In view of the staggering rapidity of the Social Justice Movement (SJM) influencing the broader culture and now many evangelical churches, I am recommending a powerful book: Why Social Justice is not Biblical Justice, by Scott David Allen. I also am writing because I love the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ and realize that “the church of the living God is the pillar and foundation of the Truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). The SJM, also identified as Critical Race Theory, is based on a Marxist ideology of Liberation which postulates that the Oppressed are always justified in over-throwing the Oppressors. The Oppressors today, according to this movement, are whites, especially those in power, and the Oppressed are people of color and those who identify with a particular race, sex, or gender group that are considered victims or the marginalized. Systemic Power is the unrelenting goal of the SJM!
The SJM is manifested in words like, systemic and institutional racism, systemic power, white privilege, white fragility, identity studies, identity politics, critical consciousness, colorblind, and many more. This ideology has popularized such words as wokeness, intersectionality, fatphobia, unconscious bias, cultural racism, standpoint theory, along with a cadre of other potent terms. It behooves us to understand the meanings of such words and the activism associated with them . The SJM has empowered such movements and organizations as, Antifa, Black Lives Matter, the gay rights movement (later extended to the LGBTQ+ movement), and many other perceived marginalized oppressed communities.
This clearly signals a cultural revolution!
In a cultural revolution, those pulling the strings eventually come for everyone.
Here are four responses I am seeing emerge from the Christian Community.
• First, Christians join in with the surface talking points of the SJM and appropriately understand that “we desire justice for everyone.” Yes, of course we do! The Bible is the strongest proponent of justice, “Justice, [and only] justice, you shall pursue, that you may live and possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you” (Deuteronomy 16:20 NASV). This verse is the only verse in Torah with the double-noun word, “justice,” illustrating how important justice is to the Lord God. However, the SJM’s definition of justice is based on a revolutionary oppressive ideology and not true Biblical Justice. Allen’s book will help immensely in clarifying the difference.
• The first response leads to the second which is further participation in the movement i.e. — teaching the tenets from the pulpits and in small group gatherings, supporting it on one’s websites, encouraging people in their congregations to read the SJM perspective without Biblical support or a Biblical critique. White congregations, under the direction of their pastors, have been asked to confess their sin of whiteness and ask for forgiveness for being racist without ever remembering if they were racist. I know of churches in our area that have also hired people, who are persuaded with this ideology, as staff members to promote the doctrine of systemic racism under the ministry of reconciliation to people of color in our communities.
• The third response leads to congregations and Christian organizations persuading thousands upon thousands of naïve and sensitive minded believers to buy into the errors of deception— “I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors (wrong opinions about Truth) of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing (be without effect of the divine promise of salvation)” (2 Peter 3:17 NLT). Words in parentheses are Greek meanings.
This ingenious and deceptive ideology is a comprehensive worldview that has already infiltrated Christian Organizations like Intervarsity, Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ), and institutions like Christianity Today and The Gospel Coalition. Well-known millennial evangelical past pastors and leaders like Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, Bart Campolo, Josh Harris and Rachel Held Evans are strong supporters of the socially acceptable notion that the life-styles of gays and transgender people need to be welcomed, embraced, and accepted without a discerning biblical evaluation, let alone a loving confrontation and dialogue with people living out these life-styles. The truth is that Biblical Christianity and ideological social justice are incompatible worldviews. They are diametrically opposed on matters of epistemology, (distinguishing between justified belief from opinion), human nature and identity, morality, and authority.
• The Fourth and the Biblically accurate response is found in Bible-based churches like most Calvary Chapels across America. Also, outstanding and outspoken pastors who have the courage like, Gary Hamarick of Cornerstone Chapel in Leeburg Virginia, John MacArthur of Grace Community in CA, Brett Meador of Athey Creek Christian Fellowship in OR, and Robert Jeffress of 1st Baptist in Dallas, Texas to name only a few. Scholars and authors like Nancey Pearcey, James Lindsay (look to www.newdiscourses.com) and morally brave talk show hosts like Dennis Prager of PragerU and Larry Elder are all social change agents for moral absolutes. It is clear there are Biblically-sound Christ-followers who are speaking the Truth. It is further indication that many so-called Christians, especially millennials, are listening to and being indoctrinated and willfully deceived by the mega-phones of Hollywood, the media, and SJM non-Christian ideologues.
More and more true Christ-followers are leaving Evangelical Social Justice Churches (ESJC) in favor of solid orthodox Churches and I think this is exactly what they need to do. The only way for ESJC churches to change is if they lose financial support. As long as wealthy givers support these churches they will continue.
The words of the Apostle Paul are profound: “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense (empty, devoid of truth) that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ” – Colossians 2:8 NLT
Here in the Northwest, many churches in the Portland area are recommending Eric Mason’s, book, Woke Church: An Urgent Call for Christians in America to Confront Racism and Injustice. Eric Mason is a professing Christian who is an advocate of the Revolutionary Narrative of the SJM. His book received endorsements from such evangelicals luminaries as John Perkins, Ligon Duncan, and Tony Evans.
Here are six suggestions I have for you in view of this pervasive ideology:
#1 Become Biblically Informed about The Social Justice Movement. Allen’s book will be extremely helpful for you. If you are part of an Evangelical Social Justice Church write the leadership team and voice your Biblical concern and withdraw you financial support if they don’t respond biblically. Please do not remain silent.
#2 Understand the meaning of terms that define this ideology. This is crucial! Other excellent books are; The End of Racism, by Dinesh D’Souza, Cynical Theories by Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay. Lindsay’s book is much more challenging to read. Lindsay’s website is: newdiscourse.com. There you will find many presentations but if you type in the search box, “translations from the wokish”, you will find many definitions of the terms we must know. I have been and I am presently using this all the time. Lindsay does not come from a Christian perspective, but his knowledge of Critical Race Theory is one of the best in the nation!
#3 Be an influencer in your sphere of relationships both your family and extended family as well.
Recently I have had too many fathers and mothers say to me:”Dale, I wish I would have prepared my children to face the secular ideologies that they are now confronted with. They have moved away from the Faith.” ☹. My heart breaks when I hear this when, in many cases, this could have been avoided if more pastors lead their churches with Total Truth Worldview based on the Bible.
#4 Become intelligently equipped with correct knowledge of the SJM and, therefore, speak with confidence into this pervasive cultural revolution and to your Christian friends. We ought to be able to think on our feet as we engage people in our everyday experiences. As I tell the men I meet with, “we all need to take it up a notch” especially in the realm of becoming studious in our research about this false ideology and the Biblical Truth associated with it. I reiterate what I said above— SJM’s overarching goal is Systemic Power!
#5 Use the book as a handy resource to remind you of specific truths as well as cementing germane ideas in your mind and spirit so you can dialogue with others. I am doing this on a regular basis.
#6 Invest in buying more copies of Scott David Allen’s book for people. Consider following up with dialogue about the content with the people you give it to. There is a good chance your children and grandchildren are already being majorly influenced by this Race Theory. They will be surprised by what you know, and you will provide for them correct understanding about the SJM as well as Biblical Justice.
#7 Always be looking for Scriptures that give insight and clarity about tenets of this false narrative and then, of course, relate them to people that you are associating with.
For example: Ideological social justice is a highly moral movement. The new sexual morality promulgated by ideological social justice says you are immoral if you insistent that the male, female binary (involving two) is a fact—a biological reality. This is a flat contradiction to Genesis 1:27. “So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
Hey, enjoy the book and I would love to hear your feedback. I am only a phone call away: 503-957-4547
I will be sending you via email several more articles I am writing that will help you assimilate this very complicated and challenging worldview. Now is not the time to relax but let’s keep pursuing Truth and righteousness for the reputation of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In Christ,
Dale