Christianity & Cancel Culture: How Should Believers Respond?

MARCH 10, 2025 BY ARCH KENNEDY

When Faith Meets the Fire

Cancel culture is a term we hear constantly, but for many believers, it’s more than a buzzword—it’s personal. Christians who take a stand for biblical values increasingly find themselves misunderstood, shamed, silenced, or outright rejected. The pressure to compromise truth for the sake of cultural acceptance has never been greater.

I’ve walked that tightrope myself. When I released my book, The Weather’s Fine, I shared my story of walking away from a homosexual lifestyle and finding deeper fulfillment in a relationship with Christ. That testimony didn’t win me praise—it invited scorn, criticism, and rejection, even from people I once considered close.

But here’s the truth: cancel culture didn’t start with social media. It’s been around since the days of Jesus, when the crowds who once shouted “Hosanna” later cried “Crucify Him.” The difference today is that we have a choice—to cower in silence or stand in truth with love.

This blog explores what cancel culture is, how Christians are impacted, and how we can respond in a way that honors Christ. Drawing from my personal experiences, Scripture, and Joe Dallas’ powerful book Christians in a Cancel Culture, this is a call to action—rooted in grace and courage.

What Is Cancel Culture?

Cancel culture is the modern form of public shaming. If someone expresses views that clash with prevailing social ideologies—particularly on sensitive topics like sexuality, gender, race, or faith—they may face online mob attacks, professional loss, or social exile.

Joe Dallas defines cancel culture as a “cultural intolerance toward dissent,” where those who don’t conform are pressured to apologize, retract, or disappear. But this isn’t just about free speech. At its core, cancel culture is spiritual warfare. It targets truth, especially biblical truth, and it demands compromise.

“Cancel culture doesn’t just oppose Christians—it pressures us to revise or soften our message.” — Joe Dallas, Christians in a Cancel Culture

The danger here is subtle. Most believers aren’t tempted to renounce their faith, but many feel tempted to hide it, avoid controversial topics, or water down truth to avoid conflict. But Jesus warned us of exactly this: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18, NIV).

My Story: From Applause to Rejection

When I wrote The Weather’s Fine, I didn’t set out to provoke controversy. I simply shared my heart—my struggles with same-sex attraction, my years in the gay lifestyle, my battles with addiction, and the eventual peace I found in surrendering fully to Christ.

But what surprised me most wasn’t the backlash from the secular world—it was the silence from many Christians. Some were afraid to be associated with “that message.” Others misunderstood it entirely, assuming I was promoting legalism or judging others.

I was “canceled” in subtle ways—ignored, dismissed, or quietly unfollowed. And for a while, I let it shake me. I questioned whether I had made a mistake by being so open. But through prayer and Scripture, I came to see that obedience to God’s call often costs something. Sometimes, it costs everything.

“When you tell your truth—your whole truth—there’s a price. But there’s also freedom. And for me, the freedom of living honestly before God is worth it.” — The Weather’s Fine

Jesus Faced Cancel Culture Too

We often forget: Jesus Himself was canceled. The religious elite wanted Him silenced. The crowds turned on Him. His friends abandoned Him. And ultimately, He was executed by a system that hated truth.

If our Savior experienced that, should we expect any different?

Jesus told His disciples, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matthew 5:11, NIV). That’s not just comfort—it’s a promise. Truth-telling has a cost. But it also has a crown.

Joe Dallas writes, “When Christians fear being ‘offensive,’ we must ask—offensive to whom? Because truth is always offensive to lies.”

How Cancel Culture Targets Key Christian Beliefs

The issues most likely to get believers “canceled” are the very ones where Scripture speaks the clearest:

• Sexual ethics: God’s design for sex within marriage between a man and a woman is now considered hate speech by many.
• Gender identity: Affirming God’s creation of male and female as distinct and purposeful can trigger outrage.
• Sanctity of life: Speaking up for the unborn is labeled “anti-woman.”
• Biblical authority: Believing the Bible is the final word on moral issues is seen as outdated and oppressive.

Dallas argues that Christians must prepare to engage these topics not just from a place of knowledge, but from a place of compassion and clarity. Silence is not love. Truth without love is brutality. But love without truth is betrayal.

Christianity and Cancel Culture: A Biblical Response

A Christian response to cancel culture must be rooted in both grace and conviction, not fear or silence.

Five Biblical Responses to Cancel Culture

1. Stand Firm in Truth

We are not called to edit the Gospel to make it palatable. We are called to proclaim it. In a world of shifting morality, God’s Word remains the standard.

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” — John 17:17 (NIV)

2. Be Prepared to Suffer

This isn’t popular, but it’s biblical. Paul wrote, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12, NIV). If we aren’t facing resistance, we might need to ask if we’re truly standing for anything.

3. Speak the Truth in Love

We’re not called to win arguments—we’re called to win people. That means speaking with grace, even when we’re passionate.

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt…” — Colossians 4:6 (NIV)

4. Stay Humble and Teachable

We don’t have all the answers. Sometimes we speak rashly or from pride. A humble spirit allows the Holy Spirit to guide our responses.

5. Pray for Boldness

Cancel culture thrives on fear. But perfect love drives out fear. In Acts 4, the early Church prayed, “Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.”

Let that be our prayer, too.

The Role of the Church in a Cancel Culture World

The Church must stop playing defense. We are not victims—we are ambassadors of Christ. That means we cannot afford to be silent. As Joe Dallas puts it:

“The greatest danger isn’t that the world is loud—it’s that the Church is silent.”

The Church must equip believers to answer cultural lies with biblical truth. Pastors must preach clearly. Parents must disciple intentionally. And everyday believers—like you and me—must live courageously.

In The Weather’s Fine, I wrote about my transformation not as a one-time event, but as a lifelong journey. That journey has been made possible because a few believers were willing to walk with me in truth and grace. That’s the Church I believe in—a Church that doesn’t cancel sinners but calls them to the Cross.

From Canceled to Commissioned

While Christianity and cancel culture often collide, it’s how we respond—with grace and truth—that reveals Christ to a watching world. Here’s the good news: God is not afraid of cancel culture. In fact, He’s using it. Every time we’re pushed out of comfort zones, we’re pushed into purpose. Every time we’re rejected by the world, we’re reminded that our citizenship is in heaven.

If you’ve been canceled—take heart. If you’re afraid to speak—take courage. If you’re confused about how to respond—take the Word of God as your guide.

Navigating cancel culture as a believer takes courage, wisdom, and a willingness to stand apart from the crowd. The truth is not fragile. The Gospel is not outdated. And your voice—when rooted in Christ—is needed now more than ever.

So speak. Stand. Shine.

Because while cancel culture may be loud, the cross is louder.

For the full story behind my testimony, check out my book, The Weather’s Fine.