“Critical Race Theory”, or CRT, espouses the view that the law and our 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 own economic and political interests at the expense of people of color. Today, CRT is being touted by some as an ideology for confronting societal evil and for adopting an educational curricula that elevate race to a position of relative dominance and bring awareness to racial inequality as a moral responsibility of our culture.
CRT originated in the Frankfurt School in Germany in the late 1920’s, but became popularized in this country through the writings of Professor Derrick Bell, the first black tenured professor at Harvard Law School. A central tenet of these writings is that “whites will promote racial advances for blacks only when they promote white self-interest.” In other words, throughout American history, our legal and political institutions have operated from an inherent bias favoring whites, and our country’s watershed advances, including passage of the civil rights acts in the1960s, were not motivated out of genuine concern for achieving racial equality, but were merely an appeasement of people of color to quell racial unrest and further white dominance.
Here are a few of the dangers from CRT:
- CRT teaches that racism is pervasive. It is everywhere, all the time.
- All whites share in societal blame and are inherently racist.
- It encourages the very racist paradigm it purports to prevent.
- The proponents of CRT too often turn to cancel culture extremes against those who advocate more moderate approaches to dealing with racial inequality.
- It separates people purely on the basis of skin color contradicting the biblical teaching that we are all descendants of Adam and universally in need of God’s redeeming grace.
Critical Race Theory: A Christian Perspective
From a Christian perspective, CRT ignores the central theme from Genesis to Revelation that all of mankind was created in God’s image, (Gen. 1:26), and that as fallen creatures, we all “like sheep have gone astray.” (Isa. 53:6). None are exempt from the universal curse of guilt. As Paul reiterates, “There is none righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10) and “There is no one who does what is good, not even one” (Romans 3:12). All are guilty, and all are without excuse (Romans 1:20).
A proper Christian response to CRT should reject CRT’s divisive premise based on the biblical truth that there is only one race – the human race. Any teaching or belief system that espouses a higher or more deferential regard for one group over another is therefore itself racist and blind to the biblical truth that the ground is level at the cross.
Racial division is not merely a social construct of modern man. It has existed since the dawn of civilization and was certainly prevalent during New Testament times. As Christians, we have a biblical responsibility to seek justice and to promote fairness and equal treatment in our system of government and societal institutions. At the same time, as ambassadors of Christ, we should reiterate Paul’s admonition: “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.” For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:12-13).
Larry L. Crain, Crain Law Group, PLLC – www.crainlaw.legal
