The term ‘Freedom of speech’ doesn’t appear in the Bible; as a concept, it’s more rooted in 19th century American politics than in Scripture.
The Bible never suggests that we should expect to have freedom of speech. The life Jesus promises is marked by persecution. He said the night before he died: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18). Jesus expects our values and the world’s values to clash, and for the world not to like what we have to say.
Many people in the Bible have their freedom of speech curtailed. After Peter and John healed the lame beggar in Acts 4, the Sanhedrin were disturbed, and attempted to silence them, warning them not to speak about Jesus again. Peter and John’s response is instructive today: “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20).
If there are attempts to prevent us from speaking God’s Word, we are to listen to God, rather than to man. This is topical currently around sexuality and gender, where there have been attempts to criminalise teaching and pastoral guidance which are in line with historic Christian teaching.
But even if the term ‘Freedom of Speech’ is not Biblical, the concept is a good one: God made us as beings who communicate. Although the tongue can be used for evil, the ability to speak is part of God’s good design for humanity. God does not want anyone to be without a voice: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.” (Proverbs 31:8-9).
God calls the powerful to speak on behalf of the powerless, so that everyone is represented. But even better is for the voiceless to be able to speak for themselves. Jesus himself gave the ability to speak to the mute.
Part of “loving our neighbour as ourselves” is allowing others to speak freely. For free speech to work, it has to work for all, in a society where people are debated, not silenced. As Christians, we have to listen to things we don’t like, in return for being able to say things ourselves.
It is one thing to have the ability to speak. But as Christians, we are called to speak in a particular way: with truth and with grace, recognising that those we disagree with are made “in the image of God”. Speech is to be for the good of others; it is not to be cruel or malicious. Even criticism and challenge are to build up the person receiving it. As Paul writes about speaking to non-Christians: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6).
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17If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’
