From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel by American writer Ray Bradbury, first published in 1953. Often regarded as one of his best works,[4] the novel presents a future American society where books are outlawed and “firemen” burn any that are found.[5] The book’s tagline explains the title as “‘the temperature at which book paper catches fire, and burns”: the auto ignition temperature of paper. The lead character, Guy Montag, is a fireman who becomes disillusioned with his role of censoring literature and destroying knowledge, eventually quitting his job and committing himself to the preservation of literary and cultural writings.

The novel has been the subject of interpretations focusing on the historical role of book burning in suppressing dissenting ideas for change. In a 1956 radio interview,[6] Bradbury said that he wrote Fahrenheit 451 because of his concerns at the time (during the McCarthy era) about the threat of book burning in the United States. In later years, he described the book as a commentary on how mass media reduces interest in reading literature.

Censorship Novels like Fahrenheit 451 seemed to be “out there”, but now we see censorship’s ugly head all around, but this is not a new phenomenon, the truth has always been threatened with censorship.

Censorship is not new

Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Acts 5:17-42

First Amendment

Examples of first amendment violation’s

1.   Church’s shut down

2.   Curfew’s because “the people” can’t be trusted to make the right decision

3.   Big Tech censoring anyone they don’t agree with

4.   Lies and propaganda reported while actual facts and the truth are censored

Censor:

1. an official who examines books, plays, news reports, motion pictures, radio and television programs, letters, cablegrams, etc., for the purpose of suppressing parts deemed objectionable on moral, political, military, or other grounds.

2. any person who supervises the manners or morality of others.

3. an adverse critic; faultfinder.

Satan has been attempting to censor the truth since the garden of Eden.

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2 Corinthians 4:4

Truth

Law of 1st mention:

And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD. And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.

Genesis 24:26-27

First mention of truth is someone worshipping God for not leaving him destitute of the truth

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Psalm 119:9

We have the ability

•     to hear the truth

•     to believe the truth

•     to receive the truth

•     to obey the truth

•     to rejoice in the truth

What have you done with the truth?

Have you censored the Truth?

•     Government censorship is not the problem

•     Big Tech censorship is not the problem

The worst type of  censorship

when a person has access to the truth – but they refuse to listen

(remember the definiton of  a censor?)

Have you demonstrated the following characteristics of a censor?

•     They refuse to listen to things that they deem objectionable

•     They become a fault finder with the word of God

Three ways that truth is censored by the individual

But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.

Zechariah 7:11–12

1.  Refuse to Hearken

Hearken means to observe or obey.  Has the idea of compliance.

And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.

Exodus 10:3

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

Acts 26:28

Is there something that the Lord has shown you?

but you don’t want to comply?

•     A sin to avoid

•     A command to follow

•     A direction to go

•     A desire to let go

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

1 Peter 5:6

2.  Pull Away

“Pulled away the shoulder”

•     to turn away

•     to turn your back on something or someone

And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.

Nehemiah 9:29

In today’s vernacular: “talk to the hand”

Pulling away is the next step after refusing to obey.

Pulling away is refusing to even hear what the Lord is trying to say or do in your life.

Some Christians will refuse to hearken, but still hang around

pulling away is demonstrated by the Christian who doesn’t even want to be around the things of God

notice that the pulling away is akin to the stopping of their ears.

They stop up (clog) the ears so that they don’t have to even hear what the Lord is saying

3.  Harden their Hearts

Adamant = impenetrable

name given to diamonds

The final step in censoring yourself from the Lord

•     You make your heart impenetrable

•     hard

•     unresponsive

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

Jeremiah 6:16–17

This is close to the point of no return for the Christian

once you have hardened your heart to this point there isn’t any way for the Lord to reach you.

For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

1 Corinthians 11:30

³⁰ For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Big Tech censoring the news is not our biggest concern.

The government censoring free speech is not our biggest concern.

Our biggest concern is the desire for us to censor the truth of God’s Word from our own hearts and minds.

 We need to:

•     hear the Truth

•     receive the Truth

•     believe the Truth

•     and obey the Truth

Our hope at Irvington Bible Baptist Church is that this podcast provided some encouragement and has helped you to develop a closer relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ.