What is Critical Theory and How Should We Respond to It? (Part 1)
Influencers in a multitude of fields are thrusting various forms of Critical Theory (CT) into the forefront of cultural and ethical discussions. You may have noticed that be it Critical Race Theory, Critical Queer Theory, or any other branch of Critical Theory, it is not usually treated as a theory. It is treated as fact. What’s more, it is often seen as a lens against which all other ethical standards, including Christianity, are judged.
The modern church is not impervious to the teachings of CT. The Southern Baptist Convention passed its infamous “Resolution 9” in 2019, affirming CT and Intersectionality as “useful tools.” For a detailed overview of the debate over that resolution and its effect on Christianity (the SBC is the largest Christian denomination…what they do influences a lot more than their denomination). Check out the documentary, By What Standard? from Founders ministries.
However, it is also important that we consider a few biblical realities along with an analysis of CT and it’s history.
First, we must consider the sufficiency of Scripture.
Most Christians are familiar with the doctrines of inspiration, inerrancy, and infallibility. Essentially, since Scripture is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16), then every word of the original autographs is His Word and is thus without error. However, not enough evangelicals have considered the doctrine of sufficiency. 2 Timothy 3:17 goes on to say by Scripture the man (or woman) of God can be fully equipped for every good work. The implication is that while all truth is God’s truth, the Christian does not need other sources to be fully mature in Christ or to complete the work of ministry.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
This does not mean that Christians shouldn’t engage or use other sources. Augustine famously taught us to “plunder the Egyptians,” meaning that we should identify and put to use truths from pagan literature. However, those pagan sources are not necessary for the Christian walk. Further, they must be judged against Scripture. Since the Bible is God’s Word any other source must be brought under dominion. We are to make a prisoner out of any thought that is not operating in obedience to God.
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Whatever merit (or lack thereof) CT has, it must be brought under submission to the authority of Scripture. If it is found in opposition to the truth of God, it must be countered as error.
Karl Marks, False Prophet
Marx’s predictions simply did not come true. While Marxism took hold in some countries nearly a century later, his predictions of a global revolution never occurred. Marx died a confirmed false “prophet” of radical ideology.
What is Critical Theory?
Critical Theory is an analytical method rooted in the thought of Antonio Gramsci and the Frankfurt School, themselves adherents to Marxist ideology. CT requires a particular worldview to apply, so understanding the ideology of the Frankfurt School is critical to understanding the method of CT.
Marxist Roots of Critical Theory
Karl Marx held to an atheistic, Hegelian view of history, believing that certain historical realities would necessarily occur. While his view is not fatalism in the technical sense, it bears the same practical outworking as it relates to history. Marx believed that economic realities kept the working class down and the wealthy/ruling class on top. However, he predicted that a revolution was inevitable and that the workers of the world would bring about a change that would lead to a utopian equality. Given that Marx rejected God and any concept of biblical law, it is strange that he held so firmly to “laws” of progress. One might ask where such laws came from or why any of it matters in a world with no God. Marx’ ideology was firmly humanist, seeing man as a godlike being….that was somehow being oppressed and would overcome.
Marx’s predictions simply did not come true. While Marxism took hold in some countries nearly a century later, his predictions of a global revolution never occurred. Marx died a confirmed false “prophet” of radical ideology.
However, one of Marx’ followers, Antonio Gramsci decided not to give up on Marx entirely. He decided to reinvent Marxism, moving the ideology from a primarily economic concept to a cultural one. He thus invented “Cultural Marxism” in which the revolution is not about workers overcoming the wealthy ruling class. Rather, it is about overthrowing the “hegemony.”
“Hegemony” refers to the dominating people and system of thought which controls society. Cultural Marxism predicts and seeks an overthrow of that hegemony. Thus, in Cultural Marxism any voice that is not part of the hegemony should be given preeminence. For Cultural Marxism, there is no such thing as a fair relationship. The thinking of Cultural Marxism (and CT) sees every relationship through the lease of "Oppressor and Oppressed.” They believe that every relationship (employer/employee, husband/wife, business/consumer, friend/friend, parent/child, etc.) involves an oppressor and an oppressed person. For the Cultural Marxist, there is no such thing as a just relationship in any cultural or social sphere. Thus, they appeal to a need for “social justice.”
Notice that within this system, there is no objective standard of morality. It assumes oppression, but cannot argue objectively why oppression is wrong. Thus, oppression is defined primarily by whether or not someone is outside of the hegemony and/or whether or not they “feel” oppressed.
This is where the concept of “Intersectionality” comes to play. In 1989 Kimberlé Crenshaw, a civil rights activist wrote a paper for the University of Chicago Legal Forum arguing that certain people groups experience overlapping oppression. The idea of intersectionality was that the more ways a person is oppressed, the more preeminence they should have in society. For instance, a woman would get one “point” whereas a black woman would get two. A black, lesbian woman would get three, etc. A gay white man would get one “point” whereas a gay black man would get two. In this way, the most estranged members of society would have the most say in cultural change.
Critical Theory is the lens that judges the hegemony and seeks to overturn it completely. It assumes that there is an oppressor and an oppressed, and it necessarily seeks the destruction of that which is “normal.” The stated purpose of Critical Theory is the destruction of society (see Antonio Gramsci and the Frankfurt School). It includes no plan for rebuilding. It simply seeks to destroy the hegemony in the name of “equity.”
Christendom
Who is at the fringes of society when Christendom is the “hegemony”? Those furthest from the Christian faith and ethic.
We will get into how this affects Christianity in Part 2.
Resource | Sermon on Biblical Justice
Listen to the sermon on Biblical Justice (contra Critical Theory) and download the notes for your apologetic use.
