and dangers by using violent or false language.

However, our culture today seems to pinpoint any one whose speech provokes the feelings and thoughts of the listener, although the speaker’s intention is to endorse truth or encourage peace. In a way, it appears that one can only enjoy the blessing of free expression if his/her expressed opinions and thoughts do not invoke another one’s feelings, even though they may truly benefit the listener.

Perhaps this is one of the reasons why many of us, Christians dare not express our faith outside the walls of the church. We fear that others may consider us as “offenders” of peace. We fear that the truth will hurt and offend our listeners, our friends, so, we rather stay silent. Plus, there are so many of them and so few of us. To go against them would mean ‘suicide’.

Nonetheless, this is exactly what we must do if we want to gain all with Christ. We have to deny ourselves, be willing to lose all that we have, even our lives, if we want to follow Him. For “the man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25). Moreover, the Gospel of Christ will always be controversial in any case. It will be good news to those who accept it, but an offense to those who disagree with it.

People may think that we’re foolish to go against them, to risk our lives. But, let’s not be discouraged. We aren’t losing our lives for nothing. We have simply given all that we have in exchange for something greater- an unending life of joy and happiness with God. If only they knew.