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The concept of “cancel culture” is not new. Only the term is new. It existed in the time of Jesus and in earlier cultures. Its origin can be traced back to the Garden of Eden after the first man and woman ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Over the years, it’s evolved into a form of religious, political, and social control to effect major cultural change or to resist such change. The idea of cancel culture is a way of moralizing certain beliefs and values.
Cancel culture can range from somewhat innocuous political correctness to wholesale government regime change. Some foundational elements include blame, shame, lies, repetition of untruths, and shouting down others. Unchecked, the cancel-culture mindset can spread and become weaponized.
The early church experienced this under the Roman Empire—a brutal, idolatrous, and corrupt culture. Persecution was based on an absurd charge. Because the early followers of Jesus refused to worship Caesar, they were considered atheists.
The animosity of the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders infected the nation of Israel with the eventual result of demanding the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It was justified by their religious beliefs and false moral authority.
Scripture
Until they talked to the man’s parents, the Jews didn’t believe that the man had been blind and had been given sight. They asked his parents, “Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? Why can he see now?”
His parents replied, “We know that he’s our son and that he was born blind. But we don’t know how he got his sight or who gave it to him. You’ll have to ask him. He’s old enough to answer for himself.” [vss 18-21]
(His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. The Jews had already agreed to put anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ out of the synagogue. That’s why his parents said, “You’ll have to ask him. He’s old enough.”) [vss 22-23]
(John 9:18-23 GW)
Key phrase—
His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews.
Digging Deeper...
Review the Scriptures above as you answer the following questions
What did the Jewish leaders not believe?
Who did they want to talk with and why them?
How did the parents of the blind man who was healed respond to the Jewish leaders’ questions?
Why did they respond this way?
Reflection...
The Jewish leaders give us a good example of what unbelief is and why it is dangerous. Unbelief is not a lack of faith or even doubt. Unbelief is an unwillingness to believe.
The Jews were invested in their own religious authority. They saw Jesus as a threat. He didn’t fit their expectations of what a Messiah should be. The Jews’ religious power eventually swayed the Jewish people to reject Jesus as their Messiah (Christ).
The Jews wielded their religious authority as political power even though Israel was governed and occupied by the Roman Empire. They refused to believe Jesus was the Messiah sent by God, so they intimidated others from believing this. It was never about truth or moral goodness. It was always about power.
Using religion to manipulate and control others wasn’t a Jewish innovation. It was used for centuries before the Jews existed and long after the Jews’ rejection of Jesus.
Sadly, religious control and manipulation have been used in the name of Jesus down through the centuries by every sect of Christianity, even as an excuse for murder.
This is a history lesson we can learn from. Religious or spiritual authority in any form should never be used to intimidate, control, or manipulate people. Never.
When religion or spiritual authority is politicized or weaponized in any way, it becomes a rejection of Jesus as the Messiah—the king of the Kingdom of God.
Taking it to heart...
Read through the Scripture text again as you consider and answer these questions
How did the Jewish leaders treat the parents of the blind man?
Why were the blind man’s parents afraid to answer the Jews in a direct way?
Can you see how the Jewish leaders’ intimidation brought separation between these parents and their son?
Have you ever been intimidated or manipulated by religious leaders or those who have some type of spiritual authority?
Do you understand the difference between unbelief and doubt?
Personalize it...
Meditate On This— Unbelief is not a lack of faith or even doubt but an unwillingness to believe. Religious or spiritual authority in any form should never be used to intimidate, control, or manipulate people. We need genuine faith and spiritual discernment to keep ourselves from being controlled or manipulated by others.
Prayer Focus— If and when you experience some form of religious or spiritual intimidation, control, or manipulation, ask God for spiritual discernment and wisdom—trust in the Lord above all. Ask the Lord for insight and understanding of His written Word and guidance by His Spirit.
©2021—Word-Strong
