Tag: Cancel culture

Posted in Bible Journaling, Evangelism, Leadership, Life Inspiration, Word of God, worship

The First Cancel Culture Target

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on The First Cancel Culture Target

It’s Saturday morning, and I’m off to a slow start. I was sick much of the day yesterday, (just a belly bug) nothing major, but I slept most, if not all of yesterday evening, right into this morning and then stayed in bed until 6 a.m. Oh my stars! Half the day is gone. That is really how I feel when I sleep until 6 a.m. Morning is my best “thinking” time. But here we are at 6:55 and I have a few thoughts on my mind about getting to know Jesus better. He knows me inside and out. Every hair on my head and what hair products I use. He knows that I’ve struggled with ADD-oss) Attention Deficit Disorder Oooooo Something shiny! That’s a real thing, but the only prescription for it is more online shopping. It doesn’t cure it, it just pre-occupies you to the point of not noticing what someone else has that you might need. Jesus also knows that I have a real problem staying tuned into Him when I’m so focused on me. 

So this morning I decided that I would think, and ponder what it is that made Jesus the first ever “cancel culture” target.  Cancel culture wasn’t a phrase back then, but it was certainly a social norm in the Pharisee and Sadducee circle. They wouldn’t even consider the possibility that He was who He said He was. Why? Why have such a closed mind in what was written in Bible prophecy?

Micah 5:2 KJVS

[2] But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

They knew  it. They had God’s word as proof, and yet they still wanted to cancel Him.

They Wanted to Cancel Dinner

Bethlehem signifies “the house of bread”, and a proper place for Christ to be born in, who is the bread of life; 

John 6:35 KJVS

[35] And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Ponder that for a second as a child of God. This morning I had lemon cake for breakfast. Not the breakfast of champions but it was tasty. And while that filled the hunger in my belly from no supper last night, it’s not the hunger that Christ refers to. That “ooooo something shiny” nature in me that I continually fight, was truthful filled the day that Christ came into my heart. I’m just a slow learner and weak vessel when it comes to pretty stuff. But when it comes to “needing” things in life. Christ fulfilled my every desire spiritually. I love being a child fo God. And I love having His Spirit within me that causes me to love like He loved. Even people that the flesh would like to slap in the mouth. But Jesus causes me to see them as God does. Which helps me better understand the Pharisees and Sadducees that the world had gotten a hold of. They weren’t Spirit lead leaders, they were self lead and worldly minded leaders. Just like we have today. They wanted no part of a Jesus who could provide for the people, both physically and spiritually. They likely knew that would cut into their treasuries. So they in effect tried to cancel supper for everyone! 

They wanted to Cancel Livelihood

Bethlehem was a place of pasture which we know from the shepherds watching their flocks by night in Luke 2:8

I don’t think it was happenstance that the angels came to the shepherds, the lowest of the low in the economic side of life in that day. In the times of scripture being written they were so little trusted that a shepherd’s testimony would not be accepted in a courtroom. Most shepherds were considered on a par with Gypsies, vagrants, and con men. Add to that the fact that shepherds were on the lowest rung of the economic ladder and had little or no formal education. Why would the Bible scholars of the day have even considered them as worthy testimonies of the birth of Christ? Their testimony was canceled before it every made it’s way to the church. So now there’s two strikes against this man called Jesus. He’s born in the lowliest of towns, and testified of by the lowliest of people. 

For me that helps me to identify with the Lord and love Him all the more! Coming from small town West Virginia, being a gal of common work and being used in the Kingdom of God makes me weep with gratitude. God is sooooooooo good to me. Bring on the cancel culture! They didn’t cancel Jesus and they didn’t cancel the lowliest of shepherds, they only made their story that much greater. Please Jesus, let it be so in my ministry as well. Allow the words that You put in my soul to encourage many across they land. This lowly shepherd girl who loves caring for God’s sheep in Calhoun County, West Virginia. 

The world today would love to cancel our ability to take care of ourselves and cause us to rely on the government for our very livelihood. Be not deceived, the corona virus shut down had more to do with the disease of power than the flu.

They Wanted to Cancel God’s Word

Bethlehem Ephratah”, which was a small city, in the midst of the cities of Judah; and “although thou art little in the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall come forth unto me” a man, a ruler in Israel, “whose goings forth are from the days of old”; the meaning is, the goings forth of the family of that ruler are from the days of old; that is, from the seed of David, and a rod from the stem of Jesse, who was of Bethlehem Judah.

While on the surface they appeared to “worship God,” that was furthest from the truth. They had all the tools of the trade and the very of God written down in their hands, they didn’t believe or live it, and I have to wonder if they didn’t more so fear what they did read and know. After all, they were told that God would return one day and reign over His people. I think they’d have rather been their own boss, and that’s how they lived. Satan had convinced them that God’s word needed to be canceled and it would be done by canceling His Son.  But what Satan didn’t know was that the attempted cancellation only gave way to the un-canceling! 

Woohoo and glory to God in the highest! Does that put a shout in my soul!!! They couldn’t cancel the Creator. And as much as society tries today they cannot cancel the Spirit of God that is alive and well in His people. It is no small wonder that Jesus was the first and greatest cancel culture target and still continues to be. The power from His Spirit and His Word that is working through His people certainly has to be frustration to the cancel culture’s ego. They may have won small battles in the realm of Christianity but they have by no means won the war and we are proof! All of the “little people,” in the “little towns” who have the Risen Savior empowering them to continue sharing the word of God keeps us moving toward Heaven. And when we can no longer move in that direction it will be because we have arrived. Just wrote myself happy again!!!!

Posted in Bible Journaling, Church attendance, Evangelism

Cancel Culture, Curmudgeons and the Cross

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion 2 Comments on Cancel Culture, Curmudgeons and the Cross

So let me just preface today’s post by offering up a few statistics in America. 

The CDC says that if your are of the age of 0-70 you have a 99% survival rate if you contract the Covid. If you are over 70 the survival rate is nearly 95 percent. That being said, I realize (as an “at risk” person) that statistics are not just numbers, they’re real people with real families. I too have a real family that I wouldn’t want to receive a Covid diagnosis. But with that being said, I have real family that’s headed to Hell and I’m not blind or dumb. (No comments on the latter please)

According to a survey by the “Pew Report”, among adults who go to church regularly; 55% said their congregations place of worship is open with modifications, 21% said it is closed and 6% said it is open as normal prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. 45% of those surveyed said their house of worship required social distancing, 36% restricted attendance, 35% required masks, and 20% restricted singing. Online services are available through many churches for those fortunate to have the internet, but the percentage of elderly not being ministered to at all would be high if I were guessing. Meaning, don’t take my word for it, but I’ll bet I’m right. 

In looking through a list of business closures, a few states still have restrictions for businesses but most states have nothing formally in place, leaving it up to the common sense of their people. West Virginia is, of course, under a mask mandate. Please don’t get me started on a piece of paper preventing disease. You can disagree with me, it’s okay. 

Let’s face it, we’re all drastically effected by the virus and I believe that most of us are doing the best we can under the circumstances. But then there’s those doggone statistics at the beginning of this post. Only 1-5 percent of the relatively healthy population are at risk, and yet we’ve shut down our nation. Put schools and businesses out of business, closed nearly half of the churches in America. Something we’ve never done for the flu, and yet the flu does it’s share of damage to the American health every year. 

There’s a real virus, but that’s not what’s killing America. 

THE CANCEL CULTURE IS KILLING AMERICA

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 KJVS

[1] Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, [2] That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. [3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; [4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

It is unfortunate that I see many in the church being shaken. This post is not to discourage those at risk, who have opted to stay home because of the virus. But rather to encourage you and let you know that you are loved and prayed for. And I have a feeling that you would agree that your absence from the church has greatly affected you spiritually. We need that fellowship. That fellowship encourages us that we are not alone. It affords us the opportunity to physically feel the arms of Christ around us through His people. While cyber church is better than no church, it’s still not the same as in person church. The cancellation of fellowship is killing church attendance in a way that I fear will be permanent with many if we don’t get a handle on what we need to fear for the day of Christ is surely at hand. Is there not a falling away. Oh my stars. Is there ever!!! and it is so readily acceptable. This is just the way it is and there’s nothing we can do about it… ummm, I’m not so sure. And I’m going out kicking and screaming regardless. I’m tired of Satan messing with my people. He longs to be worshipped and if he cannot he desires to take away the worship of God. Hello COVID-19.

THE CURMUDGEONS ARE KILLING AMERICA

A curmudgeon is a bad tempered person, especially an old one. (i.e. ~ Pelosi, Schumer, etc) but old cranky people aren’t the only ones. Anyone who is ill tempered toward the people and purpose of God is a threat to America. 

Daniel 5:23 KJVS

[23] But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

Every religion in this country is accepted and respected with the exception of Christianity. Why do you think that is? It has not changed since the days of Daniel. Nor has the price. God will not be mocked by anyone, and especially a generation that grew up in the America where God was reverenced and feared. 

I have once again been blocked from singing at the nursing home. Believe me, I understand it and believe it is necessary for their safety. But it saddens my heart, for these are not the curmudgeons. They long to be with the people of God, and hear Him praised and sing His songs. It’s why when Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York demanded that nursing homes expose their residents to COVID-19, it made me so angry. His arrogance at causing 6500 deaths, and yet making money from a book of how he rescued his State, makes me want to puke. All the while America stands by and very few call him out. I think I’ll order the coffee cup from www.AndrewCuomoIsAwful.com. It won’t fix the stupidity, but it will be a reminder for me to pray about it. 

THE CROSS WILL SAVE AMERICA

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 KJVS

[17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

[18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

The only thing that’s going to save our Nation is the blood of Jesus Christ. There will be no political or worldly salvation, and Satan knows it. It’s why he is fueling the fires of anyone who comes against the church. He knows his time of evil is limited and this is a last ditch effort to take as many souls to Hell with him as he can. And liberal America has bought it hook, line and sinker. The justification of unchurching our Nation is pathetic. 

Paul knew what I know through wonderful teaching by mentors in my life. My words will not save anyone, but the word of God, that includes the cross, will save the world. Hallelujah! As long as we are on this earth, and Christ has yet to return, there is hope. But the reality is, He’s coming back and you, nor I, nor anyone is guaranteed one more breath. If you have not made a confession that Christ is Lord of all, that He died on the cross for the sins of all, and that He is now the Mediator and Intercessor for all, you need to take care of it now! If you know people who are lost (and we all do). Share Christ and the cross now!