It’s rare that I emphasize one radio program on the home page of our website, but I would like do just that with this weekend’s edition of Words of Grace. This broadcast spoke to an issue presently being debated or discussed among conservative evangelicalism, particular those of Calvinistic backgrounds. In short, empathy has been equated with modern “wokeness,” and thereby condemned as sinful. But is it?

I feel like our readers know me fairly well. If you’re friends with me on social media, you know I have been very critical of the current woke movement as it relates to social justice and LGBT issues. At the same time, I believe a blanket condemnation of such a fine trait as empathy is to throw the proverbial baby out with the bathwater! As usual, the word of God speaks to this issue. I try to strike a biblical balance in this broadcast.

Perhaps in short, you might note that 1) Racism is sin. 2) God made two genders, and all people are biologically one or the other. 3) Marriage is between one man and one woman, and any sexuality outside of that union is sinful. 4) Christians are to weep with them that weep. 5) Jesus is compassionate and touched by the feeling of our infirmities. 6) We shouldn’t let people hijack good terms. 7) Brothers should not be made an offender for a word.

To listen: Here is a link to this weekend’s broadcast.

From Wikipedia, “First used in the 1940s, woke has resurfaced in recent years as a concept that symbolizes perceived awareness of social issues and movement. By the late 2010s, woke had been adopted as a more generic slang term associated with left-wing politics, progressive or socially liberal causes such as anti-racism, LGBT rights, feminism and environmentalism. It has also been the subject of memes, ironic usage and criticism for its methods and consequences.“