Our dogs love us, and have loyalty forever. Not so in politics and in today’s cancel culture. What will it take to bring healing to our nation, since everything in politics has spilled over into daily life? A lot of people are feeling stressed about the absence of civility and care. At large, there appears to be no easy solution. One side is voicing the idea of cancel culture and unwilling to dialogue on any subject. The other side feels side-lined and unheard, and increasingly anxious to do something. The concept of ‘loyalty‘ and ‘forever’ are not usually seen in the same context relating to this situation.
A simpler time
45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. 46 He said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and piled them in a heap, and they ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed. 48 Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” That is why it was called Galeed. 49 It was also called Mizpah, because he said, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.
Jacob and Laban had some major distrust issues. Laban had used and abused Jacob over several years as Jacob was trying to ‘earn’ a wife. Their came a time when Jacob had to get away from Laban’s influence. The scene above happened when Laban caught up to Jacob, and they had to work things out. I do not expect that the pile of stones provided loyalty forever, but it provided an anchor of hope that they could build on.
The witness heap
A ‘witness heap’ was a way to provide an anchor point for a place of trust between people. In a similar way, we need to find an anchor point between the people of the left and the people of the right. There is an answer. Over everything, we have God. If we allow one of our personal goals to be focused on trust, we might be able to find a way.If I decide that only I can judge right and wrong, I am pushing God out of the picture. In that case, the only judge of my right or wrong becomes myself. Right and wrong become relative to what I think is appropriate. If I was overly selfish or limited in my perspective, I could easily be on the wrong side of goodness – most of the time. I could not be trusted, and I doubt I would trust others.
Side note – what is cancel culture?
Cancel culture is the idea of promoting a “canceling” of people, brands, or even shows and movies due to what some consider to be offensive or problematic remarks or ideologies. Canceled things have demonstrated something as a racist, homophobic or bigoted view and as a result cannot be tolerated.- Both sides of the issue are only expressing an opinion.
- In a country where free speech is allowed, any attempt to cancel is an attempt to shut down a constitutional right. It should not be happening.
There is only one solution to prevent cancel culture. We need to make it socially unacceptable and thereby allow us to get back to free speech. Dialogue is a solution, not a social killer.
Loyalty Forever
The point of having an anchored view of God first will never be a part of cancel culture. Our anchor point of doing what’s right, and in being trusted, stems from our God. First and foremost, we need to start with that perspective. If we put God first and allow Him to help us decide on our next course of action, things will go well. 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:32-34
