SHOULD CULTURE BE CANCELED? (Truth #5)
While many are trying to bring about racial change for the future in the USA, some are also working to change the past. But can the past be changed? What do we do about wrongs that have already been committed against racial groups? What do we do with this part of our history? Their answer is simple: cancel it.
The cancel culture seeks to write the wrongs in our country by removing anyone or anything that ever did, in their opinion, anything unacceptable. For example, J. K Rowling, the famous author of the Harry Potter series, has faced tremendous backlash for voicing her fears that the push for transgender rights will ultimately endanger women’s rights. Some Dr. Seuss books have been removed because of how race is depicted. The names Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Columbus and others are being removed from schools and streets. Their statues are also being destroyed. It’s canceled. Cancel culture is pushed by movies, books, Pop music, TV, ads, businesses and such organizations as the NFL, NBA, MLB and Disney.
Cancel culture is a culture of disdain. It is easy for people to be offended. Not too long ago a little girl in school with a Bible verse on her shirt was expelled because others were offended by it. A tour guide in Disney who gave a thumbs up about something, was sued for $80,000 because someone was offended by his using a white supremacy sign. They say that anything unacceptable must be punished and removed.
The goal of cancel culture is to punish and ostracize any who disagree. This is in direct conflict with Jesus’ command to love God and love others. God says we are not to judge. Romans 12:14 says “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” Romans 12:17-21 says “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
God says don’t judge, but do love and forgive. We can evaluate error, but not pass judgment on the ones in error. We must appraise, that is how we can tell truth from evil and right from wrong. But we can’t become the one who looks down on the other and condemns them as a person. We can reject their actions and beliefs, but we can’t play God who alone can judge their hearts. We are not to put value judgments on the people who believe and practice those things. We can condemn their beliefs and actions, but not them as human beings for whom Jesus died. We don’t want them judging our hearts, so we shouldn’t judge theirs.
We need to find loving ways to support them as people and to show them Jesus by our actions. We will never be able to argue anyone into the Kingdom of heaven. We don’t like them canceling us, we can’t cancel them. Jesus doesn’t. They need Jesus, not criticism.
What is your attitude to those pushing the cancel culture? How do you respond to the movements which condemn us and all we stand for? How should we respond? How would Jesus respond?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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