We have been hearing a lot about critical theory in the media. This is the philosophy behind what is commonly known as the new social justice movement, the Woke movement, and Critical Race theory. It is prevalent throughout our culture today. It permeates throughout the media, our schools, military, businesses, government, and even in the church.

This ideology threatens to divide our nation and even Christ’s Church. The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest evangelical denomination in the world, is in a battle over CRT that could divide the denomination.^[1] CRU, formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ  is also in a battle over CRT. What is Critical Theory, why is it so divisive, and how should Christians respond to Critical Theory?

It is important to know the ideas that dominate our culture today for several reasons. First, Critical Theory claims to be an analytical tool that will help solve our social problems such as systemic racism in our nation. However, to solve the social problems like racism, justice, and poverty, we need to look at it through the lenses of truth and have the right goals; otherwise we further the problem. Trying to solve a problem on a false premise will only increase the problem, not solve it. Second, when a nation embraces false ideologies, it can divide and eventually ruin a nation.

Christ’s church is called to defend truth and stand against false and dangerous ideas. False ideas are not only divisive and dangerous for the church, they are harmful for any culture that embraces them. Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 10:4-5, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…”

The present social justice movement sounds noble, and justice is something all Christians seek to uphold. For this reason, many Christians and Christian organizations have embraced Critical Theory and joined the Woke movement. However, when you look at the theory behind the present movement, Critical theory, you see that it promotes ideas and goals that are contrary to biblical teachings. One of the best books on this topic is Fault Lines by Dr. Voddie Baucham. In his book, he presents an overview of the theory, its history, and presents a good biblical critique.

 

 

Overview of Critical Theory

 

The term “critical” as defined in the   is “geared toward identifying and exposing problems in order to facilitate revolutionary political change.”^[2] “Revolutionary political change” is the key phrase. The goal is revolution, not reform. Hence, we do not “reform” the police; we “defund” the police or abolish them.^[3] The chairman of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York told Fox News, “If this country doesn’t give us what we want, then we will burn down this system and replace it!”^[4]

Proponents of Critical Theory repeatedly state that Critical Theory is only an analytical tool. However, it is more than that; it is a worldview. It promotes a set of ideas, a system of ethics, an understanding of truth, human nature, man’s problem, and solution.

Critical theory is rooted in cultural Marxism. Like Marxism, Critical Theory views all reality through the lens of power. All cultures are involved in a power struggle between two groups of people: the oppressors and the oppressed. Everyone is either an oppressor or an oppressed. Instead of dividing people by class as in Marxism, Critical Theory divides people by race.

Which category do you belong to? The answer to this question is determined by what categories you intersect or fit into. This is the concept known as “intersectionality.” What category you are in is determined by your race, gender, sexuality, religion, income, and numerous other categories. The more categories describe your condition, the more entrenched you are in the intersectionality of those categories. For

The categories of the “oppressors” are generally white, male, heterosexual,  , middle or upper class, Christian, whereas the categories of the “oppressed” are generally black or minorities, female, homosexual, transgender, and middle or lower income.

There are structures that were set in place and are maintained by oppressors to keep the oppressors in power and the oppressed in bondage. These man-made structures are called Hegemony. Hegemonic power is “the ability of groups to impose their norms, values, and expectations on society as a whole, relegating other groups to subordinate positions.”^[5] Hegemonic structures are created to keep the oppressors in power and suppress the rest of society.

According to Critical Theory, only the oppressed know and understand truth. This is because only the oppressed have the   to see true reality because they have seen and experienced oppression. This insight is impossible for oppressors to attain because they are blinded by their privilege. Due to their position, it is impossible for the oppressors to know objective truth. Therefore, minority status brings the right to speak on social justice issues and racism, and the lack of minority status repeals that right to speak to issues. ^[6]

Pluckrose and Linsay state,

 

When they speak of “racism,” for example, they are not referring to prejudice on the grounds of race, but rather to, as they define it, a racialized system that permeates all interactions in society yet is largely invisible except to those who experience it or who have been trained in the proper “critical” methods that train them to see it. (These are the people sometimes referred to as being “woke,” meaning awakened to it.)”[7]

 

Recently in May 2021, Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that she will only meet with black reporters.^[8] She stated, “As a person of color, I have throughout my adult life done everything that I can to fight for diversity and inclusion in every institution that I have been a part of and being Mayor makes me uniquely situated to shine a spotlight on this most important issue.” She further stated, “And that failing status quo did not apply simply to City Hall and City government,” she added. “It pertains and exists in all public and private institutions.”

Her statements revealed her perception of the world. Consistent with Critical Theory, she believes she as a black woman who has experienced oppression can speak on racism. This is something whites cannot address or understand. She also sees racism as systemic and throughout all “public and private institutions.” And as a result, she feels justified in excluding reporters who are not black.

 

 

Critical Race theory

 

Critical Theory is the ideology that undergirds Critical Race Theory. Critical Race Theory (CRT), according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, is the view that the law and legal institutions are inherently racist and that race itself, instead of being biologically grounded and natural, is a socially-constructed concept that is used by white people to further their economic and political interests at the expense of people of color.   Racism is not a problem of individuals or groups; rather it is systemic and inbred in our institutions, including our government, schools, courts, media, military, and churches.

According to CRT proponents, racism is normal; it is the everyday experience of most people of color in our country. It is difficult to address or cure because CTR teaches that  are not able to see their inbred racism. White people suffer from “White privilege.” This is a series of unearned advantages that are given to white people simply because they are white. White privilege was created to enslave those who are not white. Most   suffer from “White Fragility” which is the inability and unwillingness of white people to talk about race due to the grip that whiteness, white supremacy, white privilege, white complicity, and white equilibrium exert on them (knowingly or unknowingly).^[10] Anything other than repenting from one’s innate racism is a sign of white fragility.

Critical Race Theory introduces a new definition of racism. According to Webster’s Dictionary a traditional definition of racism is, “A belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.” Racism is connected to individuals or cultures who view they are superior to others because of their race.

However, according to Critical Theory, racism is institutional, structural, and systemic. The most popular antiracist curriculum among conservative evangelicals is Latasha Morrison’s Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation. In the accompanying curriculum, Whiteness 101: Foundational Principles Every White Bridge Builder Needs to Understand, Morrison defines racism as “a system of advantage based on race, involving cultural messages, misuse of power, and institutional bias, in addition to the racist beliefs and actions of individuals.”^[11]

According to Morrison, we are no longer dealing with racism as sin in the hearts of people but rather as racism of institutions and structures. Defeating racism is not having people repent of sin; it requires overthrowing the structures and institutions that are built on and perpetuate racism.

 

False Narratives

 

To build their case for systemic racism, there have been times when false narratives were created. An example presented by Baucham is the popular statistic that 2.5 blacks get shot for every one white person. Harvard economist Roland G. Fryer Jr. conducted a study and found those statistics to be false. He stated, “On the most extreme use of force, FOIS (fatal officer involved shooting),” he writes, “we find no racial difference in either the raw data or when contextual factors are taken into account.” Fryer was actually surprised by his findings.^[12]

The National Academy of Sciences study concluded, “We find no evidence of anti-Black or anti-Hispanic disparities across shootings, and White officers are not more likely to shoot minority civilians than non-White officers.”^[13] The studies actually revealed that it is white people who are actually shot at disproportionately high rates when the number of interactions with police is tallied up.^[14]

Another incident that stirred riots across the country highlighting systemic racism in our nation was the Michael Brown “Hands up don’t shoot” story in Ferguson, Missouri in 2015. According to early reports, Michael Brown surrendered to police and held his hands up pleading, “Don’t shoot” when the white officers ruthlessly gunned him down. This led to protests around the nation with the “Hands Up Don’t Shoot” posture emphasizing systemic racism in our nation.

Unfortunate to that narrative, later reports revealed that Brown reached into the police vehicle, grabbed the officer by the neck, and went after the officer’s gun. He never held his hands up and said “Don’t shoot.” Despite this, emotions were stirred around the country and the narrative that our nation was systemically racist had been instilled in the minds of many. Soon, incidents where police used force against a black individual would instigate riots and launch the “Defund the Police” movement.

I am not arguing that racism does not exist in the United States. I have faced racial discrimination on several occasions. However, the case that Critical Theory needs to prove is that racism is systemic and found in all our institutions. I believe racism is a sin problem residing in hearts of individuals or in the purpose of some organizations in our country, such as the KKK. These individuals or groups need to be confronted and called to repent. However, the reality that there are individuals or groups that are racist does not mean all the institutions are racist and therefore, need to be replaced.

 

 

The Goal

 

The goal of Critical Theory is social justice and equity for all. Social justice according to Critical Theory requires the state redistribution of advantages and resources to establish social and economic equality. Equality is replaced with the word equity. This appears to be a small change in semantics, but it has significant meaning. The two words sound similar so the redefinition is a bit hidden even though they are different in meaning. UCLA law professor Cheryl Harris defines equity as the redistribution of resources so that all assets are distributed evenly along racial lines.^[15]

An example of equity is seen in several areas. Ivy League colleges and University of California schools are now restricting the number of Asian students because it is believed there are too many Asian students. The schools would like to see the student population more equitably distributed along racial lines. Admission to these elite institutions is no longer based on who are the best students but rather whether there is equity among the races.

In order to achieve social justice and equity, the “oppressors” need to divest themselves of their power and seek to liberate others. The “oppressed” need to gain power and liberate themselves by dismantling all structures and institutions that oppress. The great sin in Critical Theory is oppression. The great virtue is liberation. The solution is to dismantle the norms that keep the oppressed or minorities in bondage.

The original mission statement of the Black Lives Matter movement stated:

 

We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and “villages” that collectively care for one another, especially our children, to the degree that mothers, parents, and children are comfortable.

We foster a queer‐affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking, or rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual (unless s/he or they disclose otherwise).

We embody and practice justice, liberation, and peace in our engagements with one another.^[16]

 

According to BLM, traditional families must be dismantled, for they are part of the hegemony that passed on the values of the oppressors. They have since changed their statement after receiving much criticism. Moreover, many proponents of Critical Theory view Christianity as a hegemonic structure that imposes its values on others.

Progress comes through discussion, not appealing to the truth of the Bible. Discussion between opposing groups is helpful. However, without recognizing a universal absolute source of truth and absolute moral law, how do we know we are making progress for better or worse? Right and wrong will be determined by a “Might makes right” ethic. When this becomes the manner in which right and wrong are determined, a culture descends into tribal warfare which will divide and ruin a nation. My concern is that this is what we are witnessing today.

My conclusion is that critical theory is not the answer to racism; it will not achieve true justice or equality for all. The reason is that we are looking at the problem through the wrong lenses, and this has led us to striving after the .

 

 

Biblical Critique

 

Critical Theory is contrary to biblical teaching in several ways. First, our identity according to the Bible is primarily defined as a being created in the image of God. Our identity is not primarily defined in terms of position of power, race, social status, political party, or groups of people. We are a special creation of God bearing the image of God. This means we have infinite value. God gave all He had, His Son, to rescue us from sin.

 

, the primary problem facing mankind is sin, not oppression. Racism and the mistreatment of people is the result of sin. Sin leads to false ideologies which leads to immoral behavior resulting in the construction of flawed social structures. Even if we tear down our institutions, they will be replaced by a power structure that will be flawed and may be even worse because it is the hearts of people which must be transformed. This occurs when people submit to the moral law of God, repent, and turn from sin and apply God’s truth in society.

, truth is available to all through scripture and general revelation (creation and the conscience). However, in critical theory, only the oppressed have special insight to truly understand truth. Truth is absolute, objective, and available to all through God’s word and his creation (Romans 1). All people are created in the image of God and are designed to know truth and are held accountable to respond according to that truth.

Fifth, biblical Justice is different from social justice as defined by Critical Theory. Biblical justice is applying God’s law fairly to all individuals. In other words, everyone is treated the same under the law. Leviticus 19:15 “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.” All individuals regardless of race or social class must be held accountable to God’s law.

Sixth, a healthy culture must strive for biblical equality, not equity. Equality means everyone is treated the same under the law. Equality does not mean we strive to be identical, or have equal outcomes. Equality and justice mean that everyone has the same chance to succeed under the law. In other words, we have equal opportunity, but that does not guarantee equal outcome. Those who work harder, study more, invest and risk more should be rewarded for their efforts over those who do not. 1 Timothy 5:18 states, “The laborer deserves his wages.” The principle taught is that those who put in more effort to the master’s task should be rewarded according to their time and labor. In a just system, all people should be allowed to pursue their goals, but it does not guarantee identical outcomes for all.

Finally, we do not pursue equity, but rather righteous application of God’s law. God’s law is absolute and is the authority over all people. Progress comes through learning and obeying God’s law. Discussion is helpful, but to solve social problems, we must have a moral code that we all abide by and principles that guide our conduct. Without a universal moral law code, who determines right and wrong? How do we determine what is acceptable behavior and what is not? Without a universal moral law code, right and wrong will be determined by might makes right. As a result, there will be a struggle for power which will divide our nation as each cultural group takes their stand. History has shown that when we correctly apply God’s law, we become more just, less  , and more compassionate.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Critical Theory is a worldview that makes race the central issue and focus of all areas of the culture. For the church and Christian organizations, it becomes a distraction from preaching the gospel and making disciples. Second, we acknowledge that racism exists. However, I would disagree that it is systemic. Critical Theory is a worldview and ideology that cannot provide the answers to the problem of racism. I believe it actually exacerbates the problem of

I believe Christians should not embrace this ideology, for it is not founded on biblical truth and will be a divisive force in any organization. Social problems such as racism are defeated when we turn from false ideologies to truth. Racism is defeated when we apply God’s truth and overcome sin. When we embrace God’s truth, we turn from sin and become less  , more loving, and accepting of others no matter what their race or heritage.

As our culture continues its slide away from God, it will grow more hostile to His truth. Therefore, disciples of Christ must be prepared to love truth more than we love our friends, reputations, and our platforms. Churches must be prepared to address the ideas that dominate our culture today even if doing so causes members to leave. Many churches have chosen to accommodate the culture rather than stand on God’s truth. Our message must be uncompromising but also come with humility and love.

Some Christians may object saying, “Why should I bother to study or hear a message about false ideologies like critical theory?” Christians not only need to know the Bible; they need to know the ideas that dominate our culture. Critical theory is pervasive throughout our culture. This is what your kids are learning in school, businesses, the military, and even churches as these institutions are teaching critical theory. When your children, co-workers, and friends raise the topic, disciples of Jesus must know how to respond with truth, integrity and love.

False ideas cannot solve the issues we face today like racism. It is Christ, and Christ alone, “who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14). The answer to the race issue is the person of Christ and truth of His word.

 

©     Copyright  2021 Evidence and Answers.

 

[1] https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2021/june/cru-divided-over-emphasis-on-race.html

[2] Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay, Cynical Theories (Durham, North Carolina: Pitchstone Publishing, 2020), 114.

[3] Voddie Baucham Jr., Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism’s Looming Catastrophe (Washington D.C.: Salem Books, 2021), XII.

[4] Meghan Roos, “BLM Leader: We’ll ‘Burn’ the System Down If U.S. Won’t Give Us What We Want,” Newsweek, June 25, 2020, https://www.newsweek.com/ quoted in Baucham Jr., Voddie. Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism’s Looming Catastrophe (Washington DC.: Salem Books, 2021), 63.

[5] Neil Shenvi and Pam Sawyer, “The Incompatibility of Critical Theory and Christianity,” The Gospel Coalition, 15 May 2019, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/incompatibility-critical-theory-christianity/.

[6] Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic, Critical Race Theory (New York: University of New York Press, 2017), 11.

[7] Pluckrose and Lindsay, 15.

[8] https://nypost.com/2021/05/19/chicagos-mayor-refuses-to-give-interviews-to-white-reporters/

[9] Pluckrose and Lindsay, 111.

[10] Baucham Jr., 79.

[11] Ibid., 82.

[12] Ibid., 48.

[13] Ibid., 48-49.

[14] Baucham, 49.

[15] Christopher Rufo, “Critical Race Theory: What it is and How to Fight it,” Imprimis, March 2021, p. 3.

[16] https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/abolitionist-movement, accessed May 2020.

 

From their website:

https://www.cru.org/us/en/about/our-leadership/our-founders.html