What is intersectionality? It is the belief that “marginalized”
groups who have been less advantaged should now be granted more advantages than
others to compensate. Pastor John MacArthur explained:
·
The more victim categories someone is in [ie: a
black, female, bisexual], the more empowered that person is, the more important
that person is, the more truthful that person is, the more authoritative that
person is. If you’re in multiple groups, this is a new idea called
“intersectionality.” All the segments of victimization come together for you,
and your multiple-victim status makes you the most authoritative person, the
one to be listened to. https://www.gty.org/library/blog/B181130
According to the understanding of intersectionality, those
who are “privileged” [ie: straight white males] bear guilt for no more than
enjoying their alleged privilege. Consequently, they are guilty and do not
deserve to be heard. Rather, they must repent and then prove that they are
worthy through repentance and their participation in the social justice
movements: “White Silence is White Violence,” right?
It seems obvious that, on the average, there are advantages
to being born into a white family. However, this is termed “white privilege” and
suggests that white families are still as they were in the Jim Crow South, fiercely
clinging to their legal privileges at the expense of blacks.
However, there are many other ways to explain the income
disparities, rather than holding whites as blameworthy. Admittedly, innocent
blacks must face the indignation of racial profiling and being followed when
they enter a store. However, this should not serve as evidence of “white
privilege.” Unfortunately, today’s blacks have higher crime rates than do other
groups, and those in criminal justice and storekeepers are very aware of this.
Consequently, even black storekeepers will keep an eye on black teenagers as
they enter their store.
Is there a Biblical basis to hold all whites guilty for
the sins of other whites during the era of slavery and segregation? Not at
all! Each must be judged according to their own behaviors:
·
These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality
in judging is not good. Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”
will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations, but those who rebuke the wicked
will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them. (Proverbs 24:23–25;
ESV; Deuteronomy 1:17; 16:19)
Favoritism should not be shown based on wealth, status, race, skin color, or the woke-Marxist considerations of intersectionality:
·
“You shall not fall in with the many to do evil,
nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert
justice, nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit.” (Exodus
23:2–3; Leviticus 19:15)
Nor should the children be held legally accountable for the
sins of their parents:
·
“Fathers shall not be put to death because of
their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers.
Each one shall be put to death for his own sin.” (Deuteronomy 24:16)
·
‘The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not
suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity
of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the
wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” (Ezekiel 18:20)
A nation cannot stand when justice is replaced by partiality.
Partiality breeds contempt and corrodes the faith in and support of a nation:
·
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a
reproach to any people. (Proverbs 14:34)
The hypocrisy of favoritism will bring down a nation.
Therefore, we must pursue truth and honesty even when it is of great risk to ourselves:
·
By the blessing of the upright a city is
exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown. (Proverbs 11:11)
To deny justice is also to deny equality. Each of us
has been endowed by God with certain unalienable rights and that each has a
voice, which must not be silenced because of political affiliation or skin
color. Nor is there a place for partiality within the Church, where leadership
is to be determined by Biblical requirements (1 Timothy 3:1-12):
·
If you really fulfill the royal law according to
the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But
if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as
transgressors. (James 2:8–9)
There is no room in the Church for the inequality demanded by Marxism or Woke theology, which divides people into favored classes – the “oppressed” and the “oppressor.” Yet justice must be done to correct wrongs:
·
Now in these days when the disciples were
increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews
because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the
twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that
we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore,
brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit
and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. (Acts 6:1–3)
These deacons were not chosen based upon race and color but upon spiritual maturity. To import affirmative action into the Church will not achieve any more than it has in society. Instead, equality of human value must be maintained in the Church:
·
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ
have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor
free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if
you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
(Galatians 3:27–29)
While racial, ethnic, and sexual equality must be upheld,
this does not argue against role distinctions. There are still pastors, elders,
deacons, parents, and their children. These essential roles must be maintained.
If there are systemic injustices, they should be
challenged. It is Biblically required that we must not shut our ears to the
cries of the oppressed. Suffering is widespread. If there are injustices being
systemically perpetrated, they must be addressed.
However, the perception of systemic racism differs greatly
from one community and the next. Consequently, I think that there must be
courageous, honest, and loving discussions in hope of bringing us closer
together on this highly divisive issue. And this should begin within the
Church. Please pray for our brotherhood and unity in love (John 17:20-23).
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