On 20 October 2024, the ETHOS Institute for Public Christianity held its annual ETHOS Lecture at Bible House. This year’s theme, Christianity and Wokeism, drew a strong audience keen to engage with one of the most pressing cultural issues of our time. The speaker, Dr Suzanne Choo, Head of Research at the Singapore Centre for Character and Citizenship Education and Associate Professor in the English Language and Literature Department at the National Institute of Education (NTU), offered a thoughtful examination of the origins of the modern “woke” movement and its implications for Christian witness in society.
Dr Choo began by tracing the intellectual and historical roots of wokeism, situating it within the broader contexts of critical theory and social justice movements. While acknowledging the movement’s positive concerns for marginalised voices and systemic inequalities, she cautioned that wokeism often takes on a militant and absolutist stance. As she noted in her lecture, “Wokeism has become more than a set of ideas; it has become an ideology that seeks to police thought and speech.” This, she explained, creates a polarising culture where dissenting views are quickly labelled oppressive or harmful. For Christians, this presents a challenge: how do we uphold Biblical truth while engaging compassionately with those who hold differing worldviews?
In addressing this tension, Dr Choo encouraged believers to respond with both conviction and grace. She highlighted the importance of discernment, recognising where the values of wokeism align with Biblical calls to justice, while also resisting narratives that undermine Biblical teaching on identity, morality, and truth. “Our response must not mirror the aggression of the woke movement,” she remarked. “Instead, Christians are called to embody Christ’s example: speaking truth in love, showing humility, and bearing witness to a greater hope.” The lecture concluded with a lively Q&A session, during which participants reflected on practical applications in education, Church, and public life. Attendees left with a deeper understanding of the complexities of wokeism and a renewed commitment to engage culture as faithful disciples of Christ.
Streams of Life is a media partner of The Bible Society of Singapore.
