In this day and age of social media, people can say whatever they want, about whatever they want, claiming whatever they want, and need no basis of fact for it. At the same time, if people disagree with what is said, they can troll those they disagree with by name-calling, labeling or boycotting. Doing this on social media is called canceling. It’s the cancel culture. Free speech is OK so long as you don’t say anything against what certain people believe. A real live example of cancel culture may be the tearing down of historic statues to “deconstruct” American history. Protesters are also targeting Christian symbols for destruction because they believe the monuments represent “white supremacy.” Where does it end?

In his July 4 speech at Mt Rushmore, President Trump addressed the cancel culture movement, saying, “Angry mobs are trying to tear down statues of our Founders, deface our most sacred memorials, and unleash a wave of violent crime in our cities. Many of these people have no idea why they are doing this, but some know exactly what they are doing… One of their political weapons is “Cancel Culture” — driving people from their jobs, shaming dissenters, and demanding total submission from anyone who disagrees. This is the very definition of totalitarianism, and it is completely alien to our culture and our values, and it has absolutely no place in the United States of America.

He continued, “In our schools, our newsrooms, even our corporate boardrooms, there is a new far-left fascism that demands absolute allegiance. If you do not speak its language, perform its rituals, recite its mantras, and follow its commandments, then you will be censored, banished, blacklisted, persecuted, and punished. It’s not going to happen to us. Make no mistake: this left-wing cultural revolution is designed to overthrow the American Revolution. In so doing, they would destroy the very civilization that rescued billions from poverty, disease, violence, and hunger, and that lifted humanity to new heights of achievement, discovery, and progress.”

This political intolerance and ideological bigotry is designed to end America as we know it. Marxism always results in totalitarianism.

We, as Christians, are in a battle over the soul of society. Cancel culture and the current rebellion against freedom of speech and religion are examples of where all this is headed. The standard of Christ is being shaken in this nation like never before. We cannot be absent in this debate. We need to speak truth in love and stand for what is right.

As Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:19-20, “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in chains: that in this I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Let’s not wait until we are in chains, for then it may be too late.

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Many people have told me that they have disconnected from the news because it is all so bad that they just cannot handle it. The loudest, most brash, biggest bullies, and filthiest name-callers all seem to rise to the top of the media coverage with their version of the latest issue. The next problem is bigger than the one before, and they seem to be building on one another far faster than we can mentally process them. There are those who predict the end of America. Others say judgment has come. Still others are oblivious to anything but their daily schedule. But they all feel the frustration. It is like a demonic spirit that has engulfed our nation and is strangling its good sense. In this time, remember who you are.

If you are a follower of Christ, the Messiah, then you know his promise. The entire Bible is given to us as the word of God, as is Jesus Christ. In Christ is our salvation, and in the Bible is instruction on how we are to work out our salvation here on earth.

Jesus said in Matthew 10:28, “And fear not them who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

The promise of eternal life, knowing the end game (so to speak) should give us all the confidence to speak boldly as we ought to speak and having done all, to stand.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:6 “…see that you are not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”

Isaiah 54:17 says, “No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, says the LORD.”

Likewise, Isaiah 33:14-16 says, “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness has surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walks righteously, and speaks uprightly; he that despises the gain of oppressions, that keeps his hands from the holding of bribes, that stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the fortresses of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.”

As the LORD says, your heritage–your prophetic place–is in his righteousness, and it is you who shall have a place of defense in the fortress of rocks, dwelling on high with bread and water.

Do not be overwhelmed by the things of this world. As Paul said in Romans 12:21, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Let’s not sit around wringing our hands over the unrighteous, but rather seize our place in the righteousness of the LORD. You don’t have to be enslaved by oppression–it has no authority over you. So stand in that gap. Be that royal priesthood. Obey God rather than man, for the night is far spent and the day is at hand. Cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light, and let your light so shine.

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