Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Blog
    • Grace in Focus International Blogs
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
Home
→
Blog
→
Faith Alone Absolutism 

Faith Alone Absolutism 

April 29, 2022 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - absolutism, Elon Musk

Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, recently offered to buy Twitter, setting off a storm of controversy.

The underlying issue was over free speech.

Musk said he was concerned that Twitter, which has become a “de facto town square,” was not an arena for free speech but should be. For example, Twitter infamously suspended President Trump’s account, which cut off his primary way of speaking directly to his supporters. Many others have received similar censure for speaking out on a range of controversial issues. Given that kind of suppression, Musk wanted to buy Twitter to make it a free speech platform. “I think it’s very important for there to be an inclusive arena for free speech.”

In response, Musk’s opponents expressed fears about free speech. Critics argued that speech needs to be regulated and restricted due to bullying, trolling, and the spread of misinformation, among other things. Without any sense of irony, one commentator said, “Free speech does not mean you can say anything you want.”

Others have pointed out that the regulations and restrictions always assume a left-wing standard. They strongly disagree that liberals should be the gatekeepers of acceptable public opinion.

As I read the back-and-forth responses, something became clear: most people do not believe in free speech. Instead, they believe in restricted speech, but disagree on who should do the restricting and by what standards. Both sides have redefined “free speech” to mean the very opposite of what the words say.

And that reminded me of Evangelical debates about salvation.

Many Evangelicals claim they believe in “salvation by faith apart from works,” but then make numerous qualifications on what counts as faith. It becomes obvious that they believe in salvation by faith plus works, not apart from them. So how can they still claim to believe in “faith alone”? Because, as is the case with “free speech,” that term has come to mean the opposite of what the words literally convey.

So here’s another way of explaining Free Grace theology in a nutshell. Elon Musk called himself a “free speech absolutist.” Maybe we can say that believing in Free Grace theology means being a “salvation by faith, apart from works” absolutist.

Subscribe by Email

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
Shawn_L

by Shawn Lazar

Shawn Lazar (BTh, McGill; MA, VU Amsterdam) was the Editor of Grace in Focus magazine and Director of Publications for Grace Evangelical Society from May 2012 through June 2022. He and his wife Abby have three children. He has written several books including: Beyond Doubt: How to Be Sure of Your Salvation and Chosen to Serve: Why Divine Election Is to Service, Not to Eternal Life.

If you wish to ask a question about a given blog, email us your question at ges@faithalone.org.

Cart

Recently Added

February 3, 2023

Romans–Part 05–The Solution

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Kathryn Wright and Ken Yates conclude this short series as they get to the good part of the...
February 3, 2023

Here’s Why Your February Partner’s Letter Will Be Late

We send a letter each month to those who financially support the ministry of GES. We call the newsletter Partners in Grace. We try to...
February 2, 2023

Romans–Part 04–The Problem

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Ken Yates and Kathryn Wright continue this short series about Romans. Jumping to Chapter 3, they begin with...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen to Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • The Journey of Faith $15.00 $9.00
  • Grudem Against Grace: A Defense of Free Grace Theology $15.00 $10.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Paperback) $6.95 $3.00
  • Grace in Eclipse: A Study in Eternal Rewards (Second Edition) $15.00 $8.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Hardcover) $13.95 $5.00
Grace Evangelical Society

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube