Enough!

Stephen Chavez

Last month's murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk revealed a painful truth about civil conversation in these United States. Within hours of the event, and long before a suspect had been identified and arrested, pundits on both extremes of the political spectrum were blaming each other for Kirk's death.

Even more concerning were the threats of violence against those on opposite sides. Countless voices on podcasts and social media platforms threatened to silence those with whom they disagreed.

Freedom of speech remains one of the hallmarks of a free society. People can say whatever they want, and many do. The first amendment to the Constitution, however, doesn't require statements that are true, uplifting, or beneficial, a shortcoming that allows the proliferation of lies, venom, and hatred to fill the pages and podcasts of groups and individuals around the country.

Fortunately, we have the example of many Americans who used freedom of speech to uplift and edify those around them. Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Thurgood Marshall, and others lived when passions ran high and people said explosive, inflammatory things. Yet their reputations were sealed by rising above the low, base, violent rhetoric of many. They didn't resort to name-calling or lies to advance their positions.

We're living in a moment most of us have never seen (at least in the United States). As followers of Christ we must use our influence to mirror heaven's values of peace, honesty, humility, purity, righteousness, mercy.

The apostle Paul encouraged the believers in Philippi, "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" (Phi. 4:8).

- Stephen Chavez

Director of Church Relations

churchrelations@sdakinship.org