Thursday, January 15, 2015

True Freedom For France?

France has been much in the news recently since becoming the scene of the horrific slaughter by terrorists there. It took place in Paris when ISIS extremists brutally killed 12 people at the offices of a satirical magazine on January 7. It was a bloody time in the nation and has apparently awakened the masses to the reality of the dangers around them.

The reaction to this massacre quickly developed into a massive movement that began online and spilled into the streets just days later. A reported 3.7 million people, including world leaders, marched in anti-terrorism rallies in Paris and elsewhere in France on Sunday on January 11. French officials called the massive gathering in the nation's capital the largest in France's history.

At the same time, a new slogan hit the social media. It began on Twitter and then spread from there. It was called "Je suis Charlie". That is French for, "I am Charlie". It was adopted by supporters of free speech and expression following the murders at Charlie Hebdo -  the liberal newspaper that suffered the attack for offending the terrorists with some of their articles and cartoons about Islam.  The slogan quickly became one of the most popular hashtags in Twitter history.

Gene Policinski, senior vice president of the First Amendment Center, spoke out concerning the intense reaction in France. He said, “Instead of being successful at silencing anyone, these attempts at censorship and the Paris massacre have backfired and, instead, brought more awareness and support to freedom of speech. For more than 220 years, in the U.S., the 45 words of the First Amendment have defined the nation’s core freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition. We now have another few words that will serve as a global means of declaring those freedoms: #JeSuisCharlie.”

While what Mr. Policinski said is certainly true, America today has been playing with a lopsided playing field when it comes to the guarantee to free speech for all. In recent years, certain groups are being more and more muzzled against speaking out about their basic beliefs and views. Those being stifled belong primarily to the evangelical Christian camp. And amazingly, this is occurring not in a highly secularized country like France but in so-called Christian America!

The examples are easily sited and especially seen when the name of Jesus Christ is used, or even referred to, in public institutions of learning. The same attitude is often seen at  Christmas where even nativity scenes have become taboo. The secular media glazes over, or quickly changes the subject, when anything solidly biblical or overtly Christian is brought up. In short, America is now moving more towards freedom from religion. Religious liberty is there in print and principle, but is shrinking in practice!

France is attempting to stand tall and show that they will not give up their freedom of speech – especially to an aggressive and bloodthirsty regime. That is great. But what France and every nation needs most is another brand of freedom. She needs what comes from Christ, the Prince of Peace, who said, “If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36) This was not some form of national, societal or political freedom such as was being sought by Israel back in that day. He spoke of a personal spiritual freedom a possession that liberates the soul from the present power and final penalty of human sin. Christ gives the kind of freedom that alone effectively deals with the degenerate condition of the human heart and the kind of things just witnessed in Paris.

France was just reminded in a graphic fashion that death can come to anyone, anywhere and at any moment. And while this gruesome incident has the nation galvanized on retaining their freedom of speech, hopefully some there will also realize something far more critical than "Je suis Charlie". Hopefully some will see the absolute vale of the freedom that comes from salvation in Christ. And hopefully some will recognize that it is spiritual redemption that brings true peace and protection in this life and absolute preparation for the next.

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way , the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'"  (John 14:6)
Bill Breckenridge

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