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As Australia prepares a Bondi Royal Commission, this article weighs free speech against civic welfare, drawing on Scripture and J.S. Mill to argue that liberty must restrain evil.

In Australia, we are about to have a Royal Commission into the horrible events which occurred at Bondi Beach, Sydney, some weeks ago. Leading up to this announcement, there was much intense discussion about whether this commission was the best way to understand what happened. The very different opinions about the massacre and the reasons that led to it will probably continue to be debated long after this commission ends.

One of the points of contention that has been part of these differences of opinion is the role of free speech in our kind of democracy. There are people who suggest (or demand) that free speech is an ultimate good – that is, even if we are upset or threatened by what someone else says, we should defend their right to say it.

Their concern is that if we do not allow this kind of freedom, then self-serving governments will use their powers to stop their citizens from disagreeing with them. This, they explain, leads to the government having too much power that cannot be stopped.

Is Absolute Free Speech Compatible with Civic Responsibility?

When asked what can be done with speech that is highly offensive, or manipulative, or personally threatening,  the response that I commonly hear is “We have to convince people with better speech.”

Some people would suggest that there is, Biblically, some kernel of truth in this kind of thinking. After all, they say, the Bible helps us understand that faith through grace is invitational – a calling from our God to which we respond. Therefore, they say, no speech should be banned, because it is all an invitation to agree or disagree with others.

However, as C.S. Lewis is said to have commented, “The best lie is the one closest to the truth.” Yes, the principle of not forcing the souls of another is true. What is also true is that we expect that those in authority will not ignore behaviour that threatens the “welfare of the city”, as the prophet described it in Jeremiah 29:7. In that passage, God was helping His people understand that they should pray for the good of their new leaders so that the people could, in turn, do good for God.

Similarly, when we come to the New Testament, both Peter and Paul explain that those in authority, who are the ones responsible for maintaining the welfare of the city, should protect good and restrain evil (1 Peter 2:13–14; Romans 13:2-4). The “good” is that which is closest to how the Creator has made us to live.

Interestingly, some in the absolute free speech camp like quoting J.S. Mill’s little book On Liberty. It seems they have not read it all. That is because they seem not to know that Mills gave limits to personal choice with reference to moral conduct.

He noted that young people should not be given full individual moral freedom. For Mills, this also applied to those adults with what we would call cognitive impairment – both groups should not be given these freedoms, Mills explained, because of their immaturity. He also noted that “barbarians” could not be given such freedom because they did not understand civic life.

And – here is the interesting part in terms of the verbally aggressive marches that filled our streets prior to the shootings – Mills clearly explained that the exercise of personal freedom should not cause inconvenience to others going about their lawful daily activities.

Law, Authority, and Public Order

Mills understood that “civil society” needed universal personal and social respect for it to work well. He knew that allowing aggressive, intimidating, threatening and obstructive behaviour forced onto others would strain the possibility for civic life. That is why Mills knew that the demand for these aggressive actions would ultimately lead to the loss of freedom for some, if not for all. And when this happens, free speech is not available to everyone.

Let’s remember that there is no explicit right to demonstrate in our Constitution. Those who see it there do so by implication, based on their worldview. There is certainly no right to cause fellow citizens a major interruption to their daily lives. Where there are State laws about demonstrations, there is also an emphasis on those events being peaceful.

There is certainly no basis in law for a group of citizens to have to have security protection just to go to school or to corporate worship, as is currently the case for too many Jews in Australia.

So, as Jeremiah taught, let’s pray for the welfare of the city, and for the Royal Commission. In particular, let us hope and pray that they will understand what it means to “preserve good and restrain evil”.

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Image courtesy of Adobe.

Appeal for the Bondi Terrorist Attack Victims

Celebrate Israel, in partnership with the Canberra Declaration and other supporters, have organised a relief fund appeal for the victims and families of the Sydney Bondi Beach terrorist attack.

Our giving team is called Celebrate Israel Australia on the platform and is part of a much larger appeal run on the Charidy giving website. All donations are tax-deductible and will be administrated by the Jewish United Support Fund.

The relief fund will provide direct financial support, helping families begin to rebuild their lives after this tragedy. Assistance is especially needed to cover essential commitments when the family’s primary breadwinner has been killed. Find out more about this appeal on The Daily Declaration here.

Please stand alongside the Jewish community as a visible demonstration of God’s love to them at this critical time of need. So far, over $29,000 has already been donated, and we prayerfully seeking to raise $100,000.

Please share this appeal button with your church networks and friends.

Give by clicking the green button below.

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