I started a TikTok channel. It feels kind of desperate, but I’m reminding myself I’m only doing it “for fun,” so why not? I’m basically trying to take the sort of stuff I post on Substack and gear it to a younger audience. I’m not sure my two videos have done that, but I hope to get better as time goes on. Anyway, follow me there too!
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I recently subscribed to the print editions of Newsweek and the Christian Science Monitor. I did this because I didn’t want to be a passive media consumer anymore. I want to be intentional about what I read and who I invite into my thought world. Everything we read, listen to, and say shapes our thoughts and beliefs. To be balanced, I selected publications listed as “center” by AllSides Media.
Today, I read an article by James Bickerton in the March 21, 2025 issue titled “War of Words.” Here it is.
Bickerton explains that JD Vance surprised European leaders at the Munich Security Conference. JD was there to discuss the war between Russia and Ukraine but instead took the opportunity to condescend European leaders. He told them the greatest threat to Europe is not Russia or China. He stated that Europe’s greatest threat comes from within: “withdrawal from some of its most fundamental values, values shared with the United States.” The “value” he referenced was “Freedom of Speech.”
Let me tell you why JD believes Europe is censoring its citizens rather than affording Freedom of Speech. He described:
A British man, Adam Smith-Connor, was arrested after praying near an abortion clinic - but it is against the law in the U.K. to hold demonstrations or vigils near an abortion clinic. Read more here.
Police investigated a columnist over a social media post - It’s too much to explain here, but read this.
EU commissioners threatened to shut down social media to combat “hateful content.” Learn more.
German police raided “citizens suspected of posting anti-feminist comments.” Sigh. Here is the missing context.
Sweeden convicted a “Christian activist for participating in Quran burnings that resulted in his friend’s murder.” One of the judges for a connected case said, “Freedom of expression did not constitute a free pass to do or say anything.”
This excellent write-up fact-checks many of JD’s allegations and provides the missing context.
Does Freedom of Speech include hate speech? Does it include lies, distortion, misinformation, and manipulation?
I hope not.
I will quote a bunch of stuff here and then wrap it up with how I think faith calls us to respond. I am quoting from the Newsweek article that I linked to above.
Experts noted differences in the perception of free speech in the U.S. and Europe. Professor Grainne de Burca, an Irish legal expert who teaches at European University Institute, said: ‘JD Vance’s Munich speech turns truth on its head. Instead it wraps lies, distortion and misinformation neatly into a single package. The European approach to free speech treats it not as an absolute right that overrides all other interests, but as a value and a right that is to be balanced against other important democratic rights and values.
‘The U.S. purports to adopt a much more absolutist approach to free speech - setting it above all other values - which…allows online platforms to spread lies and misinformation without legal constraints and regardless of whether they cause harm or distort democratic processes and values.’
Maurizio Albahari, an associate professor of anthropology at Indiana’s University of Notre Dame, echoed this, saying that free speech in Europe ‘is best understood not as a fundamental moral value, as Vance puts it, but as a fundamental political principle.’
‘As such, free speech is routinely reconciled with other, equally fundamental political principles - from freedom of expression…for all recognized religious groups…to collective rights, including the protection of the public from false advertising or the incitement to lawless action.’
Professor Tara Zahra, an expert in Eastern European history at the University of Chicago, argued that ‘many politicians claim to be defending free speech while actually supporting policies and governments that repress those rights.’
Viktor Mayer-Schonberger, professor of internet governance and regulation at Oxford University, believes Vance is ‘ignorant about free speech in general and the fact that not the entire world shares his particular set of values.’ He added, ‘Societies always place restrictions on free speech, including in the U.S. In fact, I recall Elon Musk, head of DOGE, suggested…that journalists should receive long prison sentences for reports he disagrees with.’
Canadian human rights expert Rhoda E. Howard-Hassmann went further, saying: ‘Freedom of speech is never absolute. Even the U.S. restricts it by, for example, libel laws. Safe zones around abortion clinics were established to protect their users. Vance is opposed to abortions, which is why he chose this example.’
Puuuuureeacch.
Does Freedom of Speech permit abuse? I hope not.
It is important to remember that the Christian faith transcends ideology, political party, race, gender, class, sexuality, etc. I think that’s what Paul was getting at here…
"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus,"
Paul was not saying men, women, gentiles, Jews, slaves, and the freed ceased to exist. He taught that our identities transcended all of that. Our identity is wrapped up in our status as beloved creations of God.
AND…Many Christians believe God relies on us to make this a world that aligns with who God is. Our understanding of God continues to expand as we experience life. But most of us believe that God is Love, even when we don’t fully understand the implications of that love.
If God is Love, and if we follow the Way of Love embodied by Jesus Christ, our freedom will never come at the expense of the most vulnerable (people, animals, creation).
Our freedom will be realized as we partner with God to make this a world where ALL people can thrive.
Freedom of Speech is not Permission to Abuse.
Freedom of Speech must be balanced with other democratic principles, such as accountability, transparency, equality, control over the abuse of power, human rights, free courts, accepting election results, and the rule of law.
When you think critically about current events, how does your perspective shift as you consider the news through the lens of Christian love instead of political affiliation? Do you understand that Christians are never justified in their attacks on the “other” side?
God’s love and justice are life-giving (even when painful and challenging). Lies, slander, manipulation, and misinformation are death-dealing (inexcusable).
Okay, so I will abruptly end there. I am out of steam. A couple of life updates:
I will preach this Sunday, March 30, at 11 a.m. at Ravensworth Baptist Church. Join me there! Actually, I would be very excited to see you.
I am becoming a CSA site host (again). It is a 27-week season (April - November). I need more people to sign up to be considered a “viable site.” Check it out. If you are local and interested, message me, and I’ll tell you which site to select when you sign up. I have done this CSA for years but paused in 2017. I hope to eat better food while not being subject to inflation and the lack of federal food inspectors.
https://lancasterfarmfresh.com/csa-summer-shares/I am still a substitute teacher while I figure out my life. I enjoy it. Yesterday, I taught ESOL. Three of my students were from Cochabamba, Bolivia, where I spent several months improving my Spanish language skills.
My niece got married on Saturday. I was soooo proud.
That’s all for now! Chat soon!
A lot to chew on here, thank you.
Your thoughts did remind me of the response of a catholic high school principal in the 1970s when students complained that he was taking away their freedom: "with freedom comes responsibility." How do we exercise our freedom of speech for the betterment of all, so we can happily accept responsibility?