We are living in a time referred to as “the cancel culture”. It seems if somebody does not like what someone else says, they “cancel” them. They “wipe” or “blot” them out. The term is not new but now is used in a way to control freedom of thought and freedom of speech of those with whom you disagree. Let me share with you some wonderful ways in which the Scripture uses the term “cancel”. “I even I am He who blots (cancels) out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.” (Isaiah 43:25). “ “It’s a story about two men who were deeply in debt. One owed the bank one hundred thousand] and the other only owed ten thousand dollars. 42 When it was obvious that dollars,[neither of them would be able to repay their debts, the kind banker graciously wrote off (canceled) the debts and forgave them all that they owed. Tell me, Simon, which of the two debtors would be the most thankful? Which one would love the banker most?” (Luke 7:41-42 The Passion Version) “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out (canceled), that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,” (Acts 3:19) “God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against and that stood opposed to us; He took it away nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13b-14) Now that is the kind of “cancel” culture in which I can rejoice!
Forgiving is not something that is going on in our culture today. “Canceling” has replaced “forgiveness”. Culture requires us to conform to whatever it says whether it is true or not; whether it is factual or not, and whether it is accurate of not. “Truth” is like “shifting sands“ in the present culture. It is changeable, flexible, forgettable, and unnecessary. We who have been confronted by Jesus who is the “Truth” about our sins and experienced His forgiveness; have a newfound freedom and power to forgive those who have sinned against us. We know what it means to have our sins canceled.
We not only have experienced “forgiveness”; we have experienced “peace, love, and joy“ in ways we never knew before. Our culture is in great need of folk whose sins have been canceled. This is our time to join those whom it was said of, “These men and women (they) who have turned the world upside down have come here also,” (Acts 17:6b RSV). May we be known in our culture as “turning the world upside down”. We who have benefited from the “Circle of Love” have “good news” to share with those who are overwhelmed by life, the Coronavirus, being “locked down”, depressed, and/or controlled by fear. We know what freedom means – for our sins have been canceled.
We have been set free from the things of this world; delivered from the powers of the spiritual world, healed of our wounds, those self-inflicted and by others, and walk in the power, grace, and love of the Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Praise the Lord!!! Let us live boldly a life of victory and humility.