There Is a Race in Crisis, Not Critical Race

Much of the talk of our day focuses on Critical Race and Critical Race Theory (CRT). So, what is it?

Though the theory has been around since at least 1970, the narrative is much older and rooted in Marxism.  The goals behind this messaging include division— especially racial division— and this division is utilized to “divide and conquer.”  

In recent months it has caused much damage, injury, and even death.  An unfortunate result is that the very people or groups the CRT claims to be promoting are actually those being hurt the most.

Dr. Carol M. Swain, the black host of Be the People Podcast and award-winning political scientist said:

“I was spared the life-sapping, negative messages about America that are crippling a generation of young people: White privilege.  Whiteness as a form of property. Unconscious racism.  Reparations.  Microaggressions.  Police have it out for blacks. That the United States was created to protect and promote slavery.  These are the ideas young people are told they must accept.  And then they’re told to reject ideas that can save them— the antidote: the success principles that enabled me and millions of other Americans to escape lives of poverty.”

One basic fallacy of this movement is the idea that we are different races of beings who need to get along better and treat each other with more equity— which is a very different concept than equality.  The fallacy is found in assuming there are many different races of people— some being more “critical” in their station.  But the only real critical race is simply the human race.  Even the Human Genome Project has shown over and again that we all have descended from one set of original parents.  Those believing in the evolution of man from other species bend over backwards in attempting to explain this away.

The most simple and straight forward way of understanding the essence of the human race is found in the record provided in God’s Word— the Holy Bible.  Here, the Creator God tells us of His creation ending with man and woman— Adam and Eve (Genesis 1). Throughout time, science continues affirming the truth of the Biblical record of history. Yet, in the refusal of many to acknowledge the Creator, they go to great lengths to ‘explain Him away.’

Mankind, beginning with Adam and Eve, has rejected their need for God in most every way.  The result— the entire human race (one race) is in critical need of saving from the penalty of sin against God (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:46, I Thessalonians 4:17; Revelations 20:11-15; 21:8; 22:11).  No one, however, can save their self or others from that destiny.  Therefore, God provided the way through His Son, Jesus Christ, and the regenerating power of His Spirit (Philippians 2:5-11; Romans 5:12-19; I John 3:5-8; Titus 3:5).

The critical race is not just a broken theory of false salvation, meaningless reparation or power of one group over another— It is the critical need of redemption from sin, of changed hearts, minds and lives.  It is the only story of God’s love and provision for all of mankind to be made whole again and restored to God’s image in Whom they were created (Genesis 1:27).

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel