Woke Christianity

[RJM]

woke adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of woke adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

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Well meaning objectives are often hijacked by the lunatic fringe. The problem is that ordinary, sane folks become caught up in a war between the extremists on both sides.

 

[Faithfulservant]

Your observations and concerns are pretty accurate. However, I'm confused about the number of things you are conflating with the concept of "wokeness" I agree with you about the prosperity gospel. I don't think that's a woke things though? It's been around for awhile and I think often due to television evangelists. The idea of "cafeteria style" -- the phrase "Cafeteria Catholics" came from some prominent bishop I think in the middle of the last century. I'm not so sure that is wrong though... if believers are engaging in any kind of discernment and indepedent thinking -- which they should be-- they are often accused of being "cafeteria style".

All of the things you mentioned are, I think, common concerns about secular culture invading or dominating the church.

However, the term "woke" is about something totally different. It's supposed to mean "politically and socially aware" which is supposed to be about systemic injustice like racism and other social justice concerns. Hence the derogatory term "SJW" meaning "social justice warrior" being associated with wokeness. Today's "wokeness" seems to be the descendant of "political correctness" from 30 years ago.

I think your observations are good and worth talking about. But I also think using the term "woke" for them was confusing and woke refers to something else entirely.

So I probably misused the word woke. I was peeved at a certain person and posted emotionally.. I do this often

 

[Faithfulservant]

That's a good point which is one of those truisms everywhere.
If however you try to evangelize to somebody and they say this to you, what happens next?
I'm not trying to be cute about it I'm really asking? What do you do when someone you are trying to convince says this to you?
It is, after all, not wrong.

I say God bless you and pray for them.

 

[Faithfulservant]

..so you claim..
I don't believe that .. that view is based on polemic by trinitarians,
inferring that so called Arians claimed that Jesus is a lesser God than the Father,
thereby making two gods.

It is a play on words, and the significance of the word Divine.
Thare is only One God, and Artans believed that it is "Our Father".
Jesus worshiped and prayed to our Father.

As He would being that He was made lower than the angels as fully man and our example... But He was also fully God and received worship

 

[Faithfulservant]

Fascinating. We all interpret and emphasize things a little differently I guess, but I definitely see the relevance of Constantine and the Arian priest (Arianism by the way is totally different from Aryanism but I think others have defined that already) Constantine and Arius, for whom Arian doctrine was named, as a HUGE part of early Christian history and early Church history. Had the councils ruled differently, in favor of Arius, for example, the Church would have taught non-Trinitarian doctrines. Please read the book When Jesus Became God: The Struggle to Define Christianity during teh Last Days of Rom but Richard E Rubenstein. 1999 by Harcourt Press. It's a fascinating and well documented account of how the early church arrived at and settled on the doctrine of the Trinity, the controversy, the organizational politics and the Roman empire politics, the machinations, schemes, etc. Regardless of your theological position, and your committment to it, please do read it, it explains so much and will fill you in on why people are saying all these things in contrast to your beliefs. Plus the historical narrative is just so interesting.

I've had others try to convince me to read secular historical works on the history of the church. Try the letters to the 7 churches in Revelation or Paul's epistles. They are more condensed versions but they gets the point across and less violent.

 

[Faithfulservant]

Hi I'm new here and so intrigued by all these questions. I don't mean to sound obtuse, but what do you mean by "I'm a woman with a woman's heart soft and squishy" ? I know you don't mean anything medical or cardiac, you are referring to the proverbial heart, but I don't get it. I'm a woman and have never heard anything like that. Also, what do you mean "my gift is exhortation" what does that mean? And how do you know?

Women are led by their emotions.. Men are led by logic. I know my spiritual gift as revealed to me by God and after decades of practicing it without knowing what it was. Exhortation is a word of comfort or encouragement.

 

[Faithfulservant]

This title.still irks me. I find "woke" is a term used to demonize compassionate, empathetic, caring people who have concern for their fellow man. Seems to me, Jesus was woke, Christianity is woke, and you gotta be woke before you can be born again.

But that is just me, and the as many have said the words and actions of many Christians ain't very Christlike.

You are easily irked lol. You should learn to relax.

 

[Thomas]

Women are led by their emotions.. Men are led by logic...

Oh, I'm sorry to challenge this ... but it is very much a stereotype foisted on women, by men, to put them in their place.

 

[Faithfulservant]

Oh, I'm sorry to challenge this ... but it is very much a stereotype foisted on women, by men, to put them in their place.

We are going to have to disagree! God made women opposites to men for a reason and that is why they were created for man as a helper. Together in marriage I believe complete a full picture of God. I think women's liberation took it a step too far. Women are equal to men but different in qualities that were intended for a life that's no longer possible in today's world. Look at what happened when women left the household and child raising to work full time jobs. Our kids grow up in day care and are influenced and even abused outside of the home. They aren't being nurtured by loving mothers throughout the day.. they aren't getting one on one interactions. Moms come home stressed and faced with cooking and cleaning with a decreased capacity to fulfill their child's needs. We have children growing up in more and more broken homes with one parent... It's unbalanced. Mothers are now playing the role of both sexes and we can see the result of that in today's society. It's very sad to me.

 

[TheLightWithin]

Women are led by their emotions.. Men are led by logic. I know my spiritual gift as revealed to me by God and after decades of practicing it without knowing what it was. Exhortation is a word of comfort or encouragement.

Intriguing. But really sounds like a stereotype. Do you really think it's true? Does anybody believe it's true?

 

[TheLightWithin]

We are going to have to disagree! God made women opposites to men for a reason and that is why they were created for man as a helper. Together in marriage I believe complete a full picture of God. I think women's liberation took it a step too far. Women are equal to men but different in qualities that were intended for a life that's no longer possible in today's world. Look at what happened when women left the household and child raising to work full time jobs. Our kids grow up in day care and are influenced and even abused outside of the home. They aren't being nurtured by loving mothers throughout the day.. they aren't getting one on one interactions. Moms come home stressed and faced with cooking and cleaning with a decreased capacity to fulfill their child's needs. We have children growing up in more and more broken homes with one parent... It's unbalanced. Mothers are now playing the role of both sexes and we can see the result of that in today's society. It's very sad to me.

Well, sadly enough, children can be abused in the home as well. And though moms (and dads) can be nurturing, some parents aren't, including some moms are just not nurturing individuals. It's more common than you'd think. So even in households with 2 parents or even 3 (say a grandparent in the home) and only one child, a child can still end up without one on one interaction with adults. Seen it.

I think being too deep in beliefs about what men/women/parents/families SHOULD be, we lose sight of what all too often IS.

 

[TheLightWithin]

I've had others try to convince me to read secular historical works on the history of the church. Try the letters to the 7 churches in Revelation or Paul's epistles. They are more condensed versions but they gets the point across and less violent.

Not sure I understand? Less violent that what? Revelation is less violent than ecclesiastical history?

 

[Faithfulservant]

Intriguing. But really sounds like a stereotype. Do you really think it's true? Does anybody believe it's true?

I suppose it's who you talk to. The bible is clear on gender roles and God's intent in creation. I trust my husband to make sure I'm safe and he trusts me to give him good advice.

 

[Faithfulservant]

Well, sadly enough, children can be abused in the home as well. And though moms (and dads) can be nurturing, some parents aren't, including some moms are just not nurturing individuals. It's more common than you'd think. So even in households with 2 parents or even 3 (say a grandparent in the home) and only one child, a child can still end up without one on one interaction with adults. Seen it.

I think being too deep in beliefs about what men/women/parents/families SHOULD be, we lose sight of what all too often IS.

Well I've experienced abuse at the hands of someone who was not a parent and was charged with my care and know personally others. I think we partially base our views on what's in the media. I have a fair amount of emotional trauma as my own child was abused the same way by someone that I thought I could trust

 

[Faithfulservant]

Not sure I understand? Less violent that what? Revelation is less violent than ecclesiastical history?

That's fine if you don't understand. That's my take on it and is my reason I don't read the books. I feel that I'm better off reading what I need to know in scripture to form an understanding as to why the world hates Jesus Christ.

 

[TheLightWithin]

That's fine if you don't understand. That's my take on it and is my reason I don't read the books. I feel that I'm better off reading what I need to know in scripture to form an understanding as to why the world hates Jesus Christ.

I don't know what you mean as to why the "world" "hates" Jesus Christ. "The World" -- people love to use that phrase but it covers an awful lot of people --more or less everybody-- and simply not accurate to overgeneralize about what 'everybody' thinks. However, if you did want to know what "the world" thought, reading secular books would give you a hint. And also help you realize that "the world" is not a single point of view but a multiplicity of views.

 

[TheLightWithin]

I suppose it's who you talk to. The bible is clear on gender roles and God's intent in creation. I trust my husband to make sure I'm safe and he trusts me to give him good advice.

Interesting. I have often heard people use the phrase "the bible is clear".
The bible is many things. It is rarely "clear" It requires significant interpretation and understanding of context. Even seemingly simple remarks in the Bible require some understanding of context to avoid getting things wrong.

 

[TheLightWithin]

Well I've experienced abuse at the hands of someone who was not a parent and was charged with my care and know personally others. I think we partially base our views on what's in the media. I have a fair amount of emotional trauma as my own child was abused the same way by someone that I thought I could trust

I'm very sorry that happened to you or your child. Abuse can come from many sources, either within the home or out.
I hope you had the support you needed, and I hope the guilty parties had to face immediate consequences.

 

[TheLightWithin]

You are easily irked lol. You should learn to relax.

No I think wil had a point and you invalidated that point and wil's response 8-<
The term "woke" is often used to denote some kind of extremism, but like will said it is often used to invalidate compassion.
Sometimes people who snarl against "wokeness" make me want to say -- well, if you're not 'woke' then WAKE UP
I don't know if I count as "woke" because I hate buzzwords and nobody can define them.
What does "woke" mean, exactly? My understanding it has become a sarcastic way to belittle people who care about social justice.
So no wonder wil is irked.
But the term is used so loosely who knows these days?
And as you acknowledged, you even utilized the term to denounce unrelated things that irritated you... because you were annoyed with someone...
Wait are you easily irked to? ;-) Just kidding

 

[Faithfulservant]

I don't know what you mean as to why the "world" "hates" Jesus Christ. "The World" -- people love to use that phrase but it covers an awful lot of people --more or less everybody-- and simply not accurate to overgeneralize about what 'everybody' thinks. However, if you did want to know what "the world" thought, reading secular books would give you a hint. And also help you realize that "the world" is not a single point of view but a multiplicity of views.

According to Jesus John 15:18-19
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

I could add more but that's pretty clear. We are taught that there are three enemies.. the world Satan and our flesh. I'm not interested in what the world has to say as I watch enough TV to grasp it.

If you haven't realized it..I take the bible literally.