Going to Church Sleepy, Leaving Woke
If we are not careful, and many of us, including me, haven’t been, we may go to church to worship our one true and living God and leave that same church celebrating the very antithesis of Christianity.
The battle is raging for the souls of men and women particularly in the west, who have bought into the victim mentality of Woke ideology. And the devil’s favorite battle ground is anywhere Christians gather to worship the living God.
Woke ideology, intersectionality, and critical race theory (CRT) are not new. But because, for the most part, we have been sleepy Christians, particularly in the western hemisphere, until now we have not seen the wolf lurking in sheep’s clothing, entering the sheepfold, and subtly but surely feeding on the minds and attitudes of those who believed they were safely bedded down for the night.
Darkness invades where light has gone dim and nothing more than a little puff of the nostrils finally extinguishes that which was once bright and strong and one the wolf would have had to huff and puff to blow the house down.
Woke ideology started creeping into universities as early as the 1980’s. And now as it raises its confusing and ugly head, Christians are finally asking the question, “What is this whole woke thing?” It is not what you think it may be. Woke is not just a crucial call for justice in an unjust situation. That is Christlikeness. Woke is not striving to provide equal opportunities for the poor and less represented in society. That is what Jesus would do. Woke is not just treating people the way you would want to be treated. That is godliness. Woke is not about social and racial harmony. That is brotherly love.
Wokeness is the demoralization and degradation of the American white majority. And every white person, whether they know it or not, are white supremacists. As a white supremacist, in order to be antiracist, you must pay for the past sins of your culture until the day you die. You must continually make reparations for the sins of your ancestors. Woke, therefore, is the bondage and slavery of today’s so-called white supremacist because of history’s tragedies and injustice. Woke, CRT, and intersectionality are the opposite of a biblical worldview. And no-one who claims the name of Jesus should be held in its grip.
How is this the antithesis of Christianity? Because in woke ideology there is no redemption.
The biblical worldview hinges on Christ’s death and resurrection so that, “whom the Son sets free is free indeed.”
Anywhere the gospel is preached that willingly continues to offer reparations rather than redemption, is not preaching the true gospel. The gospel is brothers and sisters, red and yellow, black and white, all acknowledged as precious in Jesus’ sight, loving one another, and celebrating everyone’s achievements. Redemption is acknowledging the sins of our past, while recognizing that thanks to Calvary, we don’t live there anymore.
Prayer:
Father, please help us to be mature enough in our spiritual walk that we can bring every thought captive to Christ, so that we may walk in freedom with our brothers and sisters from every tribe and nation. Keep us awake so we won't be Woke. In Jesus’ name and for your glory. Amen.
Suggested Reading:
1. Christianity and Wokeness: How the Social Justice Movement is Hijacking the Gospel - and the Way to Stop It. Owen Strachan (2021) Salem Books, Washington, D.C.
2. Wokeness: A Brief History. University Press (2021) Monee, IL.