Podcast Summary: Christ With Coffee On Ice

Host: Ally Yost
Episode: Is Cancel Culture Allowed in the Church?
Date: February 28, 2025

Overview

This episode addresses a timely and challenging question: Is cancel culture compatible with the teachings and spirit of the Christian church? Drawing from a recent controversy on Christian TikTok, host Ally Yost explores the themes of forgiveness, righteous anger, judgment, and compassion. The discussion is rooted in biblical scripture, humility, and the call to model Christ’s example, even when it's difficult. The tone vacillates between vulnerability, conviction, and encouragement.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Cancel Culture Among Christians

[03:00-06:00]

• Ally introduces a recent situation from Christian TikTok without naming names, noting the outrage and calls to "cancel" an individual who, according to many, made offensive statements about Jesus or the church.
• She challenges listeners to discern whether this response aligns with Christ’s character, stating her desire not to gossip but to examine the heart behind reactions.

Notable Quote:

“We cannot, as Christians… entertain cancel culture. We cannot allow that into our church. We cannot allow that into the body of Christ, and we cannot let it into our lifestyles.”—Ally Yost [07:22]

2. The Nature of Jesus vs. Cancel Culture

[07:00-12:00]

• Ally points out that Jesus died for everyone—including those who mocked, blasphemed, or rejected Him—and emphasizes that His response to offense was forgiveness, not cancellation.
• She recounts the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8), highlighting that Jesus was the only one qualified to cast a stone but instead chose mercy.

Notable Quote:

“Jesus died for the blasphemous. He died for the people that would potentially spit on his name, disrespect him, never accept him as Lord and Savior... He knew that when he got up on that cross.”—Ally Yost [09:34]

3. Self-Reflection and Humility

[13:00-17:00]

• Ally calls listeners to humility, arguing that no sin is categorically “worse” than another and that self-righteousness mirrors the mindset of the Pharisees.
• She warns against pride in judgment and likens all people—including herself—to Barabbas, emphasizing universal need for grace.

Notable Quote:

“A sin is a sin, is a sin is a sin… we literally are all Barabbas, okay?”—Ally Yost [14:22]

4. Righteous Anger vs. Sinful Reaction

[17:00-22:00]

• Ally validates feeling hurt or angry when Jesus is disrespected, but insists that sinning in anger—through hatred, retaliation, or cancellation—is not permitted.
• She distinguishes between lovingly speaking truth and repaying evil with evil, urging discernment and Christ-like responses.

Notable Quote:

“What we're not allowed to do is sin in our anger.”—Ally Yost [18:45]

5. The Damage of Cancel Culture and God’s Standard for Forgiveness

[22:00-28:00]

• Ally shares concerns about the potential for hard-heartedness and lost opportunities for repentance when Christians engage in cancel culture.
• She underscores that lack of grace can be a stumbling block for outsiders considering Christianity.
• Cites Jesus' words on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

Notable Quote:

“If you're treating a person like that, odds are they probably will never wanna come to Christ. They will never repent.”—Ally Yost [24:45]

6. Scriptural Foundations on Forgiveness

[28:00-32:00]

• Ally reads Matthew 6:14-15 and Matthew 18:35, stressing that forgiveness is not optional for Christians.
  • “If you do not forgive others their sins, your father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:15)
• Draws parenting analogies to clarify God's fairness and standards.

7. Practically Walking Out Forgiveness

[33:00-37:00]

• Ally acknowledges how hard forgiveness can be—especially when deeply hurt or angry.
• Encourages listeners to honestly present their struggle to God and to ask Him to fill what they lack, whether it’s compassion, strength, or understanding.

Notable Quote:

“The only way I will be able to extend compassion to this person is through your heart. I need you to pour it into me so that I can...overflow out of me.”—Ally Yost [35:40]

8. Forgiveness Takes Time—And That’s Okay

[37:00-40:00]

• She reassures listeners there’s grace if quick forgiveness isn’t possible, and admits from personal experience it can take significant time.
• Warns that unforgiveness holds us in bondage, and urges pursuit of freedom with God’s help.

9. Prayer, Compassion, and Understanding Others

[40:00-45:00]

• Instead of “canceling” someone, she encourages listeners to genuinely pray for their repentance and encounter with Jesus.
• Stresses that people who lash out at the church may be acting from pain, trauma, or negative experiences with Christians.
• Promotes compassion over condemnation.

Notable Quote:

“There might be traumatic events or things or experiences that are now attached to the name Jesus...We just need to have compassion for people.”—Ally Yost [43:20]

10. Setting Boundaries vs. Canceling

[45:00-48:00]

• Affirms Jesus set boundaries and called out sin, but never wrote people off. Even the Pharisees, if they had repented, would have been forgiven.
• Distinguishes between healthy confrontation and un-Christlike cancellation.

Notable Quote:

“He didn't cancel them. He didn't give up on them.”—Ally Yost [46:10]

11. The Limits of Human Understanding; Continuing to Walk Like Christ

[48:00-54:00]

• Acknowledges that God’s capacity for love and forgiveness exceeds human understanding. Even when we don’t “get it,” we’re called to obedience and humility.
• Reminds listeners not to judge non-believers by the standards of the church—they don’t have the same foundation.

12. Encouragement for Those Walking It Out

[54:00-56:00]

• Ally offers strong encouragement to listeners extending forgiveness amid pain, assuring them that God is immensely proud and their faithfulness will be rewarded.

Notable Quote:

“God is so proud of you. He could cry about it, because that is hard to do.”—Ally Yost [55:30]

Memorable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “Cancel culture is not the nature of Jesus.” — [07:45]
• “We all are Barabbas… If that's the case, Jesus shouldn't have died for any of us.” — [14:32]
• “If it's not the nature of Jesus, it shouldn't be the nature of the church.” — [20:41]
• “If Jesus had enough grace... I think that we have enough grace and compassion to extend to these people.” — [26:20]
• “Forgiveness is genuinely chains and bondage. It’s just not giving freedom.” — [39:50]
• “We need to be genuinely praying for this person.” — [41:12]
• “Jesus would not have looked at them and said, sorry, you’re canceled.” — [46:20]
• “If you have access to the Spirit of God, you have enough strength to do anything.” — [58:00]
• “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” — [58:30] (Philippians 4:13)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:00] — Introduction to the cancel culture topic on Christian TikTok
• [07:22] — Clear statement: Cancel culture cannot be allowed in the church
• [13:00-17:00] — Story of the adulterous woman; humility and self-reflection
• [18:45] — Distinguishing righteous anger vs. sinful reactions
• [24:45] — Dangers of cancel culture blocking repentance
• [28:00] — Scriptural commands to forgive (Matt 6:14-15, Matt 18:35)
• [33:00] — Admitting the challenge of forgiveness and turning to God for help
• [35:40] — Prayer as a tool to access God’s compassion
• [39:50] — Unforgiveness as bondage; reassurance if forgiveness takes time
• [41:12] — Instead of hate or canceling, pray and try to understand
• [46:10] — Boundaries vs. canceling; Jesus as the model
• [55:30] — Encouragement for those being faithful in forgiveness
• [58:00-59:00] — Recap: All things are possible through Christ

Final Exhortations and Practices

• Repentance/Forgiveness Practice ([59:00+])
  The episode ends with a communal moment of communion and repentance. Listeners are led in confession, rejecting lies about unforgiveness or inadequacy and accepting the truth of Christ’s promises.

  • “We come out of agreement with the spirit of unforgiveness... and turn to the truth.” — [1:02:00]
  • “On the other side of repentance is freedom. And it really is God’s love that leads us to repentance.” — [1:01:40]

• Walking Like Jesus This Week ([End])
  Ally challenges the community to “show somebody how cool Jesus is,” walking with a little more grace and compassion each day.

Summary

In this passionate, scriptural, and heartfelt episode, Ally Yost stands firmly against the infiltration of cancel culture into the church, urging listeners to contrast cultural trends with the nature of Jesus. She calls for humility, prayer, compassion, and genuine efforts to forgive as the marks of Christian conduct. Christians are reminded that forgiveness can be hard—but through dependency on Christ, it becomes possible. Establishing boundaries is healthy; cancellation is not Christlike. Ultimately, the episode is a rallying cry to continually reflect Jesus in word and deed, confident that believers “can do all things through Christ who gives [them] strength.”