#ReinholdNiebuhr explains the DL Moody/Billy Graham-like version of Christianity is “too simplistic and perfectionistic” & impotent to address “collective sin.” This is why 2021 Reformed evangelicals have no way of explaining how/why their heroes also advanced white supremacy.
“Revivalistic Christianity” has never been effective, says RN, at challenging “collective[social]” evil. Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, and mainline P traditions have frameworks for this. So don’t expect “Great Commission” type Christians to even see evil beyond individual action.
Their perfectionistic view of Christianity thinks that rising out of a tub of water renders people incapable of participating in social evil, even if they are personally pious at home. It’s a deep Whitfield/Moody/Graham flaw emerging on the KDY/CRT/repararations controversy.
Don’t expect KDY-types to ever “get it” as long as they remain tied the theological flaws of an evangelicalism that has no developed theology of responding to social/collective evil. Read Catholics or the mainline for actual non-individualistic, non-perfectionistic thinking.
Maybe start here? “John Paul 2: The Encyclicals in Everyday Language, Definitive Edition of All Fourteen Encyclicals”amazon.com/dp/1570756317/…
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