The historic role of the Church in establishing human dignity cannot be overstated. Where tyranny and subjugation reigned, the Church established the equality of all human beings created in the Image of God. From Paul’s admonition to the early church regarding men protecting women (Ephesians 5:25) to the abolition of chattel slavery in England and America, the Church has been on the forefront of establishing the truth as expressed in Scripture and in our founding document–the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal.”
Sadly, a culture bent on identity politics has given way to Intersectionality, a term invented by critical race theorist Kimberle Crenshaw where “truth” is established (or is justified) on the basis of the number of intersections for which an individual can identify a victim status. In Crenshaw’s worldview, all of humanity is engaged in a power struggle. This power dynamic has established systems in which “oppressors” have systematically oppressed minorities and other “subjugated” groups. To right past wrongs, the forces of intersectionality step in and systemically oppress the speech of former “oppressors”. According to intersectionality, a white cisgender male “truth claim” would not bear consideration if someone with more intersections of victimhood (female, black, homosexual, transgender) contradicted that claim.
In current evangelical circles, many are appealing to intersectionality and critical race theory as necessary “analytical tools”. This unbiblical perspective has been adopted by many who may not be fully aware of the destruction caused by this divisive worldview. Others promoting this worldview, even within evangelicalism, claim that we need to be involved in anti-racist works. The reconstruction of language has served as a catalyst of this new movement. Words that until recently, were uncommon to most Christians are words like, “White Guilt”, “White Fragility”, “Intersectionality” and “White Privilege”, are no less than the buzzwords of a New Gospel.
Intersectionality is the destruction of equality.
Fortunately, the Bible knows nothing of this subjective post-modern view of truth. Intersectionality is the destruction of equality. The idea that the value of a human being is based upon the number of intersections of victimhood for which they can lay claim is foreign to the pages of Scripture. The adoption of this trojan horse into our churches compromises the value of humanity, minimizes the pervasive nature of sin, and appeals to anti-racist “works” as salvific. Anyone holding to these ideas is subjecting themselves to a different gospel and the abandonment of the finished work of the Cross.
The Church must draw a clear hard line on this issue. The true Church must rise and declare, once again, that all men are created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). Regarding intersectionality, we should be wise as serpents on this issue and harmless as doves (Matt 10:16). We need to follow Paul’s admonition to no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by winds of doctrine (Eph. 4:14) but speaking the truth in love we will grow up in Christ (Eph. 4:15). The Church can once again overcome this attack on equality (as it has in the past) and re-establish the claim that all men are created equal.
