Giving People the Right to be Wrong

“Cancel Culture” is becoming predominant in our society. A main actress on a popular series was recently fired because of tweets that others viewed as offensive. A contestant on a long running reality show was cancelled because an old photo resurfaced of her wearing a coat with an image that is now considered unacceptable, and the host of the show was cancelled because he challenged her “cancellation”. Public figures and political leaders from the highest levels are being censored and banned from social media platforms. It’s even happening to social media platforms and news outlets. The list is growing. People’s lives are being destroyed not just for bad behavior but also for unpopular thought. 

How does Cancel Culture fit in view of the Cross? Tucked away in the last part of Romans 12 are three verses that indicate Paul’s view of Cancel Culture. 

“Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.”

Romans 12:16-18

Romans has been called the “Theological Treatise of the New Testament” in which the Apostle Paul lays out the major theological themes of the Gospel message. Romans can be divided into two sections: chapters 1-11 and chapters 12-16. The first set of chapters (1-11) are doctrinal by helping us understand what we need to know and believe, and the following chapters 12-16 are practical in showing us how we are to live in a way that honors God. Chapter 12 serves as the bridge between the two sections and summarizes how a transformed believer’s life should be different from the world. 

The phrase that catches my eye in the text above is “Respect what is right in the sight of all people.” What does that mean? While there are several nuances we could discuss, the context leads me to understand it to mean that we are to respect people even if we disagree with them. We are to give people the right to be wrong. 

The Gospel calls us to be respectful to people even when we disagree with their perspective and disapprove of their behavior.

Bruce Wilkinson says, “No one who believes a lie believes that the lie that they believe is a lie, or they wouldn’t believe it.” In other words, no one believes a lie on purpose. While many people lie intentionally, they know that they are lying. Yet the people they deceive believe that lie to be true. When given evidence, the deceived can be made to recognize the lie and begin to live in the light of what is true. Why is this important to consider? Because each one of us, at one time or another, have believed something that proved later to be untrue. Which one of us hasn’t done something in our past that was either wrong or, at best, foolish? Do we want to be cancelled or do we want to be afforded the right to be wrong? If we want the right to be wrong, shouldn’t we grant others the same privilege? 

“Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:19-21

At the core of Cancel Culture is a demand for vengeance. “They must pay!” But that’s not our job. When we think we have to make someone pay for their failures, we are taking on something that is way beyond our paygrade. It is God’s job alone to settle all scores. While He has established governmental authorities to administer His justice, it is ultimately God who will execute His judgement, and He will do so with a perfect balance of justice and mercy. Our job is to trust Him and stay out of His way. We get out of His way by blessing those we are tempted to cancel.

Finally, there is this:

“And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14 

The Gospel makes no room for us to cancel anyone because He cancelled sin for us. Isn’t that the point of the Gospel? All of us are screw-ups. We have all done dumb stuff and bad things that have hurt others. We have all believed wrong things and behaved badly. To put it in Biblical terms, we have all sinned and we all deserve to be cancelled. But God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins and restore us to a relationship with Him. 

Jesus didn’t cancel us, He cancelled our sins. 

He also cancelled their sins… the sins of those who are being cancelled and the sins of those who are doing the cancelling.

The blood of Jesus covers ALL sin, including the ones that wound or offend me.