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Pivotal Question: #4

August 10, 2018 at 6:16 am (Remodeling the Mind, Thoughts to Ponder, WSGD Newes) (free speech, Freedom, Heart, Holy Spirit, mouth, pivotal questions, rights, scripture, study, truth, Words, Yahweh, Yeshua)

PQ #4: Did God really give people any indication that we should all be able to have free speech?

This question has bounced around my heart for a while now. I mean, I live somewhere (at least I have so far) where I can blog, talk, write a book, a song; use pretty much any form of communication I desire to talk about Yahweh (God the Father), Yeshua (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit, anytime, anywhere. The “right to freedom of speech” has awarded many profound freedom. Yet, as time moves forward, it’s apparent that this particular “right” got underwritten somewhere and is slowly eroding away. It is a hot topic. Recently a rather big name in what’s called alternative media got axed from Google and Apple, and Facebook. I won’t name individual names. This person was far from righteous, and frankly, I see that perhaps it was God’s way of shutting him up! Obviously, I’m not a fan. But several others that I do respect in this same genre of alternative news, they all spoke out about this incident. They all landed on this phrase: “I may not agree with what you say, but I’ll fight for your right to say it. Because if we lose this right we lose our right to say what we want.”

Something stuck in my gut about this. God persisted on knocking my heart with it. So I went to His Word looking for answers. I was stunned that I could not find one scripture to back up such a thing called “freedom of speech”. I mean, this country was supposed to be founded on Godly principles, freedom of speech was one of them. This is taught and has been as long as we’ve been a country. So where in heavens name did the “founders” find this principle in Gods Word?

This Proverb is particularly insightful.

Proverbs 17:28

Even a fool, if he stays silent, is thought wise; he who keeps his mouth shut can pass for smart.

Proverbs 18:2

A fool takes pleasure in trying to understand; he only wants to express his own opinion.

Proverbs 16:1

A person is responsible to prepare his heart; but how the tongue speaks is from Adonai.

Proverbs 20:19

A gossip goes around revealing secrets, so don’t get involved with a talkative person.

In fact, I couldn’t find a single Proverb to support the concept of freedom of speech. I moved on.

Ephesians 4:29

Let NO harmful language come from your mouth, only good words that are helpful in meeting the need, words that will benefit those who hear them.

There are two hebrew words for harmful:

Mam – מאס – meaning blemish / nothing. Defined as: Anything that is considered useless or without value. A blemish that causes something to be valueless.

R’ah – רע – meaning grievous/ bad. Defined as: something dysfunctional, wrong, evil or wicked. Even a feeling from bad circumstances.

Benefit in hebrew is very interesting and sheds new light on its context here.

Gemal – גמול – means yield. Defined as: the ripening of a crop or the weaning of a child as one now able to yield work. Also, the production of a product as a benefit or reward.

So taken in this new light the verse would read:

Let nothing considered useless or without value; or anything that causes something to become valueless; anything dysfunctional, evil or wicked come from your mouth, only good words that are helpful in meeting the need, words that will produce a benefit or reward as one able to yield work, for those who hear them.

This pretty much takes anything you’d watch on TV out of the contending for talking points. Anything on the news, or being discussed in the rooms of politicians.

“What!?” You say. “Then how can we teach the truth”?

The next question is then: ‘is the Truth a what or Who?’

If you lead someone to the Who, He will take over aligning all of what’s needed to follow Him. In other words, it’s not our job to make sure we point out all the falseness in everything… it’s the Spirits express purpose to “lead to all Truth”. Which makes sense why the next verse in Ephesians 4:30 is placed there.

Don’t cause grief to Gods Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), for He has stamped you as His property until the day of final redemption.

The next verse gives the details of all things that give rise in the human heart to speak out of one’s own agenda. We are not to confuse following God’s heart in feeling injustice and hate of evil, as executing actions to bring justice about.

Matthew 12:30-37 ~ Yeshua (Jesus) speaking…[note: what’s coming out of His mouth…]

Those who are not with me are against Me, and those who do not gather with Me, are scattering. Because of this, I tell you people will be forgiven any sin and blasphemy, but blaspheming the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) will not be forgiven. One can say something against the Son of Man and be forgiven; but whoever keeps on speaking against the Ruach HaKodesh will never be forgiven, neither in the ‘olam hazeh nor in the ‘olam haba. (This world, this age nor in the world to come, the age to come).

If you make a tree good, it’s fruit (yield) will be good; and if you make a tree bad, it’s fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by it fruit. You snakes! How can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what overflows from the heart. The good person brings forth good things from his store (yield) of good, and the evil person brings forth evil things from his store of evil. Moreover, I tell you this: on the Day of Judgement people will have to give account for every careless word they have spoken; for by your own words you will be acquitted, and by your own words you will be condemned.

It has been said that the justice system derived the “rights” read to an arrestee from this last verse. ‘Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law’. A gross misuse of the words Yeshua spoke if so. Though I’ll grant that in human reasoning the “right” can be made to sound very inspired.

Psalms 19:14

May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be acceptable in Your presence, Adonai, my Rock and Redeemer.

Psalms 39:1

I said, “I will watch how I behave so that I won’t sin with my tongue; I will put a muzzle on my mouth whenever the wicked assault me.”

Ecclesiastes 5:1-8

Don’t speak impulsively- don’t be in a hurry to give voice to your words before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth; so let your words be few. For nightmares come from worrying too much; and a fool, when he speaks, chatters too much.

If you make a view to God, don’t delay in discharging it. For God takes no pleasure in fools, so discharge it. Don’t let your words make you guilty, and don’t tell the temple officials that you made a vow by mistake. Why give God reason to be angry at what you say and destroy what you have accomplished? For this is what happens when there are too many dreams, aimless activities and words. Instead, just fear God! If you see the poor oppressed, rights violated and justice perverted in the province, don’t be surprised; for a high official has one higher watching him, and there are others above them. (In other words, God has set up the accountability chain, don’t decide to add your name to His list, let Him do that)

From all my study I could find no God-breathed word to join a protest rally. To have a right to free speech as this world defines it. These are the only things I could find that He endorses as “go ahead say all you like” but He definitely doesn’t say you’ll have the freedom to do it, as in the world will have to ‘let you’. The Truth is: they can’t stop us from these things from one to another.

*Prayer. Pray without ceasing! Countless scriptures say this.

*Encouragement in the thing’s of the Kingdom of God.

Philippians 4:4-9

Rejoice in union with the Lord always! I will say it again: rejoice! Let everyone see how reasonable and gentle you are. The Lord is near! Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. Then God’s shalom (peace), passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua. In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy. Keep doing what you have learned and received from me, what you have heard and seen me doing, then the God who gives shalom will be with you.

Why do we need to fight for things this world calls freedom? What is this fight for ‘rights’ from this world’s perspective? If we are persecuted to cease speaking of the Truth of God – are we still not free?

Amos 5:12-15

For I know how numerous are your crimes and how outrageous your sins – bullying the innocent, extorting ransoms pushing the poor aside at the gate. At times like these a prudent person stays silent, for it is an evil time. Seek good and not evil, so that you will survive. Then Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot (Lord God of Hosts) will take pity on the survivors of Yosef (Joseph).

So… you say – “How then should we tell when to say that God’s Word is being distorted?”

2 Timothy 2:14-19

Keep reminding people of this, and charge them solemnly before the Lord not to engage in word-battles. They accomplish nothing useful and are a catastrophe to the hearers! Do all you can to present yourself to God as someone worthy of His approval, as a worker with no need to be ashamed, because he deals straighforwardly with the Word of Truth. But keep away from godless babbling, for those who engage in it will only become more ungodly, and their teaching will eat away at people like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are among these; they have missed the mark, as far as the Truth is concerned, by saying that our resurrection has already taken place; and they are overturning some people’s faith. Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, stamped with these Words: “the Lord knows His own,” and “Let everyone who claims he belongs to the Lord stand apart from wrongdoing.”

2 Timothy 2:23

But stay away from stupid and ignorant controversies – you know they lead to fights, and a slave to the Lord shouldn’t fight. On the contrary, he should be kind to everyone, a good teacher, and not resentful when mistreated.

2 Timothy 4:1-2

I solemnly charge you before God and the Messiah Yeshua, who will judge the living and the dead when He appears and establishes His Kingdom: proclaim the Word! Be on hand with it whether the time seems right or not. Convict, censure, and exhort with unfailing patience and with teaching.

Titus 3:1; 9-11

Remind people to submit to the government and its officials, to obey them, to be ready to do any honorable kind of work, to slander no one, to avoid quarreling, to be friendly, and behave gently towards everyone.

But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, quarrels and fights about the Torah; because they are worthless and futile. Warn a divisive person once, then a second time; after that have nothing more to do with them. You may be sure that such a person has been perverted and is sinning: he stands self-condemned.

I will let The Word and the Spirit of the Living God guide you into the answer with His Word.

Yeshua has already fought and won the battle for freedom, dear fellow-sheep! There is not one He calls us to fight for. I leave you with words from King David, the man after God’s own heart. May we encourage as many as we can with these words, in these days, for the time is near… where every word we say will either acquit us or condemn us on the basis of where our hearts are.

Psalms 119:41-48

May Your grace come to me, Adonai, Your Salvation, as You promised; then I will have an answer for those who taunt me; for I trust in Your Word. Don’t take away completely my power to speak the truth; for I put my hope in Your rulings; and I will keep Your Torah always, forever and ever. I will go wherever I like, for I have sought Your precepts. I will speak of Your instructions even to kings without being ashamed. I will delight myself in Your mitzvot (instructions), which I have loved. I will lift my hands to Your mitzvot, which I love; and I will meditate on Your laws.

🙏 The grace of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, the love of God and the fellowship of the Ruach HaKodesh be with you all.🙏

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