“Woke” is a common insult thrown around by those who oppose the pursuit of justice as a Christian mandate. When they are upset at the stands that other conservative Christians take on racial issues, on sexual abuse issues, on political matters, when some refuse to acquiesce to GOP/conservative orthodoxy, they resort to dismissive name-calling. Derogations such as liberal, “social justice warriors,” or the ubiquitous “woke” are common. In certain circles, woke is synonymous with liberal, denying the Scriptures, or at least ignoring the primacy of the Gospel. I’ve objected to the insult because it is both offensive and inaccurate, and its intent is not to be descriptive but insulting.
I wonder if the proper response to being called “woke” should be a hearty thank you?
A friend told me something recently, which I tried to research and found plausible, if not verified beyond question. He said that the term was originally a compliment given within the Black community to those who “got it,” those in the White community whose eyes had been opened to the evils of racism, of segregation, and of the cruelty inflicted on Black people in America. When the blinders of racism were removed and a person began to see things clearly, he or she was “woke.”
If that is true, I would consider it a privilege to be called woke.
It is, in fact, an apt description of my journey in racial issues. I want to share my “testimony” on these issues (that’s the Baptist version of “my story”) and explain how a hardcore conservative Baptist preacher like me ended up getting regularly called woke, a liberal, a Democrat (though I’ve only voted for one Democrat in my life, and he switched parties within a few months after the election) and several other names. I share this because, if people are going to call me woke I might as well tell the story of my awakening.
Before I share that journey, I would affirm that some things have not changed in 40 years of ministry.
Things that have NOT changed
Since my first sermon in 1977, these convictions have not changed.
- I subscribed to the BF&M then, and I do today.
- I believed in salvation by grace through faith alone, the blood atonement, the Trinity, the exclusivity of Christ, the sovereignty of God, and a long list of other key doctrines. I may have refined my understanding of some of these, but I hold them as passionately today as I did then.
- I believed in inerrancy then, and I do today.
- I was a committed Baptist then, and I am today.
- I was a complementarian then and am now.
How I “Woke”
When I began my ministry, I had one view on racial issues, and today my views are very different and what happened to me feels an awful lot like waking up. Let me share some steps in that process, my experience, my story.
- I read a book called “Blinded by Might” by Cal Thomas and Ed Dobson. I’d been a loyal Republican all my life, Moral Majority adherent, a reliable right-wing vote. When I read that book, it opened my eyes to some things. The thesis of that book, to oversimplify, is that there is a natural conflict between politics and Christianity. We are about truth – the Truth. We proclaim Christ whether people respond or not. Politics is about gaining and maintaining power and doing whatever you have to toward that end. When the church engages too deeply in politics, there will be a constant danger that it will compromise truth to gain and maintain power. I began to see the involvement of the church in politics differently as I worked through that concept.
- I got involved in blogging and in the world of SBC politics, and at the 2010 convention, I met a man named Dwight McKissic and had a great conversation. I’d heard him preach and loved it. He’d read some of my posts at the now-defunct sbcIMPACT and was very kind. Later that day, he argued for a resolution or motion relating to racial issues (can’t remember specifics) and it went down to defeat. I decided to go talk to him and offer some encouragement – AND THAT WAS THE MOMENT I WOKE UP!
- I offered some tepid support to Dwight – the fight isn’t over, we’ll continue advocating for it on the blogs, and after all, these things take time. Change in the SBC is slow. That is when my new friend BLEW MY MIND. He said, “Dave, do you realize that this entire convention there has been nothing but white men at the microphone?” I felt those words like a dagger. We were (I believe) unintentionally excluding people of color from the convention’s leadership and I DID NOT EVEN NOTICE. I was blind. Yes, I was asleep. And Dwight McKissic slapped me across the face and woke me up, with soft, gentle words.
- I told Dwight that day that I would spend the rest of my ministry using whatever influence I have as a pastor, as a blogger, and in any other way I could to promote the cause of racial harmony (or whatever term is right – reconciliation, inclusion) in the SBC. I have tried to do that. That day, in Orlando, was the day I became “woke.” My sleeping eyes were opened to the fact that my friend Dwight saw the SBC with very different eyes than I did.
- Back in Sioux City, I spent some time with an elderly Black man, a former deacon in our church, who told me stories about what he’d been through during his life. Grady was a true man of God, a man who held a doctorate, who’d never been unkind or cruel to anyone. He told me stories that made me want to cry. This wasn’t happening in Birmingham or Macon, but in Sioux City, Iowa. It broke my heart. Racism is real and it is evil and it is not just a past sin.
- As I began to write on the topic of race here, I encountered troubling attitudes and words. When a pastor was fired for inviting black children to VBS, our comment streams were filled with people DEFENDING the church and ATTACKING the pastor. No matter what has been suggested in the SBC to promote racial inclusion and reconciliation, people have opposed it – every single time. Confederate flag. Greater representation of minorities on nominations and appointments. Advocacy of a minority entity president. Every single effort in the SBC has been opposed. It becomes more clear every day that the SBC’s problems with race are not just ancient history.
Maybe I will do a follow-up with my opinions on some of these issues, but for now, I have a simple point. You guys use the term “woke” as an insult. I get it. But that is exactly what it felt like to me. When I spoke to Dwight, and to my deacon friend, and when I began to see that my lifelong party did not have the corner on truth, it was like waking up. That was my experience. I woke up.
So, yeah, call me woke if you want. It’s better than being asleep, isn’t it?
Less than a month after “Woke won’t work here” we have “Is Being ‘Woke’ So Bad?”
But I have that unrealistic wish that we could employ certain words and make hearers and readers use our meanings rather than their own..
I don’t disagree with much Dave has written in this but from the very first time I was exposed to the term, I didn’t like it. Still don’t. It hinders discussion and potential resolution of issues. I’ll make an effort not to be defined by the term as a catch-all on racial issues.
I like the concept, but not the term. If someone wants to use it as a compliment toward me, I’ll gladly accept it. If someone uses it as a dismissive pejorative, they get the eye roll. As for self-identification, I’d rather just talk through ideas and issues and forgo labels.
I don’t like the term either, William.
I am just making the point that this ugly insult has a grain of truth.
We live in dark community for many years and most of them ( 69 % ) were disqualifying human nature and seekers of temporary happiness that invoking pure life. We tolerated and suffered on their materialism and racism. Pray and hope they target us no more. Proverbs 3:29-35.
I didn’t see any appeal to scripture that was a cause of the awakening.
Greg, that’s rather lame. You can do better. Is it a bad thing to recognize that you’ve seen some things with an uninformed perspective? Dave listed quite a number of biblical doctrines and practices. Interact with any one of those if you disagree. I can’t be confident on the basis of the single sentence that you wrote but it may be that reacting to “woke” as you do has less to do with any biblical concept than it does merely classifying people into SBC political groups.
And, my old Dawg fan friend, it looks like you are asking for Scripture on the concept of being “woke.” Dave gave several specifics and used examples. To which of these would you judge unbiblical? Why? My point is that “woke” used merely as a pejorative or as a cheap way of classifying fellow SBCers is totally artificial. You provide an example of this…but convince me otherwise if you wish.
William perhaps you are right. I think I should say that, in my opinion he woke up as a result of experiences and personal interactions.
Jesus is the Word (John 1). He is always speaking. He speaks through the Bible- the Word that was written- and he speaks through his people- the Word he is writing! He spoke through Dwight that day and that is not surprising nor abnormal.
Greg, the second half of this post contained biblical truths that undergirded this. I stated that though these experiences I realized my political views were not biblically grounded. I have written entire articles on the biblical basis for racial unity.
I think it would help if one would identify the following: Who, in the SBC is causing race problems? What, in the SBC “IS” the race problem? Is there, in the SBC, racial discrimination? Epitaph’s? Drinking fountains? Pews? Buses? Job opportunities? Who, in the SBC, isn’t loving their neighbor? I totally disagree that politics is about power in America. The pledge of allegiance was written after the civil war, not before, and it states liberty and JUSTICE for all. Whatever justice is being sought, it can be found in a courtroom. Not by seeking it thru burning buildings belonging to… Read more »
Injustice is rampant in the SBC. Racism us rampant in the SBC.
Dave, Sounds to me, that since you declare that there is, identify the exact nature, and persons involved, and seek justice in a courtroom, or in public, so that the whole SBC is aware of WHO, and WHAT. But it’s got to be a proven accusation. Imagine the defense. Outside of church, I see that victims of racial injustice had just committed a crime themselves, and it is after that crime that when a cop shoots the criminal, that they cry injustice. My philosophy is, don’t commit crime, and no one gets shot. But that’s just me, and that’s why… Read more »
…and, there it is. You’re always good for a rant Ed. Why not answer your own questions? State flatly that there is no racism in the sbc.
Did you read my article? I identified several specifics t h ere.
Dave, thanks for being so specific about the SBC. Now we can feel good about leaving an unjust , racist organization and start over from day one with a new history starting now. That is the goal of many in this country,
Or, we could leave snark behind and change our ways to honor God and the Body of Christ.
What seems to be the primary cause of injustice in the SBC?
In short…an excessive love if culture and heritage over Christ.
Can you be specific on what SBC policy or practice is racist today? Whites are the hegemony. Being the hegemony is not a sin. Being Woke is affiliated with BLM. Read what they stand for! Nothing about BLM is Christian, or Christ like. Yet the SBC embraces this neo-Marxist group along with Critical Race theory, and Intersectionality. How does all this line up with scripture again?
Another bullseye on a target not in the SBC nor anything close to what Dave wrote.
this comment makes me really sad. It is a demonstration of a lack of empathy and a complete discounting of black experience in American and the SBC.
I just deleted half of the preceding comment and need to apologize to Greg. I just realized that I was confusing him with another commenter with a long history of inappropriate comments.
I ask your forgiveness Greg.
I forgive you Dave Miller . I have been the beneficiary of SBC Voices erasing some of my own post that needed to be erased after I reflected upon them further.
It is actually the second time I did that, though not here. Alan Atchison is the sub-Christian author at Capstone.
On a Facebook site, I let some guy have it. He was stunned. Then I realized it was a different Alan.
Thanks, Dave. I also object to people using “woke” as a pejorative. Think about how demeaning it is for someone to use a word as a positive affirmation, then for critics to take that affirmation and use it to mock others.
Here is my take. If “woke” means I realize black people have historically been oppressed in America I am ok with that. But are you sure that’s what it means? When people are organizations get “woke”, the turn. It isn’t just “make sure black people get equal opportunities”, its the entire structure is racist, so the whole thing needs to be replaced. Its Critical Race Theory, which has a lot of baggage attached to it. Its BLM, which, for whatever positives the idea of promoting police and prison reform has, is run by people blatantly promoting Marxist ideas. When it… Read more »
You actually have to have the conversation. If one dismisses any call to change structures and systems as CRT or Marxism, then they aren’t really interested in discussions about race or oppression. Besides, I’m pretty convinced that people who speak of CRT and Marxism have little more than a cursory knowledge of either.
Todd,
I work at a university. I listen to CRT speakers who come through here all the time. I have read White Fragility? Have you? Have you listened to BLM matters founders speaches and presentations? I have. Several speakers have come to my campus and given presentations on what “woke” means, and how to be “anti-racist.” I am not a SBC conspiracy theorist trying to keep the “good ole boys” in charge. I am a college professor living with “woke” in the real world. Come to state college campus and see woke in action.
This has been OUR argument all along. The guys making accusations against SBC professors and calling us “woke” have NO idea what the words mean. They are calling conservative Christians a term that applies generally today to liberals far outside our orb. I have said that woke is a wholly inaccurate term when applied within the SBC, but dishonest people continue to use it. In this article, my point is simple. The process of coming to realize that the GOP didn’t own biblical truth, that the Bible actually supported justice and racial reconciliation, etc – that was a lot like… Read more »
…there it is again. Dave was specific on what he meant. You’re chasing demons not found here. Go find some and have at it.
Yep
OK but you act like you live in a bubble chamber where nothing else is going on. Woke means more than your definition. It applies to more than the church.
Maybe you should take that up with the people who are constantly accusing conservative, Bible-believing Christians of being “woke?”
Occasionally, I appreciate your insightful comments here From the academy. I think I’m reasonably well informed certainly about these matters as pertains to the SBC. The jump from SBCers like Dave to white fragility and the like is a bit much. I hear the author of white fragility is quite a capitalist…bit I haven’t read the book.
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=woke
I guess it depends on how you define “woke”. It is a poor choice of words to use to describe anyone’s opinions and thoughts on an issue. This is from the urban dictionary who at least offer some guidance. It is what happens when a society races to the bottom and creates words that can have different meanings. Noah would be upset not the boat builder but the word builder. Stay woke. I think you are being trifled with.
Dave, I am glad that you came around to see the importance of racial issues. It must have been quite a burden to not be that way for years. There are outliers on either side of this discussion but they are few. I personally cannot name and do not know one racist person in my life. The broader discussion is how do we address issues and areas of conflict. There are significant differences there. It’s not that varying approaches make people more or less racist. IMO, it’s whether they are more or less wise. We should hear people out. Assume… Read more »
Dave, I think that labels are best used on things than people. The moment we identify ourselves with a particular label then we are somewhat or to some degree obliged to defend, qualify or justify all the associations ( just or unjust) that are attached to that label. That’s what happened to me. For years I would say “ I lean towards Calvinism” as a result I was pulled in to the five points and all that not to mention “ does God love everyone?” conundrum, so after many useless conversations I am now a full blown Christian, a follower… Read more »
Obviously, I am being a bit cute here. I am probably not “woke” in the technical sense. I do not support left wing politics.
When I heard the supposed origin of “woke” it got me thinking. It did feel like waking up when I realized how ridiculous, how blind, how wrong some of my social and political views had been.
Yes, the insult is still inaccurate and ungodly as the anti-justice group uses it.
I am just trying to redeem it a bit. And yeah, perhaps, annoy them a bit?
If we expect to communicate with other people, we have to agree on the meanings of the words we use, and the definition you are using for the word “woke” only encompasses a small part of what the word means in common culture. You seem to be taking the word “woke” to basically mean an awareness that there is racial injustice in our society, and that we need to work at fixing it, which is fine, but that only encompasses a small part of what the word means in common usage. In addition to an awareness of racism, people also… Read more »
I’m not sure you got the spirit of my post.
Oh well.
Dave, I must respectfully disagree with a key premise of your thesis. That the use of the term ‘Woke’, cannot be used in other than a disdainful taunt. We are ALL at times …reductionistic in our analysis and rhetoric. Whom hasn’t ever felt intellectually weary, and looked for an abbreviated short-cut in our speech and prose. (Painting with a BROAD brush certainly saves time, though) I would humbly suggest that in your effort to identify SOME people’s intended usage of the term, …you have ironically, erred in much the same fashion. It absolutely cannot be used in other than a… Read more »
I think you were just using shorthand, but I am not aware of an “anti-justice group” in the SBC. I give you the benefit of the doubt, but it is easy to use terms that categorize other’s positions in a negative light. Count me as one who appreciates any effort to condemn racism. I had to deal with it in my own heart when I became a Christian. But it was the Gospel that taught me not to hate. Christian people who genuinely believe whites are superior to blacks — I have seen very little of it as a pastor… Read more »
If someone will give me a name to use for those who criticize and condemn those who promote justice and call us SJWs and all, I will use it.
How about “anti-CRT/I”? On that side, I’ve seen genuine condemnation of racism, but legitimate skepticism about the systemic nature of it in 2020. This is mainly because of the Marxist roots of the theory, which presupposes systemic oppression. I don’t believe most SB’s are Marxist, but I think there is real concern that some SBC leaders are trying to thread a needle with CRT/I that can’t be threaded. If the theory would be officially broomed, it would go a long way toward unity. It wouldn’t end the snark, but it seems like that is the universal language of social media.… Read more »
Who in the SBc is pro-CRT/I? No one. That’s the catch. No one is for it. Some think you can gain some insight from it but are not proponents.
See, anti-justice is an accurate moniker in my observation.
I’ve spent a lot of time the last 2+ years on this site mostly observing, rarely commenting. Mostly I have seen you be reasonable, which is why I have appreciated your work and others here. When Resolution 9 came down last year in Birmingham, I had virtually no clue what the conflict was. I have done as much research as I can on the subject in recent months. If nobody in the SBC were proCRT, the resolution would have met a quick death. It’s pretty clear at least two of our seminaries have professors who borrow from it even if… Read more »
Just wrote a long response to this which suddenly disappeared.
Not sure I have the energy to do it again now.
No problem. I have no desire to be in conflict with you. Just hearing alarm bells in the SBC and culture at large. Really not sure what to do about any of it. I pray you have a great day.
Resolution 9 and its proponents would disagree with you…having read your writings for a few months, it comes off as pithy.
However, I do understand the gist of your blog above.
Blessings
Dictionary defines pithy as: concise and forcefully expressive.
So, thanks?
The fact that you, Brandon, don’t understand Res 9 is not really about Res 9, is it?
Typical woke response…
Thank you.
Dave, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this and I am sorry that people have turned this term into an insult against you. I have personally experienced the opposite. I have friends who are white, liberal, and what I call armchair activists. “Oh I changed my profile pic on Facebook for a day so I am standing up to racism – what are YOU doing?” They throw the term “woke” around a lot and they use the opposite of the term as an insult. If they say someone isn’t woke then they mean you are a racist and they… Read more »
I thank you for your courage to share your journey. I too have “woke.”
Human history is full of people looking for epithets to use to discredit and demean those they perceive as not like them. Sometimes that term is already in use but seized and tainted by opponents to attack and demand. This is what the earlier post about not using the term woke was about. Sometimes, a new word is used to attack and demean. In the days of the Tea Party, progressives used the term Tea Bagger which came from Anderson Cooper. I’d get banned for explaining it.Redneck. Cracker. Our worst such epithet the N-word are all used to attack and… Read more »
Dave & William, For a couple of years I have followed both of your opinions and I applaud your sincere Godly burden to challenge believers on the matter of sinful attitudes toward race, that wickedly disrupts harmony in the body. I thankfully, have not yet met a scripture-literate Christian whom expressed opposition to this inherent, fundamental requirement as a member of this redeemed creation. Until all sides can agree upon the definition and context of the terminology involved, we cannot hope to progress beyond unintentional offense and blanket accusation. Among the value-laden volatile terms; racism, prejudice, discrimination, privilege, guilt, tokenism,… Read more »
‘Woke’ was originated in the 1930’s by Wallace D. Fard, who said he had come to wake the dead nation. He subsequently disappeared. J. Edgar Hoover claimed that he had found him, but it wasn’t him.
Dave, If someone said they were a Christian because they go to church, you might correct them, in various ways, but you would not accept their definition that one was a Christian simply because they went to church. Although some people certainly would accept that. Sadly so. Thus a definition of a word or phrase or idea can depend on who is defining it or reading/hearing it. Under your definition of woke, I can say, may we all be woke. But from what I have read, most do not define woke in that way. Once, the word gay meant to… Read more »
Since I’ve seen the demeaning and insulting things you have posted against SBC Voices on Twitter, Mike, I have little desire to engage you in a “friendly” conversation.
You have demonstrated by your words that you hold ill will toward me and toward us. On that basis, you remain free to comment here, but I can see no benefit in responding.
Dave,
Nah.
I haven’t posted anything demeaning or insulting against you or sbcvoices.
The most I have done has been to disagree once in a blue moon.
Either you have me confused with someone else or you are bearing false witness against me.
Feel free to post my actual insults and demeaning comments to expose my sinfulness so that I will have the chance to repent publicly for my sin.
Steve,
Excellent timing …the blistering speed in this academic race-to-the-bottom continues to accelerate toward terminal velocity.
Here’s a related news tid-bit charting the amazingly effectual power to unify even diverse cultures under the banner of educational compromise. Proponents of ‘Low Expectations‘, might rejoice in seeing ideological adversaries brought together for the common objective emphasizing their mutual perceptions of Black ineptitude and reliance upon merit-free social promotion, otherwise unattainable.
Dis-empowerment for ALL! (sarcasm filter off now)
https://www.thecollegefix.com/rutgers-english-department-to-deemphasize-traditional-grammar-in-solidarity-with-black-lives-matter/
Yes, white supremacy in academia includes such things as proper spelling, good grammar, attendance requirements, “right or wrong answers” (as opposed to a spectrum of acceptable answers, and a focus on individual effort (as opposed to community effort).
Being “woke” is not used as an insult, but is self identified and used in a positive sense. Eric Mason wrote a whole book on the “Woke church.” Racism has been happening since the beginning of time. Go back to Genesis 4 when Cain killed Abel, the heart issue is the same hatred and pride. Sadly, Racism or partiality will continue to happen until Christ’s return. Being woke is a secular term used to look better to the world and the mainstream media. Pastors need to be doing more to combat Black Lives Matter’s Marxist agenda. They also need to… Read more »
This comment, a tedious, wordy prattle by a commenter hiding behind anonymity, is an example of the kind of nonsense we must deal with. Wouldn’t hurt to read the op and react to that. But, the agenda is set and reason need not be involved.
Thanks for the op, Dave. My wife and I have had an awakening of our own more recently. A lot has led up to it but I would agree that “woke” feels like an apt description. I’m not sure if people are afraid the label is going to stick or they just really don’t like those they themselves would label Woke. Either way, I don’t think we should be arguing over labels if we really do just want everyone to be known by “the content of their character.” Or do we want to be judged by character and judge others… Read more »
Hey everyone, I’m an SBC church planter in New Jersey and just want to humbly offer a different view. First off, the fact that we are arguing over whether the word ‘woke’ is okay to use tell us a lot about where we are right now as a denomination and why we are being labeled as insensitive at best and racist at worst. Dr. Eric Mason spoke last year on his book, “Woke Church” at Rutgers University and I would highly recommend anyone read his book, if you think the term is just a throw-away liberal term. My fear is… Read more »
Very cogent comment, insightful, not anonymous. God bless you and your church.
I really appreciate Tim’s comments and wish that we could dialogue. I read Tim Keller’s Generous Justice years ago, and I read his recent piece on Justice. I truly believe that his ideas miss the mark. I may write a piece on that. Tim Keller has written many great things and done great work as a pastor. He is a lost ball in high weeds on his economic analysis of biblical teaching. I agree firmly with commenter Tim’s (not Tim Keller – so as not to confuse) comments about the Civil Rights movement, but the Civil Rights Act passed in… Read more »
Thank you Louis for maintaining a positive approach to these issues. I do believe most of the folks in the SBC seeking to address issues of “social justice ” are well-intentioned. I greatly prefer to find a way forward without a split. Condemn racism, and let’s name specifics on systemic racism.
Welcome. We can be straightforward and civil.
And we don’t have to agree on everything.