Oh Really? I Can Say What I Like!

Je suis Charlie (I am Charlie) has become a slogan known worldwide, after a

group of cartoonists in Paris were gunned down by some who took serious exception
to the manner in which the magazine Charlie Hebdo, a French weekly newspaper,
treads routinely, deliberately, rudely, and irreverently on the toes of politicians,
religious groups, and any other societal phenomena. When the bells at Notre Dame
tolled to commemorate and mourn the dead, surviving staff members at the magazine
laughed at the irony that a religious institution would pay such honour in memory of
the slain.
Many, including world leaders, have come out in support of what the magazine
supposedly epitomizes, namely the right to free speech, to free expression. Suddenly
also the words of the French author Voltaire became very familiar again in the context
of this subject as he wrote, I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend
to the death your right to say it.
Debate has opened up again as a result of these brutal murders concerning free speech
and its possible limitations. Australia has, under its racial discrimination act, a section
with prohibitions. Section 18c says, It is unlawful for a person to do an act, otherwise
than in private, if:(a) the act is reasonably likely, in all the circumstances, to offend,
insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or a group of people; and(b) the act is
done because of the race, colour or national or ethnic origin of the other person or of
some or all of the people in the group. Lawyers opine that the French magazine would
face prosecution under this act were it to publish its content in Australia.
In a far from perfect world also this is an ethical conundrum in which the Christian is
to take a stand, a stand based on the Word of God. Rev.. J. Zuidema writes (DY
Bulletin 18/01/2015) , As much as I am in favour of free speech, I do not think this
legislation [i.e. section 18c] needs to be changed. In fact it is based, perhaps
unknowingly, on some good biblical principles. When one reads the OT, the Lord God
often warns His people not to provoke the nations around them to war. For instance,
in Deuteronomy 2:2ff He instructs His people not to provoke the descendants of Esau
to war as they pass through their land, but to actually pay them for anything they may
use along the way. He says the same to them about the Moabites (v9), and the
Ammonites (v19). Similarly, Paul when writing to the churches in Galatia instructs
them, Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Freedom of speech is not equal to licence to say what you like; that is licentiousness
(lacking legal or moral restraints; especially : disregarding sexual restraints. 2 :
marked by disregard for strict rules of correctness). For those who hold to Biblical
principles, the tongue and all other facilities will be restrained by the limits imposed
by God Himself. The prophet Jeremiah could stand before the Lord because he
declared, I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced,I sat alone because of
thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation. Vilification is sinful behaviour.
Colossians 4:6 intones, Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that
ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. The Christian's approach to
provocative situations is to be marked with winsomeness and leave the offence of the
situation to God. As Rev. Zuidema puts it, Christians find it extremely offensive
when cartoonists or anyone else for that matter, do a similar thing concerning our
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Saviour Jesus Christ. And the reality is that we as Christians are subject to that
offensive behaviour more than Muslims are about their leader.So what is the
difference? Christians when offended in this way dont go out and shoot the
perpetrators. In fact, we do the opposite. We continue to love them as instructed to do
so by our Saviour God, even though they cause us offence. Romans 12:19-21 comes
to mind, Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is
written: It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord. On the contrary: If your
enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this,
you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome
evil with good.
For those who are not Christians man is the measure of all things ethical. For them
issues like the one here under study can only be approached rightly by way of
personal opinion, either individually or collectively measured. As a result we notice
certain groups of people celebrating the cartoonists as heroes while condemning the
killers, whereas others celebrate the killers as heroes while condemning the
cartoonists. The Bible condemns both for their actions. Murder is wrong and so is
vilification.
The problem, as in all cases ethical, is that in a world without the absolute standard of
God as the Regulator, there is nothing wrong about licentiousness. And so, for
instance, councillors of the city of Amsterdam could agree that heterosexual and gay
couples could have sex in the Vondelpark which has ten million visitors a year. But
they promised to clamp down on dog owners who let their pets walk in the park
without a lead (http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/278-vondelpark).
Psalm 76:10 declares, Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of
wrath shalt thou restrain. Matthew Henry, in commenting on this section, writes,
We live in a very angry provoking world. But this is a great comfort to us, that as far
as God permits the wrath of man to break forth at any time he will make it turn to his
praise, will bring honour to himself and serve his own purposes by it/ He also can set
bounds to the wrath of man, as he does to the raging sea.
The freedom of expression which the Christian loves is one which brings him back to
the perfection of Eden, to serve the purpose for which God created him, that is to
serve God and love Him forever. The Christian will show this love to all of God's
creation, including his fellow-man, with all God-given faculties. Galatians 6:10, As
we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who
are of the household of faith.
A Christian is not 'a Charlie,' because a Christian will bridle his tongue (James 3) and
keep his body under control (1 Corinthians 9:27).
Try to be a rainbow in some one's cloud. (Maya Angelou, American author, actress,
singer, poet, 1928-2014)
Dr Herm Zandman
18/01/2015