Definition – The act of canceling, also referred to as cancel culture (a variant on the term “callout culture“), describes a form of boycott in which an individual (usually a celebrity) who has acted or spoken in a questionable or controversial manner is boycotted. (ref: Wikipedia)
Time and time again we have seen celebrities or influencers getting “canceled”. Someone can be canceled for something he/she said recently or 10+ years ago. In today’s post, I want to focus on 3 reasons why I don’t believe in cancel culture.
I SHOULD BE CANCELED
If cancel culture applies to everyone, then I should be canceled. I’ve talked about this on my YouTube channel, but I was a very different person in high school. I was angry and took my anger out on those around me. I was a bully. I have said things that I am ashamed of and have made some poor choices. However, through therapy and my faith, I now see how problematic my actions were. I have prayed for forgiveness and work every single day to be the best version of myself.
So should I be canceled? Do my actions from 10 years ago dictate my future? Am I allowed to make mistakes and learn from them? If I make a mistake tomorrow, do I deserve another chance?
JESUS WOULDN’T CANCEL YOU
First and foremost, I am a Christian. If you believe in God, you should be firmly against cancel culture. Look at the people in the Bible that Jesus showed kindness towards: prostitutes, adulterers, thieves, and so many other sinners! Whether you like it or not, we are all sinners.
“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7). If you read my first point and thought, “you definitely deserve to be canceled”, then let me ask this: have you ever done something worthy of cancellation? Every single person reading this right now should have answered “yes”. Unfortunately, humanity is imperfect. We are sinners, and only He can judge our sins. We are called to live like Jesus. We are called to forgive, to love, and to lead.
PEOPLE CAN CHANGE
This is always a touchy subject. Can people change? The first thing that comes to mind is “once a cheater, always a cheater”. Well, I can’t speak for everyone, but I can say without a doubt that I’ve changed.
I think the biggest issue with change is that you have to want to change. I wanted to go to therapy and battle my demons. I wanted to find a church community and grow my relationship with Christ. I wanted to be a better listener in order to improve my relationships. I could go on and on, but these were all choices. Change doesn’t just happen. If you are complacent or if you’re surrounded by people who enable your toxic behavior, then you will never change.
I truly believe that I am the best version of myself that I have ever been. Can I be better? OF COURSE! My advice: always look for ways to improve. If you don’t see anything, ask your friends and family. I promise that you can always improve. For example, I am currently trying to stop cursing :/ Tbh, it’s way more difficult than I thought it would be lol… but I am working towards it daily.
In conclusion, I challenge you to not enable cancel culture. Instead, you should educate, pray, forgive, extend grace, and lead with love. Xoxo
If you’re interested in watch my Bullying YouTube video:
I love this, Kelly. God says that we are forgiven. God’s Grace is good, not because we are, but because HE is.
Thank you for reading!