Ben Mordecai
Puritan Board Freshman
I am noticing that Critical Race Theory is something that is only just now coming onto many pastors' radars. In some ways, this is like the smoke detector going off only once who entire bottom floor of a house is engulfed in flames. By this point, much of the damage is already done and the hope of quickly extinguishing the fire in its infancy is long past. By now, when considering whether to recommend a NAPARC church we have to also ask, "Are they pro-CRT?" because we didn't respond quickly enough or well enough in the early phases and it has had a terrible impact on the reformed world.
With that in mind, I am convinced that the next CRT is the coming discussion on the "abuse crisis." I use these quotes around "abuse crisis" because I am trying to name the phenomenon I am seeing, not because I am necessarily questioning the legitimacy of such a crisis. I am not make any comment here for or against the claim that churches have an abuse crisis on our hands. I want to sound the alarm on some troubling things that I am observing now in hopes that we can stop the fire in its infancy.
I'll show the comparison.
The CRT Claim:
The "Abuse Crisis" Claim:
We need to become aware of this problem and identify the major players and start making ourselves familiar with what is happening because this has the ability to become just as big as CRT.
With that in mind, I am convinced that the next CRT is the coming discussion on the "abuse crisis." I use these quotes around "abuse crisis" because I am trying to name the phenomenon I am seeing, not because I am necessarily questioning the legitimacy of such a crisis. I am not make any comment here for or against the claim that churches have an abuse crisis on our hands. I want to sound the alarm on some troubling things that I am observing now in hopes that we can stop the fire in its infancy.
I'll show the comparison.
The CRT Claim:
Notice that the problem as stated presents something genuinely sinful but may or may not be actually true. The solution proposed is unbiblical and largely rooted in Marxist-influenced theories of power.Our churches have a sordid history with racism that roughly matches the nation. Historically, whites have oppressed blacks but this oppression has never fully ended. We say that we are not racist but our churches are still very segregated. When blacks do come to our churches, they are inundated with racist assumptions and undertones and never come back. This is because majority culture whites simply cannot understand the mode of thinking of a black person and cannot understand what it is like to not live in a privileged position. The only solution is for whites to voluntarily relinquish power over churches and deliberately procure racially diverse people to instruct us on race and especially to take on positions of authority in churches.
The "Abuse Crisis" Claim:
Obviously when abuse happens, that is sinful and harmful. When abuse is covered up or mishandled by the church that makes it much worse. However, lets point out some of the flaws with this narrative:Women are victims of abuse at an alarming rate, and this pattern is present in churches. The rate of abuse is so high that statistically our churches are filled with abuse victims. Sadly, much of this abuse is perpetrated by members of the church, whether by husbands, clergy, or male lay-leaders. When this comes happens, churches usually respond by disbelieving the victim's claim and siding with the abuser, by asking her to confess her role in the abuse, or by covering up for the abuser to save face and maintain an outward image. Abused women are often forced to not get divorces from their husbands because they don't have "grounds," putting their lives and welfare at risk. Women do not report abuse because they fear that when they do they will not be believed. The most important thing you can do when a woman has the courage to disclose abuse is to believe her. Most pastors are not competent to diagnose or heal abuse, so this work must be done by counselors, psychologists, and doctors. While some have tried to solve this problem with more education and policies, nothing is really going to change if the patriarchal nature of the church does not change.
- It focuses only on abuse where males are the perpetrators, ignoring the significant number of female perpetrators
- It focuses only on abuse where the victims are female or children.
- It does not objectively define abuse such it is highly susceptible to category confusion (i.e. emotional abuse, verbal abuse, financial abuse, where the the definitions are highly subjective and nearly impossible to prove)
- It uses personal narrative, anecdote, or statistics to make theological points, not scripture.
- It promotes an unbiblical view of justice by admitting accusations without biblical standards of evidence (two or more witnesses, broadly understood to be tangible lines of evidence).
- It moves a responsibility that was once the job of an ordained elder to become the job of a non-ordained (and therefore not theologically or morally accountable) expert.
- It introduces tension and skepticism to the Biblical ecclesiology that is all male.
We need to become aware of this problem and identify the major players and start making ourselves familiar with what is happening because this has the ability to become just as big as CRT.