When Your Way Isn't Working - a Study of Galatiansنموونە

There’s a trend that’s developed over the last several years called "cancel culture." It’s a term used to describe mass disapproval by society or a group of people towards someone who may have said or done something people don’t agree with. Its goal is to hurt the person being canceled as a way to punish them rather than trying to correct, redirect, or understand them. It generally doesn’t matter if the person was right or wrong or misunderstood. They get canceled. As we read in Galatians, we should push back and stand up against things opposed to God’s truth; but as a whole, cancel culture lacks a key component of the Christian life—love.

As Christ-followers, we are to live and act differently than the world. Why? To point people to Jesus. And the world will notice—especially in situations where people might disagree. If we go along with what others in our culture and world are doing, how does that show God’s transforming work in our lives? Cancel culture seems more like our sinful nature rearing its ugly head rather than the response Jesus modeled when confronted by those who opposed him.

Galatians 5:14-15 first commands us to “Love your neighbor as yourself;” and then follows with a warning: “…if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.”

Reflection:

Is there anyone in your life who you need to uncancel? Is there anyone you may need to forgive? Spend some time quietly asking the Holy Spirit if there is a relationship you need to repair.