Exodus 22:28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
This passage of scripture enjoins us to exercise good discretion in our freedom of speech, which is one of the hallmarks or America, making this country great. The above verse also calls on Christians to respect the rulers who, according to the Bible, are permitted to come into power by the will of God. The entire instruction is of critical importance when dealing with those of other faiths, who might not share the same values and morals as we do, because the basic God-given freedom to choose must never be interfered with, except individuals encroach upon the rights of others to do the same.
In other words, Christians should understand that in seeking to preach the everlasting gospel to all the world, there are times when it may not be convenient to say certain things, if the words will inflame or anger those who prefer not to hear them. This principle is given as a directive from Christ and should be observed always, especially when presenting truths that are unpalatable to carnal minds. Let's read:
Matthew 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
However there are certain dangers we must also diligently guard against, one of them being the temptation to legalize discretion in speaking or writing, for the freedom of speech we now enjoy will of necessity involve those who use poor judgment, and who might make incendiary remarks and comments about the religious persuasions of those with whom they do not agree. The possibility of inflammatory speech as a product of our freedom should not then drive us to make laws governing judgment or speech, for then a standard will be set up based on the core values and ideologies of the masses, or what the few who wield power think is right.
This is what took place with the disciples after the day of Pentecost, when many of the Jews and their rulers, tried to prohibit the spreading of the gospel, based on their core values. The human tendency to clamp down on that which we do not agree is what took place back then, and Peter's timely response should therefore resonate with individuals and nations, as long as time shall last. Let's read:
Acts 5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Whilst as Christians we are commanded by God to exercise sound judgment and prudence when speaking and writing, yet at the same time we are not to be found infringing on the rights or freedoms of others to do the same, even if what is said may offend us, because we have all eaten of the tree of good and evil, and therefore any freedoms we now enjoy will always be taken to extremes by some individuals. We will just have to learn to deal patiently with such situations and be tolerant with others, as we expect them to be tolerant with us.
There is a fine balance to be had between exercising discretion and preaching the truth, for in so doing we will at some point or another disturb some people, yet we are never to be found withholding the truth because of the possibility of offense. There is a world of difference between "Reviling" the gods, and showing the folly of serving idols, and the distinction made in such presentations should be based on scripture, not on any personal vendetta we may have against false gods. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages Christians to use sound speech that cannot be condemned, and it is the will of God that we be led by His Spirit in all things, so that the truth may be presented in an unobtrusive manner, as far as possible. Let's read:
Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works".... 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!