Woke: An Evangelical Guide, John G. Stackhouse, Jr. THINKBETTER Media (ISBN:
9781738098316) 2024.
Summary: A brief and balanced introduction and response to the terminology associated with being “woke.”
Our contemporary political discourse throws around variety of terms, often as epithets, including Critical Race Theory, socialism, liberalism and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Often these come under the umbrella of the culture of “woke.” Often the use of these terms initially had a positive association. For Blacks, in particular, it meant being awake to systems of injustice, often identified by Critical Race Theorists, allowing them to advocate remedies for those injustices. But they have increasingly been used pejoratively by those pushing back against what they perceive as self-righteous excesses.
Historian John G. Stackhouse, Jr. argues that often those who throw around the terms don’t understand the ideas behind them and certainly do not understand the terms as those who originated them do. In this book, he offers a concise guide that seeks to define various terms associated with “wokeness,” assessing both the commendable aspects of the ideas behind the terms as well as the aspects in need of critique. He writes as an evangelical for evangelicals and observes that evangelicals should be familiar with turning good terms into epithets. Whereas many who self-identify as “evangelical” understand the term as meaning “gospel-centered,” in contemporary parlance the term means “religious political conservatives” or something even more derogatory.
The first part of the book takes seven terms, and defines and offers a balanced appraisal of the significance of each. They are: postmodernity; critical theory; liberalism, socialism, and communism; diversity, equity, and inclusion; critical race theory, anti-racism, and political correctness. For example, on its face, anti-racism seems to make sense. Racism does need to be actively opposed. Furthermore, there is good evidence through our history that racism is baked into our societal institutions in ways that advantage whites. To not recognize, and act against this is to collude with the system. Where pushback occurs is in the extreme assumption that if you are white, you are irredeemably racist and there seems to be no way to move forward. As you can see, Stackhouse says uncomfortable things for both those who are on “conservative” and progressive ends of the spectrum.
The second part moves from understanding and critical appraisal to engagement. For example, with regard to “liberal politics” he would observe that liberal politics doesn’t equal liberal Christianity. Often, it is associated with liberty and justice for all, including those on the margins, values consonant with biblical Christianity, while drawing the line art true communism. Likewise, the Christian doctrine of total depravity would expect the pervasive influence of sin in systems and structures as well as individual lives, mirroring Critical Race Theory. We can embrace calls for action against these things while drawing the line at coercive or censoring actions.
As for diversity, equity and inclusion, it would be distinctly un-Christian to support sameness, unfairness, and exclusion. But our efforts shouldn’t result in segmentation rather than community, complaint instead of justice, or grievance instead of reconciliation. Finally, Stackhouse notes a shift from the relativism of post-modernity to a “new moralism” in which different “tribes” have their truth of which they are convinced and willing to go to war over. This calls for great skill and creativity and integrity in relating the gospel, which Stackhouse calls “the Big Story.”
As I’ve contended elsewhere, Stackhouse is advocating that we be “third way people” who do not join the partisans on either side but rather become bridgebuilders and reconcilers. To do this means to understand both the language of one and the critiques of the other. It means weighing all things by the scriptures and finding common ground wherever we can with our calling as kingdom people. As one who stands between, Stackhouse may find criticism from both sides. And that might be an interesting conversation if they hear and understand each other.
[Note: It came to my attention after posting this review that the author was discharged from his position at Crandall University in November of 2023 for inappropriate conduct toward students including inappropriate jokes, behavior, and treatment and an email exchange that amounted to sexual harassment. There was a pattern of similar complaints to his previous employer. I do not usually check the reputation of authors of books, preferring to allow the book to speak for itself. But after becoming aware of this information, I felt it necessary to disclose it so you can take it into consideration in deciding to read the book. There has been too much covering up of this kind of thing in Christian circles, protecting perpetrators to the harm of victims. An article (no paywall) was published in Christianity Today on the author that discusses both the allegations and his attorney’s response if you wish to learn more.]
While I appreciate the balance of this review, I find it noteworthy that nowhere is it mentioned that Stackhouse was recently fired as a professor on account of inappropriate conduct, which it has come out as having been hidden at his previous institution by a non-disclosure agreement. While I understand that one’s conduct doesn’t negate the wisdom of one’s words, the reader should be aware that Stackhouse had a vested interest in arguing against “segmentation rather than community, complaint instead of justice, or grievance instead of reconciliation,” or at least that his experience of reconciliation from/with Regent meant that Stackhouse was allowed to continue these inappropriate actions at a new instutition and thus harm others there.
Brenda, I learned of these allegations only after posting the review. In light of your comments I have appended a note at the end of the review, including a link to a CT article on Stackhouse. I only knew of Stackhouse from his past publications, which I respected. That said, there is a pattern in what you describe and the article reports that is concerning, and one that casts his remarks in a different light as you note. What is sad is that secular workplaces often have far higher standards concerning inappropriate behavior than Christian institutions. Sadly, there is much of worth in Stackhouse’s book, from my perspective but for many, it is “poisoned fruit” because of this pattern of behavior. And unless he undergoes a remediation, reconciliation, and restoration process, I will not be able to review any further publications.
You wrote: “Historian John G. Stackhouse”. I’ve seen him described as a theologian or “scholar of religion” but he has never held an appointment as a historian.
Also you didn’t note that “Woke” is self-published. Stackhouse and his new wife own THINKBETTER Media. That book may be the only thing they have published.
I do not distinguish self-published works. Stackhouse does have a number of other publications. While he has not held an academic post as a historian, his academic work and writing includes work in church history.
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