Do you attend a "woke" church?

Author

Elder Jim Fairchild

​​I am a firm believer in social justice ministry, having spent the majority of my professional career managing public social service, public behavioral heath services and acute healthcare organizations.  In this regard, Community of Christ’s Abolish Poverty and End Suffering mission initiative is, very near to my heart.
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There are so many ways to connect with our community. We not only come together for worship, but we look for ways to build relationships along our discipleship journey. Upon retirement to my home in rural Kansas, I began searching for opportunities to engage in Christ’s Mission.  I found digital ministry as a good way for me to connect with others. 

Several years latter I manage two CofChrist church websites, multiple church social media accounts and a Google Ads Grant. I am completely self-taught in this endeavor. Through digital ministry I actively promote Community of Christ Mission Initiatives and Enduring Principles primarily through social media. I publish between sixty and ninety social media posts per week.
 

Abolish Poverty & End Suffering
Christ’s Mission of Compassion

Click on picture to learn more about Topeka CofChrist Abolish Poverty & End Suffering Mission Initiatives

We facilitate this aspect of Christ’s Mission by reaching out through compassionate ministries, in partnership with other faith communities and organizations that serve the poor and hungry and stop conditions that diminish the worth of persons. Thorough social media I invite others to join with us in this work.   

“You who are my disciples must be found continuing in the forefront of those organizations and movements which are recognizing the worth of persons and are committed to bringing the ministry of my Son to bear on their lives.” D&C 151:9

A critical response to a recent Abolish Poverty Instagram post stated: “The purpose of Christ is to bring all people into the kingdom of God thru the knowledge and belief in the cross and resurrection to become sons of the living God not to do social work but to do the will of God it’s good to help people but that is not the purpose of the church that is nothing more than a by product.”  

I do not agree, but do not argue with persons who comment. I responded to the comment with the two scriptures listed in this Blog post as my view on this issue.

Unfortunately, many Christian Churches aggressively promote this point of view.  Their leaders proclaim that churches who follow the “woke” agenda are destroying Christ’s Church; however they are unable to explain what woke agenda is.
 
Many politicians have also promoted this same idea of fighting against the “woke agenda” as a way to gain followers, however they are unable to explain what woke is or means.
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What is a woke church?
​ According to Artificial Intelligence (AI)

According to AI, a “woke church” is one that is actively engaged in addressing issues of social justice, equity, poverty and climate justice. Within the context of a church, this might involve taking steps to ensure that the church community is more diverse and inclusive; supporting efforts to promote social justice in the wider community.
 
Most churches don’t use the term "woke" to describe their approach to social justice ministry, and there is a range of approaches and perspectives on these issues within the broader Christian community. However, for those who are interested in engaging with issues of social justice and equity from a faith-based perspective, a “woke church” may be a good place to start.
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Following the words of Jesus as recorded in the Bible (Matthew 25:32-47), this is the agenda I follow on my discipleship journey:

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he shall sit upon the throne of his glory; And before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth sheep from the goats; the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. And he shall sit upon his throne, and the twelve apostles with him. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me;  I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee; or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in; or naked, and clothed thee?  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.  For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink;  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.   Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it not unto me.  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal.

Jesus Christ invites people to follow him by becoming disciples who share his life and ministry through compassionate and just actions.  I invite you to join with us.

Do you attend a woke church? 
Please share your thoughts.