What Does the Bible Say About Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality?

Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality are two social justice philosophies often paired together and abbreviated CRT/I. Critical race theory divides people up into various racial groups and examines who has privilege and who doesn't. It's in bed with intersectionality, examining who experiences more discrimination at intersecting points in their identity.

Here's how it works: if a woman is black and identifies as a lesbian, she has three intersecting points of discrimination: being a woman, who is black, and a lesbian. So she is more oppressed than, say, a white straight man, whom these philosophies are meant to shame. Seeing the world through these critical lenses is called being "woke."

What does the Bible say about this? Colossians 2:8 says, "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."

Those trying to subject the church to these philosophies are "puffed up with conceit," with "an unhealthy craving for controversy and quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction" (1 Timothy 6:4-5). That's all you will ever see concerning critical race theory and intersectionality. They are meant to divide.

In Romans, we're told to watch out for those who cause divisions and deceive the hearts of the naive. 1 Corinthians 1:10 says let there be no divisions among you, but be united in the same mind and the same judgment in Christ, when we understand the Christ.