Why as a Christian, I will defend to the death, your right to blaspheme the name of Christ
As Christians, we love and revere Jesus. However, we also realise that not everybody reveres Jesus Christ the way we do. The apostle Peter writes,
“Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”
(1 Peter 2:7)
Paul shares a similar sentiment when he writes,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
(1 Corinthians 1:18)
So as Christians, we should not be surprised when people around us do not share the same reverence of Jesus Christ that we do. To some people, Jesus Christ is a swear word, to Christians, He is Lord and Saviour. It is what it is.
Should Christians be stopping people from blaspheming their Lord? or rather, how should Christians be thinking about this?
Well, God Himself gives us freedom. In the garden of Eden, there was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which represented a “get out” clause from the government of God over Adam and Eve. In like manner, the gospel at its heart is optional for people. Nobody is to be forced to adhere to it. Now the fact the gospel is optional does not mean there are no consequences for choosing not to respond to it…because there are. But more on this later
Jesus’ gospel is that WHOEVER BELIEVES has eternal life (John 3:16). Again, He said, “WHOEVER COMES to me, I will by no means cast out”. There is an option to believe or disbelieve, there is an option to come to Jesus or not come to Him. If nobody is to be forced to believe the gospel or come to Jesus, then nobody should be forced to respect the person of Jesus Christ.
Now, Christians can choose their response to blasphemers within the context of Christian principles of living enemies and following peace with all men as much as lies within them. They have the right to boycott, to not keep company with such people, to engage in debates and conversations as appropriate, to defend the truth of the gospel to mention a few. However, in a free society, freedom includes the freedom to blaspheme the name of Christ.
Secondly, Jesus Christ Himself on earth was insulted and blasphemed. His miracles were attributed to the devil,
“ But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”
And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.”
(Mark 3:21–22)
He was accused of being demon possessed,
“ Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”
(John 8:48)
He was spitted on, beaten, despised by men and laughed at. What was His reaction on the cross, at the height of it all?
“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
(Luke 23:34)
And when Jesus’ disciples sought to defend His honour using brute force, what did He advise?
“ But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword”
(Matthew 26:51)
If Jesus Himself was insulted and did no violence in response. Why in the world would Christians want to use violence to prevent blasphemy of Christ? Jesus acknowledged the freedom of human beings to reject and despise Him as they please. If Jesus gave people this option, Christians should as well.
Third, people, including blasphemers, can change and in fact the reaction of Christians to blasphemers could in theory be a testimony to this fact. The apostle Paul is the supreme example of this. He writes of himself,
“ although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.”
(1 Timothy 1:13,15–16)
Remember Paul was consenting to Stephen’s death. It is possible that witnessing how Stephen handled his persecution had an impact on Paul and laid the foundation for his conversion on the road of Damascus.
Fourth, and this is very important, Christians believe Jesus Christis the final judge and will judge each and everyone for every thing they have done and said against Him. The kingdom of Christ is not of this world. Jesus said,
“My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here”
(John 18:36)
Christians do not violently fight for the honour of Christ in this world because Jesus Christ’s kingdom will come and when He comes, everyone who has spoken against Him will be judged for everything they have spoken against Him. Jesus says,
“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
(Matthew 12:36–37)
Jude specifically bears witness to this fact as well,
“Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
(Jude 1:14–15)
We feel bad for those who blaspheme because of the judgment of Christ Himself which will be severe when it comes. As the writer of Hebrews states,
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
(Hebrews 10:31)
And again, Jesus says,
“And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”
(Matthew 10:14–15)
This is precisely why Christians do not advocate blasphemy laws or respond with violence when the name of Christ is blasphemed. The attitude of the Christian to blasphemy should be that of Voltaire when he said,
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Jesus Christ will judge everyone in the end and that will be a terrifying day when the sheep and the goats are separated and every eye beholds the face of the Holy One, the one they have blasphemed.
In summary, I as a Christian, acknowledge the right of people to blaspheme the name of Christ because (i) Christ Himself acknowledges that people are free to respond to or reject Him (ii) Jesus Himself was blasphemed when He was on earth and did not respond with violence (iii) As apostle Paul shows, some former blasphemers can become the most ardent and faithful followers of Jesus Christ in the future and (iv) Jesus Christ is the final Judge to whom everyone will answer to, He will judge the nations and specifically judge the ungodly for the things they have said against Him and boy would it be a fearful and terrifying judgment.
I close with these questions. Why is Islam so sensitive to blasphemy? Could it be because it is an oppressive cult of personality centred around Muhammad? Could it be because it is afraid of freedom? Could it be so short sighted and fail to take cognisance of the fact a blasphemer today could have a change of heart tomorrow? More importantly, if Allah will judge in the end, why in the world are adherents of Islam bent on carrying out His judgment here and now? If Allah would judge you, why are his followers killing people in his name here and now?
As the father of Gideon says,
“If he is a god, let him plead for himself, because his altar has been torn down!”
(Judges 6:31)
If Allah is really God and will vindicate Muhammad as a true prophet, why then is Islam the most sensitive religion on the planet? It would seem the only reason Muhammad’s followers are ordered to fight for this world and use violence to defend his honour is because the Islamic kingdom is here and now. If Allah needs people to plead his case in this manner, he really is no God.
