Challenging Cancel Culture Romans 1
What is cancel culture? Definition: The phrase “cancel culture” is said to have originated from a relatively obscure slang term; “cancel,” referring to breaking up with someone, used in a 1980s song. This term was then referenced in film and television, later evolving and gaining traction on social media. Over the past several years, cancel culture has become a deeply contested idea in the nation’s political discourse. There are plenty of debates over what it is and what it means, including whether it’s a way to hold people accountable, or a tactic to punish others unjustly, or a mix of both. The terminology started gaining traction through major movements like #Me Too and George Floyd’s #Black lives Matter. The rise of social media, especially Twitter, has given it oxygen; not just social media, but secular media in the US - the main one would be CNN; also aligned with Political Correctness.
A post you made 10 years ago can come back to haunt you. You may have grown in knowledge and grace, but someone has trawled through your Facebook, Instagram or Twitter account and found something you wrote.
Chris Hodges from the Highlands church liked a post by a conservative author. A high school English teacher in Birmingham called attention to Hodges’ likes. She set up a web page against him; the Birmingham housing board that he hired one of his church buildings from cancelled him. They lost $288,000 dollars in rent as a result, but also wouldn’t let their church’s volunteers help out, on a voluntary basis, those who needed housing and care in the community. When there was a housing crisis where they were ministering in Alabama. How absurd.
How does it affect us? God’s people are expected to respond to a corrupt world that calls “evil good, and good evil.” Christians are called to a higher standard. Be “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
What are the main drivers for cancel culture?
1. Humiliate
2. Confess/get to apologise
3. Cancel/get rid of/fire
Jesus says 2 things.
1. Love the Lord your God and
2. Love your neighbour as yourself.
Is there a legitimate point to it? Consider Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, and Kevin Spacey, who faced allegations of rape and sexual assault that became impossible to ignore, and who were charged with crimes for their offenses. They have all effectively been “cancelled” — Weinstein and Cosby because they’re now convicted criminals, and Spacey because, while all charges against him to date have been dropped, he’s too tainted to hire.
Harry Potter author, J.K. Rowling has faced intense criticism from her own fans since she began to voice what were labelled transphobic beliefs, making her one of the most prominently “cancelled” individuals at the centre of the cancel culture debate.
Even Joe Rogan, the world’s most popular podcaster (with nearly 15 million subscribers), was the target of many in mainstream and social media for some of his comments regarding COVID-19 and vaccinations.
Removing of statues, Changing place names. What do you think of changing place names in Australia: Ayres Rock -> Uluru, The Olgas -> Kata Tjuta, Fraser Island -> K’gari?
Some comedians are rebelling against it: Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chapelle
How does it affect Christianity? Mainly the messages, eg. topics Like Abortion, Gay and Trans messaging, Moral lifestyles in general.
So how do we challenge Cancel Culture? Live, breath and share the good news of Jesus. Sharpen your skill in it. He is the only answer; legislating against evil or intolerance won’t change anyone’s heart or motives. Victoria banning the Nazi salute won’t stop racism; it might actually inflame it.
There is nothing new under the Sun. Jeremiah was cancelled. (Jeremiah 18:18) “Then they said, "Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not pay attention to any of his words."”
Our society has become increasingly more like the one Isaiah saw in Jerusalem 2,700 years ago—where people “call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.” (Isaiah 5:20)
Jesus was cancelled… “away with him, away with him. Crucify, crucify”
Some helpful scriptures
Colossians 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
Ephesians 4:14,15 “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head.”
2 Timothy 4:2-5 “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
Acts 5:29 “But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.””
Romans 14:4 “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”
1 Corinthians 10:29 “I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience?”
John 7:24 “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
Proverbs 14:29 “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.”
Proverbs 18:13 “If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.”
Romans 14:1 “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.”
Ephesians 4:15 “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”
1 Peter 3:15-17 “but in your hearts honour Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behaviour in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will than for doing evil.”
1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father.”
1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
Cancel Culture is not Church discipline
Matthew 18:15-20 ““If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established.”
1 Corinthians 5:9-13 “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
2 Corinthians 2:5-11 “Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be …”
Galatians 6:1 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”
James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
James 5:19, 20 “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”
Matthew 7:1-5 ““Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”
Finally, our role and responsibility
Matthew 28:19, 20 “And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."