Have you found yourself in discussions with co-workers, suddenly to realize they hold values antithetical to your Christian faith, and sadly, are now rejecting not just your values but you?
Hi, I’m Rex Rogers and this is episode #195 of Discerning What Is Best, a podcast applying unchanging biblical principles in a rapidly changing world, and a Christian worldview to current issues and everyday life.
One of the more helpful books I’ve read in the last few years is Christians in a Cancel Culture: Speaking with Truth and Grace in a Hostile World (2021) by Joe Dallas. In some ways, the title is confusing. Sure, Dallas talks about what’s come to be known as “cancel culture,” but mostly the book addresses controversial issues and how to respond to them.
So, you probably think, Oh, politics again, and of course Dallas can’t speak to social controversies without noting recent political developments. But this book is not about politics.
The author says this book was written to answer the question, “How do we stand?” when charged with homophobia, sexism, transphobia, and judgmentalism, or being unloving, anti-women, anti-gay, or anti-progress.
So, this book is not so much about politics as relationships, how to acquire, maintain, develop, encourage, and winsomely, lovingly speak into relationships with people who either represent, i.e., meaning “identify” with one of these categories, or fiercely defend the morality or rights of others representing these categories.
The author says, “gone are the days of Bible-believing Christians living an unchallenged faith, because the land we once viewed as a comfortable home is becoming foreign territory, barely recognizable to those of us who remember other times.”
One of Dallas’s greatest concerns, with which I whole-heartedly agree, is the Christian community or specifically the Church’s temptation to minimize the importance of doctrines that are critical to the faith but offensive to the world. Sometimes, humanly, our desire to get along is greater than our desire to obey.
“Hence we cave, not only by refusing clarity when it’s called for, but by accepting the world’s counsel on which sins we may openly classify and which practitioners of sin we must openly pacify.”
But Dallas succinctly reminds us: “Truth first; niceness second.” “To preach the gospel we have to speak the truth about man’s sinful nature and his need for salvation” “To make disciples we have to instruct them in sound doctrine”
Cancel culture zealots value purity above all else; if you hold values they deem unacceptable you will be rejected with hostility, because you are a threat.
But Christians must not do as surrounding culture, i.e., Lev 18:3, Ps 1:1, Jn 15:18, Mark 8:38. We are to love others, respect them, but never let them tell us what to believe or practice or say. They are loved but they are not the Lord.
Cancel culture is here so we must be prepared: Ready always to give an answer 1 Pet. 3:15. Speak the truth in love Eph. 4:15. Be salt and light Matt. 5:13-16. Be wise as serpents, harmless as doves Matt. 10:16. Act as ambassadors for Christ 2 Cor. 5:20. Contend earnestly for the faith Jude 3.
Illustrations abound of family loved ones rejecting other family members, including parents because the others and parents hold the so-called “wrong” or “judgmental” views that, though based on Scripture and have always been what they believed, now are considered unacceptable. So, the prodigal rejects their own family as the enemy.
This is very difficult to handle emotionally. It can create ongoing division, hurt, and awkward family outings, and too, sadness over the prodigal’s lost opportunities to engage, be blessed, and experience an abundant Christian life.
I’ve seen this many times. A family holds biblical views of, for example, homosexuality, considering the practice immoral.Then, soon after a loved one “comes out” as gay, other family members change their views to “affirming” and “accepting.” They allow relationships to trump theology.
But, for all the pressure to accommodate, we are not to give in to cancel culture but walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Eph 5:15-16.
However, we should be ready for the fact that “whenever truth is told, someone is inconvenienced.” And as Christians who believe the Bible, we must understand that we will experience reproach because we share Jesus’ truth. But with an eternal perspective on reproach and reward we can accept whatever comes with speaking the truth.
This is our culture today: “Belief in the exclusivity of Jesus is viewed as discriminatory, Belief in hell is viewed as archaic, Belief in man’s sinfulness is viewed as self-loathing and judgmental, Belief in normalcy of male/female sexual union is viewed as homophobic, Belief in the immutable nature of our assigned sex is viewed as transphobic, and Belief in the value of the unborn is viewed as misogynistic.”
“Today, human feelings being hurt are interpreted as human rights being trampled.”
“Holding to truth can put you in a very lonely place.” “Family members who know better accuse you of harming them by simply continuing to be who we’ve always been.” “We can know we’re right, but that doesn’t eliminate the hurt we feel over the rejection or the anger we feel over the injustice…Fidelity to truth brings peace, but it won’t eliminate pain.”
The first five chapters of this book looks at cancel culture trends. It’s an excellent review with considerable insight and recommendations on “How to stand” in this culture.
But what I really appreciate about this book and why I said it’s about relationships, is that each of the next five chapters, examining abortion, homosexuality, race, transgenderism and Progressive Christianity, conclude with three sections: Keep In Mind, Keep It Biblical, Keep It Going.
These three sections contain statements we are likely to hear if we discuss any of these topics with people who disagree with our Christian values. For example, “Gay Christians exist and should be recognized as brothers and sisters in Christ,” or “I’ve always felt I was in the wrong body,” or “Your resistance to admitting our white privilege is evidence of white fragility,” or “Same-sex marriage is as good as straight marriage,” or “Plenty of women who’ve had abortions say they’re glad they did and that their lives took a much better course as a result” or “Telling people they are sinful is emotionally damaging to them.”
In response to these questions, and many others, Dallas provides 3-5 real-world, biblical, informed, compassionate answers. In other words, he provides us with ways to engage others who disagree, often vigorously, with our values, stating truth but stating it in a manner that does not attack, accuse, demean, or disrespect the other person made in the image of God. This is where he maximizes our chances for relationship.
Dallas is also concerned with what might be called doctrinal drift within the evangelical church. He cites Alisa Childers article listing signs your church might be heading toward Progressive Christianity: 1-lowered view of the Bible, 2-feelings emphasized over facts, 3-essential Christian doctrines open to reinterpretation, 4-historical terms redefined, 5-heart of the gospel message shifting from sin and redemption to social justice.
If your church is flirting with any of these trends, you need to engage the pastor in discussion. If he will not acknowledge these trends, defends or promotes them, and will not change, then you have a difficult choice to make. You likely need to change churches, and while this is not easy to do, it is a must if you wish to continue to know the truth and make it known.
“God is not mocked. We are still more than conquerors. The truth cannot be canceled by even the most aggressive culture. Our foundation is still the solid rock. Some of us may be silenced. But the Word will not, and He will not.”
Well, we’ll see you again soon. This podcast is about Discerning What Is Best. If you find this thought-provoking and helpful, follow us on your favorite podcast platform. Download an episode for your friends. For more Christian commentary, check my website, r-e-x-m as in Martin, that’s rexmrogers.com. Or check my YouTube channel @DrRexRogers for more podcasts and video.
And remember, it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm.
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