The First Amendment: Freedom, Responsibility, and the Power of Influence
- Jeremy Bratcher
- Oct 3
- 3 min read
When Jimmy Kimmel was taken off the air and people were fired over their comments surrounding Charlie Kirk’s death, the First Amendment conversation lit up again. Was this censorship? Or simply accountability at work?
The truth is complicated—but important.
Why the First Amendment Matters
The First Amendment is a two-edged sword. It protects my right to preach, pray, assemble, protest, and publish what I believe. But it also protects the person I profoundly disagree with—the one who calls evil good and uses their platform for destruction.
That’s both the fragility and the beauty of freedom. The moment we tamper with this amendment to silence those we oppose, we risk losing it altogether. Once government, corporations, or public pressure decide which speech is acceptable, it’s only a matter of time before biblical convictions are branded “unacceptable.”
History shows this pattern again and again: every society that suppresses free expression eventually suppresses religious expression.
For me, this freedom means gathering openly with my church, preaching the gospel, publishing what I hold to be true, and speaking without fear of suppression. For others, it may look like protesting injustice, tailgating at a rival’s field, or posting an unpopular opinion online. However we use it, these opportunities are invaluable—and must be guarded.
The First Amendment was designed to be inconvenient. It protects everyone, not just the people we like. Offensive, disturbing, and even harmful speech enjoys the same protection as uplifting, truthful speech. That tension is the price of freedom.
And while it may feel satisfying to silence voices we hate, the long-term cost would be devastating—because once the power to silence exists, it rarely stops with “them.”
Free Speech ≠ Free From Consequences
Speech is never harmless. It shapes culture, sets values, and influences generations. Ideas often spread faster than truth, and some of the loudest voices today are selling poison disguised as freedom, empowerment, or entertainment. “Calling evil good” isn’t new—but it’s louder now, with bigger platforms and wider reach.
The First Amendment protects your right to speak. It does not guarantee your words will earn applause, influence, or leadership. If you celebrate violence, demean others, or distort truth, you may avoid government punishment—but you won’t avoid losing respect, a job, or credibility. That’s not censorship. That’s accountability.
The same is true for the press. A free press is vital to democracy, but freedom without integrity is corruption. When headlines distort, facts are twisted, or outrage is prioritized over truth, protection under the Constitution remains—but cultural trust should not.
And let’s not forget the right to assemble and protest. Collective voices have always been catalysts for change—from civil rights marches to community demonstrations. But just like speech, protest carries responsibility. When assembly is peaceful, it can spotlight injustice and inspire reform. When it turns destructive, it erodes credibility and undermines the very freedoms it claims to defend.
A free society must demand more than freedom. It must demand responsibility.
The Christian Tension
As a believer, I don’t want anyone tampering with the First Amendment. It protects the mission of the Church in America today and allows for fearless proclamation of the gospel.
But I also don’t want destructive voices—or corrupted headlines—to be the loudest influences shaping our children, guiding young professionals, or steering communities.
Isaiah’s warning still rings true: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20).
So what do we do? We can’t censor. We shouldn’t ignore. But we also can’t retreat.
A Better Way Forward
Defend Freedom. Guard the First Amendment fiercely: speech, assembly, protest, press, and religion.
Expect Accountability. If reckless words or manipulative reporting cost someone their influence, that’s not injustice—that’s responsibility.
Demand Integrity in the Press. A free press without accountability becomes propaganda. Freedom of the press must go hand-in-hand with a commitment to truth.
Model a Better Voice. Speak truth with clarity and conviction. The best counter to destructive voices is better voices.
Equip the Next Generation. Teach discernment. Train children, students, and young professionals to recognize truth from noise, fact from spin.
Influence Through Presence. Don’t just criticize harmful influencers or biased press—outshine them with integrity, service, and hope.
Final Word
The First Amendment is one of America’s greatest strengths—and one of its greatest risks. It guarantees freedom, but it doesn’t guarantee wisdom. If we start trading freedom for comfort, we’ll lose both.
The First Amendment gives us opportunity. It ensures free speech, assembly, protest, religion and press can exist. But it doesn’t guarantee reward for such things. And in a free society, destructive words or corrupted reporting should carry consequences.
Our civic responsibility is to engage freedom, embrace accountability, and use our influence for good.
The answer to destructive voices isn’t silencing them—it’s outshining them!
Freedoms are not free passes. Each carries responsibility. And the way we steward it will shape the kind of culture—and the kind of future—we leave behind.
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