Application of the Firsts

“The nation that reveres the First Amendment cannot revere it so much as to regard it without the First Commandment,” I told a group of church-goers once.

That is to say, the First Commandment should be more important to ‘how’ I use my words than the First Amendment, which gives me the right to say ‘what’ I do. And although I enjoy my free speech, being a Christ-follower entails exercising my rights in a way that shows ‘love’ towards others.

This nuance is often missed entirely by those who claim the First Commandment and First Amendment do not go together.  The reason it’s missed is simple: application of intellect and not heart.

Admittedly, I miss the mark on this more times than not — but I’m trying to do better.