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While the term “Critical Race Theory” (CRT) has become a rather popular theme among academia and media outlets, it is an ideology that was first penned nearly fifty years ago. Most are still grappling to understand the precise meaning of such a term; however, an in-depth study proves a strong connection between it and the teachings of classical Marxism. Such a philosophy divides the world into the “haves” and the “have-nots”, and theorizes that an upheaval of social structures will usher upon the world a new order of unity and peace. Once only a theory presented in higher education, CRT is now being considered among many local school boards as a tool for primary and secondary education. CRT has even become a prominent ideology among some churches and Christian ministries. While many may be unaware of the exact tenets of such a philosophy, terms such as “woke”, “systemic racism”, and “whiteness” all stem from CRT and have increasingly shaped our culture. The Apostle Paul wrote, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8). Throughout history, there have been various philosophies and ideologies which are antithetical to the gospel, and we must be careful to not fall prey to such worldviews. We must make certain that our worldview is shaped by Scripture alone. So, in coming to grips with CRT, what is the biblical response?
To make sure, the popularity of such an ideology is not without obvious cause. Our culture, and every culture in history, has wrestled against the evils of racism. (The biblical concept for “racism” is better termed “ethnic partiality” for reasons that are given below.) To ignore that certain groups of people have been grossly mistreated based upon the color of their skin would be a refusal of clear facts. In our own nation, there is a sad, but evident prejudice that has taken place against those with a darker tone of skin. The history of our nation includes the ugly truth of widespread participation in African-based slave trade. To make matters even worse, many crudely misused the Bible to condone violence against these. Grossly discriminatory laws were applied which were of great injustice. However, one would be just as remiss to ignore the substantial advancement in justice against these national sins. The Civil Rights Movement of decades prior has upended many unjust laws in our nation and has brought about the realization of “liberty and justice for all” as intended by the framers of the Constitution.
Discrimination based upon the color of one’s skin has not been completely eradicated from our culture. Even with improvements in social justice, there are those who are mistreated due to ethnical prejudice. The Church cannot ignore such claims nor can we callously respond as though racial sins are not worthy of God’s judgment. It is for these reasons that CRT has become popularized. However, the obvious recognition of such injustice does not give license to the cause and/or remedy which CRT proposes. As you will read below, there are at least three biblical reasons why CRT must be categorically rejected by the Church. Only in doing so will we maintain the purity of the gospel and rightly “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
Problem #1—In Scripture, there is only one race.
Most of us have come to accept terms such as “racism”, “interracial marriage” and “bi-racial” because these are so predominantly used in our culture. However, even Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the term “race” in the following manner: “any one of the groups that humans are often divided into based on physical traits regarded as common among people of shared ancestry.” In other words, the “races”, as we so often apply them, are not rooted in science. In fact, they are most certainly not rooted in Scripture. Every human, regardless of skin color or ethnicity, shares a singular common ancestry—Adam and Eve. Genetic science, which has discovered that every human shares 99.9% of the same DNA, has finally caught up to what the Bible has told us all along (Acts 17:26)! The Bible does distinguish various ethnic groups (Revelation 7:9), but not in racial categories such as “black”, “white”, etc. This biblical truth overturns the very premise of CRT, which seeks to emphasize and amplify a division between so called “races.” Once we understand that, regardless of skin color or eye shape, we are all made in God’s image, CRT becomes a useless and antibiblical theory.
Problem #2—Critical Race Theory promotes the sin of partiality.
Adherents of CRT charge that since there is such a divide between the “races”, one group (“whites”) have unjustly risen to superiority in their systemic oppression of any with a darker shade of skin tone. In fact, they claim that this oppression is so pervasive that racism occurs even in situations for which individuals are not complicit. So, the only way to combat such racist atrocity is to actually revert the prejudice. Such attempts for this are seen in employment situations (a company hires only “blacks”), media (promotion of racial divides), and even in church ministries (some have called for the wholesale repentance of “whiteness”). The utter wickedness of such ideology becomes apparent if we considered what would occur if such promotion were reversed (a call for the repentance of “blackness”)! Such activity is named in the Bible; it is called the sin of partiality (Proverbs 24:23). It is a sin for which Christ died to save us. We are never to discriminate against another on the basis of ethnicity. In fact, it is this very division from which Christ came to save us, and only the gospel eradicates such immorality (Galatians 3:28). Since CRT promotes this sin, it is heretical to Scripture.
Problem #3—Critical Race Theory is an antibiblical religion.
Religion entails a certain set of beliefs or practices which are generally agreed upon by a group of people. CRT espouses itself as a religion when one considers its basic tenets. According to CRT, the original sin is racism and the only cure for such sin is anti-racism. However, Scripture makes very clear that original sin occurred in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve rebelled against God. As a result, every sin, including ethnic partiality, has now grown into death and created brokenness with God and others. There is only one cure—the gospel of Jesus Christ! Through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus, we can be made right with God and we can love one another (Romans 5:6-11). Make no mistake, CRT is a false religion. As with all idolatry in the Bible, God opposes it and means for us to do the same.
Followers of Jesus Christ must not allow themselves to be taken captive to any doctrine (including Critical Race Theory) which is demonic in nature and opposes the gospel. This false doctrine is quickly becoming ingrained in our culture; thus, we must set our minds upon the truths of God’s Word. In Christ, not only are we made right with God, but we can truly learn how to love one another, regardless of those things that so easily cause divide.
Jason