In 1 John 3:18, Christians are exhorted, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” As Christians (and as a society) we ought to prize and promote the expression of truth. This is difficult, however, because the idea of objective truth has become controversial. We need not look far to see examples of objective facts being supplanted by subjective interpretation.
Objective Truth
One commentator, for example, declared, “The views and inclinations of “whiteness” are accepted as the objective neutral. When black and brown reporters and editors challenge those conventions, it’s not uncommon for them to be pushed out, reprimanded, or robbed of new opportunities.”
This comment’s implication is simple: if what is “objective” has been defined by white people, it is untrustworthy. Sources of authority should, of course, aim to expose underlying motives that taint objectivity. However, people of influence have moved far past attempting to expose individual motives. They are instead assigning motives to entire groups in order to discredit any and all claims made by that group, even if objectively true. This cultural shift has obliterated our ability to rely on objective truth as our anchor, as Christ admonished us to do.
Truth Subverted by Critical Race Theory
The importance of preserving objective truth as a standard has been highlighted in the past year, as Americans have become aware of a dangerous ideology called “critical race theory” that has found its way into school teaching practice across the nation. The Biden Administration’s Department of Education just released a proposed rule that would give priority funding to “projects that incorporate racially, ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse perspectives,” euphemistically describing elements of this ideology that are, in actuality, destructive and disturbing.
While conservatives must not turn a blind eye to the suffering, past, and present, that is specific to minority groups, critical race theory does not seek to solve the injustices in a way that is healthy or productive and further damages the relationship between different groups of Americans. Conservatives are justified in being outraged by the priority given by the administration to those who implement programs espousing the principles of critical race theory.
What is Critical Race Theory
Critical race theory is defined by Encyclopedia Britannica as a “movement…based on the premise that race is…a socially constructed (culturally invented) category that is used to oppress and exploit people of colour.”
This theory embodies the kind of over-simplified thinking that diminishes objective truth, that race is a biological, physical trait, not a social construct. This human invention hinders our ability as Christians to love with action and truth, because it reframes objective truth and produces a lie, reducing every person to one of two types: oppressor or oppressed. It leaves no room for anything else. This is especially true and especially damaging in the underdeveloped minds of children, who are not yet capable of complex and nuanced thinking.
Favor Scripture
Favoring and punishing schools based on whether they teach children about this alleged American caste system is dangerous. The so-called racial reckoning promoted by this ideology breeds discord and discontent and ultimately encourages vengeance. Conversely, 1 Peter 3:9 teaches, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult…” God’s instruction, rather than feeding our sinful tendency to compare and to envy and to resent, nurtures forgiveness, compassion and kindness, ultimately resulting in unity that can only be found through the love of Christ.
Categorically Wrong
God describes our Enemy as the great accuser. Interestingly, the Greek word for “accuser” is the origin of the English word category. When we understand this, it is clear that the Enemy’s strategy is to categorize the human race into people groups by characteristics such as racial distinctions, political affiliations, or even church denominations. Our Enemy is at work, using human ideas and ideologies, and theories to divide God’s children into categories to be pitted against one another for eventual self-perpetuated destruction.
Make Every Effort
Paul exhorts believers in Ephesians, “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.” There is hope for the future when we look to Jesus for our identity. As we acknowledge these schemes to indoctrinate us, including our vulnerable children, let’s take a peaceful stand with grace and truth to impede the progress of CRT in the public sphere, especially education, in order to preserve the truth and to foster true compassion.
