Critical theory is a funny thing. No matter how much one might study it, like the Marxism from which it is derived, if you do not embrace it, you clearly do not understand it. Critical theory is a Marxist idea developed in post-modernity in which absolutes, objectivity, and absolute truth are no long accepted. Critical theory purports to explain the world in terms of power and its proponents believe those with the least power have the most moral authority to speak. Power is, therefore, mapped through intersectionality — race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, etc. The white male heterosexual Christian has the most power and therefore has the least moral authority to speak in society.
Erick - This is fascinating to me. I am a Catholic who grew up in Denver. The Catholic Church has had and continues to reckon with its own modern day sins. Interestingly, however, my upbringing saw the Church as clearly opposed to racism. Denver's Catholic community (with Bishop Machebeuf) drew the scorn of the KKK. The local seminary's bell tower was a symbol of the Catholic presence and perseverance in the face of racial and anti-Catholic bigotry. I never understood the battle within Protestantism more broadly in regards to race. Honestly, I am glad I didnt have to reckon with that. Ultimately, I think your last point is spot on. Christ's teachings and Christianity as a whole (broken, divided, and run by sinners as it is), should be a great guide for reconciliation on this issue. We are all sinners. We are all loved unconditionally and infinitely by our God. We all have value. We are all capable of sinning against our brothers and sisters. But we are meant for another place. Only God's grace can get us there. And in the mean time we are told to love Him with all of ourselves and love our neighbors the same way. God bless!
My husband and I are members of Perimeter Church north of Atlanta. We are a PCA church. Our lead pastor - Jeff Norris - is doing a good job of trying to addressing critical theory. I recommend his podcast from last summer with him and two African American pastors - Dr. Carl Ellis and Dr. Crawford Loritts. Check out episode 2: https://www.perimeter.org/messages/series/thinking-biblically#
Really appreciate this and the great commentary/analysis you’ve been putting out there. I’d like to comment on this paragraph:
“If anything, the rejection of critical theory means the truth of the colorblind God who sees neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, can fully be engaged with — something that is impossible through a theory that demands we be conscious of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, etc.”
I grew up in America. My parents immigrated from Korea. My husband is a PCA pastor, so I agree with you on so much of the theology you’ve presented. In the above statement, however, I believe you’re missing out on something precious. God is not colorblind. He created the wonderful diversity we see in mankind. It shows the manifold wisdom of God. I think what you mean is that God doesn’t value one ethnicity or gender over and above another and I wholeheartedly agree with that.
I can tell you that I’ve had well-meaning friends (only white friends) tell me they are colorblind and I think, “Really?” Because it is an important part of who I am and part of my life experience. I understand the heart behind it, but if we claim not to see it, then it’s like saying we don’t see the difference between the beauty of a daffodil and that of a rose. Or a willow tree and an oak tree. Of course they are different. And that’s what’s so wonderful.
So yes, totally agree with you about the dangers of critical theory, but just wanted to point out that we can acknowledge and see the differences that point to the endless creativity, beauty, and glory of God. He made the differences.
What we can certainly exult in is that Christ has destroyed the dividing wall between God and man and Jew and Gentile. And if He can do that, then He is able to bring a divided people together, starting in the church.
The reason CT is incompatible with Christianity is simple: CT glorifies the creation while Christianity glorifies the Creator. Any time humans put themselves at the center of morality their efforts are doomed because their philosophies are shifting shadows. Having said that, the Church needs to get back to the Gospel and believers need to return to working out their salvation with fear and trembling.
I grew up in the PCUSA and left in college due to this. Our own congregation and pastors were pretty conservative. I started seeing this critical theory BS during my freshman year at our campus chapel. Critical theory strips both “oppressors” and “oppressed” of their humanity. It tells one group that they lack agency and their sins are not actually sins, but rather manifestations of oppression that are really fault of their “oppressors.” To the other group it says, “the Gospel wasn’t written for you.” It offers one side justification without repentance, and the other no hope for redemption outside of their willingness to parrot critical theory.
We attended a large PCA in the early 2000s when Greg Thompson became the lead pastor there. We were shocked to find out recently that he had become a huge proponent of critical race theory.
On truth: I've always interpreted Jesus' "I am the way, the truth, and the life" as a literal translation. Similar to "God is love," one form Jesus takes is truth...which would explain why it is under such a constant barrage.
On Race: Reader's choice. "Love thy neighbor as thyself." - Jesus; or "I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." - MLK Jr. Let's see you argue with those two.
On Critical Theory: KISS principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid). Anything that requires this much explanation is a scam. Its complexity is intentional as it creates confusion that must be constantly be "interpreted" by those who have the most to gain.
The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not work through doctrines made by minds; nor is He served by critical human theories, as though He needed our advice, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man, every ethnicity of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed states and nations . . .
so that they would seek God, if perhaps they might woke for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
For in Him we believe and act and indoctrinate, as even some of our own theologians have advised, for we are all but mere children in this ancient babelian tower of vain speculation as to what constitutes justice and mercy in this world of sorrow and woe and occasional joy.
Eat, drink, and remain faithful, for tomorrow we may be criticized, the substance of which is little more than sound and fury signifying nothing but the same old human contention that has always been, still is and will be until Jesus returns.
All criticism is theory, saith the professor. Big deal.
This is a great piece. I just wanted to add two things, if I may:
Even Marxists don't understand Marxism. Because it's utter nonsense. That's why you have a billion different permutations of socialist and communist theory and practice. This leads to the inevitable "well, but (X) wasn't 'true socialism'" or "'true socialism' has never actually been tried/implemented" arguments that we're all familiar with. You can study bunk all you want, but you'll only create a thousand experts in absolutely nothing. And when they attain power, they immiserate all under their mindless thumbs.
Also, there are some great parallels in George Orwell's Animal Farm. Orwell might have intended it as a critique of bolshevism, but in assigning roles to various species of animal and human, he actually puts on a good display of what inevitably happens with identity politics in general. Remember the seven commandments and the slogans and how they evolved? "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." "Four legs good, two legs bad" eventually became "Four legs good, two legs better" as the pigs who became the new ruling class adopted the mannerisms of the despised humans they replaced.
Honestly, although he was a self-described socialist, if you want to understand the manifold problems with socialism, read Orwell. He was very honest in detailing socialism's faults. He clearly saw the many contradictions, and I think he spent his life trying to rid it of its more extreme manifestations while trying to reconcile it to reality. The problem, as he likely found out when he was close to death, is that you really can't because it's all nonsense. It's pseudoscience. And so are its children, such as critical theory. All defective fruit of the same defective tree.
Extremely--and I will dispense with the many superlatives this deserves--great job in enunciating this. I have seen this (which is the next iteration of post-modernity) further invade the church. This theory demands that all ideas, all problems, all "sin" be viewed under this umbrella and through its perversely warped lens. I have been thankful for your analysis in the past, yet this is truly insightful and apropos! Thank you!
Erick, this post is what finally got me to subscribe. Nice job!
Erick - This is fascinating to me. I am a Catholic who grew up in Denver. The Catholic Church has had and continues to reckon with its own modern day sins. Interestingly, however, my upbringing saw the Church as clearly opposed to racism. Denver's Catholic community (with Bishop Machebeuf) drew the scorn of the KKK. The local seminary's bell tower was a symbol of the Catholic presence and perseverance in the face of racial and anti-Catholic bigotry. I never understood the battle within Protestantism more broadly in regards to race. Honestly, I am glad I didnt have to reckon with that. Ultimately, I think your last point is spot on. Christ's teachings and Christianity as a whole (broken, divided, and run by sinners as it is), should be a great guide for reconciliation on this issue. We are all sinners. We are all loved unconditionally and infinitely by our God. We all have value. We are all capable of sinning against our brothers and sisters. But we are meant for another place. Only God's grace can get us there. And in the mean time we are told to love Him with all of ourselves and love our neighbors the same way. God bless!
My husband and I are members of Perimeter Church north of Atlanta. We are a PCA church. Our lead pastor - Jeff Norris - is doing a good job of trying to addressing critical theory. I recommend his podcast from last summer with him and two African American pastors - Dr. Carl Ellis and Dr. Crawford Loritts. Check out episode 2: https://www.perimeter.org/messages/series/thinking-biblically#
Thanks for writing this.
Really appreciate this and the great commentary/analysis you’ve been putting out there. I’d like to comment on this paragraph:
“If anything, the rejection of critical theory means the truth of the colorblind God who sees neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, can fully be engaged with — something that is impossible through a theory that demands we be conscious of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, etc.”
I grew up in America. My parents immigrated from Korea. My husband is a PCA pastor, so I agree with you on so much of the theology you’ve presented. In the above statement, however, I believe you’re missing out on something precious. God is not colorblind. He created the wonderful diversity we see in mankind. It shows the manifold wisdom of God. I think what you mean is that God doesn’t value one ethnicity or gender over and above another and I wholeheartedly agree with that.
I can tell you that I’ve had well-meaning friends (only white friends) tell me they are colorblind and I think, “Really?” Because it is an important part of who I am and part of my life experience. I understand the heart behind it, but if we claim not to see it, then it’s like saying we don’t see the difference between the beauty of a daffodil and that of a rose. Or a willow tree and an oak tree. Of course they are different. And that’s what’s so wonderful.
So yes, totally agree with you about the dangers of critical theory, but just wanted to point out that we can acknowledge and see the differences that point to the endless creativity, beauty, and glory of God. He made the differences.
What we can certainly exult in is that Christ has destroyed the dividing wall between God and man and Jew and Gentile. And if He can do that, then He is able to bring a divided people together, starting in the church.
The reason CT is incompatible with Christianity is simple: CT glorifies the creation while Christianity glorifies the Creator. Any time humans put themselves at the center of morality their efforts are doomed because their philosophies are shifting shadows. Having said that, the Church needs to get back to the Gospel and believers need to return to working out their salvation with fear and trembling.
I grew up in the PCUSA and left in college due to this. Our own congregation and pastors were pretty conservative. I started seeing this critical theory BS during my freshman year at our campus chapel. Critical theory strips both “oppressors” and “oppressed” of their humanity. It tells one group that they lack agency and their sins are not actually sins, but rather manifestations of oppression that are really fault of their “oppressors.” To the other group it says, “the Gospel wasn’t written for you.” It offers one side justification without repentance, and the other no hope for redemption outside of their willingness to parrot critical theory.
Great, thought-provoking piece. Thanks, Erick.
We attended a large PCA in the early 2000s when Greg Thompson became the lead pastor there. We were shocked to find out recently that he had become a huge proponent of critical race theory.
This sparked several thoughts:
On truth: I've always interpreted Jesus' "I am the way, the truth, and the life" as a literal translation. Similar to "God is love," one form Jesus takes is truth...which would explain why it is under such a constant barrage.
On Race: Reader's choice. "Love thy neighbor as thyself." - Jesus; or "I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." - MLK Jr. Let's see you argue with those two.
On Critical Theory: KISS principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid). Anything that requires this much explanation is a scam. Its complexity is intentional as it creates confusion that must be constantly be "interpreted" by those who have the most to gain.
Great piece, Erick.
The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not work through doctrines made by minds; nor is He served by critical human theories, as though He needed our advice, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man, every ethnicity of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed states and nations . . .
so that they would seek God, if perhaps they might woke for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
For in Him we believe and act and indoctrinate, as even some of our own theologians have advised, for we are all but mere children in this ancient babelian tower of vain speculation as to what constitutes justice and mercy in this world of sorrow and woe and occasional joy.
Eat, drink, and remain faithful, for tomorrow we may be criticized, the substance of which is little more than sound and fury signifying nothing but the same old human contention that has always been, still is and will be until Jesus returns.
All criticism is theory, saith the professor. Big deal.
Social Justice flexes muscle,
It's the strong arm of despair.
All pumped up with 'good intentions'
In this kingdom of the air.
True justice (social and otherwise) must travel through the prism of Grace... the incarnate Word of God on the cross of Calvary...and beyond.
This is a great piece. I just wanted to add two things, if I may:
Even Marxists don't understand Marxism. Because it's utter nonsense. That's why you have a billion different permutations of socialist and communist theory and practice. This leads to the inevitable "well, but (X) wasn't 'true socialism'" or "'true socialism' has never actually been tried/implemented" arguments that we're all familiar with. You can study bunk all you want, but you'll only create a thousand experts in absolutely nothing. And when they attain power, they immiserate all under their mindless thumbs.
Also, there are some great parallels in George Orwell's Animal Farm. Orwell might have intended it as a critique of bolshevism, but in assigning roles to various species of animal and human, he actually puts on a good display of what inevitably happens with identity politics in general. Remember the seven commandments and the slogans and how they evolved? "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." "Four legs good, two legs bad" eventually became "Four legs good, two legs better" as the pigs who became the new ruling class adopted the mannerisms of the despised humans they replaced.
Honestly, although he was a self-described socialist, if you want to understand the manifold problems with socialism, read Orwell. He was very honest in detailing socialism's faults. He clearly saw the many contradictions, and I think he spent his life trying to rid it of its more extreme manifestations while trying to reconcile it to reality. The problem, as he likely found out when he was close to death, is that you really can't because it's all nonsense. It's pseudoscience. And so are its children, such as critical theory. All defective fruit of the same defective tree.
Extremely--and I will dispense with the many superlatives this deserves--great job in enunciating this. I have seen this (which is the next iteration of post-modernity) further invade the church. This theory demands that all ideas, all problems, all "sin" be viewed under this umbrella and through its perversely warped lens. I have been thankful for your analysis in the past, yet this is truly insightful and apropos! Thank you!