How Sacrosanct Is Freedom of Speech?

There has been a LOT of discussion about freedom of speech in recent times. Some of the more high profile incidents include:

• People’s freedom to give their opinion about vaccines on social media was significantly curtailed during the COVID pandemic.
• A Maine state representative was forbidden to speak in the Maine legislature because she posted a comment against men participating in women’s sports on her Facebook page.
• Speaking to European political leaders, military officers, and diplomats at a Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Vice President J.D. Vance lectured Europe over the censorship of their own citizens. Seemingly, that is quite a widespread problem on the European continent.

In one of the latest episodes happening in America, a Veterans Affairs hospital chaplain has been sanctioned over a sermon he preached. (You can read about it at: https://www.foxnews.com/media/veterans-affairs-hospital-chaplain-allegedly-sanctioned-over-sermon-fights-back-defense-free-speech.print.)

Rusty Trubey is a veteran chaplain at the Coatesvill VA Medical Center. Trubey has served the center for nearly ten years. In 2024, as part of this regular duties, he led a worship service in the hospital chapel and preached a sermon from Romans chapter one. The theme of the sermon had to do with what happens when a culture excludes God. This passage includes a discussion about homosexuality being a sin.

As he read the text, some people walked out and apparently complained to management, who sent police to inform him of the complaint. This led to his removal from his chaplain duties, a several month investigation, and a threat to mark this on his permanent record. During the time of the investigation, he was relegated to stocking shelves and doing inventory.

He has since been returned to his normal duties, but this still hangs over his head. In response, a letter has been sent by his legal council to the U. S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs encouraging the secretary to take action to eliminate the Veteran’s Affairs speech code. According to the U. S. Constitution, it is illegal to censor the content of a chaplain’s sermon. We will see how this plays out in the future, but at this point is seems fairly certain that Trubey’s position will be affirmed. After all, that is the solid point of view that America has maintained throughout its entire history.

But it is not America’s history that is the important matter here. Rather it is the principle involved in the incident. The American experiment is unique in world history. American society was founded on biblical principles in a way no other society has been. One of the most important principles, perhaps the most important, is not freedom of speech. No, it is freedom of conscience. Freedom of speech is only possible when there is freedom of conscience. Of course, Rusty Trubey’s freedom of speech was violated, but even worse than that, his freedom of conscience was aggrieved.

Now to be sure, the proclamation of EVERY faith in existence has the potential to offend someone. Everyone has as set of beliefs, their worldview beliefs, that organize the way they understand reality. Even people who claim to have no religion hold these kinds of beliefs, and these are the ones that actually define a person’s essential spiritual core – their religion. This is true even for people who claim they have no religious beliefs. Thus, if freedom of conscience is not allowed at all, no one, without exception, could even talk about what they believe.

The question then becomes, “Who gets to decide what beliefs are allowed in the public square?” Traditionally, throughout world history, the ones who control the values of society get to decide. Historically it has been some ruler, religious leaders, or powerful social influencers. America broke that mold and provided an environment where people were given the legal right to believe and express things that other people may not agree with. The most basic rule is that we are free to disagree.

This does not, of course, mean that there are no boundaries. People are not free to threaten others with violence or speak their opinions at times and in places that are inappropriate. They are free to do those things, of course, but they must also be willing to accept the social, cultural, or sometimes even legal consequences of their actions. Freedom of speech is not freedom to act in ways that injure the rights of others.

That said, based on biblical values, the individual is most important, not the collective. Everyone is responsible before God for what they decide to believe and how they conduct themselves. This principle has been incorporated into American society to allow people freedom of conscience – even if it is not always represented perfectly. With God as well, even though He allows people to make their own choices concerning what they believe, that doesn’t mean He accepts all beliefs. He has revealed Himself and His ways to mankind, and humans are obligated to accept that and follow Him. People are free not to, of course, but they are individually responsible for their choice and must accept God’s consequences, as well.

Providing for a society that allows freedom of conscience is a difficult thing. People don’t generally like hearing messages that run contrary to their own core beliefs. But for Christians, that kind of freedom in society provides us an opportunity to not only grow in our own faith, but to share the truth about Christ to those who hold false beliefs. Allowing that kind of tension is critical, and it is worth it.

Freddy Davis is the president of MarketFaith Ministries. He is the author of numerous books entitled The Truth Mirage, Rules for Christians Radicals, Liberalism vs. Conservatism, and his latest book Shattering the Truth Mirage and has a background as an international missionary, pastor, radio host, worldview trainer, and entrepreneur. Freddy is a graduate of Florida State University with a BS in Communication, and holds MDiv and DMin degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a popular speaker, particularly on the topic of worldview and its practical implications for the Christian life. He lives in Tallahassee, FL, with his wife Deborah.

You may also contact Freddy at Leadership Speakers Bureau to schedule him for speaking or leadership engagements.

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