When Kirk Cameron (Growing Pains, Fireproof), a conservative evangelical Christian, was a guest on Piers Morgan’s show last month, he was asked about his views on homosexuality. Not surprisingly, Cameron said it is unnatural and detrimental to the foundations of civilization, alluding to gay marriage. His comments were immediately condemned by GLAAD as hate speech.
Hate speech is defined as any communication disparaging a person/group on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, or religion. In an increasingly secular (amoral) world, our biblical morals are becoming more offensive. Thankfully, however, saying offensive things is protected by the First Amendment, unless the words are considered defamation, in which case, hate speech becomes a hate crime (a felony). And therein lies the danger: in a culture that is hostile to the Bible, expressing our biblical beliefs may some day become a hate crime.
Albert Mohler says, “Without a doubt, many Christians manage to be offensive for reasons other than the offense of the gospel. This is to our shame. Nevertheless, there is no way for a Christian to avoid offending those offended by Jesus Christ and His cross (1 Cor. 1:23). The truth claims of Christianity, by their very particularity and exclusivity, are inherently offensive.” (Culture Shift) To Mohler's remarks, I would add this: whatever we may say, we must always be sure we are “speaking the truth in love.” (Eph. 4:15).
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