What is free speech for?

We all love free speech. It’s a precious thing that aids the mission of the church because it means we can proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, largely without fear of police interference.

Free speech also means that we can teach what the Bible says on issues where we are especially counter-cultural, like human identity and sexuality, or being genuinely pro-life.

We understandably baulk at attempts to water down free speech. Whether it’s hate-crime legislation in Scotland (a law so poorly drafted it’s still not implemented), or further back when Tony Blair was proposing changes to the Public Order Act – Christians are often at the forefront of protecting free speech.

Yet who are we protecting it for? Is it just ourselves? Are we ultimately agitating and speaking out on this primarily for the sake of our own tribe? Or do we think free speech is a right for all? If we truly believe the latter, it means accepting that the public square will genuinely become a marketplace of ideas where ideologies and worldviews we view as harmful will be heard.

This raises another question. If we say we believe in a genuinely pluralist society, how do we fit this with the Lordship of Christ and the command to take every thought captive to Him? If we advocate for free speech for all, doesn’t that mean we are positively helping to create space for worldviews and ideologies to be heard that we fundamentally disagree with? How far do we think the Lordship of Christ and the command to take ‘every thought captive to Christ’ should compel us to stop those who preach error and falsehood?

What about a third question that has always vexed me? Consider the New Testament’s expectation for God’s people. Do the writers speak of unlimited free speech as something we should expect? The answer is obviously no. The emphasis is on faithful proclamation even when free speech is removed and limited. Think of Paul’s command to Timothy: ‘Preach the word, in season and out of season’. Or – preach whether there is free speech or not!

I’m concerned that we don’t simply champion free speech for selfish reasons, without understanding the theology behind it. I also think we’ve not grappled enough with how Christians can (or should?) support a pluralist society. And, while free speech is currently a right in law, Biblically what should our expectation be? What about the verses that suggest the inevitability of persecution and being cancelled?

In this brief column I can’t hope to answer all the questions. But then I’m not sure I have all the answers! Firstly, I think we must advocate for free speech for all, and not give the accidental impression that it’s only out of self-interest. Our advocacy in this space should not be insular, but an act of servant-heartedness towards others. So, we need to look at how we speak about free speech – does our language reflect our concern for others?

Secondly, on the Lordship of Christ, my starting point is that yes, Christ is Lord! He is the Supreme Ruler of all. The question is whether we are commanded in the Bible to expel all false ideas from the public square as an extension of Christ’s Lordship? I think the answer is no. We rightly repudiate coercion. And we cannot advocate for rights we are not willing to extend to others.

On the third question, I raise it only because I want my thoughts, actions and – yes – my expectations, to be shaped by God’s word. Paul told Timothy that all who follow Christ must expect persecution. Being ‘cancelled’ is almost inevitable for Christians. We’ve enjoyed free speech for so long, I’m not sure we’re ready for the costly obedience that’s required when it’s taken away.

James Mildred is the Communications Manager for CARE (Christian Action Research and Education) www.care.org.uk