As proof of how different life is for a disciple of Jesus Christ and someone who is a follower of the world, consider the issue of censorship.

At the risk of fueling a political debate with all the accompanying fun and frivolity, while various governmental documents or policies might allow free speech, freedom of the press, and other forms of expression, Christ-followers adhere to a higher standard.

Of course, those areas of the world that allow greater freedom give the Church some protection in communicating its message of hope. And that’s a good thing we should be thankful for.

But the world takes that freedom to mean anything goes.

I could cite dozens of biblical passages emphasizing the importance of godly people being mindful of their words and actions. And we can infer that this principle applies to writers, who should be careful in their writing. Begin with the book of James and examine its teachings on how Christians should behave; this provides a framework for self-censorship.

So, Christians believe in censorship, at least self-censorship. Just because you have freedom of speech doesn’t mean everything you say is helpful, truthful, edifying, or wise.

The real issue with censorship or banning books is that imperfect humans police it. So, the only way to handle this situation and still allow biblical messages to be published is to let everything else through the filter. It’s a result of living in a fallen world.

The internet enables biblical teaching to reach the globe, but also makes a wide range of other content available—same issue.

Christian writers have a serious and important role in the world. There is something about the written word that makes a message feel weightier and more permanent. One reason is that when we speak, we might not communicate clearly, inadvertently misspeak, or miss important points. But the written word must make sense, in an order of words that are understood. If there is a misunderstanding, a reader can go back and reread.

For American Christians, we hear a lot of discussion about our personal rights. The US Constitution grants broad freedoms in many areas; but for believers who write or speak, it may be better to focus on what Christ said in a parable. In Luke 12, the second half of verse 48 could be a key passage for understanding the writer’s role:

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked (NIV).

And if you think Christ-following writers should be lukewarm and noncommittal to avoid offending, keep reading at verse 49, and you get an entirely different vibe.

Holding both of these passages in your mind is an example of writing with grace and truth, but that’s an entirely different blog post.