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.
This attitude is far different than how God tells us to act in scripture
Jesus says in Luke 6, that we should:
• love our enemies
• do good to them that hate us
• bless them that curse us
• and pray for those who despitefully use us
Luke 6:27-28 (KJV) But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Now just to be clear
there is a difference when it comes to exposing false teachers within the church.
God tells us to do this in many verses
but the motive is not anger
it's love for those in the body of Christ,
And a concern for those who are being deceived
As we grow in our Christian walk,
we also become more sensitive about certain things
And first Corinthians tells us that if we do anything without love then it's meaningless
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (KJV) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
So, as a church, and as Christians, we're not here to:
call people names,
attack how they look,
or decide who is or who is not going to hell
As a church, we are here to:
Lift up the Name of Jesus!
Preach the Word of God in its purest form (i.e., not adding to or taking away from it)
expose error and reveal the truth of God's Word, through His Word.
(i.e., Scripture interpreting scripture)
Assembling ourselves together, as the Lord called us to do, so as to encourage one another,
and Pray for on another.
Healing the sick and comforting the brokenhearted.
Preaching and demonstrating the peace of God for all who will come.
Casting out devils and all forms of sickness and addictions
We are here to go about the Father’s business under the authority of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
So, yes!
Always stand up for what is right based on God's Word
But remember the motive behind what you are doing
1 Timothy 6 speaks about false teachers
and some of the false teacher’s characteristics could be compared to people in this Cancel Culture movement
They have an unhealthy craving for controversy
and for quarrels about words which produce envy, dissension, slander, and evil suspicions.
1 Timothy 6:3-10 (KJV) If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
but we're told later in that chapter that we should pursue:
• righteousness,
• godliness,
• faith,
• love,
• endurance and
• gentleness
1 Timothy 6:11-12 (KJV) But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
LINCOLN KEPT THE CLIPPINGS
A Public Broadcasting special on TV showed one time Dr. Daniel Boorstin, the Librarian of
Congress, with a box labeled, “contents of President Lincoln’s pockets on the night of April 14, 1865.”
And that was the night that Lincoln was assassinated.
There were five things in that box:
- 1. a handkerchief, embroidered “A. Lincoln.”
- 2. a country boy’s penknife.
- 3. a glasses case
- 4. a purse containing $5
- 5. some old newspaper clippings.
The librarian said,
“The clippings were about the great deeds of Lincoln.
And one of them actually reported a speech by John Bright which said that Abraham Lincoln was ‘one of the greatest men of all time.’”
Today, we know this is true;
that Lincoln was one of the greatest men of all time,
but back then, in 1865,
millions of people had a different view of Lincoln.
His critics were fierce and many.
Often, Abraham Lincoln was a lonely man.
Lincoln held on to the “Good word” as we all should
Good words are appreciated and needed in our country now more than ever.
Good words are craved by a “love starved”, “lonely, isolated” people.
Good words get us through the bad times, the tribulations of this life
Give someone a “Good word” of hope today!
Give someone the Gospel, “Good Word” of Jesus Christ!
Conclusion:
So, to sum this up,
Cancel Culture regards some people as unredeemable and worthy of spite.
Whereas the Christian culture sees nobody as unredeemable!
Repentance, Salvation and forgiveness is always possible through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ
God's love is always available to ALL who ask and believe.
John 3:16-19 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Jesus did not come to condemn the world. Why?
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
That’s right. The world is already condemned. There is no need for Jesus or His followers to condemn the world, that’s not our job.
Jesus put’s it plainly:
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Where do you stand with Jesus?
Are you in the Light of the kingdom of God?
Are you serving Him?
Will you go to Heaven when you leave this world?
John 3:21 (KJV) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
We that are doing the “truth” (according to God’s Word) comes to the light
And our “deeds” show it!
Simply put: Cancel Culture is the total opposite of Christianity.
Don’t fall into its trap!
