Has America's culture of "wokeness" effected the Anabaptists?

[steve-in-kville]

A few podcasts I've listed to recently touched on being "woke", a term I never heard until the past year or so. Specifically, how the social culture is "dumbing down" masculinity. Some really good points I will share further downstream if I get the chance.

Vote and discuss. I'll allow for some politics provided its kept civil.

[steve-in-kville]

Forgot the definition of being woke:

The quality of being alert to and concerned about social injustice and discrimination.

[Josh]

It is definitely making inroads. A good example is Lucinda Miller’s blog, which reads like a leftist-progressive primer on why you should be woke.

[steve-in-kville]

One big area is if you're an employer or have a business open to the public.

[seinetsodumm]

Forgot the definition of being woke:

The quality of being alert to and concerned about social injustice and discrimination.

Such a loaded topic. I don't particularly want to get into a long argument, but at that risk I'll share a few thoughts.

I think as a believer, I should already be alert to those around me. After all Jesus said to "Love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself." Jesus story about the good Samaritan makes it clear that love should extend to those around me, even those of different social class/ethnicity. However, that awareness should flow out of a living relationship with my Father. In my relationships with those around me, treating them fairly and with love should always point back to my relationship with God and should draw them towards relationship with God. I don't see that in the modern woke philosophy and I don't see that coming through at large in the message of the woke Anabaptism. Instead, what I hear coming through is a message of tolerance. That is a dangerous place. I think meeting physical needs can be a great place to start, being aware of "social injustice" (who really determines that definition anyways - there's something about the mob mentality of wokism that seems evil to me) can provide opportunity. But lets not get sidetracked, Jesus is the answer here.

[Ken]

What is the opposite of "woke"?

To be "unwoke"? unaware? sleepwalking?

In the movies the technical word for that is "zombie"

[Grace]

Forgot the definition of being woke:

The quality of being alert to and concerned about social injustice and discrimination.

Such a loaded topic. I don't particularly want to get into a long argument, but at that risk I'll share a few thoughts.

I think as a believer, I should already be alert to those around me. After all Jesus said to "Love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself." Jesus story about the good Samaritan makes it clear that love should extend to those around me, even those of different social class/ethnicity. However, that awareness should flow out of a living relationship with my Father. In my relationships with those around me, treating them fairly and with love should always point back to my relationship with God and should draw them towards relationship with God. I don't see that in the modern woke philosophy and I don't see that coming through at large in the message of the woke Anabaptism. Instead, what I hear coming through is a message of tolerance. That is a dangerous place. I think meeting physical needs can be a great place to start, being aware of "social injustice" (who really determines that definition anyways - there's something about the mob mentality of wokism that seems evil to me) can provide opportunity. But lets not get sidetracked, Jesus is the answer here.

Well said.

In Colossians 2:8 Paul says to not be taken captive by false philosophies. I would say that “wokeness” might come in that category.

Genesis teaches that all humans are equally part of one human race. Although we may have different skin tones, languages, or ethnicities that distinguish us, we are all human beings who are made in the image of God. Wokeness seems to point the finger at skin color. However, it isn’t skin color that is the problem, SIN is the problem. If someone is demeaned and mistreated because of their skin color, they have been wronged and sinned against. Woke ideology turns humans against one another, and results in individuals being judged by the color of their skin and status in society rather than the content of their character or their status in the eyes of God.

[Ken]

Forgot the definition of being woke:

The quality of being alert to and concerned about social injustice and discrimination.

Such a loaded topic. I don't particularly want to get into a long argument, but at that risk I'll share a few thoughts.

I think as a believer, I should already be alert to those around me. After all Jesus said to "Love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself." Jesus story about the good Samaritan makes it clear that love should extend to those around me, even those of different social class/ethnicity. However, that awareness should flow out of a living relationship with my Father. In my relationships with those around me, treating them fairly and with love should always point back to my relationship with God and should draw them towards relationship with God. I don't see that in the modern woke philosophy and I don't see that coming through at large in the message of the woke Anabaptism. Instead, what I hear coming through is a message of tolerance. That is a dangerous place. I think meeting physical needs can be a great place to start, being aware of "social injustice" (who really determines that definition anyways - there's something about the mob mentality of wokism that seems evil to me) can provide opportunity. But lets not get sidetracked, Jesus is the answer here.

Well said.

In Colossians 2:8 Paul says to not be taken captive by false philosophies. I would say that “wokeness” might come in that category.

Genesis teaches that all humans are equally part of one human race. Although we may have different skin tones, languages, or ethnicities that distinguish us, we are all human beings who are made in the image of God. Wokeness seems to point the finger at skin color. However, it isn’t skin color that is the problem, SIN is the problem. If someone is demeaned and mistreated because of their skin color, they have been wronged and sinned against. Woke ideology turns humans against one another, and results in individuals being judged by the color of their skin and status in society rather than the content of their character or their status in the eyes of God.

By the definition of "wokeness" provided by Steve, the Bible is very woke. The story of the Good Samaritan is a case in point. And Jesus was most definitely concerned about those in his society who faced injustice and discrimination.

[seinetsodumm]

Well said.

In Colossians 2:8 Paul says to not be taken captive by false philosophies. I would say that “wokeness” might come in that category.

Genesis teaches that all humans are equally part of one human race. Although we may have different skin tones, languages, or ethnicities that distinguish us, we are all human beings who are made in the image of God. Wokeness seems to point the finger at skin color. However, it isn’t skin color that is the problem, SIN is the problem. If someone is demeaned and mistreated because of their skin color, they have been wronged and sinned against. Woke ideology turns humans against one another, and results in individuals being judged by the color of their skin and status in society rather than the content of their character or their status in the eyes of God.

I agree. Lets stick with calling things as Scripture labels them. Sin is the problem and has been since the beginning. Jesus is the answer.

[ken_sylvania]

If we call things as Scripture labels them then wokeness seems to be a good thing. Eph 5:14