"Woke" vs. What Bible Says

What is "Woke?"

According to CARM, a Christian apologetics website, "In social justice, the term woke means being socially aware of racism, ageism, social justice, white privilege, prejudice, etc.  Also, the couplet 'stay woke' generally refers to intentionally remaining aware of these injustices" (Slick, M., 2021).  

Problems

Judging by Human Standards

One of the major issues with being woke is that people could use it to judge others by human standards.  If you fail whatever human standard it is, then you are not as good as the other person in this aspect (Slick, M., 2021). 

Cancel Culture

Another major problem is cancel culture.  One who is not woke enough can be ridiculed for not holding the politically correct view.  It has become a weapon to silence those who are not in alignment with "proper" secular thought (Slick, M., 2021).  

Social Justice

Social justice ideology is the driving occult spirituality in today's world.  Lucis Trust of Alice Bailey was in charge of the meditation room of the United Nations.  Her goal was to bring all religions together in a shared spiritual experience and collective service.  It is driving itself into our culture with the guise of doing good.  Even a newsletter on their site states, "In today's interconnected world many people of goodwill are awakening to the vision of a global society based upon social justice - a society which respects the human rights and the well-being of all peoples" (Economics with soul, emphasis mine).  

What Bible Says

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you really know me, you will know my Father as well." (John 14:6-7 NIV).

In this instance, way (ὁδός) is a course of behavior or way of life.  Jesus is what one's behavior should strive to imitate.  He says if one knows (γινώσκω) - or arrives at the knowledge of Jesus Christ personally and makes acquaintance of Jesus - then they would know God as well.

"Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true.  I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me" (John 8:14-18).

In this case, Jesus is saying that His testimony (μαρτυρία) bears witness to Himself as central to the Christian message and is transcendent concerning Him.  He says this because He knows where He comes from (heaven) and where He's going (heaven).  He goes on to say that the Pharisees don't know that Jesus came from heaven and is going to heaven.  He goes on to say that the Pharisees judge (κρίνω) or express their opinions which would seek to influence the lives of others based on human standards (σάρξ) which are in this case outward things and externals.  The Pharisees judge on the outward side of life determined by normal perspectives.  Jesus goes on to say that if He does judge (in this case engaging in a judicial process) it would be to administer justice that is divine.  His decisions (κρίσις) - which involve the judgment of one person upon or against another in the nature of evaluations - would be true because God is with Him.  He goes on to state that in the law that the testimony of two witnesses is true.  In this case, Jesus testifies to Himself and gets testimony from God who is His other witness.

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).  

Peter is talking to the elders of the people and says that salvation is found in no one else besides Jesus Christ who is in heaven.

"Then Peter began to speak: 'I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.'" (Acts 10:34-35).

Peter is saying that anyone who fears (φοβέω) God - in this case having profound reference for God - is acceptable to Him.  He also says that anyone who does what is right (δικαιοσύνη) which is the quality of upright behavior or righteousness is acceptable.  

"There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism" (Romans 2:9-11).

Paul is basically saying that those who do evil will be in trouble, but those who do good will not.  God does not show favoritism (προσωπολημψία) - which indicates partiality named as a sin.  

"What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin" (Romans 3:9).

Gentiles (Ἕλλην) - all persons who came from under influence of Greek distinguished from Israel's culture - and Jews are all under the power of sin.  Therefore, all of us need to, as Jesus says, "Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15).  

References

Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., Bauer, W., & Gingrich, F. W. (2000). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed., p. 854). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Economics with soul - 2007 2 problems of humanity solutions for the world (Lucis Trust). Lucis Trust. (2021). Retrieved October 19, 2021, from https://www.lucistrust.org/world_goodwill/newsletter/recent_issues__1/2007_2_problems_of_humanity_solutions_for_the_world/economics_with_soul.

Holy Bible, NIV (2011).  Zondervan.  Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Slick, M. (2021, March 5). What does it mean to be woke? Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry. Retrieved October 19, 2021, from https://carm.org/social-justice/what-does-it-mean-to-be-woke/.