The Cancel Culture

The Cancel Culture

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Romans 12:1-21 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Galatians 3:26-29 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

John 15:18-20 18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

Mark 7:1-31 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. 2 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders

This passage in Mark’s gospel is not about personal hygiene. It is actually about how the critics of Jesus and His disciples saw their culture.  One could say that the Pharisees were attempting what we now call cancel culture.  They wanted to shut them down for some petty reason in order to maintain their own perceived power.

So, what is cancel culture, and is it a good thing or a bad thing?  Just like everything else in the world it depends on who you ask.

Cancel culture in today’s vernacular can be thought of as a sort of a campaign to suppress someone or something that some one doesn’t like, or agree with. These pseudo-campaigns might sound petty or small to the persons they are directed at, but in reality all of this is about power.

Everyone it would seem wants to yield power, and just about everyone has a platform to use so that they can be heard.   People tend to use whatever platform they are given to further their agenda. We have given this concept a new name recently, and if you are really astute, you understand that today’s victim oftentimes were yesterdays perpetrator.  I will get back to this though in a minute.

For now, let’s consider that there are two words in the phrase cancel culture.  People mainly focus on the word ‘cancel’ because it’s such a vicious word right?  (I mean who wants to be thought of as being cancelled)?  But the other word is actually more important, the word ‘culture’.  Why do I say that culture is the operative word here?  It’s because no one is ever really cancelled just because someone says that they are.  BUT – A person or an idea CAN be erased from your culture if you really desire for that to happen.  And here is a spoiler alert:  If you want to really be a Christian there are some ideas, (and possibly even people), that truly need to be cancelled from your life.

So let’s consider what culture is.  M-W defines culture as the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group’.   It is also; the characteristic features of everyday existence shared by people in a place or time’.  So then culture is a way of life.  It’s how we think, talk, dress, act, and live.

Another way of looking at culture is that it is a ;‘set of values, conventions, or social practices.  So then our culture is how we behave based on what we believe or value.  Think about this the next time you hear the phrase ‘culture wars’ and remember that it is being used because someone has an agenda and wants to fight about it.

You have heard me preach many times about ‘Kingdom Culture’.  I have been attempting to remind you as believers that we have dual citizenship.  We are citizens of this world, but yet we are in the Kingdom of God.

Colossians 1:12 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

This scripture among many tells us that whatever power we have was given to us by Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, and that we have to live according to the culture of Kingdom of God instead of the kingdoms of this world.  Simply put, all of us have a platform, and we should be using it to promote the cause of Christ.  And remember that our culture is not just our values or ideas.  It is also how we act!  Therefore today we should all be willing to cancel some things and ideas from our minds.  This is cancel culture for real.

So then you might ask, ‘What, or who needs to be cancelled’? I’m so glad you asked!

Ephesians 6:12 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:13 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

The real culture war is not political, or social.  It is spiritual!

2 Corinthians 10:3 (NIV) 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds

:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

This devotion is just a reminder of something you already know.  If you are in the culture of the Kingdom, and there are somethings that need to be cancelled.  Anything that usurps the power and presence of God in your life must go!

And let’s not get caught up in the obvious wars that are in the news everyday, conservative vs. liberal, black vs. white, rich vs. poor, etc.   The real war has been fought on earth for centuries.  It’s the war of Light vs. darkness.

So instead of giving you a list of people and things to cancel, I present to a template for who or what should be cancelled using the Word of God as a guide.

Here is cancel culture 101.  If it aint God, it aint good!

And usually the devil has a way of switching sides in cultural warfare, to keep you off you game.  But the devil is liar, you know that.  You can always tell what is truth by what God’s word says about a subject.  This is list not meant to be complete, instead consider this is sort of a ‘cancel culture starter pack’ to help you to make determinations on your own.

Here goes:

Fear and intimidation are cancelled!

2 Timothy 1:7 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Hatred is cancelled!

1 John 4:20 (NIV)20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Bad habits are cancelled!

1 Corinthians 6:12 -“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Procrastination and laziness is Cancelled!

James 4:17  So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Ephesians 5:15-17 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise bas wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Greed is cancelled!

1 Timothy 6:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

Hebrews 13:16  Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Lust is cancelled

1 John 2:16  For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Galatians 5:16  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Pride is cancelled!

Proverbs 16:18  Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 29:23 One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

Envy and Coveting is cancelled!

Proverbs 14:30 A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.

In fact; today I cancel every thought, or idea, that is not of God, and I replace that thought with the mind of Christ!

Lies and deception    –    Canceled!

Sickness and disease

Depression and faithlessness

Complacency and complicity – All canceled in the Name of Jesus!

Furthermore, if anyone in my life refuses to accept that I am a child of God, and repeatedly works to undermine the authority given to me by him is about to be cancelled!  Be it resolved that anyone who desires to hold me back, and keep me down is cancelled.

The devil is cancelled!  His imps are cancelled!  His plans for my life are cancelled!

Cancel culture, and culture warfare is not necessarily a bad thing.  We just need to keep it in perspective as it relates to our rightful  place in the kingdom of God.

Bishop Horace Ransom Jr.

Bishop Horace Ransom Jr.

Senior Pastor, Board of Directors

Bishop Horace Ransom Jr. is the Senior Pastor and Founder of New Covenant Church International in Detroit, Michigan. He is a Jurisdictional Bishop and serves on the Board of Presbytery for the Jabula International Network, North America. Bishop Ransom is an outstanding teacher of the Word of God with a passion for challenging believers to become the best that they can be. Faith, Purpose and the Kingdom of God are frequently the subject matter of his dissertation.