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Definition of "Woke"

Updated: Dec 23, 2025





The word woke has become a lightning rod in public discourse, used by some as a badge of virtue and by others as a term of derision. What does it mean? Where did it come from? And should Christians use it?


To answer these questions biblically, it helps first to understand the history and evolution of the term, and then to compare that with what Scripture actually commands Christians to do.



Etymology and Today’s Definition

The phrase “stay woke” emerged in African American vernacular as a call to remain vigilant against racial injustice. In the 1930s, Black communities used woke as a reminder to keep their eyes open to threats and discrimination — a survival strategy in a hostile society.

 

Over time, especially during the civil rights era and beyond, woke evolved into shorthand for awareness of racial inequality and systemic racism. But that was not the end of its evolution. In the late 20th and early 21st century, the term broadened further, coming to signify standing against racism (according to its historical definition) and adopting progressive views such as advocating for LGBTQ+ ideology or allying with Palestine.


In colloquial use, woke often carries different meanings depending on who uses it. On the cultural left, it can denote enlightened awareness of injustice; on the right, it’s often used to describe progressive ideology in a derogatory way. Across both spectrums, its meaning frequently shifts and sometimes collapses under the weight of contradictory definitions.



Why the Term is Problematic for Christians

At first glance, being woke might sound compatible with Scripture: Christians should certainly be aware of sin, injustice, and suffering in the world. Micah 6:8 calls God’s people to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with [their] God.” 


Our concern is not with the desire to confront injustice — it’s with borrowing cultural language, especially when that language is rooted in the critical social theory framework, which is in tension with a biblical worldview.


Today’s use of woke is often shaped by the concepts of critical consciousness, which emphasizes the structural analysis of power and identity categories. When Christians adopt the term woke without definition or discernment, they inadvertently import frameworks that shift the foundation of justice from Scripture to culture.


We see several potential problems with Christians using the word woke:


  • Linguistic ambiguity: Because woke has no stable definition, invoking it often confuses more than clarifies. Some use it broadly to mean simply “aware of injustice,” while others embed entire secular ideologies in the term.


  • Philosophical baggage: To many, woke indicates adopting a moral and political framework rooted in critical theory — a system based on human experience and ideology rather than biblical authority.


  • Potential for division: Without clear definitions, woke language can divide believers along cultural and political lines, hindering unity rather than fostering it.



Is the Church Called to Be “Woke”?

Should Christians, then, reject woke awareness of injustice? Not exactly. Christians are called to be spiritually awake — alert to sin, compassionate toward the hurting, and faithful to pursue justice as defined by God’s Word.


Scripture uses the imagery of awakening to describe spiritual transformation and vigilance. For example, Paul exhorts believers in Ephesians to “wake up” from spiritual sleep and walk in the light of Christ (Eph. 5:14). This awakening is about wisdom and obedience, not signaling alignment with cultural values.


Some Christian authors, such as Pastor Eric Mason in Woke Church, have tried to integrate the historic definition of woke — as awareness of injustice — with Christian discipleship. While the impulse to confront injustice is commendable, Mason’s approach blends cultural definitions and theological constructs in ways that risk equating Christian discipleship with secular frameworks.


We affirm that Christians should care about biblically defined injustice, but caution against equating biblical justice with the cultural language of woke ideology. The church does not need to rebrand the gospel to address societal issues when we already have clear, scriptural definitions for justice, mercy, and righteousness.



Language Matters: Scripture First

Words matter. When Christians adopt secular language without carefully defining terms according to scripture, they unknowingly carry cultural assumptions into theological discussions. The word woke has shifted so much in meaning — from a narrow call to vigilance to a sweeping cultural identifier — that it is no longer a stable or helpful category for Christian teaching.

Instead of striving to be woke, Christians should:


  • Anchor their understanding of justice in scripture rather than cultural theories.


  • Use biblical language that accurately reflects God’s definitions of sin, righteousness, and reconciliation.


  • Resist importing secular ideological frameworks that distort or obscure biblical truth.


Christians are called to be alert, to walk as children of light, and to love God and neighbor. These commands are timeless and rooted in God’s own character, not in shifting cultural jargon. When we adopt the world’s vocabulary, we risk importing the world’s baggage and obscuring the simplicity and power of the gospel.



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