The Long March of Woke Jesus

The above screenshot captures the battle lines of contemporary theology, its apparently 'Coloniser Jesus' versus 'Historical Jesus'. Here is the ugly lens of neo-Marxist Critical Theory which misrepresents the world, and in this case the inner life of the Church, as the bad guys versus the good guys. This simplistic binary codifies reality for woke enthusiasts blinding them to the nuance of the real world. Why let truth get in the way of a good yarn? It worked for Dan Brown! ‘Coloniser Jesus’ is another instance of bad theology lazily circumnavigating reality. 

On one level you could see this kind of progressive theology as simply another more worked out version of Sidney Carter's Lord of the Dance, "The holy people said it was a shame; They whipped and they stripped and they hung me high; And they left me there on a cross to die." In normal circumstances this would be the sort of naivety that is harmless and self-referential, where we suspend adult nuanced thinking because it makes good theatre. Medieval Mystery Plays did this by dressing up the Pharisees and Scribes in episcopal attire. Seeing actors as bishops sentence Jesus made these plays cutting edge. It was a way of ensuring that self-criticism, even the barbed sort, could have a place in godly society.  The Fool says in the ecclesiastical court what others dared not.  

However, this is not what is being proposed and launched here. For despite all its fluffy appeal the theology that accompanies 'woke Jesus' takes no prisoners.  It is a project that makes deconstruction and dismantling a fetish. With all its woes about 'inclusion' the culture forming in these Christian circles is more akin to what I saw in student politics in the 1980s. The militancy is appalling. It is now seen as justifiable, even virtuous, to rubbish opponents. The lack of charity  at times is breathtaking, and this from supposed Christians.  

 

What I see in the ‘historic Jesus’ picture is a shopping list to construct an activist-revolutionary Jesus. Each ingredient might seem justifiable on their own until the whole thing is assembled. The Kingdom of God becomes just another utopian project with The Almighty having in effect a bit part in our salvation. Gone also is any concern for inner life. It’s so much easier to judge the world if we consider ourselves as blameless victims. Does this raise disciples or mobs? You decide. 

I bet there are countless stories of diocese, seminaries and theology departments out there that bully out of post anyone who does not swallow the new revolution.  And even though this is now the default and dominant academic theology within much of Western Christianity the progressives continue to push hard under the illusion that somehow they are the minority. Such is the fog of war. As with the Long March they press harder and harder until all opposition is cancelled. I would consider that a small 'o' orthodox theologian would struggle to find a job in a UK academia, cathedral canonry, or diocesan department. 

In my own denomination I am bewildered that this has been allowed to fester.  Why is no one higher up in the C of E doing anything about this? How can it be tolerable that moderately conservative clergy, seminarians and theologians feel too anxious to voice their opinions without fear of rebuke, disciplinary action, or career suicide?  Is no one aware of this awful atmosphere from the top decks of the Church? The gut wrenching thought is that they are complicit with having a Cancel Culture expand and expand. 

Do I even need to painstakingly run through why the above screenshot of 'Coloniser Jesus' is laughable rainbow warrior twaddle? I find myself de-energised at the very thought of bothering. Of course, this is also part of the problem, orthodox voices within what is left of Christendom  are too exhausted and bewildered. It is not that we have lost the will to carry on but are unsure as to how to make a strategic longterm response to this that is not a series of feeble knee jerk reactions. 

In my view the only way forward is for all shades of orthodox Christianity to work together to present a new catechesis of the Faith which is profound, deep and beautiful. It surely must be possible to bring catholics and evangelicals together to work on this? Can we put aside historical differences for the sake of current malaise or are we to remain in our intellectual silos? Indications are that Millennials coming in or returning to Christianity would lap something like this up - namely a revival in classical Christianity.