What Happens When We Are Canceled?

What Happens When We Are Canceled?

Greg Chandler
Endurance, Prayer, Persecution, Trust

If you do not stay up to date on pop-culture slang, you may be unfamiliar with the terms woke and cancel culture. Though definitions vary, the primary meaning of woke involves maintaining social awareness and the primary idea behind cancel culture is to silence anyone whose opinions are not considered woke; thus, they are deemed unfit for public consumption or consideration. Recent months have seen a plethora of people in the public eye scorned and mocked for having opinions at variance with the woke crowd. While this may seem a rather new concept to a nation whose Constitution enshrines the idea of freedom of speech, it is a concept well-known to those who seek to follow the New Testament as their model for both church and individual decisions and behavior. Primitivists, just as their 1st-century Christian counterparts, are aware of what it means to be canceled.

Things Involved in Service

Things Involved in Service

Dee Bowman
Service, Selflessness, Worldliness

Service is serving--sometimes voluntarily, sometime involuntarily. In service one is enslaved to someone or something--sometimes voluntarily, sometimes involuntarily. Slavery is not all bad. For instance, Paul, inspired by the Spirit, said, “being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:18). One may be freed from one slavery, but he will inevitably be brought under the control of another slavery. The black people who were made free by The Emancipation Proclamation, were not free to do as they pleased. They ceased being mere chattel for their masters; but they were brought under the laws of the land. If one is free from righteousness, he is the slave of sin; if he is freed from sin, he becomes the servant of God. Everyone serves someone.

Five Exhortations from Paul

Five Exhortations from Paul

Eric Hamilton
Resilience, Faith

The Corinthian church faced many different challenges presently and in the future, as all churches do. Whether it be from conflicts and disagreements within the church, the ensnaring nature of sin, or the threat of persecution, the church is and will be threatened by a variety of attacks that threaten to upend its walk with God. In the face of such troubles, Paul exhorted the Corinthians to do these five things.

The Inward Danger of Hypocrisy

The Inward Danger of Hypocrisy

Greg Chandler
Hypocrisy

It is likely that each reader has been hurt by a hypocrite. It is also quite likely that each has played the hypocrite and hurt others. Hypocrisy’s English etymology springs from two parts – hypo and krei – which, when combined, mean to “under discriminate.” Its Greek origin comes from a word meaning to “answer a fellow-actor.” Together, these ideas demonstrate one whose false appearance results in using a lesser standard of judgment for self than for others. Therefore, Jesus warned about the dangers of playing the hypocrite: “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5 ESV).

Let the Lower Lights Be Burning, Part 2

Let the Lower Lights Be Burning, Part 2

Greg Chandler
Selflessness, Encouragement

Loneliness is a terrible feeling that is easily exacerbated by difficulties or losses. Few of us could honestly say that we have never experienced this feeling, even though we have many people around us. Loss of loved ones, disappointments with family members, and disputes with brethren are only a few situations that can bring us to join the prophet Elijah in saying, “I alone am left.” It is for this very reason that God has filled the pages of the Bible with both commands to encourage and examples of encouragers.

Familiarity Is Not Faith

Familiarity Is Not Faith

Noble Harber
Trust, Faith

Following the captivity of Israel by Assyria in 722 BC, Judah remained intact for several years. Unfortunately, during those years, Judah did not view the plight of their northern neighbor as a lesson from which to learn. Instead of recognizing the connection of Israel’s sinfulness with Israel’s ultimate demise, Judah continued to forsake the Lord and follow their own desires.

Time

Time

Greg Chandler
Perseverance, Obedience, Patience

When one becomes a Christian, the concept of time changes and produces a rather oxymoronic situation: While there is a keen knowledge that the grave is coming and that every opportunity in this life should be seized for God’s glory, there is also the realization that the people of God have transitioned to eternal life.

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