Is “free speech” biblical? Yes and No. Before you label me as unamerican let me explain. I understand the tenants of the First Amendment and greatly value and appreciate the freedoms we enjoy in this country through our democratic form of government. Many of the guiding principles in our country’s founding documents were shaped by and viewed through the lens of scripture. John Adams wrote, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Noah Webster stated, “The moral principles and precepts contained in the scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws. All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible.”

The First Amendment states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Yes, there are categories of speech such as obscenity, fraud, child pornography and defamation that are given lesser or no protection by the First Amendment. But it is obvious we have clearly gone off the rails. Our public discourse is as vile, vituperate, and vitriolic as it’s ever been. There remain few public platforms that are safe to visit without being inundated with the foulest of language, gossip, lies, slander, attacks and explicit material. Civil discourse seems to have disappeared from the public square, especially the digital public square.

TikTokers, YouTubers, Facebook and Twitter users and on-line influencers hide behind the First Amendment and justify saying and writing anything they want in the name of “free speech”. Let’s not kid ourselves and think we can manipulate, mishandle, and misapply God’s Word to make an argument for the kind of “free speech” advocated today that has few if any filters, and is getting progressively worse by the day.

The Constitution and Bill of Rights may contain words and principles that have a biblical basis, but the Constitution is not the Word of God. Nor is Christianity a democracy, we don’t get a vote. We serve a higher authority, The King!

The bible does not teach or support “free speech” that: gossips, slanders, tears down, speaks evil of another, lies, uses corrupt words, malice, filthiness, coarse jesting, unwholesome speech, insults, obscene talk, deceitful talk, or profane speech.

It does however, support “free speech” that: builds up, speaks the truth in love, edifies, encourages, gives thanks, speaks to one another in psalms and hymns, and speaks wisdom and justice. The bible says, “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” 

So, what does our speech have to do with life balance and rest you ask? Plenty. Our lives revolve around relationships and interaction with others. A majority of those interactions happens through words. Much of life including our mental and spiritual wellbeing is impacted by what we say to others and what they say in return. We can’t just say whatever we want to. We need filters. The Greek philosopher Socrates was said to have used a three filter test when others wanted to speak to him. First, “Is what you are going to say true?” Secondly, “Is what you want to say good or kind?” And finally, “Is this information useful or necessary to me?” If what you say is neither true, nor good or kind, nor useful or necessary, please don’t say anything at all.

The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Set a guard, (a filter if you will) O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!   

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