Cancel Culture
I don’t like the cancel culture mentality for many reasons. The most significant reason is that we are all sinners and fallen short of the glory of God. People who ascribe to a cancel culture mentality usually want to broadcast their superiority by not falling into that sin and it just doesn’t work. That doesn’t mean that things in the world don’t upset or bother me. And I certainly wish the world was different. But reminding myself that we are all sinners and my brand of sin doesn’t make me a better person than someone else’s brand of sin helps me be more tolerant when I’m exposed.
Let’s go back a few years and I’ll give you an example. Colin Kapernick, a football quarterback, and some would say a quarterback with a declining career, made a name for himself by protesting by kneeling during the national anthem. That bothered me because I consider myself a patriotic person. More importantly, while I don’t want to hinder in any way his ability to protest, I knew my employer would not tolerate me protesting my cause at my place of employment on work time. People who tune in to football games are not watching to define their social issue perspective. I felt strongly that it was the wrong place and time for him to protest.
But what really bothered me was the NFL reaction where they tried to skirt the issue and be supportive of player’s right to protest. I decided right there and then that I could not, in good conscience, support the NFL with my viewership as a consumer of their goods. As of now, I’ve seen very little pro football game play and only where I’m somewhere that someone else has it on. I didn’t stand up and try to organize a boycott of NFL. I just did it (I also decided not to buy any Nike products for their support of the same person and for the same reason).
And if you must know, I don’t miss it.
I just saw a video this morning where a pastor was suggesting that we shouldn’t be upset that the Olympic ceremony made fun of the last supper - sinners will sin. We should love them and hate the sin. Turning the situation on its end that way takes all the negative feeling starch out of my sails, so to speak.
“Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.” - Proverbs 24:19-20 ESV
“Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.” - Psalm 37:1-11
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” - Luke 6:27-38
When I remind myself that we are supposed to love sinners and hate the sin, my emotions calm down against whatever upset me. I just need to find a way to remind myself quicker.
