image from rightnowmn.org
“Cancel Culture” has become common term lately, regarding Civil War monuments, the Founding Fathers who owned slaves, or the comments and actions that others or companies make that we disagree with. Sometimes strongly. So, we boycott them. We try to eliminate them from public discourse. Dictionary.com defines it as when people “are said to be canceled after it has been discovered that they have done something offensive. It involves calling out the bad behavior, boycotting their work (such as by not watching their movies or listening to their music), and trying to take away their public platform and power. This is often done … on social media.”
Yes, this touches politics, but not here. Let’s focus on how we, as followers of Jesus, can best do his work when bad behavior comes to light. How WE act in politics and relationships regardless of the position itself. Sound like a deal? Good. Let’s first examine three errors of cancel culture.
1. Apart from cancel culture, we sometimes ignore problematic issues. This often has been an error of the past, when we swept bad behavior under the rug, and it means we become less than honest about issues. Not good to ignore wrong.
2. With cancel culture, we sometimes judge a person by their worst moment or mistakes. This error of the present avoids looking at the overall tenor of a person’s life and their ability to change and grow.
3. Cancel culture requires perfect people in perfect agreement with us or society at the time in order to be recognized. Frankly, none of us qualify.
Now, four solutions.
1. Jesus came to cancel sin, not people, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17). Because God made people in his image, we all have huge worth. And while we will never be sinless on this earth, we can and must sin less. We cannot ignore sins of the past, but recognize them and move toward improvement.
2. Jesus calls us to be recruiters, not prosecutors and judges. This post includes many ideas from a message by Larry Osborne on 1/1/21, a teaching pastor at North Coast Church in Vista CA, and he asked a haunting question, “When we hear of bad behavior or language, do we first respond with judgement or grace?” Our initial reaction may say more about us than them.
3. Jesus died for his enemies. He only requires we love ours, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:43-45). Sounds like mercy and grace need to be part of the discussion.
4. Forgiveness is a two-way street. Funny how we all desire forgiveness, but struggle to give it. That’s dangerous according to Jesus, “if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15). Pretty strong words. Frankly, since I need a LOT of forgiveness, I need to liberally grant it to those I disagree with, who have made bad statements or actions. Ironically, when we give forgiveness, we seem to see significant improvement in relationships. Wonder why. 😊
Kick Starting the Application
Have you fallen prey to some of those errors found in cancel culture? Which are the worst for you? Why? Of the solutions, which do you find most difficult to act on? Why? What can you do this week to improve?