Standing for Truth in the Face of a Cancel Culture - Encouragement Café - July 26
Standing for Truth in the Face of a Cancel Culture
By Olivia Barnes
Paul, an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead. (Galatians 1:1 KJV)
Cancel culture: an act of ‘canceling’ people or brands due to what some may consider offensive or problematic remarks or ideologies.
Thank the Lord that He is not like this. If we sin and fall, we are not discarded, we are not canceled, but His loving arms lift us up again and forgives us. The gospel of Christ is a gospel of redemption not a cancellation. The apostle Paul did not get his approval from men, from society or from the established norm. He got his approval and calling from Jesus Christ and God the Father.
Cancel culture is not just about canceling those individuals who have carried out horrendous deeds; it is about shaming and shunning all those who do not fit the mold.
Dear Christian, our faith does not fit the mold. Hallelujah!
Cancelling does however mean that if you have not already, you will likely feel the bullying strength of this culture. Forced to stay quiet when witnessing an injustice, forced out of position within your local neighborhood, school or dare I say it possibly even church. But we are called to be different, not just different but we are called to be radically different, to be transformed! We should not fit! We should not find ourselves in line with a cancel culture. The gospel redeems, the gospel does not hold account of wrongs, and it is not influenced by what you have done or how others view you.
If you witness someone who is being discarded, pushed out, isolated: GO TO THEM. Do not rely on gossip or hearsay for your information, if it is something you feel you should know, go to them, and go in love without judgment or accusations. Go to them whether you are friends, you were friends, acquaintances or relative strangers. Be there, go out of your way to show Christ and live out the gospel. It does not matter what they have done or have been accused of doing, they are still created by God and covered by His redemption.
Romans 1:16 states: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes (ESV)
EVERYONE!
Growing up I remember the trend of wearing a bracelet with WWJD on it: What Would Jesus Do? Live this out. If you are a victim to cancel culture or you witness someone else falling victim to it, ask yourself: What would Jesus do? He is not going to try to change to fit in; He is not going to watch as someone is ostracized. Jesus stood firm in adversity and befriended those who were rejected by society.
The irony of befriending and loving outcasts - Jesus Christ was CANCELED!
The Scribes and Pharisees plotted and riled up the people through peer pressure and group mentality to shout out against Jesus, to have him crucified. To remove him as he did not fit the mold because His message was problematic for them. The gospel was for everyone, and they needed to get rid of Him.
As followers of Christ how can we expect for it to be easy in this world when our Lord and Savior was put to death by this world. Just as Christ lived in a cancel culture, we can expect the same. But keep your eyes fixed on Him. The gospel is for everyone and even if we are rejected, we will not be defeated. Jesus is greater than anything of this world.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV)
Lord, give me a love that knows no ill, give me the grace to do Thy will; pardon and cleanse this soul of mine, give me a heart like Thine. Lord give me a heart like Thine, a love for people, a heart which does not judge or bend to outside pressure. Let me be a light shining for you in a world which does not understand the love of Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
For more encouragement, visit Olivia at https://abidingwordscom.wordpress.com
© 2022 by Olivia Barnes. All rights reserved.
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