How should I deal with cancel culture
“Cancel culture” has been a trend in this generation. Nowadays, it is easy for the majority to publicly shame others whenever they do something wrong or offend others.
Besides, cancel culture is beyond condemnation for choosing not to support the person. This also includes silencing, banishing, and punishing the offending party.
Some people make extra effort for the person to get fired from their job, disassociated from their peers, and banished from public view.
However, what is wrong with the cancel culture?
Understanding the cancel culture
As Christians, why should we not adapt to the cancel culture?
Cancel culture gives immediate judgment without due process. We immediately criticize others based on the majority. Often, this is biased information that we use against other people.
Moreover, this culture encourages people to think irrationally and promotes mob mentality. This culture has no place in Christian culture.
Additionally, cancel culture teaches people not to forgive others for their mistakes.
It is an act of self-righteousness and manipulation to think that others do not deserve to be forgiven but are supposed to be forgotten by society.
How to deal with cancel culture
Apparently, “cancel culture” is way different from Christian Culture. As followers of Jesus Christ, we do not condemn or cancel anyone but love and accept them as God has done for us.
The Bible is clear that we should no longer conform to the pattern of the world. But we have to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2)
Thus, as Christians, how should we face this emerging culture?
Here are some ways to deal with “cancel culture.
Old has gone, new has come
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! ” - 2 Corinthians 5:17
We no longer live like the others, for we are now living as a new creation in Christ Jesus. Thus, we should not entertain or be involved in any culture that teaches the opposite of what God wants us to do.
Moreover, remember that Jesus Christ has saved us from our sins, not to become self-righteous but to be gracious towards sinners so they could also experience the salvation that comes from Him.
Whenever you are tempted to cancel anyone, remember that Jesus Christ never canceled anyone. He had set you apart from worldly culture, and now you are living a new life with Him.
Forgive just as God has forgiven you
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” - Colossians 3:13
While the cancel culture teaches us not to forgive those who hurt us, God says we should forgive as the Lord forgave us. This new culture promotes pride, while God promotes humility and forgiveness.
As Christians, we ought to forgive because we know we are imperfect.
No one had passed the standard, so God had to sacrifice His only son to pay for all our sins. So. who are we not to forgive others?
More importantly, even Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, asked His Father in Heaven to forgive those who had condemned Him even in His last breath.
Choose to encourage others
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Apostle Paul reminded the church members in Thessalonica to continue encouraging and building each other up. This teaching in the Scripture is opposite to the “cancel culture.”
Cancel culture wants us to remove people we do not like or who have caused us pain. Yet, God does not want us to forget others. Instead, we help them in their weakness just as we want to be motivated in our shortcomings.
Imagine how many people are depressed and have committed suicide because they feel alone.
As Christians, we are responsible for being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ, even to those who have sinned against us.
If no one gave them a chance, then who else will?
Be the salt and light of the world
According to Matthew 5:13-16, you are the salt and light of the world.
Salt is essential to making a dish tasty; even a little salt could significantly impact the taste.
The same is true with light. Even a tiny lamp could light up the entire room.
As Christians, we may go against worldly culture, but we can still make a difference if we embrace God’s commands.
Additionally, salt is vital for food preservation. Thus, Christians should also keep the world from complete moral corruption.
We ought to bring down God’s blessings through our influence and example and live differently from the rest of the world.
Overcome evil with good
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)
The Scripture is clear that we must not take revenge on those who have hurt us. We should leave room for God’s wrath. God said that the avenge is His and that He will repay.
However, the Bible emphasizes feeding our enemies or giving them something to drink if they are thirsty (Romans 12:19-21). This biblical principle is the opposite of the cancel culture.
The world wants us to banish, silence, and criticize those who have caused us pain. But God wants us to treat them with goodness and let His justice work for them.
Everything we do has consequences, so we should not put justice in our hands, for we are not God.
As Christians, we should imitate Jesus Christ, who never repays evil with evil but still repay them with goodness.
Love your enemy as yourself
“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.” -Matthew 5:43-44
Cancel culture wants us to hate our enemies, which contradicts God’s teaching to love and pray for them.
As Christians separated from the world, we should no longer promote hatred but love. We must always see Jesus Christ as our example of how we live and treat others, even those who persecute us.
Nevertheless, loving those who hurt our feelings does not mean we tolerate them; we should treat them kindly and wish them well.
We should bless them rather than curse them, no matter how painful their actions are.
Be patient with others
“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.” - Romans 15:1
Christians are expected to know better, so we should be patient with spiritually weak people.
The real test of our endurance is how we can be patient with those difficult people around us, but those who overcome this challenge could gain God’s favor.
It is easy for us to love those who treat us well, but God would test us with those who are insensitive towards our feelings.
Jesus' culture over cancel culture
We should make Jesus’ characters our culture instead of following the world.
The nature of Jesus Christ, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, is the key to His impact on the world.