Charlie Hebdo, Freedom of the Press & Loving Our Enemies

The pen is mightier than the sword. This old adage has been put to the test lately.

Before Christmas, Sony Pictures pulled its farcical comedy about an assassination plot on North Korea’s dictator. Cyber-attacks along with additional threats struck fear into the hearts of Sony's higher-ups. After public pressure from the White House and from various free speech advocates, Sony rethought its stance and released the movie.

This week, two terrorists stormed the offices of Charlie Hedbo, an irreverent yet serious weekly paper in France. Their scathing critiques of politics, society & religion provoked a broad range of responses from across French society: fandom, laughter, scorn and apparently hatred.

Their depictions of Muhammad were a lightning rod for Muslims. They repeatedly poked fun at Muhammad and at Islam. This so angered radicalized Muslims that multiple threats had come to the editors of Charlie Hedbo who were under constant guard. The terrorists were still able to kill the editor-in-chief, several cartoonists, and other staffers.

I support free press. People should have the right to be as sarcastic, cutting and comical as they choose to be. Some people in our world clearly lack the humor and grace to tolerate it.

But do you know what is even riskier than wielding a pen? Showing love to your enemy. I don't mean a naïve, blind love. I'm talking about a willingness to listen to and invest in those who are different.

It's good to be funny. It's better to love our enemies. And that's what Jesus calls us to do: love our enemies.

We can make fun of our enemies all day long, but that isn't likely to bring redemption to them. What about welcoming them in our homes? What about showing up in their places of business? What about initiating serious conversations on subjects that are difficult? Our actions in this regard demonstrate our commitment (or lack thereof) to the mission of God.

Christians who are sarcastic and cutting may be rightly expressing their freedom. But Christians who bravely "cross enemy lines" to love those who need redemption . . . that’s not just an expression of freedom. That's an expression of discipleship lived out in love. And that to me is the most important expression of our faith.