Is there a problem of injustice in our world? If so, as Christians we need to seek a solution! There is a new ‘virtue’ that is taking many by storm inside and outside of our denomination, as it seeks to solve the dilemma of injustice. Is being woke, and implementing its philosophy the solution to the legitimate problem of injustice?
Where did ‘wokeness’ and other unbiblical ideologies originate? At its root is an insatiable desire for freedom, to live as one pleases, believing that full freedom can only be obtained by denying absolute truths.
In the end absolute freedom can appear only when all knowledge is obsolete. Thus in the end there are no absolutes, except freedom itself- is absolute. No attention is to be paid to fundamental principles of morality as it is the 10 Commandments or Scriptures. The true believer in absolute truth is felt to be the real danger, because all the world was mad in the past because men thought they were right! The point is not to think you are right at all! It is then believed that cultural relativism is for the common good, and true virtue is openness. This is why antagonists will not listen to one another unless they are in agreement to openness, which ironically is not openness at all, but conformism! Thus what is advertised as a great opening, is a great closing, especially against principles or morality as set forth in Scripture, which if one continues on the path of woke-ism, Scripture must be rejected ultimately because it is too authoritarian, and not open to alternative lifestyles or ways of thinking.
Wokeness, at its heart is anti-law. Ironically, this ideology asserts the superiority of their own way of thinking. It is maintained that it is wrong for others to think that their way is better than others and yet there seems an intolerance on their part for any one who disagrees with them. There is no enemy except those individuals who are not open to openness, all of which is foundational to the formation of Critical Theory (CT) which grew into Critical Race Theory (CRT); both birthed out of the German Frankfurt School post World War 2.
At the heart of woke ideology is an intention to abandon ‘extreme beliefs’ along with the resultant guilt and shame- which is believed to accompany those beliefs. Not realizing that the abolishment of guilt and shame and true freedom is found only in Christ Jesus. Thus a belief in Scripture, as a foundational truth is relegated to a matter of opinion, rather than knowledge. And it seems to me that proper education and knowledge should be moving away from darkness into light- not the opposite. There is no junction between these two roads, one must choose between them. The message of Elisha on Mount Carmel is as relevant today as it was in his day. 1 Kings 18:21 reads, “ And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions, if the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal then follow him…”
If we don’t choose God as King, the government becomes a form of god. However Christ’s kingdom is not of this world. And it’s worth realizing that relativistic ideologies elevate the government to God status, with the hopes of legislating tolerance and total freedom from moral restraint. Of course there is an equal danger of the pendulum swinging, making this country a Christendom, being a theocracy; which also is an unbiblical ideology. That’s a separate article! Friends, let’s be very practical, when we cross the street we look both left and right for danger. And whichever ideology that one leans toward, it is for them the most dangerous — because of confirmation biases.
In examining woke social justice A, we can ask, is woke ideology a religion? Every religion has its own tenants, some of which are listed below, taken in part from Pastor Voddie T. Baucham, (dean of the School of Divinity at African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia); who writes in his book Fault Lines- The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism’s Looming Catastrophe, in the chapter entitled A New Religion, page 67,
Sin: Homophobia, Islamaphobia, Racism, Xenophobia, etc…
New Birth: Wokeness.
Gospel: Reconciliation with oppressed groups.
Atonement: Reparations- making amends.
Law: Anti racism, anti homophobia, anti xenophobia, etc…
Priesthood: Oppressed minorities (who have a subjective lived experience.)
Martyrs: Travyon Martin, George Floyd, etc…
Salvation: NONE
Social justice A vs. Biblical justice B answers, “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20.
If we take God out of the culture, we will look like the culture. Visions of justice can lure us into false gods. I don’t believe that most Christinas who set out to embrace social justice A set out to deny the godhood of God. They simply don’t want their faith lumped with ‘haters’ and this is where the truth- that we should make our love know to all, can take a turn into friendship with what the world loves. We are admonished to, “ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15.
Disagreement with Scripture, and agreement with the world is a tell tale sign that one has turned from Biblical Justice to ‘woke’ social justice.
What is truth and what is error is best found in the Word of God. Although it is true that we need to repent of injustices, and we should love our neighbor regardless of their identity politics or not, but a far deeper repentance and transformation (than what woke identity politics can offer), is available through a saving relationship with Christ our Lord. We need to be born again and receive a new transformation; not a false gospel where the heart is not transformed. Our only hope for a better world: instead of a bitter, divided, angry, tribal, unjust world, is Jesus Christ!
Praise God, Christ came to remedy the sin problem, and He continues to remedy the sin problem as our High Priest. His work is not yet complete in you and in me, as injustice continues for a little longer- what is our role?
Next Part 3. We can understand our role in Biblical justice by comparing woke ideology with the three angels messages of Revelation 14:6-12.
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Jewell