Should Christians participate in boycott or cancel people?
This is not a question with a simple answer.
There are two definitions for a boycott:
- To combine in abstaining from, or preventing dealings with, as a means of intimidation or coercion.
- To abstain from buying or using.
The first definition is more like canceling. A canceling kind of boycott is meant to bully corporations and individuals into doing what a particular group wants them to do. Jesus did not intimidate, coerce or bully anyone into anything and neither should His followers. Period.
Furthermore.
From a historical perspective canceling types of boycotts have not worked out super well for Christians. Occasionally they have even backfired. They have actually made people curious about the products corporations were selling. In some cases, this drove business to the corporation that was supposed to be “punished” by the boycott. So, no, I am not a fan of canceling kinds of boycotts.
That being said:
The second kind of boycott is not a boycott it’s more like good stewardship.
As Christians our stuff isn’t really our stuff. All our stuff belongs to Jesus.
Therefore:
Christians should view themselves as stewards or managers of their money and belongings, not owners. Christians should spend their money mindfully and prayerfully whenever possible. If we have a choice about where to spend our money we should think hard about whether or not Jesus would want us to spend His money at a particular company.
Here’s why:
Anytime we buy goods or services from a corporation that corporation makes a profit from our purchases. Many corporations then donate a percentage of their profits to causes they believe in and want to support. In a very real sense we are investing in those causes by spending our money the companies that donate to them.
The bottom-line is: Christians should be mindful with their money and if they have a choice about whether or not they get their coffee, clothing or entertainment from a company that supports anti-biblical causes they should choose not to.
