Dear Church,

Freedom of speech and freedom of expression are much in the news these days. Those are pretty fundamental American rights, but should also exist for the human race as a whole. One problem is that we often want to claim our rights, and we don’t always like others claiming theirs! And sometimes we agree with what is being expressed, and sometimes we don’t. That should be no surprise.

St. Paul addressed these kinds of ‘freedoms’ often. (Like, for early Christians, the freedom to eat foods that were forbidden by Jewish law. You can give up that freedom if it causes needless offense!) Paul gives us good guidance on using our freedoms to “speak the truth in love.” In doing that, we not only have lifted up what is true and right, and shown love, but we are demonstrating that we are growing in a more mature faith in Christ!

Here’s another piece of Paul’s wisdom: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4:6)

We’re in the season of Lent. We’re in a world drowning in-among other things-too much hate speech, too much self-serving speech; too many lies; too much demonizing; too much anger. Social media and the internet amplify such behavior. We can’t ‘fix’ everyone who is guilty. But we can check our own speech (and posting, and commenting). Does it build up? Or tear down? Does it reflect love and Christ? Is it seasoned with salt and grace? Are we speaking the truth, or repeating someone else’s lies? Are we using our freedom of speech to speak up for those who are not heard?

This is not just about being polite. Speech is about people’s lives. The crowd shouted “crucify him” to the point that Pilate could hardly go against their will and so condemned Jesus to death. Lies about our immigrant neighbors, about our nation’s “enemies”, about who God approves of and who God “hates”, are always lies that hurt real people. Those real people also happen to be created in the image of God! That’s one of those truths that I’m pretty sure Paul, and Jesus, would want us to express-as clearly and as often as necessary-with the freedoms we enjoy!

Grace and peace, -Pastor Paul