How did Jesus treat the “canceled” in His time, and what can Christians learn about grace, truth, and redemption today?
When Grace Meets Outrage Culture
We live in a time when a single tweet, comment, or past mistake can lead to public shame and social exile. Cancel culture, a term now deeply rooted in modern vocabulary, describes the phenomenon of calling out, boycotting, or “canceling” someone who has done or said something deemed offensive or problematic.
While accountability is important, cancel culture often lacks room for forgiveness or redemption. It punishes, but rarely restores. As Christians, we must ask: How would Jesus respond in this age of outrage? Can we uphold biblical truth and still lead with grace?
The answer isn’t just philosophical—it’s biblical. Jesus lived in a culture that "canceled" people too. The difference? He responded not with condemnation, but with compassion.
What Is Cancel Culture?
Before diving into Scripture, it’s helpful to define our terms.
Cancel culture is a form of social ostracism, typically practiced online, where individuals or groups are publicly shamed and excluded for actions or beliefs considered offensive. Whether deserved or not, the response is often swift, public, and unforgiving.
While it can bring awareness to harmful behaviors, cancel culture often trades justice for judgment and overlooks the possibility of transformation. From a biblical perspective, this runs counter to the heart of the Gospel, which centers on grace, forgiveness, and redemption.
Jesus and the “Canceled” of His Day
In the Gospels, we find that Jesus regularly interacted with people who had been marginalized, condemned, or publicly shunned. Here are just a few examples of how He responded to those the religious elite and broader society had "canceled."
✅ Tax Collectors: Matthew and Zacchaeus
Tax collectors were widely despised in Jesus’ time. Seen as corrupt traitors working for the oppressive Roman regime, they were excluded from religious and social life.
In Matthew 9:9–13, Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him:
“Follow me,” He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.
Not only that—Jesus ate with Matthew and his fellow outcasts, causing religious leaders to question His credibility. Jesus responded:
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick... For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:12–13)
Likewise, in Luke 19:1–10, Jesus meets Zacchaeus, another tax collector. Instead of shaming him, Jesus invites Himself to Zacchaeus’ home. The result?
Zacchaeus repents and vows to repay anyone he has cheated—a clear picture of grace leading to transformation.
✅ The Adulterous Woman (John 8:1–11)
This woman was literally dragged before Jesus after being caught in the act of adultery—a crime punishable by death. Her accusers were ready to stone her, hoping to trap Jesus into contradicting the Law.
Jesus’ response is iconic and deeply instructive:
“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7)
One by one, the accusers leave. Jesus then says:
“Neither do I condemn you... Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:11)
Notice that Jesus doesn’t condone the sin—but He also doesn’t destroy the sinner. He offers grace that leads to a changed life.
✅ Lepers and the Untouchables (Luke 5:12–16)
Leprosy in biblical times was a physical, social, and spiritual death sentence. Lepers were considered unclean and lived in isolation.
But in Luke 5:12–16, a leper begs Jesus for healing. Moved with compassion, Jesus touches him—an act that broke every social taboo—and heals him.
"Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' He said. 'Be clean!'" (Luke 5:13)
Jesus didn’t just heal his body—He restored his dignity and place in the community.
The Heart of Jesus: Grace That Restores, Not Shames
Across all these stories, one theme stands out: Jesus doesn’t cancel people—He calls them. He doesn’t overlook sin, but He approaches it with a heart full of mercy and a desire to redeem.
The Gospel is not about erasing consequences, but about offering a path to transformation.
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)
This truth challenges the way cancel culture works. Where society sees people as disposable, Jesus sees them as redeemable.
Can Christians Stand for Truth Without Canceling People?
The tension is real: How do we remain faithful to God’s Word without participating in the harshness of cancel culture?
Scripture gives us a roadmap:
✅ Speak the Truth in Love
“...speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15)
Truth without love becomes brutality. Love without truth becomes compromise. The Gospel calls us to hold both together.
✅ Restore Gently
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.” (Galatians 6:1)
The goal is always restoration, not humiliation.
✅ Check Your Own Heart First
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye...?” (Matthew 7:3–5)
Jesus warns against self-righteousness. Before correcting others, we must examine ourselves.
Practical Ways to Show Grace in a Cancel Culture
So what does this look like in real life? Here are a few practical, Christ-like responses:
✅ Avoid Outrage and Online Shaming
It’s easy to jump on the bandwagon of criticism, especially online. But Christians are called to be slow to speak and quick to listen (James 1:19).
✅ Forgive, Even When It’s Hard
Jesus didn’t say forgiveness would be easy, but He made it clear it’s essential (Matthew 6:14–15). Forgiveness breaks the cycle of canceling and retribution.
✅ Engage in Honest, Grace-Filled Dialogue
Instead of calling people out, call them in—into conversation, into accountability, and into the possibility of grace.
✅ Champion Redemption Over Reputation
Don’t just share headlines—share hope. Be the voice that believes people can grow, repent, and change.
Conclusion: Grace in the Age of Outrage
Cancel culture may be loud, but grace is louder.
Jesus didn’t cancel the outcasts—He loved them, restored them, and gave them purpose. And He still does that today.
As followers of Christ, we are not called to blend into cultural trends of condemnation. We are called to reflect His heart—to speak truth boldly, but to love even more boldly.
“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17)
So in this age of outrage, let’s be people who don’t just point fingers—but extend hands.
Let’s be Christians who don’t cancel, but carry grace into every conversation, post, and response.
