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Voices With Ed Stetzer: A Missiological Assessment of Critical Race Theory II

In part-one I laid out a brief history and basic heart (or themes) of CRT. In parts two and three I bring CRT’s themes to Scripture for an objective measurement of its claims.

A Biblical Assessment of CRT

“Race” is man-made concept that created privilege for “Whiteness”

Claim: Race is man-made.

Biblical Response: God created every human in His image. Adam and Eve are humanity’s first parents (cf. Gen 1-2; Acts 17:26; Gen 3:20).[1] Genesis 3 records the fall of humanity into sin, which every descendant of Adam equally inherited (Rom 5:12-21).[2] Scripture does not label humans by the racial categories used today but instead by ethnicity, language, geographic proximity [3], and if they’re in a covenant relationship with God or not. Scripture says humanity is one race comprised by a gorgeous array of ethnicities God created from His genius for His glory (Acts 17:26).

This truth connects to the gospel. In the Garden of Eden, vertically God and humanity, and horizontally man and woman were conciled because of the absence of animosity, distrust, and hostility.[4] In the fall, every human from every ethnicity in Adam’s biological line were separated from God due to sin but can be reconciled (once again conciled) through the work of Jesus Christ alone (Eph 2:1-22; 2 Cor 5:17-21; Rev 7:9; 21:24-26). CRT’s claim ‘race is man-made’ holds up in light of Scripture and provides a clear pathway for global evangelism.

Claim: Whiteness is created and provides privileges for those who are “White.”

Biblical Response: First, Scripture is clear, God does not show partiality (cf. Deut 10:17; 2 Chron 19:7; Mal 2:1-9; Rom 2:1-11; 1 Pet 1:15-17) and His followers are commanded to imitate Him (Eph 5:1; James 2:1-13). Yet, the man-made racial systems established during the colonization of the Americas were combined with the sin of partiality in their building.[5] In light of this historic truth, Christians shouldn’t assume or proclaim every person of European descent committed the sin of partiality then and now. CRT does not define racism in biblical language (i.e., the sin of partiality), and this gap opens space for Christians to introduce the totality of the fall across the human race (Rom 5:12-21). This means every type of sin, including partiality, can be practiced equally by all humans regardless of ethnicity and not just those of European descent at institutional and individual levels.

Secondly, since Christians are being progressively sanctified by God the Holy Spirit (Rom 6-8; 2 Cor 3:18; Col 3:10), we’re not exempt from practicing partiality. God provides us with a pathway to recognize the sin of partiality, confess it, and be spiritual restored within the local church Jesus assigned them to.

  1. Daily Christians must present ourselves before God (Rom 12:1-2) and allow Him to search our hearts and surface hidden issues therein (Psalm 139:23-24).
  2. God reveals His assessment the Christians’ heart through God the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30), Scripture (Heb 4:12), leaders in our church (James 5:13-18), those we’re in discipleship relationships with (Matt 28:19-20), and the family in Christ who’ve been sinned against (Matt 18: 15-20).
  3. God the Holy Spirit can then shape the culture of church restoration according to Galatians 6:1-2, and naturally bear fruit of repentance through spiritual restored Christians described in 2 Corinthians 7:9-11.
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D.A. Horton serves as an Assistant Professor and Program Director of the Intercultural Studies program at California Baptist University. He is also blessed to serve as an Associate Teaching Pastor at The Grove Community Church. He earned his B.S. in Biblical Studies from Calvary Bible College, his Masters Degree in Christian Studies from Calvary Theological Seminary and is working on his Ph.D. in Applied Theology with a North American Missions emphasis at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has authored eight books; G.O.S.P.E.L., DNA: Foundations of the Faith; Letters of the Revelation: To the One Who Conquers, To The One Who Conquers; Authentic Love; and Bound to Be Free: Escaping Performance to be Captured by Grace. He was blessed to co-author Enter The Ring: Fighting Together for a Gospel Saturated Marriage with his wife Elicia. His newest book is Intensional.