Christians & Cancel Culture
Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:12–15 (NKJV)
One of the alarming trends taking place in our current climate is what is referred to as, “Cancel Culture.” This is where idealogical activists band together to try and “cancel” or “de-platform” those whose ideas and opinions they either find offensive, or simply disagree with. Just within recent days an actress was dismissed from the popular Disney+ series, The Mandalorian, because of an objectionable tweet; similarly, the longtime host of ABC’s, The Bachelor, was placed on indefinite leave for comments he made during a television interview. Of even greater consequence, after the January 6 riots at the Capital Building, Twitter permanently banned the former President of the United States from their platform. Greater still, Big Tech (Apple, Google, Amazon, and others) teamed together to virtually eliminated the social media site Parler, arguing it promoted “extremist” views. Although I personally have a strong opinion in opposition to “canceling” those I disagree with, the question I want to provoke is this: Should Christians engage in seeking to “cancel” other Christians, specifically those charged with corrupt conduct?
In recent days, disturbing information was released in relation to the late Ravi Zacharias, one of the most influential and celebrated Christian figures of the last few decades. Sadly, the devestating report released by RZIM (Ravi Zacharias International Ministries) was not only credible, but most assuredly certain. This once beloved Christian communicator has been exposed for engaging in a longtime duplicitous lifestyle, where the words grotesque and damnable are the only words adequate to describe what was unearthed. Unlike an offensive joke, or a problematic social media post, Ravi’s misconduct had actual victims who suffered irreparable damage. With Ravi’s death in 2020, one could argue he has already been cancelled. Yet, in his wake, Ravi left a long trail of Christian writings, teachings; but more importantly, he left legions of converts who came to faith through his ministry, as well as scores of apologists who he emboldened to defend the faith. Today many are questioning, “How should Christians deal with all the rubble, ‘the good, the bad, and the ugly,’ left behind from this single person?” And, “Should we seek to ‘cancel’ everything this clearly troubled man left us?”
Before we pronounce a verdict of either “cancel” or acquittal, to help us gain perspective, I want us to consider Ravi in relation to three kings:
I — Ravi & King Khufu (The Great Pyramid of Giza)
Almost as soon as I considered this question, I was curiously transported back to one of the most transcendent moments of my life. In April of 2012 I had the incredible opportunity to visit and soak-in one of the most iconic locations of human achievement on our planet. I am referring to Egypt’s maginificent pyramids at Giza. It is impossible to describe the awe of standing under the shadow of these nearly 5000 year old majestic structures. If it were up to me, I would require everyone on the planet to visit Giza at least once in their lifetime. Despite how awe-inspiring Giza is with its three giant pyramids, the Sphinx, and many other marvels, there are some major misgivings connected with this site none of us has the luxury to ignore.
The greatest of the marvels at Giza is the pyramid of Khufu (or “Cheops” — it is so magnificent, it is best known as, “The Great Pyramid of Giza”). Khufu stands at 481 feet and was made with over 2.3 million limestone bricks (with some weighing over 80 tonnes). Even to this day, experts are confounded by how such a feet of human ingenuity was even conceivable. How could anyone not appreciate this enormous accomplishment? As impressive as the pyramid is, we must also pause and consider what it represents. In all honesty, this pyramid is nothing more than a behemoth burial chamber, dedicated to the celebration of the grotesquely oversized ego of one delusional individual. More than likely, Pharaoh Khufu, a man who thought himself divine, lived a lifestyle of insatiable debauchery, which is best personified in this ludicrously austentatious monument. Its actual cost would have been of a sinfully incalculable amount, and not just in dollars, but in the thousands of lives lost providing its labour. One could easily and rightfully argue, Khufu’s pyramid, is the most wretched symbol of wanton human depravity that exist on our planet. Yet, despite this unquestionable reality, there is probably no soul living, who would not think it a desecration to tear down. Today it remains standing in spite of its evil origins.
To some degree we all leave monuments behind. We may not all leave mega-mausoleums; but carpenters leave coffee tables; plumbers leave faucets and pipes; authors leave literature; and all of us leave legacies of some degree. We cannot, nor should not, tear down everything because of the indiscretions of the individual who left it. The “slippery slope” of this logic can only lead to the destruction of everything, because each of us is corrupted in some way.
Monuments should remain. Monuments tell stories. Monuments remind us the world is complicated. Like it or not, Ravi has also left us monuments in his passing; whether we respect the man or not, his monuments will remain. His monuments will continue to tell a story — yes, about this flawed man, but also about things far greater than this one man, not too unlike Ol’ King Khufu.
II — Ravi & King David
If one were to “cancel” literature based on the despicable indiscretions of the author, then for Christians and Jews our holy book would be pretty puny. Somehow in God’s sovereignty, he chose a deplorable bunch to pass along their insights, stories, and poetry to us. To put it kindly, most of the authors of our sacred scriptures were problematic, and at the top of the discredited list of deplorables would be King David. I will not list all the wretched things David did as they are recorded for us in the Bible, however I will add: As heinous were the actions of Ravi, I do not believe he has yet been charged with gifting his father-in-law “two-hundred Philistine foreskins” (1 Sam. 18:27)! It is not only shocking, God chose some of David’s writings to be included into His sacred text; what is most shocking, is the specific nature of what God allowed David to leave behind.
As impressive as Khufu’s pyramid is, it pales in size to the monument of music left to us by King David. It is not an overstatement to state unequivocally, King David is by far the most influential songwriter in history. Three thousand years after his life, his poems are still the foundation on which all Jewish and Christian worship music is built from. To this day, David’s songs are being recycled in nearly every language and within the borders of every nation under the sun. If God can still use the poetics of a reprehensible, murderous, adulterous, dysfunctional dad and king as the fountainhead of praise to His name, then maybe there is still a chance the offerings of Ravi may also have the potential to bring praise to God going forward?
III — Ravi & King Jesus
Finally, the most important king to to consider when thinking of Ravi is neither Khufu, nor David, but King Jesus. Probably the most hopeful and terrifying aspect of the Christian faith is knowing, we are nowhere given the responsibility to judge. There is only one judge, and at the end of days, only this judge is able to decide whether Ravi Zacharias gets “canceled.”
On May 19, 2020, Ravi met this judge, and either because of the inestimable grace of this judge, Ravi was welcomed into King Jesus’ eternal glory. Or as Scripture tells us: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10),” because of Ravi’s disqualifying dishonesty, this righteous judge will “cancel” Ravi from his presence for eternity. Either way it is Christ, and Christ alone, who has the authority to cancel, or to pardon.
Finally, in the wake of Ravi’s passing and reprehensible revelations, two priorities remain for us to consider:
First, instead of taking too much time dwelling on this fallen shepherd’s fate, we should first consider our own, as well as the destiny of our own loved ones. Just like Ravi, one day we will all stand, or more likely fall, before this King, who alone either has the immeasurable grace to welcome us, or the horrifying authority to “cancel” us. We all must choose wisely how we prepare ourselves to meet this King.
Secondly, with Ravi’s hurtful conduct, a small corner of Christ’s kingdom crumbled. Real lives were hurt, several souls disillusioned, and Christ’s reputation damaged. It is time to stop looking at the rubbled, and time to begin the task of faithfully picking up the pieces to begin rebuilding and repairing the damage done.