CRT?
CRT. Never heard
of it? Most haven’t. Most have.
Why my opening
contradictory statement about CRT?
Both are true.
CRT is not a
commonly familiar acronym.
Critical Race
Theory Is recognized by more people, but not a vast number.
However, CRT is adversely
affecting our society in noticeably upsetting ways.
According to CRT,
being born White is being born a racist. (Of itself, this position held and
perpetrated is racist.)
To aid in
understanding I’ve provided an comprehensive explanatory summary by
GotQuestions.org.
EBB4
+++
What is the critical race theory, and how should a
Christian view it?
Critical race theory is a modern
approach to social change, developed from the broader critical theory, which
developed out of Marxism. Critical race theory (CRT) approaches
issues such as justice, racism, and inequality, with a specific intent of
reforming or reshaping society. In practice, this is applied almost exclusively
to the United States. Critical race theory is grounded in several key
assumptions. Among these are the following:
• American government, law, culture, and society are inherently and inescapably
racist.
• Everyone, even those without racist views, perpetuates racism by supporting
those structures.
• The personal perception of the oppressed—their “narrative”—outweighs the
actions or intents of others.
• Oppressed groups will never overcome disadvantages until the racist
structures are replaced.
• Oppressor race or class groups never change out of altruism; they only change
for self-benefit.
• Application of laws and fundamental rights should be different based on the
race or class group of the individual(s) involved.
In short, critical race theory
presupposes that everything about American society is thoroughly racist, and
minority groups will never be equal until American society is entirely
reformed. This position is extremely controversial, even in secular circles.
Critical race theory is often posed as a solution to white supremacy or white
nationalism. Yet, in practice, it essentially does nothing other than inverting
the oppressed and oppressor groups.
From a political standpoint, critical
race theory closely aligns with concepts such as communism, Marxism, nationalism, progressivism, intersectionality, and the modern version
of social justice. Strictly speaking, the Bible
neither commands nor forbids Christians regarding specific political parties or
philosophies. However, believers are obligated to reject any aspect of a
philosophy that conflicts with biblical ideals. Critical race theory is deeply
rooted in worldviews that are entirely incompatible with the Bible.
Spiritually, some have attempted to
apply critical race theory principles to Christianity. This even includes
suggestions that the Christian church must adopt the critical race theory
approach to society, or else it is not really preaching the gospel. In applying
critical race theory to faith, some have gone even further, suggesting that
“whiteness,” defined in a unique sense, is a type of sin and incompatible with
salvation. In other words, critical race theory implies that those in certain
ethnic/social economic groups must “repent” of such status, above and beyond
other sins, in order to be truly Christian. Less inflammatory uses of critical
race theory echo older claims that biblical faith is often presented as a “white man’s religion,” or that Christianity
ought to follow a progressive theology, especially with respect to gender and
sexuality.
While not necessarily embracing
critical race theory, some Christian groups have embraced the modern approach
to social justice. This raises the concern that non-biblical preferences will
crowd out legitimate commands from Scripture. While critical race theory is not
identical to social justice, the two philosophies are closely linked in modern
American culture. Christian organizations that speak about social justice
should be cautious about the terms and assumptions those discussions entail.
So far as it applies to faith, Christianity,
or spirituality, there is no truth whatsoever to critical race theory. This is
not to say that self-labelled Christians have never perpetrated racism.
Nor does it mean every Christian in America is innocent of overlooking
suffering people. It certainly does not mean that believers in the United
States have no need to self-examine or seek change.
Critical race theory entirely violates
a biblical worldview, however, by suggesting that people are essentially
defined by their race or class, rather than by their individual acts and
attitudes (Jeremiah 31:31–34; Revelation 20:11–13). Critical race theory
incorrectly emphasizes intersectional categories such as gender, race, sexual
preference, and economic status above and beyond a person’s own choices and
responsibilities (Galatians 3:28).
Critical race theory also conflicts with a biblical approach to objective,
absolute truth. In no small part, this includes suggesting that an “oppressed”
person’s feelings matter more than what the “oppressor” has actually done or
intended (1 Corinthians 4:4; 10:29).
As applied to spiritual matters,
critical race theory effectively replaces an individual, personal relationship
with God with a tribalistic, ethnocentric,
collectivistic system. It also greatly overemphasizes material and social
concepts to the detriment—or even the exclusion—of the true gospel. When and where prejudices are found in the
church, they should be addressed according to sound doctrine, not according to
an inherently unbiblical approach such as critical race theory.
