#cancel. #boycott. #block. #mute. These days, it’s hard to scroll through social media sites without some form of these hashtags showing up in your trending topics. With an estimated 3.6 billion social media users worldwide, it’s no surprise that platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram have become the perfect breeding ground for the phenomenon we now refer to as “cancel culture.”
John MacArthur and the elders of Grace Community Church, in Sun Valley, California, announced July 24 on the “Grace to You” blog that the church intended to “obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29) and thus would defy Gov. Gavin Newsom’s July 13 order closing indoor operations of churches, fitness centers, hair salons and several other types of venues in counties showing an increase in COVID-19 infections. The blog, which laid out the Biblical case for the church’s duty to gather, prompted county officials to threaten repercussions, but as of press time, the church was continuing to meet with both indoor and outdoor seating. The following is excerpted from the blog.
Our nation is being shaken by COVID-19, an economic collapse and violent unrest in our streets. There are endless conversations, discussions and opinions voiced by friends and family, educators and scientists, politicians and pundits—discussions about all the causes as well as the effects. At the same time, many people are being shaken by job loss, isolation, loneliness and the stress from all of the above. But I wonder … Is God using this time of great unsettledness to shake our nation? Is God trying to get our attention?
Recently I have been studying the Book of Jeremiah. My heart has been stirred as I sense the burden of this devout, young, sensitive prophet, and read again his fearless warning to a faithless, idolatrous and wayward nation. My tears were mingled with the weeping prophet’s as he pleaded with an apathetic people. My heart ached because I saw a striking parallel between the erring nation of Judah and our own beloved country.
Canadian worship leader sticks with Jesus amid COVID-19.
“Power belongs to God” (Psalm 62:11). The great reservoir of the power that belongs to God is His own Word—the Bible. If we wish to make it ours, we must go to that book.
Grammy-nominated artist channels ‘God-birthed anthems for His people’
