Cancel Culture

Author: Jamie Huggins, Social Media Specialist
Through Thick & Thin - Part 3
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For many of us, social media has changed or, at the very least, significantly impacted how we communicate with each other. I don't know about you, but it doesn't take me long to scroll through my social media feed and find vastly differing opinions on everything from appliances to sports teams to politics and current events. While some of these debates are harmless, others become pretty heated.

"I'm unfollowing you."
"No one with an ounce of intelligence would ever say that!"
"Blocked! I don't need people like that in my life."
"If you believe that, I'm deleting you as a friend!"
"Oh, you're canceled now!"

Sadly, our screens and keyboards have made it easy to say whatever we want in the heat of the moment to family members, friends, and even strangers. There have been times when I've had to stop myself from posting a comment I typed out of frustration. You may have found yourself in that situation before as well.

—1 Peter 4:8

On Sunday, Pastor Tim reminded us that God doesn't want us to give up on people because that's not the type of God He is. While God does not condone situations of abuse or mistreatment, the Bible repeatedly instructs us to love others, including those who have wronged us and people we disagree with.

Pastor Tim highlighted the Old Testament story of the golden calf to illustrate God's character. After God had led the Israelites safely out of Egypt and made a covenant with them, they quickly turned around and broke it by building a golden calf and worshiping it. Even though God justly punished the Israelites for their wrongdoings, He renewed His covenant with them and showed them compassion, graciousness, and forgiveness. And no matter how many times they would go astray on their journey to the Promised Land, God never gave up on them.

– Exodus 34:6-7a

In this digital age, deleting, unfriending, unfollowing, ghosting, blocking, and canceling those who have offended us have become the new norm. But as believers, God calls us to a much higher standard.

You see, our God isn't a God of cancel culture—He's a God of reconciliation. If we mess up, He continues to love us. If we turn away from Him, He welcomes us back with open arms. No matter what we say or do, God promises to forgive and love us unconditionally, and He commands us to do the same.
 
The next time you impulsively start writing a social media post to someone you disagree with or someone who has wronged you, I want to challenge you to pause for a moment and reflect on the character of our Creator.

Slow to anger. Compassionate. Gracious. Loving. Forgiving.