Speech: Free or Not?

“And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me.”  Matthew 11:6

The Constitution of the United States, written by men who understood the value and cost of freedom, plainly states in the first amendment that Congress shall make no law…abridging (depriving one of) the freedom of speech”.  This applies to every person who falls under the domain of the U.S. Constitution.  Every person is entitled to speak their mind even if it is contrary to common norms and beliefs.  Of course, no one can yell “fire” in a place where there is no fire.  Otherwise, folks might get trampled by others trying to flee.  It is common sense to know that preventing actual physical harm to folks supersedes one’s right to issue false warnings.

As of late, free speech has become a right that is slowly being taken away from Americans.  Some people have become so sensitive to what others say that some folks are afraid to speak up for fear of offending someone.  When did people, particularly young people, become so sensitive?  I am constantly offended at all the vulgarity that I hear in public and on television, but where can I go or to whom can I go to complain?  I am greatly offended when I hear God or Jesus Christ being used to express surprise, disdain, or some other emotion.   Those who use His name in vain have no idea how that offends others, but more importantly, how it offends God Himself.  Imagine a sinner standing before God in the judgment, and God says, “You used My name in vain 10,383 times over your life.  What have you got to say for yourself?”  Of course, there is nothing that he or she could say, except to admit the truth.  They might say that they had no idea that they were using His name that way.  That is because it became so natural to them, that it never registered with them how they were offending God.  But He noticed.  God said that He would not hold them guiltless who takes His name in vain (Exodus 20:7).

Speaking of being offended, it works both ways.  Yes, God is offended when His name is used for any other purpose except in prayer, praise, and worship, and witnessing.  But Jesus was also concerned that people would be offended in Him, but not because He was sensitive to what people said about Him.  He was used to that.  The religious leaders had made it their life’s goal to abuse Jesus verbally in trying to turn the regular folks against Him.  While He was a Man without prejudice, He felt the sting of all those who were prejudiced against Him.  Those who set their minds against Jesus were offended by His lowly and common upbringing.  His earthly father was a carpenter, His mother a homemaker (Matthew 13:55).  I would assume He was reared in a rather modest home located in Nazareth, which was a city not exactly known for its high-class culture and affluence, but rather as one on the “other side of the tracks”.

I am reminded of high school.  Like all high schools, there are the low to middle class kids, just regular kids, and then there are the more affluent kids who sometimes look down their noses at everyone who isn’t in the “in crowd”.  At least that is the way that it was when I was a teenager, and I doubt that things have improved.  You were known by the company that you kept.  Well, people were not impressed with the company that Jesus chose to keep– fishermen, laborers, and even a tax collector for the Roman government.  Because the self-righteous religious leaders were offended by Jesus, He became a stumbling-block between them and God in whom they prided themselves in having a privileged relationship.  To take offense a Jesus is to reject Him and His message.

Those who could see past Jesus’ socio-economic status and saw Him in a true spiritual light were the ones who were blessed.  Today, those believers in Jesus who don’t worry about offending others and aren’t ashamed to speak freely of their relationship with Him are also blessed.   What do believers care more about–offending sinners and even other believers or offending Jesus?  Other folks have no power to save us from a devil’s hell, to comfort us in times of sorrow, or to answer our prayers when in need.  As of the writing of this blog, Americans are still clinging to our right to free speech, so let’s speak out in the name of Jesus.  If someone gets offended, then that’s on him or her.  Who knows?  They just might wake up to the truth.