“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know[a] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”---John 14:6,7 NIV
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”---John 18:37 NIV
A Caveat
As I introduce this post I realize this message may not be
agreeable to all who read it. This is fine by me. I am going to go ahead and pull
back a layer or two of a matter I grapple with as an ethical and moral dilemma.
The Truth Will Have You Cancelled
“Cancel culture or call-out culture is a
contemporary phrase used to refer to a form of ostracism in which someone is
thrust out of social or professional circles – whether it be online, on social
media, or in person…”https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancel_culture
Not many years ago a former friend cancelled me from her
life. She disagreed with my view on a particular issue. This issue is one of
the many negative narratives our society perpetuates. I happen to not agree
with most of these narratives. I do so because they are hostile to our
Christian faith.
What is truth? This is a question many people over the
years have pondered and attempted to answer. To some people, truth is what they
believe about a particular matter or issue, etc. This phenomenon holds to a view
of, “my truth.” More and more people these days have decided to embrace a
subjective approach to truth. This does not make their “truth,” true.
An example of “my truth.”
In no way do I infringe on the life or self-belief of a man
who claims to be a woman. He may view this as his, “truth.” If a man wants to
act like a woman and wear women’s underwear or a dress, so be it. On the other
hand, I do not have to believe it just because he feels he is a woman. In our
contemporary era such a view is worthy of one being cancelled and regarded as
no longer worthy of being a friend, or even a family member.
As a writer, I am cautious as to where I share my work. I
am not afraid, yet I also do not want to cause unnecessary hard feelings with
other people. As a Christian I accept people as best I can, but I do not have
to accept their views, their lifestyles, or their truth.
Follow The Truth
In reality, “truth” is not a concept, or an opinion, even
one held to by most citizens of a country. Truth is Jesus Christ. People
at the time Jesus walked the earth did not grasp this. Pontius Pilate, the
governor who handed Jesus over to be crucified missed the mark as to who Jesus
is and rejected the Truth.
In this age in which everyone does that which is right in
his, or her, own eyes, those who follow the Truth must cling to Him. For the
Christian, this is not up for negotiation. Our, friends, enemies, our family,
even the world may cancel us, but this changes nothing.
You
might walk counter to the culture,
but it is worth every step.
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Alan lives in Deroche, B.C. with his wife,
Terry. He contributed stories to Good Grief People by Angel Hope Publishing,
2017; Story by Story: The Power of a Writer, Unstoppable Writers Publishing,
2018; Easter Stories & More by InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship,
2021. Alan periodically writes articles for FellowScript Magazine. He has
written posts for our InScribe blog since 2015. Blog: https://scarredjoy.ca.
Amen, Alan, to these words of yours: "Truth is Jesus Christ."
ReplyDeleteI admire people whose lifestyles differ from mine and yet agree to disagree with me without hate or cancel. Each of us has been given the freedom to live as we like on this earth. It's a blessing when everyone is allowed to believe what they want.
I may disagree with some people close to me. But I love them nonetheless. Jesus is the Truth, and He will set each of us free when we trust Him and obey Him. He transforms us from the inside out. Laws or lack of laws can't cancel God's love.
Blessings, dear brother. May our loved ones, friends, and neighbors turn to Jesus so their sin debts may be cancelled as ours were.
Dear Wendy, this post caused me grief as I wrote it. I don't understand the concept of turning against people because of disagreement. Sin has tortured people from the beginning and I understand this. The whole cancel culture, even encouraged by politicians and other people in leadership roles, is beyond me. Thank you for your comments, Wendy. :)
DeleteDearest Alan. My post (coming up) focuses on similar subject matter. Subjective truth is an epidemic in today's culture. Thank you for voicing your concerns.
ReplyDeleteHi Tracy! I will be praying your post is well received. :) Yes, this epidemic is indeed brutal as it is allowed to live. As God's people we have to be beyond such immature responses.
DeleteThere was cancel culture back in the first century. John chapter 9 was one such incident where a healed blind man was unsynagogued. We also have disfellowship in Islam, Hinduism, and other religions when people take up their cross and follow Christ. In my case, I was put in "Twitmo" for saying Leah Thomas is a man. Truth is what is, not what folks wish it would be. But being locked out of Twitter doesn't bother me as I rarely post there these days.
ReplyDeleteI hear you about cancel culture across religions, my friend. I haven't followed this Thomas guy, but I hope he gets help. I feel for people like him, but I don't buy into his narrative, at all.
DeleteSome aspects of culture these days re-emphasize the words of Paul in 2 Thessalonian 2:11 where people choose to believe a lie. I sorrow over the lies people choose to believe, even amongst those I know. There are many with these concerns, but we seem to be outshouted. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteDear Lorrie. I stand with you in this sorrow. Trying to outshout truth only impedes the way to truth for those who bought into the lie. Blessings to you, my friend.
DeleteThanks, Alan, for this honest heartfelt post. I wholeheartedly agree. No matter the person, I think it is of utmost importance to see each individual as God’s miraculous creation and to share with them the Truth, Jesus. Thank you.
ReplyDelete