Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 'Also take no heed unto all the words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.'

There is a sad hypocrisy in this world that seems to be justified more and more each day.  We, as a people, seem more bent then ever to destroy the freedom of speech by judging and punishing words - verbalized thoughts.  This judgement we are making is based soley on our need to rid our world of offense.

James 3:8 'But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.'

We all sin with our tongues now and then.  Those screaming loudest for politcal correctness are just as guilty of having cursed men unrighteously for no one can tame the tongue.  As Ecclesiastes 7:22 says, you know you have cursed others.  It is hypocritcal and goes against the first amendment of the United States to try to legalize the abridgement of free speech. By abridgement I mean, 'to diminish or deprive' U.S. citizens of saying whatever they want to say.  There is no clause saying you can say what you want as long as it is not offensive, or hateful, or derogatory, or even criminal and malicious.

http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/culture/family/2169-obama-pushing-secular-un-anti-free-speech-resolution

In this article listed above, it mentions several important cases happening around the world.

It speaks about Ake Green, Hugh Owens, Mark Harding, Stephen Boission as well as others being imprisoned, criticized, even sued for speaking out, as Christians, against homosexuality, Islam, abortion, and even adultery.

Not even as a Christian, but as an American, the right to freedom of speech for all should be honored even if it is not respected.

Pastor Ake Green was sentenced to one month in prison for preaching from his pulpit in Sweden, about homosexuality.

http://www.akegreen.org/

As this article above reads, 'the thing actually started in 2002 when the Swedish Parliment enacted a new novel law that criminalized expressions of disrespect against homosexuals. 

Matthew 7:18 'A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.'

Yes, the case of Ake Green happened in Sweden, but it is a prelude to the direction American is heading.  In my personal opinion, hate crime laws are some of the most absurd and dangerous laws to hit the books.  It increases punishment of crime based on understanding and judging the intent of the perpetrator.

Hebrews 4:12 'For the word of Yahweh is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.'

Government believes its laws and its judges can do this without Yahweh's words, without Yahweh's laws.  Government believes it can righteously discern your thoughts and intents.  Tyranny begins when a body of people claim the authority to silence other people.  The reasons never matter.  Silencing free speech, pretending to know intents, punishing expressions of beliefs is a dangerous precident.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/28/AR2009102804909.html

This article above from the Washington Post talks about President Barack Obama's signing of a bill allowing judges the ability to impose harsher penalties on those crimes defined by the court as hate crimes.  The government, the corrupt tree, had to produce this fruit by attaching it to a defense spending bill.  In other words, it could not stand or pass on its own.  Many felt obligated to pass it because they were supporting another bill that had absolutely nothing to do with this bill.  That is how sick government has become and has been for years and years and years.  They say it would be impossible to vote on every bill - but the truth is - it is the pork - it is the junk added on to pad someone's pocket inorder to get their vote on another bill.  They call it 'playing the game.'  They believe it is how things get done - the only way to get things done.

Those in government - those politicians in  Washington have sacrificed their integrity because it is the only way to succeed in that atmosphere.

Christians need to avoid that atmosphere.

Matthew 5:11 'Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for My sake.'

There is no other way to look at it.  A Christian cannot be party to politics because the reviling and persecution will get them run out of office before they even begin - if they begin with integrity to truth and honesty.  There is no other way to play politics than to pool mammon and support some bills you would never support unless coerced for some other reason.  Christians cannot and do not play games with the WORD - a WORD that can divide asunder soul and spirit. 

http://www.wluml.org/node/184

Mohamed Sifaoui is an Algerian journalist who received police protection for five years because of his vocal struggle against certain aspects of Islam.  The police protection was withdrawn in January 2008, and now Mr. Sifaoui and his family receive death threats.  Many are calling to have police protection reinstated.

John 17:14 'I have given them Thy word, and the world hath hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.'

Christians need to understand that they are not of this world.  Speaking what you believe about this world comes with some consequences - sometimes grave consequences.  Seeking, expecting police protection, government protection of free speech is a fantasy.  You can look back into any era, any year of American history and despite the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, people have been persecuted and silenced for speaking, teaching and preaching what they believe.

As Christians, we need to know with all confidence that speaking the truth in His name, is a duty and responsibility. 

John 17:15-16 'I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.'

Most of us have been very blessed.  We have known what it is to speak without fear.  But as Christians, we need to realize that speaking the truth, speaking the same truth Yahshua spoke, will be offensive to some - more than some.

John 3:19 'And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.'

You have a decision to make.  Do you want to represent the Lord in this world, be an ambassador whose home is not of this world?  Or, are willing to compromise and play the game this world plays in darkness?  Are you willing to do a little bad to do some good?  Are you willing to commit a little evil to usher in justice?  Are you willing to vote for something good even when a poisonous worm has been stuck inside it?

Of course it is only fiction because that is the only way it would work in government but one of my favorite scenes of all-time in any movie involves Jimmy Stewart talking about fighting and dying for lost causes - and by fighting - he means speaking out against them.  This is a link to that great clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWyEc7FAMTg

You cannot compromise with the truth because once you do - it is no longer the truth.

Sadly, I believe as Christians, we compromise way to easily out of a growing fear, out of a growing misunderstanding and fear of political correctness.

Christianity was never meant to be politically correct.  It is a stumblingblock and rock of offense to those who do not want to have their sins exposed - to those who want to continue doing shady deals behind closed doors.

Yes, those who crucify the words of others have themselves spoken words just as offensive to other people.

Our world needs a lot more forgiveness, a lot more mercy, a lot more tolerance not only for those who want to behave a certain way - but for those who want to speak what they believe.

Tolerance is a two-way street and it seems many of those crying the loudest for tolerance don't want any return visits coming their way.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 'For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth. . .'

Amen