Gunfight at the OK corral. The Christian Response to Cancel Culture
Balancing Accountability with Compassion in the Age of Social Media
Do you remember the old Western movies where the mob decided to hang someone because some influential people stirred up the hatred? People do in big groups what they would never do alone or personally. After the mob hung the person, the individuals often felt remorse, but of course, that was too late.
Some of the worst parts of our history have been when mobs lynched innocent people based on false, incorrect, or inaccurate information.
The sad thing is that even believers can fall into this trap. The desire to listen to the “latest,” to be in the know, to be part of the big group, and to fit in with one’s peers can lead to mob mentality and mob thinking.
People no longer think about it; they do what they know is right. They do not want to look bad, so they either go along or look the other way. That is precisely what happened in the old Western, that is, until the one man, the John Wayne type, would stand against the crowd. He had to risk his life to save the life of a person who he might not even want to save. He simply felt compelled by his moral compass to do the right thing.
Cancel Culture
The cancel culture gave even the minority the voice to publicly call out and stand against their perceived or actual hurt or wrong. Social media gave a voice to people who couldn’t even get a hearing before.
The good side of cancel culture gave the hurt a voice. The bad side is that people become indiscriminate. People destroyed, ostracized, and excessively punished others.
There has to be a balance with truth.
What happened to healing and reconciliation?
Christians are called to be peacemakers. Forgiveness is the central figure and truth of all Christian beliefs. Take away forgiveness, and what do you have left?
Believers serve as ambassadors of the Lord Jesus, announcing forgiveness. II Corinthians 5:18-20.
Believers must clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, all essential for reconciliation. Colossians 3:12-14
Reconciliation is central to all that the Lord Jesus teaches.
Mercy over judgment
Mercy is central to Jesus’s ministry. We are to live out the very truths taught by Jesus.
Showing mercy can lead to transformation and healing rather than destroying another.
What about showing forgiveness and grace towards others? Would that reflect the love of Christ?
We can break the cycle of hate and heal.
As people who have received forgiveness, we choose to forgive. We see our sin as greater than the sin of others. This is the beam in your eye versus the splinter in the other’s eye.
How many times would we have to forgive? Well, Peter already asked that question, didn’t he? The answer is that there is no limit to our forgiveness.
Let’s break the cycle. Let’s live out love, forgiveness, mercy, reconciliation, and grace.
