Woke is the New McCarthyism (Understanding Social Justice Ideology)

Woke is a new McCarthyism. Last year in July 15, 2020 Henry Olsen of The Washington Post wrote an Opinion Piece explaining the resignation of two high profile journalist (Bari Weis of the New York Times and Andrew Sullivan of the New York Magazine). Henry Olsen stated they were only two examples of the deadly virus spreading through our public life: McCarthyism of the Woke.

For those too young to remember (that would be under 80), or have not been taught valuable history lessons of the last century, this refers to anti- communists crusades of the 1950’s era. People lost their jobs by the thousands, if they couldn’t answer quickly enough: “Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?”

Sound familiar? Cancel culture is enacted against “wrong think” for saying something that was ‘right’ today but ‘wrong’ tomorrow.

Another comment regarding Weiss’s pressure to resign “The mob bullied and harassed a young woman for thought crimes. And her editors stood by and watched."

These memories came back when I was reading the The Network post, Fear, Flukes and Critical Race Theory. Bells and Whistles started going off.

I reviewed the comments and an excellent response by Doug VandeGriend ensured me that areas raised were properly and clearly addressed.

In Doug VandeGriend’s response, he referred the following, “ Indeed, 19 CRC officers and agency heads recently recommended that CRC members consider getting involved in the “local chapters of … Black Lives Matter”! (Posted on June 4, 2020.) This group of 19 are reflective of an important segment of the CRC spiritual leadership. My primary concern is that in making these recommendations, it can have an important effect in directing CRC membership during this volatile period of belief challenges.

In the past two years since I’ve retired, I’ve been able to spend a significant time studying Post Modernism Philosophy and all the related thoughts and ideas that have come to the forefront over the last 25 years. They are now are strongly fighting and winning our live goals and loves.

I’ve spoken to six or so current and former pastors about this area of belief direction and was surprised that all but one were buying into the Social Justice Ideology to one extent or another. 

All this to say: It is critically important that we fully understand what Post Modernism, Critical Theories, and Ideological Social Justice are doing and how it effects our relationship with Our Saviour and our walk with Him.

There are two excellent books to get you stated and are easily readable. Both are written by Christians; written to address what I believe how Christian community is buying into a destructive force intent on destroying the Church.

The first I would recommend is Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents by Rod Dreher. This book title comes from a message by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (he wrote the Gulag Archipelago, which detailed the life in Soviet Russia in a forced labor camp in Siberia). In this communist regime, over 20 million were killed for 'wrong thinking and ethnic cleaning' which he wrote as he was exiled from Russia. 

"Everybody says that they have no choice but to conform, says Solzhenitsyn, and to accept powerlessness. But that is the lie that gives all the other lies their malign force. The ordinary man may not be able to overturn the kingdom of lies, but he can at least say that he is not going to be its loyal subject."

This book gives the Critical Theories and Social Justice Ideology movement it's historical and political traction, along with a future perspective based on our past. 

The second book I would recommend is Why Social Justice Is Not Biblical Justice: An Urgent Appeal to Fellow Christians in a Time of Social Crisis by  Scott D. Allen.This book looks at the Social Justice movement from an apologist and biblical perspective.

One comment near the beginning of the book starts the discussion at the essence of the divergence of believers: "There is probably no more far-reaching belief in ideological social justice than its denial of the individual. Based on this radical presupposition, your personal history, life experiences, choices, and deeply held beliefs don’t matter. The only things that matter in defining who you are, are your group affiliations. Individual freedom, responsibility, and accountability are all casualties of this profoundly destructive and dehumanizing belief."

These two books give a solid start at looking at the challenges a Christian faces by this worldview. Having an historical perspective and a solid analysis from a Biblical point of view, how all this applies to our personal faith walk with our Savior Jesus Christ, is a good start. Continue to pray without ceasing for Spiritual direction.

Joss DeGroot, Immanuel CRC, Simcoe, Ontario