Introduction
Consider four distinctions
between the Gospel in Paul's Letter to the Romans and the basic views of
Critical Theory.
The Gospel and Humanity
Scripture:
'All'
Fundamental to an
understanding of the Gospel is that all divisions of humanity are in the same
situation, whether with respect to their plight or their salvation.
Romans 3.23
(ESV): 'all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God....'
Romans 1.16
(ESV): the Gospel is 'the power of
God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the
Greek.'
Critical
Theory: 'Two Groups'
Critical theory divides the
world into two groups: the privileged and the victims. Those who have
must have because they were privileged, not because they earned it. Those
who do not have must not have because they are victims.
The Gospel and Justice
Scripture:
Justice is impartially
giving all people what they deserve.
Romans 2.11-13: 'For God shows no partiality. 12 For all who
have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and
all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the
law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but
the doers of the law who will be justified.'
Critical
Theory:
Injustice is
systemic. The privileged have unjustly acquired what they they do not
deserve, and the victims do not have what they justly deserve. Justice
must be partial, giving those in the class of victimhood preferences over those
in the class of privileged oppressors.
The Gospel and Mercy
Scripture:
Mercy is giving people what
they do not deserve.
Romans 11.32
(ESV): For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy
on all.
Critical
Theory:
Social justice is taking
what the privileged have away from them and giving it to the victims, or the
descendants of the victims. Those with privileged identities are
oppressors. They deserve only to be cancelled. There is no place
for mercy for them. Giving victims what they deserve is not mercy but
social justice.
The Gospel and Grace
Scripture:
Grace is giving people
mercy because justice is served.
Romans 5.8
(ESV): ‘but God shows his
love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’
Romans 6.23
(ESV): 'For the wages of sin is
death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.'
Critical
Theory:
Grace is injustice. There
must be no grace. The privileged oppressors are forever unjust by virtue
of their identity groups. They must not be given grace. Victims are
forever deserving reparations. What they take from others, they
deserve. The cross is a symbol of injustice, not grace.
Conclusion
Such is the challenge of
proclaiming the Gospel in the West.
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