Cancel Culture - Thought Police - Censorship
Corruption, iniquity, evil, sin, has existed since the Garden of Eden; and, it will continue till God annihilates this world and time shall be no more.
Cancel Culture, Thought Police, Censorship are all expressions to describe the political and social climate that has gained a foothold among us today. According to Wikipedia. org, “Cancel culture (or call-out culture) is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles —either online on social media, in the real world, or both. Those who are subject to this ostracism are said to be ‘canceled’.”
Definition
• Merriam-webster.com: “The practice or tendency of engaging in mass canceling as a way of expressing disapproval and exerting social pressure; also: the people who engage in or support this practice.”
• Dictionary.cambridge.org: “To completely reject and stop supporting someone because they have said or done something that offends you.”
• Urbandictionary.com: “It is caused by a critical mass of people who are quick to judge and slow to question.”
What Is The Goal Of The “Cancel Culture”
Cancel culture seeks to nullify and abolish all opposing voices, especially conservative voices. It voids (terminates, shuts down, refuses a platform) those who would dare question the practice and position of the far left. Liberalism, Marxism is their desperate cry. Everything goes. Everything must be allowed. Don’t claim there is such a thing as “right and wrong.” With them, their thinking is the only right way and anyone who opposes their way must be canceled — silenced at all cost!
Cancel culture seeks to shut down all voices of conservative expression. Tragically, they are very successful in doing so. Conservative voices have been canceled from social media outlets (internet apps, TV, newspapers, radio, etc). Conservative voice has been canceled from speaking on University campuses. The practice of the day is to tell everyone, don’t investigate, don’t question, don’t examine, don’t scrutinize, move on, move on, go away, there’s nothing to see here! Their greatest fear is that people will actually open their eyes and examine what’s going on. They not only fear Truth, they hate it. Truth always refutes and dispels error. They don’t want anyone thinking for themselves.
The Concept Of “Cancel Culture”
“Cancel culture” arises from those who consider themselves to be in control of all things that are “acceptable” and “not acceptable.” They “shame” (cancel) anyone, everyone, who does not hold the same opinion as theirs. In this respect, they are “Thought Police.” If you don’t think like they think, you’re not simply ignored as one having a different opinion. In their eyes, your thoughts and voice must be shut down, canceled, terminated! You have no right to your opinion because they consider your opinion dangerous and that it must to be silenced.
Even American history is being “canceled” and rewritten to suit this corrupt and wicked agenda. It is a progressive operation that seeks to destroy our entire history and culture. This makes the time in which we live a very troublesome period. But, on the other hand, has there ever been a time in history that was not troublesome? Corruption, iniquity, evil, sin, has existed since the Garden of Eden; and, it will continue till God annihilates this world and time shall be no more.
We Only Have Three Directions
There are three directions one may choose in life, but only one of the three is THE WAY that is approved by the eternal God of heaven who made heaven and earth.
• There’s God’s way.
• There’s the way to the left of God’s way
• There’s the way to right of God’s way.
Think of a grandfather clock. 12 o’clock is the way that leads to heaven. Every way to the left of 12 and every way to the right of 12 is wrong. It doesn’t matter with the devil whether one chooses the left or the right, both are wrong. It doesn’t matter if you stray off the road to the left or to the right, you’re in the ditch either way.
LEFT is the word that describes the way that does not respect God’s rule of law. It’s the way that takes “liberties” with the Scriptures. This way refuses to be bound by the restrictions God has made. It “takes away” from God’s law.
RIGHT is the word that describes the way that goes beyond God’s rule of law. They basically believe the Scriptures, but they go further and make their own laws and regulations and bind them upon men as if it was God’s law. This way “adds to” God’s law.
What Does The Scriptures Say?
We are given warning in the Scriptures not to depart to the right or to the left. Moses revealed God’s instructions unto Israel: “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them . ... Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left” (Deut. 5:1-32). This precept is pointed out again and again (Deut. 17:11,20; 28:13-14; Josh. 1:7; 23:6)
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the “left” of the strait and narrow way God has legislated (cf. Matt. 7:13-14). They repudiate and reject the “God’s way” and have gone the way of Balaam who loved the wages of unrighteousness (2 Peter 2:15). “Cancel culture” has become the word that describes their wickedness. Because of current events, they have seized the opportunity to rally their gang in a concerted effort to silence the voices of those who seek to maintain the “right way” of God!
Freedom Of Speech Under Attack
Cancel culture diminishes and seeks to stamp out “freedom of speech.” Under the banner of Progressivism, conservative YRLFHV WKDW FDOO IRU D fiUP VWDnG IRU GHFHnFy, PRUDOLWy, DnG
righteousness, is being silenced at every turn. It has gained a foot hold with many because they have been brainwashed into thinking that God’s way is not valid. God’s Word quells their freedom to do as they please. They don’t want anyone telling them that what they’re doing is sinful. They seek to silence everything righteous.
Canceling, silencing, muzzling, annulling, God’s true and holy word is nothing new. What is going on now has been going on through the ages.
Canceling God’s Word
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In Genesis 2:16-17 we read: “The LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:16-17). The devil came along and told Eve: “Ye shall not surely die” (Gen. 3:4) — thereby canceling God’s word.
But, In Reality, Who Can Cancel The Word’s Of God?
Jehoiakim (king of Judah) did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 23:37). He refused to hear the word of God because it wasn’t favorable to him. The Lord had given warning: “It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin” (Jer. 36:3). However, when God’s word was read in Jehoiakim’s presence “...he cut it with the penknife, and cast it LnWR WKH fiUH...unWLO DOO WKH UROO wDV FRnVuPHG Ln WKH fiUH .... YHW
they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words” (Jer. 36:2324). The king commanded that Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet be taken captive, “but the Lord hid them.”
God’s word was canceled —so the king thought! However, God commanded Jeremiah to write again all the words that Jehoiakim had burned (v.28). “Therefore thus saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost. And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not” (vs. 29-31). God’s word wasn’t canceled after all was it? The Lord God almighty will do the same, not only as he did to that generation, but all in every generation who refuse his word by seeking to cancel it!
The word Micaiah the prophet proclaimed was canceled by king Ahab. When the king wanted to go against Syria in battle, 450 false prophets told him he would succeed. But when Jehoshaphat the king of Judah ask if there were any other prophets of which they could enquire, Ahab said there is one, but “I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil” (1 Kings 22:1-8). When Micaiah was summoned he told Ahab the truth from God: “I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil” (1 Kings 22:17-18)?
Ahab canceled what Micaiah said and put him in prison. He believed the false prophets, went into battle, and was killed. “So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria. And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake” (vs.37-38).
Why Won’t People Listen To God?
Why won’t people listen to God’s everlasting word? Isaiah the prophet wrote God’s word from heaven: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isa. 55:8-11). It never pays to cancel the holy Scriptures. Actually, it can’t be done and escape the consequences.
Have You Obeyed The Gospel Of Jesus Christ?
It is our sincere desire and prayer that you obey the gospel today and be saved. Remember the words of Jesus, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:21-23).
The words of Jesus teach us that to become a Christian one must:
• Hear the gospel (John 6:44-45)
• Believe in Jesus as the Christ (John 8:24)
• Repent of all sins (Luke 13:3)
• Confess Christ as Lord (Matthew 10:32-33)
• And be baptized to be saved (Mark 16:16)
• After baptism remain faithful to God. (Matthew 10:22)
If we do just what our Lord commanded we know that our salvation is certain and we will hear Him say “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21). Let us go back to the Bible, back to Christ and His church and do exactly what He commanded. Please let us help you in your obedience to the gospel before it is eternally too late.
[This material is presented by the members of the Northside church of Christ - 700 Jolly Road, NW - Calhoun, Georgia 30701. If you would like to have a Bible Study or discuss this subject further please contact one of our elders; Kent Bailey at 706-6296111 - Ron Hall at 770-548-3167 - Eddie Jones at 706-264-2651]