Cancel culture and cancer

August 6, 2021

 

Ever hear of the “cancel culture” movement? What started with the idea of holding people accountable, no matter who they are, has become a cancer. The malignancy lies in the fact that there is no repentance acceptable, no reform thought possible, and no restoration for the accused. The Bible has another take on failure.

 

Let’s listen in as Paul offers advice to people hung up on performance. “Brothers and sisters, if a person is caught doing something wrong, you who are spiritual should restore someone like this with a spirit of gentleness. Watch out for yourselves so you won’t be tempted too.” [Galatians 6:1 CEB] Failure and sin is the human condition. Anyone who says different is calling God a liar (see 1 John 1:10). Standing around and tossing rocks at someone else’s failure is malignant hypocrisy.

 

Restoration, for those who seek to follow Jesus, is mandatory. However, there are times when we need help. Someone who is repentant can still be trapped, or lack skills necessary, or be shamed by the enemy of our souls back into the shadows. Paul tells a Galatian church, who started with the Holy Spirit and abandoned Him for a ridged law, to get their heads out of their own dark place and be useful to someone else.

 

There is a warning. Helping others brings us dangerously close to the fire that burned many people. While we exercise gentleness in restoration, we must be careful that we are not trapped in the same problem. That’s not as easy as it sounds. Sin has a certain gravity that is difficult to escape. It’s like the flame and the moth. Just how close can we get?

 

Pride is serious issue. When “we” help “them” we can land in serious danger with our ego. Paul advises, “For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” [Galatians 6:3 ESV] I actually like how the NLT puts it, “If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.” Ouch!

 

In the mix of these final directions, Paul reminds us, “Make no mistake, God is not mocked. A person will harvest what they plant.” [Galatians 6:7 CEB] Put that in context of gently restoring others. If we don’t, and “they” rightfully receive their just due, who will help “us” in our time of need. That’s the terrifying thing. Rock throwers end up victims of the same crowed they joined or they end up alone.

 

Here’s the reality about what we plant, “Those who plant only for their own benefit will harvest devastation from their selfishness, but those who plant for the benefit of the Spirit will harvest eternal life from the Spirit.” [Galatians 6:8 CEB] Judgmental rock throwers reap rocks. Selfishness begets devastation.

 

Sticking to the imagery of the harvest, Paul encourages, “Let’s not get tired of doing good, because in time we’ll have a harvest if we don’t give up.” [Galatians 6:9 CEB] Giving up good things is the reason we fall short of our hopes and dreams. For example, how many people have given up on a marriage?

 

Let’s circle back to the idea of restoration and planting, “So then, let’s work for the good of all whenever we have an opportunity, and especially for those in the household of faith.” [Galatians 6:10 CEB] If we help others, they will be there to help us. If we plant selfishness we get devastation.

 

One or the other, it’s only a matter of time.