Asking for a Friend - 8.13.2023

How do I navigate “woke culture” as a Christian?What does “woke” mean and where did it come from? The term ”woke” first appeared in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s and was exclusively used to describe people who were being activated (awakened) to the realities of racial injustice.Woke Ideology- Racism, Sexism, Homophobia, Transphobia, Ableism, etc. If you believe there should be equality for one, then you have to believe there should be equality for all. If you don’t believe that there should be equality for even one, then you are in opposition to all.Woke Ideology Villains- Racism - WhiteSexism - MaleHomophobia - HeterosexualTransphobia - ReligiousAbleism - HealthyHow can the Church respond? Let’s look at the foundation of the issue and find a biblical response. The word porneia is used 26 times in the New Testament. The KJV translates it as “fornication.” Most modern translations use the words immorality or sexual immorality. There are still some that translate it in some verses as fornication. We must understand that the Bible is talking about sex outside of monogamous committed marital relationship between a husband and wife. ANYTHING that went outside of that scope was covered by the word porneia.Deut. 22:5 says that men and women should not wear each other’s clothes… this is an “abomination.”How do I navigate “woke culture” as a Christian? Luke 10:25-29 NLTHow do I show love without condoning someone’s actions? 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLTPopular Worldview-If you don’t accept my actions then you don’t love me.Biblical Worldview- If I accept your actions and don’t challenge your sin, then I don’t love you.Psalm 1 talks about how we should not sit in the council of sinners, this doesn’t negate our call to love them.2 Tim 3 says that we should have nothing to do with sinful people who pretend to be GodlyRom 2:4 reminds us that it is God’s kindness (and by extension ours) that leads people to repentance.