Proponents of Critical Race Theory, those who believe racism is systemic to our culture, often argue that the solution to racism is the creation of new laws. That, by giving the power to government to enact legislation that requires people to divest themselves of “white privilege” and to elevate persons of color will bring about the necessary societal change to defeat racism. As many others have pointed out, this is little more than social Marxism. That the “haves” (those with white privilege) must give up their positions to the “have nots” (disenfranchised persons of color) so that society will be equitable. That there cannot be equality without equity.
Unfortunately, there are great many Christians who have fallen prey to this line of thinking. In an effort to demonstrate their care and concerns for perceived victims of racism, many Christians have been lulled into the idea that systemic injustices exist because disparities exist. They unquestioningly believe people’s “lived experiences” and see them as evidence of ongoing racism in our culture. Because they see God as a God of justice, they have bought into the lie that social justice (an unbiblical concept) is actually an outworking of the gospel to bring about true justice into the culture. Thus, many have supported the idea that increased legislation is actually doing gospel work in our nation so that we are “loving our neighbors.”
This, however well-intentioned, is entirely misguided. The establishing of new laws cannot bring about societal change as so many have argued. We know this because we can see from Scripture that God’s own laws, which are righteous and perfect, do not bring about a utopia on this world. In fact, as Paul argues in Romans 7:7-25 that, while God’s law is perfect, man is utterly incapable of keeping it. The law exposes a very real problem in the heart of man, sin. Mankind is born in sin, we have a corrupted nature that rebels at the very mention of the law.
Paul demonstrates this when he writes, “Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.’ But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.” (Romans 7:7b–8). Our sinful nature immediately reacts to any law placed upon it with rebellion. You see this when we read a sign that says “Wet paint, don’t touch,” or “Keep off the grass.” Our very first instinct is to do that which we have been told not to do. The law exposes that our hearts are rebel factories, simply looking for a reason to act in contradiction to anything we’ve been told to not do.
Paul rightly points out that the law is not responsible for making us sin. We break the law because our default state is to sin. God’s law is perfect and the fact we even think about wanting to break it proves that the law is good. If our hearts are sinful by nature, then we show that God’s law is good because our hearts do not want to obey it. Therefore, law cannot and does not change our default desires. Law only exposes that we will rebel when given a chance to do so.
Naturally, it is right to understand there is a distinction between the law of man and the law of God. His laws are always right and true. He cannot make law that is not perfect because His laws are a reflection of His glorious nature. Man’s laws can either be good, insomuch as they reflect the nature of God, or they can be bad, in that they contradict His nature and commandments. For example, laws that forbid lying, theft, and murder reflect the nature of a perfect God who does not lie and provides what is needed for His people whom He created in His image and likeness. Yet, laws such as allow for abortion, the wanton murder of a life in the womb of a mother, is incompatible with a God who has commanded we shall not murder. We recognize then that man’s laws are not always right and good. Yet, whether a law is good or bad, man by nature will always desire to rebel against any command placed upon him.
When it comes to the matter of laws regarding social justice, we must come to realize such laws do not have a Scriptural basis. Social justice argues that true equality only occurs when all persons have equity of outcome. It is argued that any disparity between people groups is proof of oppression. The only way to overcome and end the oppression is to tear down the existing unjust system and rebuild a new society based upon equitable distribution of wealth, position, and power. Nowhere in Scripture can anyone find such an argument. In fact, Scripture speaks of private property ownership. It also allows for the possession of wealth, yet not the misuse of it to deprive others of the wages they have earned.
Christ’s teachings with regard to wealth and power were not that the mere possession of it was sinful, but the desire to have it over and above the desire to love and obey God was. Those with power were not to lord it over others, but to use their position to serve. Those with wealth were to be willing to provide for the needs of others, not out of compulsion, but out of a sincere desire to love God and love others. Christ never taught for the tearing down of entire systems of wealth and power, rather that those who had such never place them before the love and service to God. If having such caused one to be idolatrous, then we were to give it all up for the sake of Christ.
Christians ought to recognize that bringing in laws which declare possession of power, wealth, or position are inherently evil have no basis in Scripture. Furthermore, God does not command that we not only believe such persons are oppressors by nature and that the existence of disparities now or throughout history prove racism. God holds each person accountable for the thoughts, words, and deeds of his own heart. He does not hold the son guilty for the sins (real or perceived) of the father. He does not declare that men and women are guilty of oppressing others simply because an unbiblical philosophical claims it to be so. And He gives no biblical command to take from one group and give to others to make right perceived unjust disparities. Yet, proponents of Critical Race Theory are arguing for such laws and far too many Christians are towing that line.
We must recognize that any law placed upon men will immediately result in a desire to rebel against said law. While, perhaps, it may act as a curb against certain behaviors, it cannot change the heart’s desire. Many a neighbor has likely been spared a punch to the face because someone feared arrest for Battery. Yet, the existence of Battery laws does not change the hate a man will feel in his heart toward his neighbor. The law may cause him to obey out of fear of legal action, but it will not keep him from desiring to harm another.
Likewise, we must also understand that unjust laws, such as those that declare a man guilty of a crime he never committed and take from him to give to another, will give rise to bitterness and anger. Being told that you are guilty for the perceived sins of generations past and that only by bowing to the new order of things can you make restitution, will cause many persons to feel they are being treated unjustly. In fact, the new order of things actually tells a man that even feeling angry over being charged with such a “sin” is proof of his guilt. How then can we expect that such laws will bring about a change of heart and mind? Such laws may bring about an outward appearance of equity of outcome, but there will be no heart change of any kind. Yes, there will be a redistribution of wealth and position, but rest assured, those who have been charged as guilty will chafe under unjust chains which they have been placed under. Resentment and bitterness will grow. Love for one’s neighbor will be quashed as the heart, already a factory of sin, will find further reason to hate those who have placed him under perceived bondage.
The human heart rebel’s against good and just laws. Such laws are good for us. They hold us accountable when we disobey God’s righteous commands and harm others. Yet, as Paul argues in Romans 7, those laws only expose that we cannot be made righteous by them. When man creates unjust laws and demands obeisance, men will double in their desire to disobey. Unjust laws cause us to become bitter and angry, which the sinful heart will only magnify. In either matter, it is the issue of the heart that must be addressed. And laws, neither good or bad, can change the human heart.
This is where Christians and the church need to shine. We already know that laws cannot make a man righteous. Only the gospel can accomplish this. Only God can send His Spirit into the heart of man, regenerate him, and make him a new creation. Only Jesus can take the wrath man deserves and, in turn, clothe him in righteousness. Only then does man desire in his heart to love his neighbor as himself. Only then does man desire to obey the just and good laws of God. Only then is he willing to sacrifice of his own time, wealth, position, or power to share and care for others. Law of itself cannot ever accomplish this, only the gospel can. And such a changed heart will distinguish between just and unjust laws. It will greatly desire to obey all that God has commanded. But, often it will rightly recognize and reject those laws that are manmade, which are in contradiction to the Word. This should be encouraged to grow and mature, not silenced and told to obey because social justice demands it.
Churches that seek to create societal change through unjust laws betray the gospel message. They reject the notion that law cannot change the heart. They seek to impose godless ideologies on people and claim this is the outworking of the gospel. Nothing could be further from the truth. What they believe is a good work is actually seeking to add more law over and above the commands of God. They claim this will accomplish change and establish justice in culture, but in fact it will create further rebellion in the hearts of men. And what little cleaning of the outside of the cup they may accomplish, they will only stir up further poison and sin on the inside.
Christians, we must first seek the kingdom of God. We do this through the preaching of the gospel. We identify what is truly sin and call people to repentance and faith. We call people to love Christ and love their neighbor. We command those in the church to live according to the commandments of God and reject godless ideologies which seek to rewrite and corrupt Scripture. We do this, not because we seek societal change, rather we seek to bring rebel sinners into communion with God. We do this to save them from His just wrath and for His glory. Then, we trust in God to work through the Spirit in the hearts of men to love and treat their neighbors as they are commanded to. And, should they fail to do so, should they sin against their brethren, we come alongside and lovingly rebuke or correct them.
The church is not a societal change agent. The church is the bride of Christ. Time for us to get back to being what He has called us to be.
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