With all the turbulent things going on in our denomination and the world, I am thankful for this Thanksgiving season. However, Thanksgiving, like other events dating back to the early years of America, is a target for the cancel culture.
To be “woke” is to be alert to injustice and discrimination. Sounds logical enough, except “wokeness” en masse — particularly related to social networks — gives a voice to cancel culture. When someone is cancelled, he or she may not simply be exposed for some belief or action, they may also experience harm, harassment, persecution, and hatred. A person could lose a job or a position simply because a group, influenced by a so-called enlightened view, may decide they deserved to be punished.
The first amendment to our United States Constitution promises us free speech, but progressive woke crusaders only believe that when it comes to themselves – not to people who disagree with them.
Cancel culture has been defined as a “modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles.” That ostracism can occur online, through social media, or in person.
Are followers of Jesus Christ who believe the Bible doomed to be cancelled, judged, and punished for obeying God’s truth? The Apostle Paul was arrested and imprisoned several times for preaching the gospel. He counseled Christians in 2 Timothy 2:3: “Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”
The cancel culture seems to be inspired by darkness. Jesus said in John 3:19, “And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil.”
There is no cure for darkness except light. Jesus Christ is the Light, and it is His light shining through us that should send a clear picture of truth, real justice, and love.
I was told by a vehicle salesperson once, “People should be able to love whoever they choose to love.” There are two problems with that kind of statement. First, it is a false understanding of love and freedom, and second, it illustrates the absence of God and His truth, which allows us to genuinely love people. The LGBTQ group may protest, object, and even attempt to cancel Christians who believe every letter represented in their abbreviation — lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender — is sin. This movement and others like it have gained standing in our culture, but Christians cannot stand with that kind of immorality and disobedience to truth and still walk in fellowship with God. Christian parents and relatives are often faced with difficulties when they try to show kindness to someone they know is walking away from, and often in conflict with, God and His Word.
As believers, we are being cancelled in this culture. But Christians have never actually been accepted by a world system that does not believe in God and will not obey His Word. We may feel we have little power, but when we think that way, we are defeated. The power we have does not come from mobs, groups, or political organizations. Our power comes from God Himself. Second Timothy says, “God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”
Greed, hatred, racism, prejudice and injustice should never be traits of a person who claims to be a follower of Christ. Neither should we compromise God’s truth.
Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks. We have much to be thankful for. Even if some group cancels us, we can give thanks that we are not part of that group, and we should always keep 1 Thessalonians 5:18 before us: “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
May this Thanksgiving holiday be more than just a holiday, but an opportunity to be thankful regardless of the circumstances, crusades, or cancellations that threaten us. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us — so be thankful.