Freedom of speech

We watched a television show with the theme: freedom of speech. These days, it sadly seems missing for some groups and political correctness has taken its place. The show reminded me of a few people in my life who are transparent, an open book. They say what is on their mind and are easy to know and to talk to because they do not pretend or try to say only what they think people want to hear.

Reading the Bible, I get the sense that the Christians in Corinth were like that. For one thing, of all the churches Paul wrote to this one that is the most openly criticized. You can’t do that with fakes who hide their issues and negatives behind a façade that attempts to cover all their shortcomings.

In Acts, Paul left Athens, the political and intellectual capital of the Attic region of Greece and went to Corinth. Archaeological and literary evidence about Corinth paints a full picture of this city with various sociological, economic, and religious factors offering an understanding of Paul’s letters written to them later. It was rich in history and wealth due to its geographic advantages and cultural diversity but also a hub of Roman paganism and a hotbed for immorality. It hosted athletic games drawing many from across Greece that would become an audience to the gospel before returning to their diverse homelands so became a city of Christian witness.

Paul met a Jew named Aquila there with his wife Priscilla who left their home because Claudius commanded all Jews to leave Rome. They were all tentmakers by trade, supported by it and their mutual faith. Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. However, the Jews opposed and reviled him. He told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” (Acts 18:6)

And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”

Paul stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God. Then when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on him. They brought him before the tribunal, saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.”

Paul was about to defend himself but Gallio told the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” He drove them from the tribunal and paid no attention to their disputes. (Acts 18:14–17)

This politician didn’t care about religious differences or use them for political self-serving. In a sense, this absence of self-interest is much like people without filters. He didn’t fake what he thought for selfish gain as do many others. This was a key factor in Paul’s freedom of speech in that city.

I can see why many in Corinth were receptive to the Gospel. A lack of desire to impress people sets people up to think clearly about what they hear. People without filters are not pressured by the opinions and ideas of others. They think what they think without trying to be something they are not and when truth comes along, peer pressure will not cause them to shut the door to accepting it.

Not only that, those who are not worried about what people think are strangely not shut down by criticism. They can more objectively listen to it. When I read Paul’s letters to the Corinthians, they show very little praise and lots of correction. It seems to me that this is because they are who they are, able to think objectively about criticism rather than build up walls and shut it out.

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Lord Jesus, this requires further study and observation yet I do see how this freedom to speak works in myself and others. As I become less fearful of being accepted as I am, I am also more able to be corrected when I am wrong. Paul may not have thought too much about this regarding his relationship with the church at Corinth. It likely just naturally happened. These Christians experienced freedom of speech, were without a ton of protective layers and more open to hearing truth, even genuine criticism. They could understand themselves and You without fear because their authorities didn’t enter into their disputes. This clues me on how to respond when others are at odds. If I refuse to take sides, it will help them more honestly examine the issues rather than needing to defend themselves. I now put greater value on the freedom to speak my mind. This freedom may cause a ruckus at times yet the world badly needs it!