Christians are called to be different from the world–but does that include canceling the world? Being called to be countercultural inevitably includes speaking against morally compromising societal practices. It does not, however, automatically mean that Christians should be tossed to and fro by every wind and wave of "canceling."
When scrolling through social media, a Christian always targets those who disagree with their religious ideals. Cancel culture—mass-canceling due to public disapproval—is a problem that has been an ongoing trend, especially prominent in social media. It promotes more harm than good—arguments rather than the peace sought in canceling controversial people. Take JK Rowling, the author of the notable book Harry Potter, as an example. She was canceled because of her tweet, which implied support for a transphobic woman. Similarly, when a tweet expresses disagreement with a Christian value, Christians try to “correct” it by attacking others, leading to nothing resolved. However, this should not be how Christians act. It only leads to arguments that provoke the other party into further defending their opinion. If this is how Christians treat others, are they truly even Christians?
1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” As Christians, it is our duty to glorify God in everything by obeying His Word. Thus, Christians need to be aware of their actions—asking themselves whether or not they are following God’s commandments. Titus 3:2 tells us “to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” From the perspective of Christians in this era of cancel culture, before we say something to a Non-Christian, ask yourself: Would God be glorified? Or are we simply pressuring our beliefs on them?
Moreover, it is important to remember that the Lord created us all in His image. Believers represent God and the whole Christian community; therefore, their actions can reflect, not only on themselves but also on the entire Christian society. We should not just bash someone because they are not Christians; they are still made in God’s likeness even when we are all different from one another. As written in Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Our actions can easily affect God’s image in other people’s eyes. Christians already have a reputation for being “hypocritical.” If we continue to act this way, we will only be living up to that damaging label. A VeryWellMind article on “The Mental Health Effects of Cancel Culture” talks about how canceling people does not change their beliefs, and only causes more mental health issues such as “higher anxiety, depression, and suicide rates.”
There will always be people who have different opinions, and it is important for us to respect that. Christians are representatives of God; thus, as Christians, before doing something, we must remember to ask ourselves if we are honoring the Lord. We must remember that God created each and every one of us in His image. Therefore, we must treat our fellow humans with dignity and respect. While it is a Christian’s duty to share the gospel, it will be impossible to get anywhere if beliefs are forced upon people.
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