Should Christians participate in what is now called “cancel culture?” Like you, I have witnessed the public tar-and-feathering of a myriad of individuals: politicians, artists, musicians, pastors, authors, and even people who have been dead for hundreds of years. But have you thought much about what it means to cancel someone?

            It starts with a twitter quote, or “hot mic” moment, and soon it seems the whole world is throwing its stones at the offender. The violator (perhaps victim) is publicly shamed into submission and forced to repent before the world for his or her transgressions. However, there is no forgiveness after being canceled. The violator is fired from his current position, but then the personal attacks make it so he cannot work anywhere else. He has been “canceled.”

            Still worse, some “researcher” (a.k.a., character assassin) drudges up some dry bones from another’s past and use it to accuse the violator of all manner of vile and evil motives, opinions, and actions. WHAM! The monument comes down…the statue is destroyed…the individual is canceled.

            As Christians, we have been too guilty of canceling another. Can a minister guilty of a mistake or error ever receive forgiveness for his misgivings? Regardless of the size, the desire to cancel him is a little too immediate. But, it’s not just ministers; Christians will cancel each other too.

            If we’re not careful we get swept up in the heat of the moment, and the lies of the media, to believe the worst and jump on the cancel culture bandwagon. Cancel culture is fundamentally and unequivocally destructive, manipulative, dangerous, and downright Pharisaic.

            Some folks just self-ordain themselves as the arbiters of morality and supreme judges of what is right and wrong. I do not recall a vote, poll, or referendum to set these rules, nor to appoint these judges. There are zero criteria for what deserves to be canceled in our culture, but we know who will preside over the case.

            In court, the guilty party may appeal the verdict, declare a mistrial, or solicit further evidence, but not in cancel court! The verdict is decreed, and the decision is final—you have been canceled. You are no longer welcomed or recognized, respected, or heeded, and all your contributions wear the scarlet letter of sin.

            Cancel culture is how the Pharisees dealt with the woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8). They dragged her before Jesus, and others, declared her sin, and sought to take her life. Jesus, more interested in playing in the dirt, did not cry, “CANCEL HER!” Instead, he said, let him who is without sin cast the first stone. In essence who can rightly judge sinners?

            The cancel culture would try again at the judgment seat of Pontius Pilate. “CANCEL HIM,” they cried. Cancel Him and give us Barabas! In both cases, Jesus shows us how to deal with cancel culture.

            Unlike Jesus, we are incredibly flawed in our judgment. Our best efforts are still filthy, stinking things. Our hearts and minds are blemished by our past, so none of us have the right to throw the first stone. Our response to condemn others stems from our carnal nature, and it is that nature that Christ desired to transform in us. We must respond to a higher calling—a deeper truth—that all are created in the image of God with the capacity for mercy, grace, and forgiveness.

            Those Pharisees lacked the spiritual maturity to show mercy on the woman (as perhaps they showed to the man she was with—by the way, where was he?). Every one of us has fallen short of the glory of God, and while we were yet sinners, Christ didn’t cancel any of us.

            The cancel culture goes against the way, nature, and character of Christ. As Christians, pastors, teachers, leaders, laymen, and laywomen, we do well to remember these lessons. Christian faith does not value clicks, views, likes, thumbs-ups, sharing viral videos, and memes. It may very well be time to unfriend Facebook, unfollow Instagram, and silence the tweets. As Christians, we are to embody the love, mercy, and grace of the Lord, shine his light into the world, and stand against the swelling tide of cancel-culture.