Critics of so-called “wokeness“ in conservative evangelicalism insist on conflating CRT with concerns about systemic injustice
I'm willing to assume, charitably, that this confusion derives from ignorance—of which they display much, and with remarkable boldness.
I'm willing to assume, charitably, that this confusion derives from ignorance—of which they display much, and with remarkable boldness.
But the notion that we should regard those who demand systemic justice as false teachers is more than mere error: it presents a false image of who God is and what God requires of us.
Seeking systemic justice is a moral imperative for all who fear God, whatever one thinks of CRT.
Seeking systemic justice is a moral imperative for all who fear God, whatever one thinks of CRT.
In the logic of Christian theology, it doesn't even make sense to say that those who demand systemic justice *on behalf of others* are false teachers.
Simply put, demanding justice for others isn't what false teachers do.
Simply put, demanding justice for others isn't what false teachers do.
When Scripture presents God's prophets in direct conflict with false teachers over matters of injustice, God's prophets are the ones demanding justice for the oppressed—never the other way around.
And how do the false teachers react? First, they accuse God's prophet of being a false teacher. Then they try to protect their own power and influence by lying about God. "Everything's good here. God says that the status quo is just fine, and judgment is not forthcoming."
According to Scripture, false teachers dwell in the religious establishment.
And they misrepresent God to the people of God for the sake of their own ambition.
And they misrepresent God to the people of God for the sake of their own ambition.
In fact, the biblical picture of false teachers bears a striking resemblance to the handful of theologians in the SBC whose dalliances with heresy have redounded to their own professional benefit.
Some proponents of ESS, for example, misrepresented the nature of the Trinity in an effort to legitimate a niche research agenda that they were well-positioned to lead—largely because the most fertile theological minds of our era have no interest in advancing male headship.
These men spend their days stirring up controversy, insisting that God's people break fellowship over the secondary effects of tertiary issues that are a matter of grave importance only to men whose professional advancement depends on it.
It's sort of clever, in a strictly Machiavellian sense: find a subject that none of the really talented people in your field care about, create a journal for it, publish in your own journal, and then leverage politics and personal connections to demand that it be taken seriously.
Now these men are attempting to persuade God's people that demands for systemic justice are false teaching. "Everything's good," they say. "God has instructed me to assure you that the status quo is just fine, and judgment is not forthcoming."
I don't know whether judgment is upon us. But if it is, it's not for the reasons that the culture warriors warned us about: it's because of the political conditions that the culture warriors helped create.
Don't let false teachers tell you who the false teachers are. Look for the folks demanding justice, and join them. That's the side you want to be on, even if you don't agree with everything they have to say.
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