02/02/2026
I am preparing to teach 1 & 2 Timothy later this month in my next Bible study offering, and I am deeply moved by Paul’s treatise in 1 Timothy 1 about the false teachers — He identifies them as teachers who are stirring up speculations, arguments, and division in the body by teaching “strange doctrines” (which I understand to be contrary to the Gospel), as well as mythologies, genealogies, and ultimately tied to their pride-filled desire to actually be TEACHERS of the LAW!
As I read this, I cannot help but think of the current state of both Christian Celebrity Leader Culture AND, by extension, the OPPOSITE EXTREME: Christian CALL OUT Cancel Culture. Both extremes are dangerous because they lead us astray from the overflowing love of God found in His Gospel, the pure heart motives governed by moral integrity and a clean conscience, and a sincere faith that results in heart change and genuine belief in Christ’s truth that transforms and frees us.
So why would we prefer to listen to the latest Call Out or clamor to our favorite preachers, teachers, and… MOVEMENT. Why would we not desire to help people seek that love, pure heart, and sincerely faith-filled response? A response that results in secure attachment to a loving Father who not only heals, but also strengthens, redeems, and completes us. Why do we cling to the cancel culture call outs that also function outside the parameters of scripture in their response. Teaching the law over grac,e and questioning repentance when it is being walked out publicly.
I do believe that some of this is necessary, but those who seem to be smug and glorying in the fall of others. That smacks me all kinds of wrong ways.
I do call for elders, leaders, and pastors across the body of Christ to examine their hearts, and the actions of their leaders. To publicly repent of ungodly actions and policies that injure people and protect leaders and abusers within the body of Christ. But, I am not going to bash them and then bash them again and again. Like some I have seen. My heart aches and breaks on every side of this conversation. For the victims, for the body of Christ which is suffering as one part suffers so we all suffer, and for those leaders who have been led astray in this western culture institutional church that is rapidly becoming an old wineskins that is being destroyed by new wine.
The pride of standing on the street corner and beating our chests saying we are not like those sinners over there must end.
All this muck and mire being exposed in the church? Leaves us stuck, damaged, divided and victimized.
Lord, have mercy and bring healing to Your and forgive us when we know not what we do.
I’m weary of the arguments, speculations, accusations, and divisive nature of if you don’t see this the way I do you must be evil. Weary. Does it mean leaders or abusive individuals harming the body should not be called out? Absolutely not… But when we are smug, arrogant, and outright unashamedly opposing individuals because we disagree on doctrines that are secondary to the Gospel — the
Laws of our interpretations of scripture apart from Christ — I believe we have missed the mark.
We must protect the vulnerable, abused, and exploited, but we also must protect unity within the body of Christ. And so much of what is happening in the Christian Celebrity and Call Out Cancel Culture is speculation, argumentative, unkind. Law-based judgments, and unloving triggered activism that needs to STOP. FULL STOP.
In Jeremiah, the prophet writes that the Lord held it against the Shepherds that they dealt with the wounds of the people slightly, declaring peace, peace when there was in fact NO PEACE. Have we, as the body of Christ, become those same kind of shepherds, allowing the sheep in our midst to be injured without even drawing attention to the fact that they are suffering in our midst because of the actions of other professing believers?
There has to be a better way, and I pray we find it. We all need to repent with the ways we’ve been complicit or ignorant, and abusers should repent and step away from ministry to make amends for the harm they have caused. I pray the fear of the Lord would meet us all.
