Freedom of Speech

It seems that with every passing day, as we adventure together down this pathway towards THE Great Awakening, a key and necessary ingredient in those who are navigating this uncharted terrain more favorably is the attribute of, “confidence.” What I am not eluding to in this message is the self-help, hyped-up, emotionally-energized version of confidence that comes from slick talking, make-up wearing TV infomercial celebrities pawning off their next success formula or attitude on clearance at 2am. I am talking about the genuine confidence possessed by a born-above child of the Most High God who has a deep and unshakeable revelation in who they really are on the redeemed side of the Cross.

I believe there are few attributes we can acquire that are of greater value than this divine confidence. I would summarize the way that Jesus, Peter, and Paul carried themselves with this single word. It is the difference between overcoming or being enslaved in many cases. The authentic version organically contains humility and meekness because a confident person eschews pride (false identity) and tyranny (forced control).

The high priest questioned Jesus about his followers and his teaching. But Jesus told him, “I have spoken freely in front of everyone. And I have always taught in our synagogues and in the temple, where all of our people come together. I have not said anything in secret.
John 18:19-20 CEV

The Greek word for, “freely,” is parresia. In many other places, it is translated, “confidently,” or, “boldly.” This involves more than natural confidence: it was a free-flowing, unrestrained boldness. It can also mean, “freedom of speech.” Parresia carries some subtle nuances that are not easily brought over into modern American English. The person who speaks with parresia will say everything that is on their mind with no insecure hinderances, flowing out of his heart with recognizable confidence. It involves being real and honest, hiding nothing and speaking directly to the heart from the heart. There is no intent to offend or cause pain, but, because of the raw level of honesty, many times could.

“He who dares not offend cannot be honest.” ― Thomas Paine

Most often in scripture, it is a word used for public speaking. It refers to speech that is not altered to make everyone happy, but to illuminate the truth, in spite of what it may cost the speaker. It is always accompanied by courage and undeterred by the environment. This was reserved for only the highest rank of Greek citizens, not people of other lands or slaves. The right to speak freely was an essential aspect of Athenian democracy. Although it is sometimes associated with negative speech, in this context, parresia refers to an unrestrained boldness. There was a Greek idiom that said essentially, “If you tell me the truth, no matter what that truth turns out to be, I will not punish you.” This was known as the Parresiastic Contract.

The Parresiastic Contract is the process in which there is an implied approval from an authority given to a subject to speak freely, even if it was obtuse to the royal ears. The subject is permitted by the powerful to speak what is on the mind in pure candor. Of course, such an approval would be unnecessary were the topic of speech not, in some way, dangerous. This process is sometimes referred to as, “speaking truth to tyrants.” Jesus was authorized by the Most High God to speak truth to the tyrants of the age… like religion, sin, brokenness, and human enslavement.

In Ephesians 3:12 and Hebrews 4:16, we are told to be bold with our Father because we truly have revelation of His heart, attitude, and opinion of us… that it is based in agape love, the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, and the precious blood of the New Covenant. This gives us the peace to speak to our Father without shame, trepidation, or fear of punishment. But, this should also translate into the lower-spiritual context of our activities in this realm. We should never be fearful of the governments perceived threats, the pressure of other people’s flawed opinions, the ever-moving tides of culture’s waves of popular thoughts, and the politically correct societal stresses.

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer

This majestic virtue is a uniquely defining attribute of Jesus, our Lord, The Christ. Never (God word) did He withhold truth when prompted by His Father to speak it. Never was He pressured into compromise with evil. Never was His courage ever questioned in heaven or earth. This was such a tangible and recognizable characteristic of His demeanor that it resonated into His enemies consciousness even after His crucifixion.

Now when the men of the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) saw the confidence and boldness of Peter and John, and grasped the fact that they were uneducated and untrained [ordinary] men, they were astounded, and began to recognize that they had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13 AMP

The parresia of Peter and John made all the cool kids recognize that they had been with, were like, exhibited the characteristics of, and had the expressed image of the way Jesus spoke and carried Himself…

I want people to say that about you and I, Beloved.

We are going to embrace our real identity without shame or trepidation and walk tall into this New Year and Great Awakening together like a divine family should!

See y’all soon…

In Great Love,
Steve