‘I love Jesus = Cancelled’

Have you ever shared your testimony or posted a Bible verse and you are told, ‘Why would you say that?’ or ‘Works for you, won't for me’. The next thing you know, you get blocked or your follower count drops. That's cancellation.

Cancel culture refers to the idea of ‘cancelling’ someone who doesn’t agree with you. A frequent occurrence on social media, cancelling a person is meant to be a punishment for a perceived wrong opinion.

But, there are a few examples of how as Christians, we (unwittingly!) may be part of the problem, too. For example, you know a friend is overthinking their career and life and you see it as an opportunity to introduce the hope of God. You send them a lot or a few scriptures about God's plan for our lives. The next thing you know is BOOM, they ask you not to be weird or make fun of their situation.

Or, you know someone in a toxic relationship who has set a low bar for their dating life. Now they want to get out and so you encourage them to, ‘Take a step of faith’ and break up. They think you're irrelevant.

Or, you invited somebody from work to church, and now you haven't heard from them because they think you're too ‘religious’.

Like the Samaritan woman who encountered Jesus, we, too, take the message forward because of the sheer joy and freedom we have experienced! Then how does one navigate the ‘cancellation’? Consider these:

1. Think of Matthew 16:24. Following Christ requires us to count the cost. Are we willing to let go of our self-respect, image and opportunities and GET CANCELLED? Jesus didn’t hesitate to ‘get cancelled’ when it came to our salvation.
2. When you share the Gospel, do what Jesus did when he spoke to the Samaritan woman. She came to draw water. He entered into her context and asked for water to drink. He created and awaited the opportunity to speak.
3. Share the Gospel through your story. Start the conversation by asking a simple question. Then listen to them – not to reply but to really know them. And then don’t just share your testimony from 5 years ago but share a fresh story from two weeks ago.
4. Avoid Christian-ese. Find a vocabulary that is accessible to people.
5. Stick to your role. When you plant the seed of the Gospel, trust God to bring someone to water it. It is God’s job to make it grow.

Remember,

God's Peace > World's treasure

God's Fact > Satan’s fiction

Christ > Cancellation

Prayer: Father, I thank you for the gift of salvation you've given me. Help me stay bold to share your gospel and love even in the face of every cancellation and rejection. I know you are greater than all I face. Have your way through me. I am yours! In Jesus' name. Amen.