Free Speech

Free speech has occupied our headlines recently.  From the taking down of Confederate War Memorials to kneeling, sitting or standing during the National Anthem, most of us are forming passionate opinions concerning the issue.

I cherish the free speech we enjoy in our country for that guarantees a right I hold dearly, the freedom of religion contained in the First Amendment.  Since free speech in one of the values of our country, the question becomes, what should constitute free speech? 

Let’s address it through the NFL National Anthem controversy.  Most of us are aware the controversy began last year when quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided to kneel during the National Anthem in protest of the racial injustice we are experiencing as a country.  Last Sunday, in response to our President’s speech condemning the kneeling, many NFL teams either did not observe the Anthem or many like the Denver Broncos had 32 players kneel instead of stand during the Anthem.  Whatever you are feeling concerning the issue, the First Amendment guarantees free speech. 

One player on the Pittsburgh Steelers chose to be the only player on his team to stand during the observance of the National Anthem.  He is offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva who was a West Point graduate and served as a Captain in Afghanistan during three deployments with the US Army Rangers.  In 2016 when Kaepernick first kneeled, Villanueva told ESPN: “I don’t know if the most effective way is to sit down during the national anthem with a country that’s providing you freedom, providing you $16 million a year...when there are black minorities that are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan for less than $20,000 a year."  He has a needed perspective. Yesterday he regretted what appeared to be throwing his Steeler teammates under the bus since as a team they decided not to observe the Anthem.  His teammates still commended him for taking a stand.  Free speech should guarantee both approaches. 

For the Christian however, there is a Bible verse that leads Christians to a higher standard. Eph. 4:29 tells us, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (New International Version) Since communication is 40% non-verbal which includes body language, Christians need to be using wholesome speech, verbal and nonverbal, that builds up others.  Unfortunately, I do not see much of that in this controversy.  And I would include Presidential tweets in this category, so maybe one of President Trump’s advisors needs to read Eph. 4:29 to him.  By the way, the big idea of the entire chapter of Ephesians 4 is unity.

In an interesting online article my daughter-in-law sent me from the 9/24/17 Washington Post entitled “Colin Kaepernick vs. Tim Tebow: A tale of two Christians on their knees,” Michael Frost the author wrote, “It seems to me that Tim Tebow and Colin Kaepernick represent the two very different forms that American Christianity has come to. . . . One version is kneeling in private prayer. The other is kneeling in public protest.  One is concerned with private sins like abortion. The other is concerned with public sins like racial discrimination. One preaches a gospel of personal salvation. The other preaches a gospel of political and social transformation.” That struggle has been around for over 100 years. At the beginning of the 20^th century, there was a great divide between modernists who espoused a social gospel and fundamentalists who believed in a personal salvation gospel.  Fortunately, many Christian churches and organizations have been able to balance both perspectives since I believe the gospel, the good news, is about both.  The Bible tells all people are sinners in need of a Savior. That Savior is Jesus, God’s son and the sinless man who died on the cross to save us from our sin.  That is the good news of salvation.  Anyone who believes in this gospel is saved from their sins.  Yet Jesus came to preach a gospel of the kingdom.  Jesus is the king of the kingdom and since he is the king, we must surrender to his values and sovereignty.  This is not a geographical kingdom, however, for it is the realm of the human heart. Every Christian and every church belongs to his kingdom as they recognize Jesus as not only the Savior and Lord but also the King.  Thus, society should be transformed as well by Christians endeavoring to bring this kingdom to this earth.  We can thank Christian institutions for advances in medicine, science, homelessness, overcoming addictions, and education to name just a few.  So in comparing the two types of Christianity, as seen in Kaepernick and Tebow, my contention is we need to be consistent in what we believe. Our behavior and beliefs must be in alignment.  As I have observed Tim Tebow throughout the years, he has been consistent in the expression of his faith. Unfortunately, as of this writing, I cannot say the same for Kaepernick because I have not followed him.  I will say that when I saw his arms festooned with tattooed Bible verses a few years ago I texted my son, “How cool is that!” 

This controversy will not go away and it provides Christians with an opportunity to respond with kindness and try to build up other people.  For me and my house, we will still stand and sing the National Anthem in respect wherever it is played as I remember the hard fought and ultimate sacrifice many made in 1776 and since then to guarantee our freedom of speech and the other freedoms we have cherished in this country for 241 years.  

This article will appear in the 9-30-17 edition of the Montrose Daily Press