Is Censorship Inherently Evil?

The magical formula enacted to frustrate every effort at restricting the exploitation of human depravity is the cry "censorship." There must be no laws forbidding the graphic depiction of sexual perversion or physical violence because such laws would constitute "censorship." Vulgar lyrics in popular music must be defended, as must the most debauched images in magazines and movies, because to prohibit such would constitute "censorship." The ultimate evil is censorship?!

If that be the case, God is evil. God explicitly forbids: the making of images or supposed depictions of Himself; the vain, impious use of His name; speaking reproachfully to or about one's parents or others in legitimate positions of authority; the practice or encouragement of physical violence; the practice or encouragement of sexual activity outside of marriage. That is censorship! And it is absolutely righteous! Every person and every society of persons bear an inescapable, binding obligation to censor everything which God censors. The question is not whether a community finds something offensive. The moral sensitivities of a community can be largely seared by the wide and repeated publication of immorality in words, pictures, and music. The standard, however, is not the collective conscience of the community, and it is most certainly not the judgment of the individual. The standard of morality is the moral law of God as summarized in the Ten Commandments. God censors and we must embrace His censorship.

This obviously is not the same as censoring the free communication of ideas respecting matters which God has not established by His Word. For instance, God has not legislated a particular form of civil government for those living on this side of the cross. He has legislated matters of equity and justice which government must embrace, but He has not directed the precise form government must take. Therefore, that constitutes the legitimate subject for public debate - debate which should not be censored. There are many subjects deserving of open communication without censorship. Christ, who has all authority in heaven and earth, refused to call down fire from Heaven upon those who opposed Him. Government should not coerce faith or worship; but it should censor blasphemy. Admittedly there are areas where censorship is wrong. Yet, those areas are not really difficult to identify. Prohibiting censorship in those areas does not require the refusal to censor the profane and the immoral.

But what should we do if civil government continues its policy of protecting indecency - under the ruse of First Amendment rights? Three actions come to mind. First, Christian churches must insist that those who choose to be members conduct themselves according to the commands of God's Word. Second, Christian parents must establish and uphold the moral law of God within their families and over their children. Third, and most importantly, Christians must censor their own hearts and lives trusting Christ for strength and forgiveness. A decaying society cannot corrupt its individual citizens apart from their consent. Friends, we must not consent. Rather, we must strenuously oppose!