Wayne Weekly “Wake Up to Woke Up”

We all are aware of one of the most recent trends gracing the halls of our existence, the “Woke” movement.  “Woke” is not a new word, the history of it goes quite far back.

Woke is described as “alert to injustice in society, especially racism”. I think most thinking people have been aware of that kind of injustice, and most react negatively to all forms of it. Many would boldly declare that anything that reeks of class distinction is evil.

James warns Christians to be very careful when categorizing people. In James chapter two James waves a red flag on “personal favoritism”. In that case it is between the haves and the have nots. Furthermore James sites the “royal” law, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself…” (v.8) and continues with “But if you show partiality, you are committing sin…” (v.9).

Though many of us have been tainted by our surroundings, and perhaps grown up with prejudices, we as true believers have the power to overcome such feelings, or at least the power to curb unjust thoughts. No one says this is easy. Some feelings run deep.

The Christian “woke” mindset differs from much of today’s woke movement, in that we don’t invent injustice, or build an entire woke rally on the things like the “evils of capitalism” or greatly expanding issues like “the privileged white male”. Our “woke” mindset is Biblically based. Most injustices can be cured by the “golden rule”, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Matthew 7:12).

It might just be that we as Christians need to “wake up” to the legitimate scripturally sound “woke up” movement.

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”                                            Zechariah 7:9-10

“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”                                                                                                                                                                   Amos 5:24