Imagine the scene: someone passionately preaches righteousness while seemingly endorsing corruption. They demand moral clarity but practice the very relativism they condemn. Now, picture this figure wrapped in patriotic symbols, quoting Scripture, and identifying as a defender of conservative American politics.
Welcome to the complex phenomenon of many conservative of political activists, many identifying themselves as Christian, who often appear to mimic the tactics and impulses often associated with the “woke” or what they call the political left, while claiming the mantle of truth and tradition. Beneath the surface, however, lies an ideology that raises serious concerns, potentially threatening to distort both conservative principles and authentic Christian witness.
This worldview, though often cloaked in Christian terminology, seems to operate on principles closer to its perceived opponents, the liberal crowd, than traditional conservatism. This worldview risks reducing morality to what works politically, power to group identity, and justice to score-settling, often using the language of historical nationalism. The outcome is a movement that can seem at odds with the very values it claims to uphold.
When the Right Borrows from the Left's Playbook
To understand this dynamic, we need to look at the methods the “Anti-Woke” (my term) uses. Much like some of the “woke” crowd who analyze the world through systemic oppression and power dynamics, this "anti-woke" crowd’s framework appears to do something similar. However, it often recasts the "oppressed" group, sometimes focusing on demographics like straight, white, Christian men, arguing that America's constitutional order and classical liberalism have failed them.
Some have even have pointed to authoritarian regimes as potential models, creating a stark irony: a movement claiming to defend America while potentially discarding foundational principles like individual rights and the rule of law in favor of centralized power – a structure reminiscent of the ideologies it claims to fight.
This feels like identity politics, prioritizing collective grievances and sometimes treating dissent as betrayal. For the "anti-woke," opposition to their specific vision, even from fellow conservatives. For them it is hostility that must be overcome. They choose philosophies that prioritize power over principle.
When Political Ends Overshadow Biblical Means
Consider this; a pastor potentially dismissing the murder of innocents based on their perceived political alignment. This goes beyond insensitivity; it clashes directly with biblical calls for impartial justice. Scripture is clear.
Deuteronomy 10:18 NIV ] He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.
Deuteronomy 16:19-20 NIV [19] Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent. [20] Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Deuteronomy 27:19 NIV “Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
Psalms 10:17-18 NIV [17] You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, [18] defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.
Jeremiah 22:3 NIV [3] This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.
Matthew 22:37-40 NIV [37] Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ [40] All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Acts 10:34-35 NIV [34] Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism [35] but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
James 2:1-9 NIV [1] My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. [2] Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. [3] If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” [4] have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? [5] Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? [6] But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? [7] Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? [8] If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. [9] But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
Furthermore, embracing figures like Franco ignores historical realities, including the persecution of Protestants under his Catholic Integralist regime – churches closed, Bibles confiscated, pastors murdered. This selective historical view underscores a focus on crushing perceived enemies over consistent, biblically-grounded justice.
Christianity vs. The Lure of Authoritarianism
Remember what authoritarian leaders have done in the past and still do today. Look back at the history of leaders like Hitler, Mussolini, Spain’s Franco, Stalin, North Korea’s Kim, etc. Authoritarianism sits uneasily with a Christian worldview, primarily because it often ignores the reality of human sinfulness. Unchecked power inevitably corrupts. The biblical account of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 illustrates humanity's attempt to centralize power and "make a name for themselves" in defiance of God.
God's response – scattering the people and confusing their language – wasn't just judgment; it served as a practical check against unified tyranny.
The framers of the Constitution of the United States saw the wisdom of checks and balances in government. John Adams wisely noted, "Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak." The American founders understood human fallibility and designed a system to limit power.
Here’s what C.S. Lewis said in his defense of democracy;
"I am a democrat because I believe in the Fall of Man... Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his fellows... I reject slavery because I see no men fit to be masters."
He saw that concentrating power ignores the universal reality of sin and risks enabling oppression. The Christian understanding of human nature points towards dispersing power and ensuring accountability, not centralizing it.
Why does this Matter?
The “anti-woke” ideas appear to be gaining traction, offering seemingly simple solutions in complex times. History, however, consistently warns against the promises of authoritarianism, which often lead to injustice and suffering.
Christians should watch this trend very seriously. It's easy to critique opponents, but genuine faith requires self-examination. This necessitates rejecting ideas like moral relativism, authoritarian control, and the fragmentation of identity politics, no matter which political group promotes them.
Romans 12:21 NIV [21] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Choosing a Better Path
Authentic conservatism relies on enduring principles like individual liberty, limited government, and the rule of law. More profoundly, authentic Christianity calls us to a much higher standard.
Micah 6:8 NIV [8] He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Losing sight of justice, mercy, and humility means risking becoming a mirror image of the very things the “anti-woke”," with its borrowed tactics and questionable ideologies, is not the answer to societal challenges or political adversaries. It risks being a dangerous reflection, potentially harming both the conservative cause and the Christian witness it claims to represent. Faithfulness requires discernment and adherence to biblical truth, not political expediency.
Welcome to the complex phenomenon of many conservative of political activists, many identifying themselves as Christian, who often appear to mimic the tactics and impulses often associated with the “woke” or what they call the political left, while claiming the mantle of truth and tradition. Beneath the surface, however, lies an ideology that raises serious concerns, potentially threatening to distort both conservative principles and authentic Christian witness.
This worldview, though often cloaked in Christian terminology, seems to operate on principles closer to its perceived opponents, the liberal crowd, than traditional conservatism. This worldview risks reducing morality to what works politically, power to group identity, and justice to score-settling, often using the language of historical nationalism. The outcome is a movement that can seem at odds with the very values it claims to uphold.
When the Right Borrows from the Left's Playbook
To understand this dynamic, we need to look at the methods the “Anti-Woke” (my term) uses. Much like some of the “woke” crowd who analyze the world through systemic oppression and power dynamics, this "anti-woke" crowd’s framework appears to do something similar. However, it often recasts the "oppressed" group, sometimes focusing on demographics like straight, white, Christian men, arguing that America's constitutional order and classical liberalism have failed them.
Some have even have pointed to authoritarian regimes as potential models, creating a stark irony: a movement claiming to defend America while potentially discarding foundational principles like individual rights and the rule of law in favor of centralized power – a structure reminiscent of the ideologies it claims to fight.
This feels like identity politics, prioritizing collective grievances and sometimes treating dissent as betrayal. For the "anti-woke," opposition to their specific vision, even from fellow conservatives. For them it is hostility that must be overcome. They choose philosophies that prioritize power over principle.
When Political Ends Overshadow Biblical Means
Consider this; a pastor potentially dismissing the murder of innocents based on their perceived political alignment. This goes beyond insensitivity; it clashes directly with biblical calls for impartial justice. Scripture is clear.
Deuteronomy 10:18 NIV ] He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.
Deuteronomy 16:19-20 NIV [19] Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent. [20] Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Deuteronomy 27:19 NIV “Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
Psalms 10:17-18 NIV [17] You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, [18] defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.
Jeremiah 22:3 NIV [3] This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.
Matthew 22:37-40 NIV [37] Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ [40] All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Acts 10:34-35 NIV [34] Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism [35] but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
James 2:1-9 NIV [1] My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. [2] Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. [3] If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” [4] have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? [5] Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? [6] But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? [7] Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? [8] If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. [9] But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
Furthermore, embracing figures like Franco ignores historical realities, including the persecution of Protestants under his Catholic Integralist regime – churches closed, Bibles confiscated, pastors murdered. This selective historical view underscores a focus on crushing perceived enemies over consistent, biblically-grounded justice.
Christianity vs. The Lure of Authoritarianism
Remember what authoritarian leaders have done in the past and still do today. Look back at the history of leaders like Hitler, Mussolini, Spain’s Franco, Stalin, North Korea’s Kim, etc. Authoritarianism sits uneasily with a Christian worldview, primarily because it often ignores the reality of human sinfulness. Unchecked power inevitably corrupts. The biblical account of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 illustrates humanity's attempt to centralize power and "make a name for themselves" in defiance of God.
God's response – scattering the people and confusing their language – wasn't just judgment; it served as a practical check against unified tyranny.
The framers of the Constitution of the United States saw the wisdom of checks and balances in government. John Adams wisely noted, "Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak." The American founders understood human fallibility and designed a system to limit power.
Here’s what C.S. Lewis said in his defense of democracy;
"I am a democrat because I believe in the Fall of Man... Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his fellows... I reject slavery because I see no men fit to be masters."
He saw that concentrating power ignores the universal reality of sin and risks enabling oppression. The Christian understanding of human nature points towards dispersing power and ensuring accountability, not centralizing it.
Why does this Matter?
The “anti-woke” ideas appear to be gaining traction, offering seemingly simple solutions in complex times. History, however, consistently warns against the promises of authoritarianism, which often lead to injustice and suffering.
Christians should watch this trend very seriously. It's easy to critique opponents, but genuine faith requires self-examination. This necessitates rejecting ideas like moral relativism, authoritarian control, and the fragmentation of identity politics, no matter which political group promotes them.
Romans 12:21 NIV [21] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Choosing a Better Path
Authentic conservatism relies on enduring principles like individual liberty, limited government, and the rule of law. More profoundly, authentic Christianity calls us to a much higher standard.
Micah 6:8 NIV [8] He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Losing sight of justice, mercy, and humility means risking becoming a mirror image of the very things the “anti-woke”," with its borrowed tactics and questionable ideologies, is not the answer to societal challenges or political adversaries. It risks being a dangerous reflection, potentially harming both the conservative cause and the Christian witness it claims to represent. Faithfulness requires discernment and adherence to biblical truth, not political expediency.
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