Happy Wednesday!
I have recently become familiar with the term “cancel culture.” Cancel culture or call-out culture is a phrase contemporary to the late 2010s and early 2020s used to refer to a form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles – whether it be online, on social media, or in person. Those subject to this ostracism are said to have been “cancelled”.
The notion of cancel culture is a variant on the term call-out culture. It is often said to take the form of boycotting or shunning an individual (often a celebrity) who is deemed to have acted or spoken in an unacceptable manner.
Some critics argue that cancel culture has a chilling effect on public discourse, is unproductive, does not bring real social change, and causes intolerance. Others argue that calls for “cancellation” are themselves a form of free speech and that they promote accountability, give disenfranchised people a voice, and are simply another form of boycotting.
My job has become less enjoyable over the past few years because I see this happening more and more. If you say something someone doesn’t agree with, instead of having a conversation, that person “cancels” the relationship. People are fired from jobs, friendships are destroyed and families are split apart.
As a Christian, we are to do just the opposite. Jesus didn’t “cancel” the woman at the well. Jesus didn’t “cancel” Zacchaeus. No, he told Zacchaeus to come down from that tree so he could go to his house. If we have no dialogue, we have no opportunity to bring others to Christ. If we “cancel” out others, how can we show God’s love?
John 13:34 says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Don’t cancel those people out of your lives who you may disagree with or are on the opposite side of your political views. Simply love them. It is not easy to do but it is worth the effort.
Shine, Shine, Shine!
Tina