Our society is in the midst of some interesting discussions around “cancel culture.” Everybody does some measure of cancellation, but it can be problematic, especially when there is a strong group think at work. Modern, popular cancel culture works because everyone wants to believe that we are all the same. Cosmetic differences are allowed, but significant differences, ones that might cause arguments, cause people to question their beliefs are not allowed. For some it is a surprise to realize we are not the same. Differences can either be acknowledged and explored, or denied and cancelled. The former is needed for an orderly society, the latter creates more violence and forced sameness. When the efforts come from a mob and try to force change by bullying or harm; it is a cancel culture. Cancellation is, simply put, a way to try to make everyone the same.
Now in a way, we are all the same. Everyone is created in God’s image and fully deserving of respect to a certain level. No amount of sin deserves respect, but those whose differences are not from sin deserve our respect. Even if someone is an unrepentant and flagrant sinner, they still deserve some respect and justice simply because they are made in the image of God. This respect is important for living well. Everyone wants to live in an orderly society. Everyone wants to flourish. The problem is that many people have different definitions of flourishing. This can be seen in narrowly economic or creative terms, but both definitions are limited. Alternatively, what is an orderly society has vastly different opinions if you listen to enough people. This makes a universal policy elusive if it can be little more than a daydream.
In the US there are several states that are pursuing a different COVID response. We will see how this goes. Part of the reason why this is happening is that the disease has affected different parts of the US differently. This is normal, we even see it here in Canada, the maritime experience is different from the prairies neither of which bear any resemblance to the experience of the most populous provinces. This is where a universal policy can and will fail.
The desire for a unified response will only backfire. It comes from a desire for a strong leader who appears to control the situation. A person, or group, who can control this disease right now. This desire is nothing new. We see it in 1 Samuel 8. Israel wanted a king to protect them. It is alternately described by God as a rejection of Him. It is indeed a rejection of God, it is raising a leader, political or medical, who can replace God, no human can. It is also trying to remove responsibility from the people, which we should not do. We have a responsibility for ourselves. The chaos, as it is melodramatically put, may not be easy, but it does allow us to faithfully exercise the gifts God has given us.
I look forward to seeing how those experiments go. One might be having some problems, but others appear to be going well. A one size fits all policy never works. Like one size fits all clothing, it never fits me. It is better for the governments to actually govern. Get dirty and look at the people. See what the needs are. Hear more than just one view. It is true for all of life, today we see it in masks and lockdowns. Tomorrow we will see this in a different form, and we still need to listen.
Photo by Jacek Pobłocki on Unsplash
The Wīndy Road 