I read an interesting article this morning in the Epoch Times. It talked about identity politics and how it was like a bad religion.
It’s a religion where sin isn’t a commonality but attributed to one group, and unlike Christianity, there can be never be anything to rectify it.
It is a great article, and you can read it for yourself here.
It also got me thinking a little bit. I believe two movements are going on in America right now. There is the ‘woke’ movement and, for lack of a better term, what I’ll call the ‘awake’ movement.
THE WOKE MOVEMENT
The woke movement is a movement that seeks to fundamentally change our society, to place value on someone’s identity alone (race, gender, sexual orientation), and reward those in one category while punishing those in another. It is a movement that claims it’s about justice while simultaneously it ignores the black lives that are destroyed and lost (in the violence it incites). To it, they are an unfortunate casualty.
It compares itself to the American Revolution while also condemning those who took part in that revolution. In reality, it is the farthest thing from the American Revolution. The American Revolution was about liberty and freedom. The woke revolution is about contrition and retribution.
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
If there is any revolution that it can compare to, it would be the French Revolution. While the French Revolution was inspired by the American Revolution, it quickly devolved into mob rule. Over Forty thousand people were executed in the name of justice. Even many of the revolution’s original leaders (like Robespierre) found themselves on the chopping block (losing their lives in the end).
All revolutions start with the goal of justice, but it is where its leaders look to for guidance that determines its direction. Do they look toward a higher power, or are they lead by their own feelings and understanding?
Feelings ruled the French Revolution. Ultimately, it ended in the installment of a dictator (Napolean). It’s a pattern we see repeated over and over in history. We all know about the totalitarian regimes of this past century that came to power by taking advantage of their citizens’ feelings.
THE AWAKE MOVEMENT
The Awake movement is a direct response to the woke movement. It doesn’t deny the reality of the world. It recognizes that many minorities in our country are at an educational and economic disadvantage. It understands that this is something that we have to work toward correcting. However, it rejects the idea that our society is inherently racist/evil, and believes that the best way to empower those at a disadvantage is to change the policies and social conditions that created this climate.
It sees the woke movement as pushing bad policies and values even farther and capitalizing off pain to further a racist, Marxist, and anti-God agenda. Our media and educational systems have championed these agendas for years. If you disagree, then you are racist, sexist, or a bigot. That kind of attack has done well in silencing dissent.
It’s much easier to go about our comfortable lives and say nothing. No one wants those kinds of labels placed on them. So that’s exactly what many of us have done. We have kept silent, focused on our own lives and our families.
REVELATION 3:16
As I was thinking about all this, though, something else came to my mind, and that was revelation 3:16. In it, God says:
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Revelations 3:16
What does that mean, and how does that apply to today? Well, I believe it has a direct application to the times we find ourselves in. I can see it, especially in my own life.
For a long time, I’ve been lukewarm. If I disagreed with someone’s values, I remained silent. I held back my own beliefs/values, thinking that I was considerate or tolerant. That couldn’t have been farther from the truth. I wasn’t considerate or tolerant. I was simply doing what was comfortable, what was easiest, and what took the least amount of effort. I wasn’t concerned about the other person. I was concerned with how others saw me.
In our culture, we are rewarded for that exact behavior, and as a result, sometimes we confuse being comfortable and doing what is easy with being caring and considerate. In reality, it is a false compassion. It is a self-gratifying compassion.
THE WORK AHEAD
Decades of keeping our beliefs to ourselves and trying not to offend others has only resulted in a PC echo chamber that has culminated in much of the hatred, rioting, and violence that we see out there now.
There is serious work ahead, and it can’t begin until we get beyond the fear of what others might think of us or what labels they may put on us. We can not fear the judgment of man. If we allow it to cripple us, then our values are worthless. We might as well not even have them.
Now more than ever, we have to stand up for what we believe (to take up our cross and follow after Jesus’ example). To fight back against a dangerous and extreme agenda. No matter the hate or anger that might align itself against us.
God is on the throne. He has already achieved victory. It is far better to play a small role in that victory (follow his will) and lose everything than to remain silent and go about our own lives.
Dear Jim:
It seems the “Lord” of the Bible is using you in a “leadership role.” Truly! I’m a 76 year old senior and a student of the Scriptures and apologetics for over 40 years and your article on “wokeness” is most approptriate for these times. Like “apples of gold in bowls of silver.” It seems we are in the later stages of the “later days”/”end times.” I don’t think that the powerful left is going to repent and we Christians can’t shrink back as you so aptly put it. I see the judgments of Revelation somewhere around the corner as I do the “putting in of the cycle for the great harvest” also in revelation. Keep up the good work Jim. You’re a blessing to God and His people!!!
Wow! Thanks, Walt. I hope it’s not the end times, but we must live as if it is (1 Thessalonians 5:2).
How did you find the blog, by the way? I have about zero promotion on it.
Dad, I am so proud of you. Though I’m a proud and outspoken member of the left-as you have been so painfully made aware of (lol 😬) I’m just so damn proud of you for standing up for all you believe in and our Lord OUR Lord loves you profoundly. You are a man who walks the walk every day in thought, word and deed. I love you so. -Heather
Your article helped me a lot. what do you think? I want to share your article to my website: gate io
order arimidex 1mg arimidex 1mg canada purchase arimidex sale