Speaking of Hate Speech
July 21st, 2009Recently I heard about a preacher in Europe who spoke out against homosexuality. After his sermon, he was imprisoned. The charge was “hate speech.”
I was not there. I do not know the content of his message. I am guessing that he used the Bible to show that homosexuality is a sin (1 Corinthians 6:9). That now constitutes “hate” in the minds of many homosexuals or sympathizers. It has become “politically incorrect” to oppose homosexuality in any form.
Wait a minute! Saying something is a sin does not mean hate. In fact, it means quite the opposite. God so loved the word that he sent his one and only son – to save it (John 3:16-17). In his ministry, Jesus did not hesitate to point out sin. He told the woman caught in adultery to “sin no more” (John 8:11). Did he hate her? No, he loved her. In fact, he loved her so much he told her to stop doing wrong.
Wait another minute! Do you find it interesting that no one speaks out for the adulterers? Who is standing up for the idolaters? Isn’t speaking out against those actions hateful, too? Most Christians would say the actions of Governor Mark Sanford (or President Bill Clinton) were sinful. That is politically correct, especially for his opponents so that one slides by.
I wonder what “hate speech” would look like in other eras. What would have been “politically incorrect” in the Colonies before the Revolution? One probably could not quote 1 Timothy 2.1-7 where Paul urges respect for the King. How about during the Civil War in the North? Ephesians 6:5-9 tells slaves to obey their masters – what would the Abolitionists have done to those preachers? In the South Romans 13:1-2 and submission to ruling powers would not have been popular. In World War II the Nazis would not like to have admitted that Christians are grafted into the same tree as Jews (Romans 11:11-24). Americans may have found it difficult to “love their enemies and pray for them” (Matthew 5:43-48). On and on we can go.
There is a dangerous trend brewing in America. While we certainly do not advocate hate, we need to be very tolerant with our privilege of Free Speech. We need to be very careful to allow people freedom to practice their religious beliefs. Speaking out against sin is far different than condemning a sinner. That is not our right or place (Matthew 7:1). We may recognize sin – and sinners (we only have to look in the mirror) but our mission is to teach, to love, to encourage, to help; not to condemn. You don’t hate me if you warn me about the dangers that lie ahead if I don’t change my course.
Keep The Light Burning!
Perry Greene
