Only You Can Prevent It! Series

Cancel Culture

Pt. 2 - Only You Can Prevent It!

I. Introduction

Cancel culture is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles – whether it be online, on social media, or in person. Those who are subject to this ostracism are said to have been "cancelled". In an attempt to use popular communication platforms to call out very real, dangerous, destructive and evil behavior like racism and sexual abuse at times this movement has gone off the rails and become, as one man said, like the digital equivalent of the medieval mob roaming the streets looking for someone to burn. This movement has targeted the likes of Presidents Washington/Lincoln/Jefferson who recently removed from some school buildings in California. Gone with the Wind, Pepe Le Pew, and Disney's Dumbo. In doing so, the cancel culture has in many cases lost credibility with the average American. However, I want to encourage you today to embrace Cancel Culture. Before you dismiss me, I want you to listen carefully.

Text:1 Samuel 15:1-3, 7-9; 31:2-4; 2 Samuel 1:2-10 (TLB)

One day Samuel said to Saul, “It was the Lord who told me to anoint you as king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the Lord! 2 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt. 3 Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.”

Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, east of Egypt. He captured Agag, the Amalekite king, but completely destroyed everyone else. Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality.

31:2-4

The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed three of his sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua. The fighting grew very fierce around Saul, and the Philistine archers caught up with him (it always catches up to you) and wounded him severely. Saul groaned to his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to run me through and taunt and torture me.”

But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

2 Samuel 1:2-10

On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s army camp. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head to show that he was in mourning. He fell to the ground before David in deep respect. “Where have you come from?” David asked. “I escaped from the Israelite camp,” the man replied. “What happened?” David demanded. “Tell me how the battle went.” The man replied, “Our entire army fled from the battle. Many of the men are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” “How do you know Saul and Jonathan are dead?” David demanded of the young man. The man answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear with the enemy chariots and charioteers closing in on him. When he turned and saw me, he cried out for me to come to him. ‘How can I help?’ I asked him. “He responded, ‘Who are you?’ “‘I am an Amalekite,’ I told him. “Then he begged me, ‘Come over here and put me out of my misery, for I am in terrible pain and want to die.’

“So I killed him,” the Amalekite told David, “for I knew he couldn’t live. Then I took his crown and his armband, and I have brought them here to you, my lord.”

The account is self-explanatory. Saul is commanded by God to destroy the Amalekites. He was to spare nothing and no one. He was supposed to wipe them off of the face of the earth. After that day of battle there should have never been another mention of this evil, pagan enemy to God group of people. Instead, Saul spares the best of the best as well as the king. This act of disobedience ultimately cost Saul his place on the throne. However, the implications were even more severe than that. This refusal to wipe out the Amalekites cost Him his life. Defeated by the Philistines in battle, his sons dead around him, Saul is wounded and instead of enduring the torture of the Philistines if captured, Saul asks his armor bearer to kill him. The armor bearer refused. Saul falls on his own sword but is still alive when a young man happens by and at Saul's request finishes him. When confronted by David this young man admits that he is an Amalekite. A descendant of the very people Saul was instructed to and refused to obliterate is the one who ends Saul's life and grip on the throne. Saul should have practiced cancel culture. It is essential to learn the lesson that Saul failed to learn. Knowing that cancel culture can easily go off the rails and cause us to cut things off that were really for our good we must learn to practice cancel culture correctly.