I told Ed that it鈥檚 a new term for me, and I wondered if he had heard of 鈥淐ancel Culture鈥� or 鈥淐all Out Culture?鈥�
He said, 鈥淣o, I haven鈥檛 heard of either term, which is fine with me. Don鈥檛 feel that you need to enlighten me about them.鈥�
鈥淪ince I mentioned the terms, I feel I should explain them to you. Both terms mean the same thing. They are a modern way of getting even, on social media,鈥� I blurted out to Ed.
On social media, a person or company can be called out for something they said or did and become completely rejected. The person or company is cancelled out in terms of respect or buying the company鈥檚 products. Once singled out for what they said or did, their explanations or the context of what was said or done may be brushed off. It is a sign of our intolerant age where it is easy on social media to dole out judgment and rejection of anything with which we disagree.
鈥淧eople have always wanted to pay back or get even with others for what they have said or done. Many feel revenge is an act of justice, giving people back what they deserve. They like to see them suffer,鈥� Ed said.
I said, 鈥淚 see Cancel Culture as dangerous. Should we feel we have the right to appoint ourselves as judge and jury because another person has said something with which we disagree? There is value in free speech and hearing other viewpoints. Do we need to stir up hostility when we disagree with another person? Do we have to get even? Why is it so important for us to point out the flaws, missteps, and the offense of others? Retribution is a dead-end street. Austin O鈥橫alley said, 鈥楻evenge is often like biting a dog because the dog bit you.鈥欌��
鈥淚 heard a better one about revenge,鈥� Ed offered, 鈥淲hen a man steals your wife, there is no better revenge than to let him keep her.鈥�
鈥淒id you share that one with Ruby?鈥� I asked Ed. 鈥淎re you afraid of Ruby getting even with you?鈥� He ignored me.
What people say or do may upset us, annoy us, irritate, provoke or anger us. As Christians, we are called to the example of Jesus. Jesus went about doing good, speaking the truth and helping people, but his words and actions stirred up anger and hatred. It wasn鈥檛 that those who hated Jesus did not have any knowledge, bu tthey were puffed up by what they knew even though it wasn鈥檛 the whole truth. Consider 1 Corinthians 8:1,2.
Only God knows all, and yet there are plenty of people ready to reject, cancel out and call out others as if they were all-knowing or omniscient. God is the ultimate judge, and when we seek to get revenge, we are trying to take His place.
Jesus came that we would focus on our own sins and stumbles in life. Jesus died that forgiveness before God could be for all. God鈥檚 love is seen when we love and forgive others. Paul said, 鈥淐hrist Jesus came into the world to save sinners 鈥� of whom I am the worst.鈥� (1 Timothy 1:15) Consider also Proverbs 24:29.
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