Sadly we don't quite see it. The founding fathers gave us freedom of the PRESS gives so that we might be as free to write and to print anything short of libel and slander. But even a private journal requires we obtain (make or buy) paper, pen and ink. A newspaper, that is a public journal requires a PRESS, paper and ink (or a whole lot of copying by hand!). Newspapers freely print the things that their editors and publishers APPROVE. The offer limited access to those who write "letters to the editor." They may or may not read and print (publish) your letter. Most newspapers reserve the right to edit an then publish that edited version in your name! Some years ago I submitted a letter to the (conservative!) Washington Times. They published it, but not as I wrote it. I was unhappy because my name appeared and one would think that I wrote it. I didn't write what they printed. They took SOME OF my words, edited out others, and published a letter with a much changed emphasis.
WE SHOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE INTERNET AND ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. WE HAVE GREAT FREEDOM TO DO SHARE MANY< MANY THINGS ON IT AND THEM. THINGS NO PRINTER CAN DO AS WE CAN DO THEM IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE!
Very few people could build another internet. What has been built took countless hour of labor and countless amounts of money. Even a social media platform (as Pres. Trump is said to be building, AND asking others to finance) is way beyond the ability of any one person. It would be far easier to start a new newspaper, easier yet to publish and send out a newsletter.
IT IS SAD that Facebook has the ability to censor our posts and comments. But is it illegal? Do I have a legal right to compel the New York Times to print and publish what I write? No. I may have the legal right to pay them to publish what I write. They may not have the right to refuse me that right, just as restaurants have no more a right to refuse service to peaceful citizens.
Many of us think about freedom and rights as grants either from God or from government to do WHATEVER we want to DO or SAY WHATEVER we want to do or say. And not only that but also WHENEVER and WHEREVER we want to do it or say it. What is IT? It is WHAT IS RIGHT IN OUR OWN EYES.
There are many "gospels" but only one comes from God. God ALONE can rightly do as He pleases because He CAN ONLY DO and SAY what is GOOD and RIGHT... morally, ethically, legally, spiritually AND ETERNALLY!
At one point in History God was silent for 400 years! God "publishes" (sends) His messages to us through His prophets. Four hundred years before THE PROPHET John the Baptist spoke the words "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" God stopped speaking to His prophets. He was silent for 400 years. MOST OF US CANT SHUT UP FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR except to sleep. And some of us talk in our sleep.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH? Sure! We should have freedom to speak. But do we have freedom NOT TO SPEAK? "Yes," you say? Some of us, including myself, should test ourselves to see if we have the freedom not to speak by actually not speaking. Or posting or commenting. Beyond that, we might exert ourselves to express our thoughts in a way that could actually appeal to our political/social/religious enemies. We think that they should hear us. But do we express ourselves in words that do not immediately offend them? I set that as a goal a while back. To be honest I have not succeeded 100 percent.
In the Letter from James the apostle writes, admonishing and instructing the church. He begins the third chapter* saying, "Not many [of you] should become teachers..." (see the entire chapter below). Some are teachers, some in the secular Academy and some in the church. But isn't it true for many of us that we want to be seen as having teaching authority in what we post and comment? Don't we want others to think like we do out of some amount of arrogance? Some of us should exercise our freedom not to speak at the very time we would like to speak the most. Shouldn't we want to think and speak like God thinks and speaks? Wouldn't that help others do the same? Or do we want others to think as we do rather than think as God does? That we can be good and righteous influences even without being a teacher. Just be a friend to those you encounter in daily life, being very careful (as I too need to be careful) in what you (and I) post and comment on the street and in the public square. Facebook is a street and the public square. And it may well be the most crowded theater EVER. We all make mistakes. One mistake we should give effort to avoid is that of CAUSING OTHERS to make mistakes, that is, to cause others to stumble. Jesus said to the disciples:
“And blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me.” [ASV]
And blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is he who takes no offense at Me and finds no cause for stumbling in or through Me and is not hindered from seeing the Truth. [Amplified Bible] Matthew 11:6
I believe when we get to the place where Jesus does not offend us we will be full of joy and peace. And Jesus will be very pleased too! I will be very pleased when I can consistently speak AND ACT and not offend you, or The Lord, OR EVEN MY ENEMIES!
When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7 ( !!! )
Don't yell "FIRE" in a crowded theater! Unless there is fire. Even then we need to know how to help people out of the theater without causing them to stampede over each other.
* The Letter from James Chapter Three
”Not many [of you] should become teachers [serving in an official teaching capacity], my brothers and sisters, for you know that we [who are teachers] will be judged by a higher standard [because we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly]. For we all stumble and sin in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says [never saying the wrong thing], he is a perfect man [fully developed in character, without serious flaws], able to bridle his whole body and rein in his entire nature [taming his human faults and weaknesses]. Now if we put bits into the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well. And look at the ships. Even though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines. In the same sense, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.
“See [by comparison] how great a forest is set on fire by a small spark! And the tongue is [in a sense] a fire, the very world of injustice and unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which contaminates the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life [the cycle of man’s existence], and is itself set on fire by hell (Gehenna). For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the human tongue; it is a restless evil [undisciplined, unstable], full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God. Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way [for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts]. Does a spring send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.
“Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good conduct show his [good] deeds with the gentleness and humility of true wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be arrogant, and [as a result] be in defiance of the truth. This [superficial] wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly (secular), natural (unspiritual), even demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder [unrest, rebellion] and every evil thing and morally degrading practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure [morally and spiritually undefiled], then peace-loving [courteous, considerate], gentle, reasonable [and willing to listen], full of compassion and good fruits. It is unwavering, without [self-righteous] hypocrisy [and self-serving guile]. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness (spiritual maturity) is sown in peace by those who make peace [by actively encouraging goodwill between individuals].”
