By Ebuni Okolo
Although being woke implies one thing, it means something else depending on which side of political fence you are on. And, this has long given way to another Christianity.
First coined by the African American community during the 1930s, the term woke was used to mean being awaken to or woken up to a political or social injustices in the United States.
Most recently, the term woke gained more recognition during the Black Lives Matter campaign in 2020. Since then, it has achieved mainstream popularity globally and has continued to be touted and promoted on the political stage.
But do we get what woke means when it comes to politics. It’s most likely we don’t. Let’s take a further look.
What is woke?
Generally, the Meriam Webster dictionary defines woke as: “aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice)”. Yet, interestingly, when woke is used by polictical parties it points to a nuanced view.
Politically, from a left-wing perspective, woke means to be aware of oppressive systems. But from the right-wing perspective, it is used more as a derogatory term to see an injustice where there isn’t one.
As Drew C describes in his article, 25 Woke Examples: What Counts as Woke? “On the political left, it is a positive term. A person who is “awake” (or aware) of systemic identity-based hierarchies is seen as a good ally for the oppressed. On the political right, it is a pejorative term. It is used to criticise people for seeing injustice where it doesn’t exist.”
So, when the same term means different things based on which political tone is being echoed, it kind of reeks of confusion. And, we know, as the bible states in 1 Corinthians 14:33, God is not the author of confusion. But mankind certainly can be, and this can be seen in another type of Christianity, which is rooted in wokeism.
Progressive but not Christianity
On the surface, supporting social and racial injustices aligns with Christian values and is grounded in biblical principles. Yet, embracing woke secular views loosens the grip on such solid foundations. Adopting or championing woke ideologies, is the basis to support ‘progressive Christianity’, which in reality is in direct opposition to biblical Christianity.
This movement affirms leftwing liberal views on abortion, transgenderism, homosexuality, and lesbianism.
Progressive Christianity embraces the wokeism promoted through the world’s political and social leftism agendas, and needless to say, this movement’s foundation is on a slippery, sliding slope. This movement does not warn against sin and its eternal consequences, it affirms it instead. And although we are to love people from all communities, love does not mean to tolerate or affirm certain practices.
In 2017, Alisa Childers, Christian apologetic podcaster and author of Another Gospel, wrote her internet-viral blog post, 5 Signs Your Church Might be Heading Toward Progressive Christianity.
Alisha highlights: “Progressive Christians are often open to re-defining and re-interpreting the Bible on hot-button moral issues like homosexuality and abortion, and also cardinal doctrines such as the virgin conception and the bodily resurrection of Jesus. The only sacred cow is “no sacred cows.”
Wokeism appears skilled at re-modelling doctrines to support leftism narratives. This ‘Christianity’ cares more about pleasing the world than pleasing God and obeying the Word.
The Word or the world
Progressive Christianly demands empathy with wokeism, which, in a nutshell, is very harmful. Whilst tolerance and understanding are hugely important, preaching the gospel, telling people about sin and repentance, and speaking the truth in love takes priority, when one’s soul is at stake.
Progressive Christianity wants the Word of God, the bible, to conform to the world’s values. But biblical Christianity is about making the Word known in the world. In the bible, we are advised against conformity by the apostle Paul.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2.
When it comes to progressive Christianity, wokeism is at the heart of this movement under the guise of social justice, but all the while pushing a woke agenda. Yet wokeism is not biblical. Nor is this type of progressivism, Christianity.
Alisa concludes that when it comes to progressive Christianity, “the heart of the gospel message shifts from sin and redemption to social justice.”
She adds: “There is no doubt that the Bible commands us to take care of the unfortunate and defend those who are oppressed. This is a very real and profoundly important part of what it means to live out our Christian faith. However, the core message of Christianity – the gospel – is that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and resurrected, and thereby reconciled us to God. This is the message that will truly bring freedom to the oppressed.”
And to that statement, my friends, let the church say a resounding, Amen.