Freedom of Speech – Not Coercion
I get myself wrapped up in the “what is more important” debate regarding a person’s right versus the negative impact to others we are having as a society. What I mean is that, depending on the situation, a person may assert that they have a right to do something (maybe without acknowledging the consequences), or the opposite: emphasizing the consequences without acknowledging whether the person is allowed to do that.
The Supreme Court was recently listening to oral arguments regarding a case (I am not a legal expert so this is my opinion based on what I’ve read), suggesting that our government coerced and threatened businesses such as social media to censor people who posted things they didn’t agree with. One example was where people who had a different perspective on the proper course of action than the official government policy during the early COVID period may have been stifled on social media. Justice Jackson was quoted as suggesting that our Freedom of Speech could be dangerous to our country when the person is espousing thoughts that they would consider to be disinformation (there is a ton more to this case and Justice Jackson’s remarks so if you are interested, I’d suggest doing your own research).
This situation does clarify the person’s rights versus responsibility to others dilemma. Is it more important to be able to exercise your rights regardless of the emotional impact to others or should the emotional impact to others be more important than your rights? Think about those taboo words in society that, although you could say, very few people ever do because they are considered hurtful to someone else.
There is some guidance regarding this, in the Bible.
“I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” - Romans 14:14-23
But here suggests something different.
“Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” - Proverbs 31:8-9
I think this may be another situation of law and grace. What I mean by that is that the legal implications should be clear and consistently applied given the magnitude of the situation (murder is worse than stealing and should be punished appropriately for example). I, for one, think our constitutional right to free speech is a huge advantage that sets us above other countries in the world. From that perspective, I believe Justice Jackson is dead wrong in her worry. The strength of the constitution is that it limits the government from coercing us to fall in line with the government’s position.
But then that brings us to the impact on other side. That shouldn’t be a legal aspect but more of a grace issue. Even though I could, by that same first amendment right, carry a sign around saying that “God hates Gays,” God tells me in the Bible that I may be causing someone to stumble in their faith and I shouldn’t do it.
It’s no wonder that Jesus, when asked what the most important commandment is, replied as he did…
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” - Matthew 22:36-40
