By Fr. Glenn Jones:
A headline caught the eye recently: “Denzel Washington Blasts Cancel Culture; Says Faith Matters More Than Followers”. Asked whether he was concerned about losing approval and followers by not acquiescing to popular culture, Mr. Washington responded: “I don’t follow anybody … I follow God, I don’t follow man. I have faith in God.” He added: “You can’t be canceled if you haven’t signed up. Don’t sign up.” This reminds of Oscar Wilde: “A man who does not think for himself does not think at all.”
In a world saturated with noise—social media clamor, cultural trends, and the relentless pressure to conform—being one’s own man/woman becomes an act of courage. Such is the resolve to stand firm in one’s convictions, rooted in truth, regardless of the prevailing winds of popularity or popular opinion. For the Christian, this resolve finds deep foundation in Scripture, buttressed by the wisdom of the early Church Fathers, and reflected in the lives of those who dare to live authentically even in modern times.
Scripture is unequivocal about the call to live with integrity and conviction, even if it sets one against the world. St. Paul, for example, exhorts believers, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) And in Hebrews: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teaching.” (v. 13:8-9) These are calls to resist popular seductions that conflict with truth. Conformity to the world—whether through chasing fleeting trends or bowing to moral relativism—erodes ability to discern and embody truth, God’s will and attendant goodness.
A favorite example are the apostles Peter and other apostles being hauled before the Sanhedrin because of their refusal to stop preaching about Jesus, and those accused proclaim, “We must obey God rather than men!” (Act 5:29). Conversely, a tragic Gospel example of surrender to approval is: “…many even of the authorities believed in [Jesus], but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it … for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” (John 12:42-43) Disciples then and now have been motivated by a deep trust and faith in God’s power and sovereignty, standing firm, embodying the courage to prioritize truth over human decree.
Jesus Himself models uncompromising fidelity to the Father’s will. He warned His disciples, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19) To be Christian, therefore, is to accept that standing for truth may invite opposition, yet it is the path of true freedom and purpose.
The early Church Fathers, too, living in a world often hostile to Christianity, provide timeless examples of standing firm. St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407), confronted the moral decay of the Roman Empire, emphasizing personal responsibility: “Each one of us must give an account for himself; no one can be saved by the righteousness of another.” For Chrysostom, being one’s own man meant living with an eternal perspective, answerable not to the crowd but to God. This echoes King Baldwin in the movie “Kingdom of Heaven”, “Howsoever you are played, or by whom, your soul is in your keeping alone … When you stand before God you cannot say, ‘But I was told by others to do thus, or that virtue was not convenient at the time. This will not suffice.”
Countless martyrs, too, from the time of Christ up to and including today, have stood firm in their faith and fidelity to truth, even to the cost of their lives. Or St. Jerome stating, similarly to Socrates executed for standing firm in his convictions in “The Apology”: “You can kill us, but you cannot harm us.”
In today’s world, the pressure to conform is relentless. Social media amplifies groupthink, and dissenting voices are often silenced or even vilified. Yet, there are even modern examples—such as Denzel Washington and other Christian actors blacklisted for their beliefs—of those who embody the courage to stand apart. St. Paul addresses such challenges, “… am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10) The Christian is called to break the spiral of surrender and to speak truth in love, even when it is unpopular.
Yet being one’s own man does not mean reckless individualism or prideful stubbornness. It is a disciplined commitment to align one’s life with truth, though the path is costly. Jesus warned, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23). The cross of standing firm may mean social ostracism, professional loss or personal sacrifice, as seen in the lives of Jesus, early Christians, and even modern examples of such courage. Yet, the reward is eternal. James 1:12 promises, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
For the Christian, to be one’s own man/woman is to live as God’s man/woman—rooted in His Word, guided by His Spirit, and emboldened by the witness of those who have stood strong before us. In a world demanding conformity, many are called to stand apart, not out of pride, but out of love for truth. As St. Paul urges, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14) In this balance of strength and love lies the essence of true courage … a legacy that endures from Moses, the apostles, and up to our present day.
And beyond?
Editor’s note: Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.