Critical Theory DEBUNKED In 4 Points
Photo: Jakayla Toney
Terms like “critical race theory,” “intersectionality,” “systemic racism,” and “identity politics” have become familiar in recent years. But, they can be confusing.
To clear up the confusion, it’s helpful to understand what’s behind these ideas. Undergirding these concepts is a philosophy called “critical theory.” Here’s a short description of critical theory, and a succinct biblical response to each of its main points.
Critical Theory Described
In a detailed review of Race, Class, and Gender: An Anthology, Christian apologist Neil Shenvi outlines what he says are four fundamental assumptions or premises of critical theory:
Human relationships should be fundamentally understood in terms of power dynamics, which differentiates groups into ‘oppressors’ and ‘the oppressed’.
Our identity as individuals is inseparable from our group identity, especially our categorization as ‘oppressor’ or ‘oppressed’ with respect to a particular identity marker.
All oppressed groups find their fundamental unity in their common experience of oppression.
The fundamental human project is liberation from all forms of oppression; consequently, the fundamental virtue is standing in solidarity against the oppressor.
Critical Theory Debunked
Any thoughtful evaluation of each of these points will conclude they are unbiblical—or, better stated, anti-biblical. Let’s look at each one, respectively:
1
The Bible does not recognize power dynamics as the fundamental way to understand human relationships. Rather, it teaches that human relationships should be fundamentally understood in terms of our shared status as image-bearers of God (e.g., Genesis 1:27; 9:6).
His image is the source of human value and morality; it’s why we each have rights that deserve to be respected, and responsibilities to care both for each other and for the world around us (e.g., Genesis 1:27-28; 9:1-7; Exodus 20:1-17).
Dividing people as ‘oppressor’ and ‘oppressed’ on the basis of group identity is foreign to Scripture. In the Bible, when someone is described as ‘oppressor’ or ‘oppressed,’ it refers not to a class of people, but to those involved in either wrongdoing or hardship (e.g., Proverbs 28:16; Jeremiah 25:38; Psalm 9:9; Hosea 5:11).
2
Biblically, our identity as individuals is not inseparable from our group identity. Rather, every person has a distinct individual identity (e.g., Ezekiel 18:20; Romans 14:12), which relates to that person’s role as a member in various groups like family, nation, etc. (e.g., Joshua 24:15; Daniel 9:3-19), but is in no way exhausted by one’s membership in those groups.
There is more to you than the groups you belong to. You have agency and responsibility as an individual. One proof of this is that we are each judged by God not as groups but as individuals (Romans 14:4, 12).
3
In the Bible, oppressed groups do not find their fundamental unity in their common experience of oppression. Since ‘oppressed’ is not a quality intrinsic to any group (see point #1), there is no such thing as fundamentally ‘oppressed groups.’ Since they don’t exist, they can’t find a fundamental unity.
Of course, individuals who are apart of a group that has a history of being oppressed may be able to empathize with others who have a similar experience (cf. Leviticus 19:34; Deuteronomy 15:12-15), but that is not their fundamental reason for unity, since oppression is not as fundamental to their identities as is their shared status as image-bearers of God.
4
Biblically, the fundamental human project is not liberation, and the fundamental virtue is not standing in solidarity against oppression. Rather, the fundamental human project and virtue is, first, to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,” and, second, to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30-31; cf. 1 Corinthians 13).
Since we fall short of that two-fold project (Romans 3:23), we must believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ to attain to it (2 Thessalonians 2:14). This gospel is a gospel of liberation—from sin—but that liberation is not a human project; it’s a divine project. God is the Liberator.
And yes, loving one’s neighbor does include putting a stop to oppression (e.g., Exodus 22:21; Proverbs 24:11; Isaiah 1:17), but only oppression as understood by Scripture (actual unjust hardship), not by critical theorists. Even so, liberation from and opposition to oppression are not the main thing; they’re byproducts of the main thing.
Conclusion
In sum, critical theory gets the most basic facts of life all wrong. It misidentifies the human condition, humanity’s greatest problem, and the solution—and its claims are antithetical to the Bible’s claims.
This article is an edited and expanded excerpt from an earlier article.
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Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.