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

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

The third installment examining CRT through a missiologist perspective

Acts 6:5-6 details the Apostles empowering the people to choose qualified leaders among them. When the congregation presented their list, the elders appointed seven Hellenist men to help distribute the rations fairly among the Hebrew and Hellenist widows. Included in this group were Stephen and Philip who would go on to expand the global Church (cf. Acts 6:8-8:4; 8:5-40). The elder’s approval of the names on the list was not tokenism rather, a legitimate installment of capable leaders who wouldn’t be micromanaged by the elders. When the church removed partiality, it resulted in the establishing of a reputation that reflected God’s love, compassion, and concern for the needy. Acts 6:7 records, And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

In Galatians 2:11-21 Paul opposed Peter to his face regarding his ethnically motivated actions of partiality and Peter, the Apostle stood condemned. Peter’s actions not only contradicted the actions of Jesus, who openly and publicly engaged in a meaningful conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4) and chose to eat with sinners (Luke 15:2). Peter’s actions were also out of step with the very gospel he preached. Galatians 2:14 recognizes Paul’s confrontation was public because Peter’s actions were public. Paul demonstrated what Christian leaders should model when behavior patterns from other leaders are toxic due to practicing of partiality. Constable says,“Peter and Paul both acknowledged the equality of Jews and Gentiles in the church (cf. Acts 11:17). However, it evidently took Peter longer to see the practical implications of this truth, and to apply them to his own conduct.”[6]

Mclelland adds, “clearly Peter gave in to the ethnic bias of the arriving Jewish contingent. It is doubtful that he actually changed his theological view as to the status of Gentiles before God. Obviously, he had not fully thought through how his theology had to adjust his relations with all persons, in spite of the continued bias of some. Peter, it seems, was not alone in this problem of integrating faith with living, since even Barnabas followed his example, as well as other Jews present.”[7]

Make no mistake, there have been, and still are instances in Church leadership where genuine believers, may sense they are grounded theologically yet, apply ungodly practices that contradict not only what they profess to believe, but more pressing, the very commands of God’s word. In such instances, confession, repentance, and the fruits of repentance must become the focus, as was with Peter, who remind you, was an Apostle.

These two examples provide sound preventative measures of CRT’s claim from being implemented in local churches. Compassion, equity, and repentance can be embodied by God’s beloved community and when these attributes are seen, it provides a strong kingdom witness to the watching world.


Read the Complete Critical Race Theory Series

Part 1: Framing Critical Race Theory 

Part 2: What Is CRT and Should We Be Concerned? 

Part 3: Cautions Regarding Critical Race Theory

Part 4: Cautions Regarding Critical Race Theory II

Part 5: A Missiological Assessment of Critical Race Theory

Part 6: A Missiological Assessment of Critical Race Theory II

Part 7. A Missiological Assessment of Critical Race Theory III

Part 8: A Missiological Assessment of Critical Race Theory IV

Part 9: Sociological Theory and Precursors to Approaching Critical Race Theory

Part 10: Critical Theory and Precursors to Approaching Critical Race Theory

Part 11: Social Justice, Critical Race Theory, Marxism, and Biblical Ethics


End Notes

[1] The Nation of Gods and Earths identifies those of Latino as “brown” which is one of the 16 shades of Black that every Original Man, Woman, and Child embody to bear witness as being God Allah in the flesh. Universal Shaamgaud Allah, “The Universal Flag”, https://ngeinla.weebly.com/the-universal-flag-by-universal-shaamgaud-allah.html

[2] “The Truth About Mexicans”, https://israelunite.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/THE_TRUTH_ABOUT_MEXICANS-ENGLISH.pdf

[3] Drew Ali, The Circle Seven Koran, Chapter 45:7; 47:7.

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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.