Hate Speech Word on the Week 30th January 2021.
One of the less endearing things the internet has provided us with is a platform for hate speech. It provides the opportunity to release your evilest thoughts against your current pet hate with nothing to restrain you.
Of course the internet or more specifically the social media giants which inhabit it did not set out to give a voice to hatred. Indeed, they employ ‘content moderators’ to sift through the material posted on it and remove what they judge to be offensive. This ‘self-policing’ is deemed to be inadequate.
Originally in Dublin the Gardaí would listen to Micky Walker preaching in North Earl Street and if he mentioned heaven and hell or dare to refer to Muslims he would end up in the Bridewell to be questioned by the Superintendent! These were innocent times compared to the present.
Now much hate speech amounts to racism as it is typically directed against the immigrant. As with the internet there are no effective boundaries in place and anyone who looks or talks differently can be in the recipient of gratuitous swearing or worse.
There is also the conspiracy theory that the immigrants are out to get us! The thinking by this Dublin version of White Supremacy Movement is that those from overseas will take over the country!
Minister for Justice has outlined proposals which would make sharing hate speech a criminal offence. There must be good definitions as no one wants free speech to be curbed. New legislation is expected by Easter.
Scripture tells us to take note of Israel’s experience and look after the incomer. Exodus 23 verse 9 reads “You must not oppress a foreign resident; you yourselves know how it feels to be a foreigner because you were foreigners in the land of Egypt”.
Where does all the filthy speech come from? Jesus said it comes from the heart. From within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders,adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, promiscuity, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person” (St Mark Chapter 7 verses 21 to 23).
No amount of therapy can clean a polluted heart. It requires God to give you a new heart and put his Spirit within you which will enable you to follow his decrees (Ezekiel Chapter 36 verses 26/7). This is what Jesus called being born again or born from above (St John Chapter 3 verses 3 to 7). God never intended you to clean up your mess – bring it to Jesus – He died to clean it up.