Cancel Culture (by Cathe Laurie)

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first” (John 15:18 NLT).

Our society has gotten lost in the addiction of “cancelling.” But let’s be real . . . this is not a new phenomenon.

Just look to the book of Hebrews. We don’t know for sure who this letter was written to, but we believe it addressed the early church—early followers of Jesus, converts from Judaism. As I studied the status of the earliest Christians, I learned that Rome, in its bureaucratic tolerance, had permitted Judaism as a religio licita, meaning a “legal religion,” which gave Jews some freedoms and protection to practice their faith. But these Hebrew Christians? They were in a no-man’s-land.

Picture their dilemma: They were raised in the rhythms of Torah, temple, and tradition, and now they had bet everything on a by-and-large rejected, crucified Messiah. Hebrews notes they hadn’t yet faced persecution “to the point of shedding blood” (see Hebrews 12:4). So they weren’t yet at martyrdom-level, but the pressure was real. Their old community most likely shunned them, their new faith made them political oddballs and now, they were stuck navigating a world that didn’t know or like them.

For these early followers, the temptation would be to grow silent, or worse . . . to look back, like Lot’s wife, and wonder if the old ways were easier. Remember how Israel in the wilderness grumbled about the situation they faced on the road to freedom, as they longed to return to Egypt’s leeks and onions?

These believers addressed in Hebrews were tempted to retreat to the warm embrace of Judaism. And here’s the reality: We’re not so different. Every one of us who claims Christ has left some kind of bondage behind, whether it’s cultural, ideological, or just the cozy security of fitting in. Because of your faith in Jesus, you may have gently expressed an opinion or posted on social media, and you’ve been shadow-banned, cancelled, disinvited, or unfollowed by family, friends, co-workers, classmates, or even people you’ve never met in person.

The world doesn’t always love us, either. In the words of Jesus, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first” (John 15:18 NLT). Violence, vitriol, and lies leveled at believers increases every day. So what will we do? Give in to the temptation to blend, or stand fast for truth?

It’s time for you to decide for yourself. Will you blend in and accept the current calm while surrendering what God has laid on your heart? Or will you step forward boldly, knowing that God is behind you, before you, and beside you, no matter what the world says?

Here’s the message the book of Hebrews whispers to us across the centuries: Don’t be afraid. You don’t need to conform. You’ve got something better—a faith that outshines the shadows, a truth worth living for and even dying for.

What else do you need?

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Cathe Laurie is the founder and director of the Virtue women’s ministry. She is also a featured speaker on The Virtue Podcast, at Harvest events, and the author of As I See It. You can find her weekly articles here on harvest.org.