The truth will set you free

Free speech is rightly considered a cornerstone of democracy. We should be able to express our thoughts, even though others may disagree with us. No one has the right not to be exposed to opinions that aren't to their liking. Yet this noble tradition of free speech is being challenged in these days of 'no platforming' and 'Twitter storms'. People whose views are not exactly 'right-on' are being denied the opportunity to address public meetings and risk provoking outrage on social media.

Rugby players and philosophers have found themselves in hot water. Witness what happened to Israel Folau, Billy Vunipola and Roger Scruton in recent weeks. See Matthew Parris of The Times for the free speech implications of the rugby controversy, and Douglas Murray of The Spectator for the low-down on The New Statesman's hit job on the conservative intellectual. All rather worrying. 

Strangely, it is often those who pride themselves in being liberal who are the quickest to shout down views they deem beyond the pale. Of course, they demand freedom to voice their own opinions, but the same freedom is not extended to others. That isn't liberalism, but another form of tyranny.

Freedom of speech is essential for calling the powerful to account. That is why dictators clamp down on the media and persecute their critics. They do not want their misdeeds exposed by the light of truth. As George Orwell put it, “In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act”. 

Valuing freedom of speech is a fruit of Britain's Christian heritage. As a Christian I don't just insist on my own right to free speech. I believe that people of other faiths and those who have no faith should also be free to express their convictions. We should have the freedom even to disagree with and criticise the beliefs of others. You can strongly disagree with someone's views, and yet treat them with respect as a person.

I'm glad I live in a country where I am free to follow my faith. In places like Afghanistan, China and North Korea Christians are actively persecuted by the state. (See Open Doors' 'World Watch List'. Jeremy Hunt the Foreign Secretary has recently spoken out about this outrage. Good on him. Religious freedom should be a basic human right for all people across the world. Baptists especially appreciate this point. We believe in the separation of church and state and do not expect the governing authorities to impose the Christian faith upon the nation. 

Jesus did not come to impose a new set of burdensome rules and regulations upon human race. He came as a liberator to set us free from the dark forces of sin that bind us. That is why he died to pay the price of our freedom and rose from his tomb to release us from the power of death. God exalted Jesus above all rule and authority, yet he does not use his power to enslave or exploit his followers. Jesus promised all who believe in him, 'you will know the truth and the truth will set you free'. (John 8:32).

*For May editions of News & Views, Trinity Magazine, and White Horse News. 

Facebook's Alt-Church Fail

In a speech last year Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said he wanted the social network he founded to perform the role that once used to be played by churches. He suggested that with the decline of churchgoing, “people now need to find a sense of purpose and support somewhere else." Sounds very noble and high minded, doesn’t it? The Church of Facebook, presided over by the geeky gods of silicon valley. They monitor almost every activity of their flock and then sell the valuable data they have gathered to advertising companies so they can flog us more stuff. It’s about connecting people, you see. With retailers. Friendship has become a commodity. And then there’s the sinister manipulation of social media for political ends.

Facebook’s mission statement is to, “Give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together.” But the social network is no substitute for the church. Online you can keep your ‘friends’ at a safe distance. Interact with them on your own terms. You can make sure they only see your best side, ‘Here’s me having a happy life, doing fun stuff. Hope you like my holiday snaps.’ If someone gives you grief on Facebook, you can ‘unfriend’ them with a click of a mouse or quick jab at a screen. 

Church means committing yourself to forging a community with a group of people with whom you meet on a regular basis. Actual flesh and blood people who are just as flawed and imperfect as you. They’ll get to see you at your best and worst. The frictions that come into any relationship between people have to be managed by giving and receiving forgiveness. You can’t just ‘unfriend’ your brothers and sisters in the faith. Doesn’t work like that.

The Christian faith isn’t meant to be a solitary pilgrimage to heaven. Jesus said, ‘I will build by church’. And by ‘church’ he did not mean a building, but a gathering of people who believe in him and follow him together. When Christians meet their sense of purpose and support deepens. The worship of the gathered church includes seeking God in prayer, singing his praises, hearing the Bible read and its message proclaimed, and eating the Lord’s Supper together. That’s right, eating a simple meal of bread and wine in memory of Jesus’ death upon the cross for our sins, and in hope of his return in glory. You can’t livestream, or download the Lord’s Supper, or ‘like’ a photo of other people doing it. You have to be there. And so the bonds of community are strengthened.

The church that gathers also scatters, seeking to follow Jesus in every area of life. Churches serve the wider community, running parent and toddler groups, visiting the elderly, running food banks, and so on. However much ‘virtue signalling’ we do by ‘liking’ worthy causes on social media, there is no substitute for giving practical help to actual people.

Facebook no doubt has  its uses, but Mark Zuckerberg and the gods of silicon valley can’t claim to have built a world wide community with a sense of united purpose. Hardly. They’ve just found a way of monetising us and our mates. But God has  gathered a global family of people from all nations and backgrounds. He hasn’t created this community in order to exploit it. No, God so loved his people that he was willing to give his Son to die upon the cross that they might be forgiven and become his children. That’s the church. Believe, belong.

*For Trinity Parish Magazine, Dilton Marsh & News & Views, West Lavington