HD: Why ‘Critical Race Theory’ Is Incompatible With Scripture

Those who work hard to put themselves in charge of committees, unions, councils, government bodies, etc tend to be predisposed towards narcissism. This is how DoAsISayOrElse schemes like #CriticalRaceTheory, while unpopular among the public, spread through academia & bureaucracy. pic.twitter.com/IYiX8PYA97

— ???????️‍?ꜱᴀʏꜱ: Fʀᴇᴇ Cᴜʙᴀ?? Fᴜᴄᴋ Mᴀʀxɪꜱᴍ (@ChessSays) August 22, 2021

COGwriter

Harbinger Daily reported the following:

Why ‘Critical Race Theory’ Is Incompatible With Scripture

August 27, 2021

Some see the debate over Critical Race Theory (CRT) as a disagreement between those who think racism is real and those who do not. But this is not the case. Thoughtful critics of CRT understand that it is not merely a tool for understanding the history of racism. Rather, CRT’s oppressor/oppressed framework is a way of understanding and interpreting the world—one that is significantly in conflict with a biblical worldview because it offers a different understanding of truth.

For Christians, God is the source of truth, and His truth is revealed to us in Scripture. But proponents of CRT see truth differently. They see the “right versus wrong” view of the world as part of the oppressive systems they seek to overthrow. Consider the following comments from an advocate of CRT:

“Heterosexual white men in this society tend to have a dualistic view of the world: we are either right or wrong, winners or losers. There is only one truth, and we will fight with one another to determine whose truth is right. To understand oppression requires that we accept others’ experiences as truthful, even though they may be very different from ours. To live with equality in a diverse, pluralistic society, we have to accept the fact that all groups and individuals have a legitimate claim to what is true and real for them”

– Cooper Thompson, “Can White Men Understand Oppression?” Readings for Diversity and Social Justice, p. 478

From this perspective, experience guides us to truth, and what is truth for me might not be truth for you. From a biblical perspective, this kind of thinking is very dangerous because our feelings about reality often conflict with reality. Scripture tells us that our feelings can deceive us: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9). Furthermore, Jesus said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person” (Mk. 7:20-23). …

Endorsing multiple, subjective versions of truth is not the only way CRT conflicts with the Bible’s understanding of truth. This 2018 tweet from Union Seminary in New York City (not to be confused with other institutions named Union) illustrates that for some, critical theory becomes the standard through which Scripture is interpreted. The seminary said, “While divinely inspired, we deny the Bible is inerrant or infallible. It was written by men over centuries and thus reflects both God’s truth and human sin & prejudice. We affirm that biblical scholarship and critical theory help us discern which messages are God’s.”

When you use critical theory to interpret the Bible, you give it a higher authority in your life than Scripture.

CRT also encourages us to apply different moral standards based on the racial identity of the people involved. https://harbingersdaily.com/critical-race-theory-and-the-path-to-truth/

ALL people are part of the human race.

Having visited nearly 50 different nations and being part of a minority race in many of them, as well as being part of a minority while visiting certain parts of the USA, I believe that white men can understand oppression.

It is not that no one should look into history and racial issues, but various ones who have defended Critical Race Theory have basically said that only whites can be racists, and that is not true.

Jesus taught:

44 … the devil … was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. (John 8:44)

When I was in the military at tech school and then shortly thereafter, all the roomates assigned to my room with me (one at a time) were not white. One was Asian, one Hispanic, and several were Black. I quickly learned that many Hispanics and Blacks were prejudiced against each other. So, trying to teach that only whites can be racists is not true and certainly not consistent with my personal history with people of different races.

Here are some other news reports related to Critical Race Theory:

August 27, 2021

n “Teach Respect, Not Critical Race Theory” (op-ed, Aug. 25), John Beatty makes a very valid point: “Discussions of race and prejudice should begin at home with respect, honesty and kindness.” The shame is that some in the political arena perpetuate the idea that all white people are racist. https://www.wsj.com/articles/kids-white-crt-critical-race-theory-racism-school-board-11630077486

Those who call for the end of teaching of critical race theory in schools say they object to the idea of teaching K-12 students that systems of power favor white people.

“We need to encourage people to love one another. To love your neighbor as yourself. That’s for families to do,” said Liv Finne, director of the Center for Education at Washington Policy Center, a think tank that has denounced critical race theory. “Of course they should teach that. But they shouldn’t teach that one group of people deserves hate in this country.”

Finne also said a focus on systemic racism also disempowers students of color.

“It teaches Black and Hispanic and poor children, ‘You are in a racist society; you can’t hope to get ahead,’” she said. 08/24/21 https://crosscut.com/news/2021/08/critical-race-theory-political-debate-hits-wa-schools

Critical Race Theory does not teach love of the truth nor encourage love towards white people. It is a theory that can lead to civil unrest and violence.

Regarding race, the biblical reality is that we all descended from Adam and Eve, and then later from the descendants of Noah’s sons and their wives.

Notice something related to the first humans:

20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. (Genesis 3:20)

While there were hominids of various types before Adam and Eve, all modern humans descended from Adam and Eve–so, yes, we are all part of the human race, from the family of Adam and Eve.

After the flood, Noah’s children moved to different places:

1 Now this is the genealogy of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And sons were born to them after the flood.

2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 3 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 5 From these the coastland peoples of the Gentiles were separated into their lands, everyone according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.

6 The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. 7 The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtechah; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.

8 Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, 12 and Resen between Nineveh and Calah (that is the principal city).

13 Mizraim begot Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, 14 Pathrusim, and Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines and Caphtorim).

15 Canaan begot Sidon his firstborn, and Heth; 16 the Jebusite, the Amorite, and the Girgashite; 17 the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite; 18 the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were dispersed. 19 And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; then as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. 20 These were the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands and in their nations.

21 And children were born also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder. 22 The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. 23 The sons of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. 24 Arphaxad begot Salah, and Salah begot Eber. 25 To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan. 26 Joktan begot Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. 30 And their dwelling place was from Mesha as you go toward Sephar, the mountain of the east. 31 These were the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands, according to their nations.

32 These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood. (Genesis 10:1-32)

According to the Bible everyone came from first the family of Adam and Eve, and then the descendants of Noah’s sons.

Biblical history related to race should be taught.

As far as race and salvation goes, the Bible teaches:

11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:11-13)

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-11)

29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. (Luke 13:29)

So, people of all races and lands will be saved.

The Bible, beginning with Abraham, shows that God makes promises to people who descended from various ones.

Now, various critics have accused the COGs of racism because we believe what the Bible teaches on prophetic matters.

Years ago, a Protestant website commented about and referred to my article Should a Christian Vote?

But, someone who looked at that website objected claiming because I believed in the promises given by Jacob to Ephraim and Manasseh, I must be a racist, hence he should not mention anything from me.

Well, I contacted the webmaster. And after providing information, he (correctly) posted that my view that we all had to have descended from people in the Bible (like Noah’s descendants), that salvation is not a matter of race (cf. Romans 10:8-13), and that God promised various things to the descendants of Israel, he understood that was not a racist position–but a biblical one.

Yet, critics of the Bible often have another view.

It is not racist to claim to be able to identify the descendants of Joseph and the recipients of the blessings God moved Israel to prophesy about.

Perhaps it should be pointed out that I am not predominantly descended from Israel, hence I am a Gentile. At the time of this writing, most members of the Continuing Church of God are primarily Gentile and not Israelite. Everyone had to descend from people mentioned in the Bible (like from Adam, Eve, Noah, and Noah’s sons), therefore despite claims from naysayers, teaching the biblical truths about God’s promises to descendants of biblical figures is not racist.

We in the CCOG do not believe that people in the ‘lost tribes’ are superior to the Gentile-descended peoples, but basically that they received the blessings that God inspired Israel/Jacob to give. We also believe that these blessings are the cause of the physical wealth of these peoples, but that those same people are in the process of losing them because of rebellion against the laws of God.

Furthermore, we teach that while God does call some descendants of Israel (see God’s Grace is For All), He is intentionally calling Gentiles in this age as the Apostle Paul pointed out in many places, such as Romans 11:25 (see also What About Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles?). There are roles for people of all races.

Without dwelling on other COG groups, let’s consider the human leadership of the Continuing Church of God.

Since the Continuing Church of God’s (CCOG) main office is in the USA and the USA is primarily Caucasian, having one or more top leaders being Caucasian is not racist. Our top leader over international matters is black.

Additionally it should be noted that most of the top leadership of the CCOG is black.

Notice the following photograph from a CCOG leadership meeting in 2017:

CCOG Conference in Nairobi

Furthermore, the CCOG may be the only one of the top ten x-WCG groups who has ordained an African as an evangelist. In groups like LCG all the evangelists they had when I was part of them were white (eventually, LCG did ordain Mario Hernandez, who I know, who is Hispanic).

In CCOG, the only nation whose top leader is of primary Israelitish heritage is Canada, a nation we teach is primarily descended from Joseph’s son Ephraim.

No one in CCOG that I have been involved in laying on of hands related to an ordination was primarily of Israelite heritage–all were Gentiles, and only one of them (a Serbian) was white.

Now on the matter of race, here is something from the Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God:

LOVE AND SALVATION FOR ALL RACES AND PEOPLES

Racial hatred is wrong. While there can be racial differences, the Bible does not teach that one race is superior in His eyes to any other. The Bible commands all humankind to love their neighbors as themselves (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39; Acts 17:24-29). Jesus came to bring joy to all peoples (Luke 2:10). The Bible shows that salvation is now freely offered to both Jews and Gentiles (Acts 10:34-35; Romans 10:8-13; cf. Joel 2:32) and that God intends to save people “of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues” (Revelation 7:9). Christian love should be shown to people of all ethnicities (Romans 13:10; Luke 10:30-37; (see What About Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles? and What is the Ezekiel Warning?), and continue in doctrine (1 Timothy 4:16). “Our God is the God of salvation” (Psalm 68:20) “And all flesh shall see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:6; see Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation).

We also have websites intended to reach people of various ethnic groups and languages:

CCOG.ORG Continuing Church of God The Philadelphian organization striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God to fulfill Matthew 24:14, Matthew 28:19-20, and Romans 11:25 with literature in over 100 languages.
CCOG.ASIA We in the Continuing Church of God also have the url www.ccog.asia which has a focus on Asia and has various articles in Mandarin Chinese as well as some in English, plus some items in several other Asian languages. Here is a link to our Statement of Beliefs in Mandarin Chinese ~ç~íy^v„eYOv„OáNðXðf.
CCOG.IN This is a website targeted towards those of Indian heritage. It has a link to an edited Hindi translation of The Mystery of the Ages and has other Indian language translations of certain CCOG literature.
CCOG.EU This is a website targeted towards Europe. It has materials in multiple European languages.
CCOG.NZ This is a website targeted towards New Zealand and others with a British-descended background.
CCOGAFRICA.ORG This is a website targeted towards those in Africa.
CCOGCANADA.CA This is a website targeted towards those in Canada.
CDLIDD.ES La Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios. This is the Spanish language website for the Continuing Church of God and has articles in español/castellano.
PNIND.PH Patuloy na Iglesya ng Diyos. This is the Philippines website Continuing Church of God. It has information in English and Tagalog.

We in the CCOG treat race essentially as a matter of variety and character development.

The Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put out following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

22:07

Mystery of Race

Where did the various races come from? Did they evolve? If God created them, why? What is a Cushite? Is one race superior to any other? Why are people different shapes and sizes and with different hair color, etc.? Were Adam, Eve, Noah, Noah’s children and their wives involved? From whom did coastal people descend according to Genesis 10? Why are some weaker and others not? What is the purpose of multiple races? How could this be part of God’s plan? Does God have a plan for each INDIVIDUAL?