“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Col. 2:8).
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4;8).
On June 11 – 12, 2019, the Southern Baptist Convention was held in Birmingham, Alabama. A number of Resolutions were proposed, and adopted. However, considerable controversy erupted around the adoption of Resolution 9.
“WHEREAS, Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality alone are insufficient to diagnose and redress the root causes of the social ills that they identify, which result from sin, yet these analytical tools can aid in evaluating a variety of human experiences…”
Here is the “nose of the camel” inside the Church tent.” Here is the philosophy of the world trying to press the Christian into its mold (Rom. 12:1-2). Here is the “vain deceit” which is warned against in Scripture (Col. 2:8).
The moment the Critical Race Theory is embraced as an “aid” in evaluating human experiences the “game is up.” The Scriptures are no longer viewed as sufficient in understanding all human experiences. Something more is needed: The Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality. In this way, truth becomes mixed with error.
Conservative Christian voices are being raised in alarm to warn the Church to rise up and reject these godless ideologies that are rooted in radical feminism, postmodernism, and neo-Marxism.
Tom Aschol has rightly noted that the Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality are indebted to a secular worldview. They are rooted in ideologies that are incompatible with Christianity. The Church must repudiate all forms of identity politics, and any ideology, that establishes human identity in anything other than divine creation in the image of God. The Church must affirm the gospel truth that, for all redeemed humanity, our common identity is eternally united to Christ.
Those who are not familiar with the Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality should not be embarrassed at being uninformed. They are convoluted and esoteric ideologies that primarily appeal to academia, and the legal profession.
Unfortunately, some of the ideas of these theories are finding their way into the popular culture through a corrupt and Liberal news media. In addition, radical professors on college campuses are indoctrinating young people with the basic tenants of the Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality. So, taking them one at a time, the question can be asked.
“What is the Critical Race Theory?”
According to the website, wiseGEEK, “The theory began sometime in the mid-1970s, as a number of people in the legal profession began to worry about the slow rate at which laws were changing to promote racial equality. These legal professionals also worried that many of the early victories of the civil rights movement were already eroding.
Learning to look critically at race relations is a key part of critical race theory. Examining everyday interactions, and finding the racial component in them, can help move the racial equality cause forward perhaps more than a sometimes simplistic “color blind” approach. Looking carefully at what sociologists call micro-aggressions can help to see the true extent of racism in the United States, and through critical analysis, it is hoped people can begin to work past it…
One of the more interesting recent developments in critical race theory is a questioning of the normative acceptance of “whiteness.”
This theory looks at such things as how certain groups — the Irish, for example — began as an “othered” category, before “becoming” white.
It looks at how racial pride in being white can manifest in acceptable ways, and how it can manifest as white superiority. Additionally, it may consider what whites can legitimately do to assist the critical examination of race, without abusing their position of power….”
One definite take away from the Critical Race Theory is that “whiteness is bad”, and all white people should feel guilty, and be ashamed for their many acts of microaggression against others. Ok. Got it. Now we move on to the next inquiry.
“What is Intersectionality?”
According to Peter Kaufman, “The word intersectionality is often attributed to legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw who first used it in 1989. Writing in her essay, “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics,” Crenshaw spoke of intersectionality as a way to capture the multiple dimensions of discrimination that Black women face. Instead of seeing “race and gender as mutually exclusive categories of experience and analysis,” Crenshaw argued that to truly understand the experiences of Black women, one must account for the cumulative effect of being both Black and female:
Because the intersectional experience is greater than the sum of racism and sexism, any analysis that does not take intersectionality into account cannot sufficiently address the particular manner in which Black women are subordinated.”
If these definitions seem hard to follow and understand, they are. People’s eye glaze over trying to read the sentences. However, once all the academic verbiage is removed, the core ideas are exposed, and produce some disturbing consequences. They produce a dark feeling of being a victim. They undermine Biblical theology and counseling. They substitute the role of the pastor with the sociologist. They turn away from the Lord and His church to become political activists filled with rage. They put identity politics on steroids.
How can a Christian know for certain that Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality are intrinsically evil ideologies? By the fruit they produce. Jesus said, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt. 7:20).
Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality generate racial hatred, stir up personal anger, encourage societal division, promote discord, and encourage victimization, leading to a sense of entitlement.
If the Church embraces worldly philosophies, it will lose its purity. Christians must not compromise on this point, but vigorously oppose these godless philosophies which assault human dignity, and divides the unity of the faith by making individuals victims, with issues, that need counseling beyond the scope of Scripture.
Now, let the Church pray for spiritual champions to arise to do battle with these godless philosophies that have found their way into the church through the well-meaning, but foolish leadership, of various denominations. History is repeating itself.
During the Downgrade Controversy in England, in the nineteenth century, when the Bible was under assault, the Prince of Preachers warned his generation. “A chasm is opening between the men who believe their Bibles and those who are prepared for an advance upon the Scripture. . .The house is being robbed, its very walls are being digged down, but the good people who are in bed are too fond of the warmth. . .to go downstairs to meet the burglars” (Charles Spurgeon).