Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Psalms 5:9 For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.
Psalms 73:7-9 Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.
Psalms 52:2 Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.
Matthew 12:34-37 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Jude 1:13-16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.
Proverbs 10:31-32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.
Free speech does not give the right, in the sight of God, to say or speak every thought that comes to our mind. Lying to influence or appeal to people is wrong. The intent, purpose, ambition, object, plan, scheme, and target are all wrong. The same can be said about deception where it might not be an outright lie but the expected truth is far away from what this deceiver is saying. We hear it from politicians, businesses, celebrities, news outlets, strangers, friends, family, etc….. The human heart, apart from Jesus Christ, has a way of making deceit right in its own eyes. Their heart is hardened like stone and they believe they are not going to be held accountable by God. They have no fear of Him. Lies, boasts, and arrogance flows from their mouths like a river. In a nation that has Free Speech we may be free to say what we want but what we say can have consequences both now and in the future and for sure at the Judgement Seat of Jesus Christ.
If we want to apply Free Speech let us do it in the way Jesus Christ intended. Do not be confused by what the culture determines is right and true. Let the Word of God be your guide. We are to speak truthfully, build others up, and use our speech to praise, honor, worship, and glorify Jesus Christ. Put your thoughts and words you are about to speak through the strainer of God’s Word. If it is not the truth, or building someone up, or to the honor, praise, glory, or worship of Jesus Christ keep it to yourself.