Culture has always played a big role in what people hear, see, believe or don’t believe, do or don’t do. In recent years, “Cancel culture” has become quite the phenomenon. The phrase “cancel culture” refers to the practice of withdrawing support for (or canceling) people—usually public figures—after they have done or said something destructive, distasteful, or morally disagreeable. We’ve seen this in recent years with famous people such as Mel Gibson, Lori Loughlin, Lance Armstrong, Jimmy Fallon, Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, and Kanye West.
But these days, anybody could be “cancelled.” Whether you are an adult or child, a politician or pastor, an actor or athlete, or anything else, you could be publicly slandered for anything you say that is deemed wrong, inappropriate, or out of bounds by the cancel culture police. And to be cancelled is to be written off as non-redeemable, and unforgiveable.
Now let’s face it ... we have ALL made mistakes. Whether it is doing something we should not do or saying something we should not say. Everybody has sinned. The great news about Jesus is that He is counter-cultural in this way: While cancel culture will cancel you for the things you do, Jesus cancels the sinful things you do in order to save you. That is the beauty of Jesus. When Paul wrote to the Colossian Christians in the letter of Colossians, he stated:
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.
This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Colossians 2:13-14
Jesus loves us and wants to forgive us, and redeem us. Why would we ever turn to the culture for our cues when we can turn to the Creator? We face all kinds of pressures from our culture just like the Christians at Colossae did. Some of our cultural pressures would also be that “You must perform to a certain standard to have value,” or that “You must have others approval to be validated.” The truth is ... you do not have to look any further than Jesus for value or validation.
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth,
visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—
all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:16-17
Do not look to the culture for your cues on what to believe, how to behave, or to discover your identity. The world is full of lies that pull you away from truth. You do not have to look any further than Jesus for the truth. Jesus said, “I am the truth.” He also said that when we know Him, we “will know the truth and the truth will set us free.”
Be on guard as Paul instructed the Christians in Colossae. Do not be taken captive by some worldly philosophy filled with empty deceit that is based on human reasoning rather than divine revelation from God. Jesus died for you, and you can receive your validation in Him. You receive salvation in Him, and you receive love, acceptance, and your identity in Him.
-Pastor Robert