Everyone should cancel something. I remember canceling my subscription to Sports Illustrated when it started publishing the swimsuit issue. I understand the marketing aspect of that issue. Sports Illustrated can make more money with the issue than without, so they’re willing to lose the lesser number of subscribers for the greater number. Sports Illustrated could stay in business. This isn’t canceling Sports Illustrated. They stay in business. I’ve canceled it, because it’s the right thing to do.
Amazon, the behemoth corporation, canceled a book by Ryan T. Anderson, that was published three years ago. Joe Biden becomes president and Anderson’s book, When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment, is canceled. Amazon suddenly wouldn’t allow it on. I understand, he can sell the book, but Amazon doesn’t own the internet. In particular, Amazon cancels a book, which isn’t politically correct. It cancels a point of view closer to a biblical view. Silencing a biblical point of view we would understand as persecution.
When you read the book of Acts and look at the history of persecution, you can see a rising trajectory. In Acts 2, opponents of the truth mocked the believers as drunk with new wine (Acts 2:13). Mockery is a root level persecution, but it also portends of things to come. We’re already to mockery in this country. It’s hard to make an exact comparison, because Rome and Palestine were not democracies or republics.
More than ever people think you’re silly for being a Christian. You see the look in their faces. This is especially in the big cities, the blue areas. It’s everywhere though especially related to true biblical Christianity. If you dress modest, carry a Bible, so that they know you’re a Christian, you are marginalized, excluded, and unfriended.
Second in Acts 4 was threatening. Authorities threatened the disciples about talking. Evangelism is more difficult. The Covid-19 has affected this. People are more emboldened to say you can’ talk to someone about the Lord if he doesn’t want it. I understand the laws about trespassing. I’ve been kicked out of two apartment complexes and threatened at another housing complex. We still have opportunities. I’ve noticed a difference, that’s what I’m saying.
The third step was imprisonment. This is when the government punishes someone. That’s happened too. I would compare this to government policy even short of throwing someone into jail like what occurred with Peter and John in Acts 4. This is the man in Colorado who wouldn’t bake a cake. This is a child punished in the public school for saying a biblical truth. This is the outlawing of biblical child discipline. This is the exclusion of biblical doctrine in the state schools.
Fourth in Acts 5 was beating. Peter and John were beaten for their testimony for Christ. Peter and John of course rejoiced because they were counted worthy to suffer for His name. The government is punishing people, but not with actual physical punishment. However, there is a threat of unofficial physical punishment for those who stand for the truth.
Fifth is the killing of first Stephen in Acts 7 and then James in Acts 12. Before that, Jesus was crucified. I think we’re a ways off from being put to death in the United States for preaching Christ. Maybe that won’t even come until the Antichrist reveals himself. Right now you’d be killed still in several other countries and the United States does not have a policy of standing for those people.
Cancel culture is religious persecution. It’s not at the level of beating and death, but it is in that trajectory, as seen in the book of Acts.
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