Cancel Culture And The Christian Response

Cancel Culture and the Christian Response

Cancel Culture is an increasingly more common term you hear today

But what exactly does that mean?

Cancel Culture is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of a social or professional circle, whether it be online, on social media, or in person. Those who are subject to this ostracism are said to have been “canceled”.

And while it is proper for whistleblowers to reveal corruption and illegal activities,

Canceled Culture takes it a step further.

It makes up new rules to retaliate against speech, behavior,

or even personal opinion that has been pre-judged as offensive or even controversial.

And often, rather than dealing with a specific incident,

it results in boycotting businesses or people being fired, or DE-platformed

This has ruined many people’s lives.

Even though they haven't broken any laws,

or engaged in any malicious behavior.

So, the question is today, how should Christians respond to Cancel Culture?

let's go through two main issues of conflict between Cancel Culture and Christianity.

First, Cancel Culture is unforgiving!

No matter how long ago something inappropriate happened, there is no forgiveness.

Once you are cancelled, there is no hope for redemption.

Or to learn from past mistakes.

And anyone that continues to support something, or someone that's been cancelled,

may also be publicly outed and cancelled.

This is the absolute opposite of Christian Doctrine.

The Word of God tells us to bear with each other,

and forgive each other as the Lord has forgiven us.

Colossians 3:13 (KJV) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Ephesians 4 also tells us to get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger etc.,

and to be kind, passionate, and forgiving to one another,

even as Christ has forgiven us

Ephesians 4:31-32 (KJV) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

The problem with Cancel Culture is that it remembers

Cancel Culture remembers all the wrongs of the past

As Christians, we're told that love keeps no records of wrongs

Look what Jesus said on this subject:

Matthew 6:14-15 (KJV) For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Simple: If you want God’s forgiveness, you must forgive others.

How often?

Matthew 18:21-22 (KJV) Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

One offence! 490 times!

Isaiah 43:25 (KJV) I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

“for my own sake”, means God takes away your sins because it “pleases Him”.

God loves forgiveness.

You give a reason for God to forgive you and He will do it.

Our reason, of course, is the Sacrifice that Jesus did for us on the Cross.

THEY DIDN’T OPEN THE ENVELOPE Rick McCarley, sermoncentral.com

A preacher told the true story of one of his church members, an attorney, who after meditating on several scriptures, decided to cancel the debts of all his clients that had owed him money for more than six months.

He drafted a letter explaining his decision and its biblical basis and sent seventeen debt-canceling letters via certified mail.

One by one, the letters began to return, unsigned and undelivered.

Perhaps a couple people had moved away, though not likely.

Sixteen of the seventeen letters came back to him because the clients refused to sign for and open the envelopes, fearing that this attorney was suing them for their debts.

How profound!

We owe a debt for our sins and God is willing to cancel it

but too many people will not even open the letter that explains that.

Forgiveness doesn't make the other person right, it makes you free. - Stormie Omartian

And, Reason #2 is, Cancel Culture is vengeful and spiteful.

It's one thing to see something you don't like

and decide not to support that business or person.

But Cancel Culture takes it a step further.

What may start as signing a petition, or walking in a protest,

quickly turns into an opportunity to create a movement to

slander, disgrace, or destroy a person's reputation

It becomes an anger driven pursuit,

to dig up anything from the past that will support their cause and create more hostility.