Cancel Culture

A phrase growing in popularity is “Cancel Culture.”

Some thoughts:

Jesus told of an evil spirit in a man who went out seeking rest and did not find what was desired. (Matthew 12:43-45).  Later he returned to find the man still vacated (the man was swept and in order) so he went out and found seven more demons and the eight moved into the man.  Jesus declared that the second state of the man was far worse than the first state.

[This lesson from Jesus points to people who repent from an evil life and turn to a religious or righteous life but are not saved.  They aren’t indwelt by the Holy Spirit.   Later they return to an evil much darker and more violent life.  False conversions and false Christianity are easily overcome by the lures of the world, the flesh and the devil and the person exits the good life and often becomes a force against goodness.]

The lesson?  If removing something, be sure and replace it with something better or acceptable or the new state might turn out to be far worse than the first.  (I have used this principle over and over in dealing with my kids and people.  If I remove something, I’m about replacing it quickly with an acceptable alternative else just saying NO might bring on something worse!)

Our culture is at a crossroads.  There are a number of forces at work; some far more aggressive and loud than others.

1. There is the status quo group; leave things just as they are.

2. There is the “good ole days” group; if we could create the culture of President Reagan days or that of the 50’s or the 20’s.

3. There is the Jesus group; true Christians who realize that we have removed the Ten Commandments, prayers, “In God we trust”, and “One nation under God” – the faith factor, and until those are restored we are doomed to chaos and death.

4. Then there is the one world group (the CFR people to which many of D.C. belong) who believe that a one-world government could end wars, divisions, and poverty.

5. And there is the angry at-the-old-and-the-now group; just change – who cares to what.

6. Lastly there are the BLM groups – “groups” is plural!  One is the BLM organization which is evil – read their website (I have).  It is communist, anti-Christian, and dark.  Another BLM group believes that blacks and browns are targeted by police, society, and somewhat by whites which must be exposed and stopped.  And there is a BLM group that seeks to help all Americans do better with those of color caught in poverty, fear, and brokenness.  (One response to the BLM movement is that “All Lives Matter” which could include babies in the womb.  Chris S. showed me clip saying that atheists believe in “No Life Matters”.)

It is being said that we are in a “revolution” which seems to be true.  This revolution is often called “Cancel Culture” mostly due to the violent removal of the past – statues and monuments along with values and standards.  The culture of the past has been deemed evil and thus needing to be completely ended and expunged from both history and memory.  There are 17 states that do not require the teaching of American history.  To not know history is to repeat it.

This coming Presidential election is going to be a large player in which way this revolution moves.  What is most likely true is that our society is being changed, we just don’t know what it is being changed to and that circles us back to the warning from Jesus.

It is critical that before throwing something away, there needs to be a clear plan as to what the old is to be replaced with.  That is, what is the culture that is wanted and how do we get there?  There is a huge danger to simply want to cancel the culture not realizing its replacement could be grossly worse.

Lord, give us the wisdom and the strength to understand and do right!