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Waking Up to Wokeness: Have Conservative Christians Gone Woke on Being Woke?

Waking Up to Wokeness: Have Conservative Christians Gone Woke on Being Woke?

Last updated on: April 23, 2024 at 6:50 pm by Stuart Delony

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Waking Up to Wokeness: Have Conservative Christians Gone Woke on Being Woke? 2024-04-23T18:50:25-04:00 Stuart Delony

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The Paradox of Conservative Christian “Wokeness”

In a world where the term “woke” has become a buzzword, a paradox emerges from the conservative Christian camp. The very group that once vehemently opposed the idea of wokeness now seems to be embracing it—or at least, they’re waking up to the concept.

Take Chick-fil-A, for example, a fast-food chain often supported by conservatives for its Christian roots and prior donations to anti-LGBTQ groups. Recently, the company’s decision to employ a vice president of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) has prompted a backlash from some conservatives who now slam the company for being too “woke.” The irony? This “wokeness” is about supporting people of color and other underrepresented groups in the workplace.

The outrage doesn’t stop at Chick-fil-A. The conservative pushback against DEI has been growing, driven by think tanks and key Republican leaders like DeSantis, who signed a law this year barring the funding of DEI initiatives at public colleges and universities in Florida. More than a dozen other states are also weighing similar legislation.

But what’s behind this sudden conservative interest in DEI? Is it a genuine awakening to the importance of diversity and inclusion, or is it a strategic move to control the narrative?

A Far Cry from the Teachings of Jesus

So, have conservative Christians gone woke on being woke? It seems they have, but not in the way the term was originally intended. They are awake, alright, but to a different tune—one that serves their interests and continues to polarize the nation.

But here’s the kicker: None of this has anything to do with the teachings of Jesus. While Jesus called on us to control ourselves and emphasized that our personal actions matter, this newfound “wokeness” among conservative Christians is about controlling others. It’s a power play, a manipulation wrapped in religious rhetoric.

The Selfish Turn of American Christianity

This trend is more than a mere contradiction it’s a symptom of a deeper malaise within American Christianity. A faith that once preached love, compassion, and self-sacrifice has become a vehicle for selfishness and power. It’s a Christianity that cares little for following in the ways of Jesus and more about personal gain and control.

If they were honest, they’d remove the name of Christ from Christianity. The actions and rhetoric of many conservative Christians today bear little resemblance to the teachings of the one they claim to follow. It’s a distortion of faith, a twisting of sacred principles to suit personal agendas.

In the end, the conservative Christian’s newfound “wokeness” is a paradox wrapped in a stained-glass enigma. It’s a wake-up call that’s more about power and control than genuine awakening to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. It’s a far cry from the self-control and personal responsibility that Jesus preached, and a stark reminder that not all who claim to follow His teachings are truly walking the path.

Christian Conservatism

Conservative Christians

Power and Control

Teachings of Jesus

Wokeness

About Stuart Delony

My hope with Snarky Faith is to incite change no matter how big or small. I want to cultivate conversations that help people to look for new ways to live out their faith. I'm also one of the weird ones who think that God still moves today - we're just looking in the wrong places. You can read more about the author here.

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