WOKE

WOKE?
I got tired hearing the term woke and needed to satisfy my curiosity as to what it really means or doesn’t mean, so with some extensive searches this is my findings.
What do people mean when they say ‘woke’?
“Wokeness” refers to being aware of and attentive to social issues, particularly those related to injustice and inequality, such as racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination. The term originated from the African American Vernacular English (AAVE) phrase “stay woke,” which encouraged vigilance and awareness, especially concerning systemic racism.
Over time, the term has evolved and been adopted more broadly. For some, it represents a commitment to promoting fairness and equality. For others, it’s become a contentious term, sometimes criticized or used sarcastically or hurtful to imply excessive political correctness or performative activism.
The term “woke” has been used by conservative figures as a negative term to describe the following social justice initiatives: So, if you are one who says that someone or your Church is woke, this is what they are saying about them and about the church.
They DO support LGBTQ rights: A movement advocating for the equal treatment and elimination of discriminatory policies hurting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people.
They DO support Gender-affirming care: Access to services such as mental health, medical, surgical and nonmedical services for nonbinary and transgender people.
They DO support DEI/diversity, equity and inclusion measures: A form of hiring and employee retention meant to reduce biases and improve the accessibility of jobs for disenfranchised minorities. “Walmart the nation’s largest employer puts on diversity workshops that denounce a “white supremacy system.”
They DO support Critical race theory: A social and intellectual movement that studies the relationship between race, racism and power.
They DO support separation of Church and State, no national church.
They DO support laws and rules that require something called “checks and balances.”
They DO support that all people are made equal in the eyes of God and not that any one group or any one nation is better. This is not a world of rich old white men.
They DON’T support deporting people based on the color of their skin or if they have tattoos, or because they are not white males.
They DON’T support taking away social lifelines that allow marginalized neighbors to live close to a normal life.
So, you can ask yourself where you fit.
The Gospel of Matthew 25:35-40 explains it very well.
For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
It would be difficult to be a true follower of our Lord if you think that woke is something wrong.
Maybe we all need to be WOKE and waken up.
Pastor Bob