By J. Jeff Toler, Shenandoah Christian Alliance
What a surprising picture it makes.
Understand this, we are facing two monumental social upheavals—both intent on destroying America, and American values: radical racial upheaval blamed on police and policing, and extreme gender identity cultural politicking. It’s entirely possible we have been careless in our observation and understanding of what has been unfolding in America, and by extension around the world for a very long time. The continuing riots—months into a pandemic-engendered, government mandated, social lockdown are one thing. But both issues share something in common: they are terribly misunderstood, critical to the outcome of the general election, and utterly pernicious to Christian orthodoxy.
- “Be serious! Be alert!Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.” (1 Peter 5:7-9)
History of Racial Strife in America
We can agree slavery was evil. We should regret it had a place in American history. We should be grateful we were willing to end slavery. We regret it cost the lives of more Americans that any other single war—625,000 in only 4 years. (1)
But after nearly one hundred years, the Civil Rights Act of 1963 finally ushered in most of the opportunities, options, and corrections black Americans needed and deserved, that almost everyone else enjoyed. It can be argued its success was perhaps a component forty-five years later in the election of Barack Obama, the first African American president in our history. Yet, ironically he was a major factor in contributing to an increase in racial division (2) not seen since the sixties in just eight years!
What’s the connection?
Why then, do we not see how the narrative that Black Lives Matter uses is one that is precisely designed to incite riots? If the police really are evil, racist murderers as portrayed—intent on killing black people at every opportunity, how did this escape the notice of literally millions and millions of clear-thinking Americans until now? No one needs to be told, as the slogan/brand implies, that black lives do matter. It should be obvious, because it is. What kind of response should someone make? To this question, Heather MacDonald flatly declares, in this video, (3) America is provably not racist. Marxist strategy is simple, and very clever: no discussion is welcome—none whatsoever. It’s humiliating on its face, because it’s intended to be.
What’s the connection?
- “… (T)he purpose of communist propaganda was not to persuade or convince, not to inform, but to humiliate; and therefore, the less it corresponded to reality the better.” Theodore Dalrymple
When just last year, the Southern Baptist Convention adopted what some consider the controversial “Resolution 9,” or formally, “On Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality,” this may have been the first time most evangelical pastors, including Southern Baptists pastors, had really even heard of these terms. According to presenter Stephen Feinstein, pastor of Sovereign Way Church in California his “intent was to denounce Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality ideology so that we could hold accountable those espousing it, especially within SBC institutions.” He said It should not be a tool for analysis. Further, Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Seminary has said, “We have to see identity politics as disastrous for the culture and nothing less than devastating for the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (4) The controversy is far from over.
What is Critical Race theory? It is an idea from social sciences that racial inequality is the result of structures created by white people to maintain their place of privilege. Intersectionality goes a step further, asserting that people are often disadvantaged for multiple overlapping reasons including race, class, gender identity, sexual orientation and other social markers. According to UCLA’s School of Public Affairs/Critical Race Studies, issues this hugely presumptuous statement: “Racism is engrained in the fabric and systems of The American Society.” (5) Critical Race Theory clearly has its roots in cultural Marxism.
What Is intersectionality? Researching on Google servers will require serious focus and patience, as objective analysis of the concept is not even listed on the first six search pages. This is because few have made a serious attempt to critique the concept created by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw in 1989. According to the Oxford Dictionary, “Intersectionality is a framework for conceptualizing a person, group of people, or social problem as affected by a number of discriminations and disadvantages. It takes into account people’s overlapping identities and experiences in order to understand the complexity of prejudices they face.”
Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality, are flagstones paving the path to cultural confusion and destruction. To promote the idea that a person is subject to persecution based “levels of discriminations and disadvantages” in a country literally brimming over with all manner of inclusion and celebration of every sexual, racial, and ethnic distinction, where is exactly is the discrimination and prejudice? Really. For the committed Marxist the adage is, “If it’s fixed, then break it.” For the Marxist, division and strife are the chief tools of disarming their enemy. The Church of Jesus Christ is at the top of their enemies list.
- “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12
These ideas ought rightly to deserve condemnation. Because it should be easy to see how destructive they are to Christian life and worship.
Be blessed. Be engaged. Be on guard.
(2) von Spakovsky, Hans A., The Heritage Foundation: https://www.heritage.org/political-process/commentary/obamas-legacy-weaker-and-more-divided-america
(3) Heather MacDonald/Steven Edgington on Burning Questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg_3JsbzhxI
(4) Gray, Rudy, The Courier: https://baptistcourier.com/2019/06/sbc-resolution-9-statement-on-critical-race-theory-intersectionality-point-of-controversy-and-disagreement/
(5) UCLA School of of Public Affairs: https://spacrs.wordpress.com/what-is-critical-race-theory/
