Stop Calling Everyone “Woke”

“Did you hear about the Christian YouTuber who affirms that humans are responsible for climate change?” 

“Yeah, he’s gotten really woke.” 

“What about the Christian organization that intentionally allows diverse perspectives within a broad range of orthodox and conservative denominations? A couple of articles I’ve read recently were too soft on LGBT issues. I know they have clear confessional statements about sexuality that are conservative, but…” 

“Yeah, they’re woke.”

“Did you hear about that Christian pastor who spoke at a conference where a progressive Christian was allowed to speak?”

“Yeah, woke.”  

All of the above examples are rough and very simplified versions of real life events and conversations. I’m finding that the label of woke is getting thrown around rather loosely these days by conservative Christians. Rather than reserving it for clear-cut cases or instances, at the first sign of a softer take, stance, or practical application, the label is dropped like a scarlet letter. 

Let’s be clear, unless the evidence is sound, this is a form of slander and calling someone woke (who is not) is a serious sin. Of course, I’m using the word “woke” in the sense that the average conservative Christian is going to use it. At its most basic level, it does not have to entail anything heretical to the Christian faith, as it can also be defined as merely being attentive to political injustice (which is a very biblical practice). That said, I also recognize that there does tend to be a highly liberal and progressive bent to those who self-identify as woke.

All that said, the overuse of the label woke as an insult, is very similar to how overusing the word heresy is harmful—and ironically waters-down the word, thereby weakening its effect when it is actually needed. Throwing around the word woke is reckless if it is not accurately applied. It distracts us from those who are actually woke (in the progressive Christian sense) and it unnecessarily divides the church. You don’t label someone woke and then break bread with them. 

Christian, please hear me. Not everyone a little to the left of you is woke. Not everyone who does not check every republican political box is woke. Not everyone who affirms climate change, is pro-immigration, is anti-Trump, or is for some form of social justice is woke. Faith and belief are more complicated than that. Don’t be lazy if you are going to drop that label. Be afraid to slander your brothers and sisters in Christ. A declaration of woke should be made with fear and trembling, not flippancy and ease. 

I do think there are some stances that can immediately move someone into the woke camp, mostly clear and unrestrained affirmations related to LGBTQ+. Even here, please ensure that you listen to their actual doctrinal stance. Often, Christians will have very different practical applications for specific and complicated circumstances—perhaps about whether or not to attend a gay wedding ceremony. Two Christians may heartily agree that gay relationships are sinful, but they may differ on their views of attending a wedding or not. There has to be some breathing room in the church for disagreements of conscience. To just plaster anyone with a differing practical application as woke is unhelpful, and possibly destructive in many cases—especially when that differing Christian has a clear conservative doctrinal position. 

As the Apostle Paul warned, “If you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another” (Gal. 5:15). We must be careful with how we relate to those who profess the name of Christ. We must guard both our heart and our tongue. There is a time for rebuke, there is a time to raise the alarm, there is a time to cast aside, but there is also a time to listen, a time to let be, and a time to bring together. May God give us the wisdom to determine what time it is the next time we go to use the label of woke against a professing brother or sister. 

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