In a lesson for Third Graders in a Silicon Valley community (Cupertino, California) the teacher assigned a lesson in deconstructing the student’s racial identities and then, “…rank themselves according to their power and privilege.” The teacher, reading from This Book Is Antiracist, attempted to clarify with these words, “…a white, cisgender man, who is able-bodied, heterosexual, considered handsome and speaks English has more privilege than a Black transgender woman.”[1] This all becomes a bit murky for Third Graders. It should be noted that this school/community is populated with a majority of minorities whose children excel in their school work. This was seen by the parents as teaching racism and was therefore, met with quite a backlash from those parents.
“Woke,” according to the Oxford Language Dictionary, means, “…a political term [and] refers to a perceived awareness of issues that concern social justice and racial justice.”[2] This doesn’t sound so bad on the surface. Using the word “justice” coupled with the terms social and racial, we get a positive leaning in our minds. However, did you notice the word “perceived?” This word throws the statement into a different light. Concepts hidden in darkness change their shape and colors (meanings) when seen in the real light – the light of God’s Word, the light of Christ. Social justice and racial justice are terms that are too often used to hide actual meaning in the shadows of darkness, their definitions obscured from reality. In these types of false understandings there is some truth folded into the mix of definitions. Enough truth to pique one’s interest, enough false to be turned away from God.
It is easy to see how confusing it can get to separate the truth from the lies, good from evil. We should not just “throw the baby out with the bathwater,” but, it would certainly be better for the baby to have clean water for the next bath. The ”Woke” way of thinking only muddies the water further, rather than clearing anything up.
As Christians, we are “called out of darkness into His wonderful light” (I Peter 2:9). Further, we are to be lamps of God’s light to shine in this dark world (Psalm 18:28; 112:4). God has chosen us to declare His truth and shine His light, enabling others to see clearly. Avoid being entangled in the murky philosophies of this world where evil is called good and good is called evil (Isaiah 5:20; Romans 1:24-25). Work hard to separate the truth from the errors to guide others into God’s way. Do not settle for being “woke” and receiving the world’s praise. “Wake up and shout for joy” (Isaiah 26:19).
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” (Isaiah 60:1-3).
“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (II Corinthians 4:6).
Stop hiding this light under a bushel…bring it out and let it shine!
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[1]https://christopherrufo.com/woke-elementary/ [2] The Oxford Language Dictionary, 2021 Oxford University Press
