The very idea of freedom of speech is a Christian one. It comes out of the attempts the puritans made to reform the Anglican church, the breakdown of cuis regius, cuis religionis during the 100 years war. There was an acceptance that free speech would allow the truth to be proclaimed… and unfree speech could shut it up.
For the truth needs no defence. Good speech drives out bad speech as light drives out dark. However my son has taken my e reader and is giggling as he reads Steyn. One of the points that Steyn makes… is that freedom if speech is lost. It has become rude, a social faux pas, ot not accept the current progressive shibboleths.
As the republic fades (Steyn’s point) ant the eurocrats destroy democracy (one of Cameron’s points, if he consciously made it). These are the times we are in. What are we to do?
2:11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, 12training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, 13while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
15Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one look down on you.
3:1Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone. 3For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. 4But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8aThe saying is sure.
So we are to live Godly, sober and upright lives. There is no law against this. We are to be gentle… polite. But not silent. We are commanded to preach the gospel, in season and out of season. Titus is told to exhort believers to live a Christ-like life, for we are his witnesses in this world.
And at this time, the church needs to stand on issues. We need to give an alternative… to the current systems of courtship and marriage, to the failing systems of social welfare, against contentless education. We need to defend our faith, speak truth to power, defend beauty from modern “art”… and we need to speak against the euphemistic set of stultifying rules that limit our freedom to do so.