Jesus was the first teacher of wokeness

What is being woke? Nikki Haley calls it a more deadly virus than COVID (1.2 million Americans dead).

A local said it was entitlement. I work with the public, entitlement isn’t new.

Webster's Dictionary defines woke as “aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).”

Ron DeSantis’ staff defined it as “the belief there are systemic injustices in American society and the need to address them.”

Wow, what a reason to take over and destroy North Idaho College. Or ban African American history at the college level.

So, who first taught wokeness? Jesus of Nazareth. The Koch brothers have spent millions on Super Bowl advertisements to try to spruce up Jesus’ reputation. One advertisement proclaimed that Jesus loves those you hate. True, but not the whole truth. In Luke 6:27, Jesus said, “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” (NIV translation)

I first learned about wokeness in Sunday School, it was called the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” As a Christian, when a black man is choked to death by police, I’m commanded to care. If a gay person is attacked and discriminated against, that is my concern. Treating others who are different as I want to be treated is not entitlement, it’s Christianity.

I’d like to say I’m woke, but God is not done with me yet.

MARY HALEY

Sandpoint