Flunking the Equity Test
The manufactured belief that CRT is merely a continuation of civil rights–era efforts to ensure equality of opportunity provides valuable cover for those pushing race-conscious policies and practices that prioritize equity in outcomes.
On a recent episode of his cable television program, Bill Maher asked Bernie Sanders to explain the difference between equality and equity, and the long-winded senator was at an unusual loss for words.
“I don’t know what the answer to that is,” Sanders mumbled after an awkward pause. Pressed to clarify his position, Sanders composed himself and offered only that he supports “equality of opportunity” over equal outcomes. He does?
If this answer is sincere, it would put Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, substantially to the right of the “equity”-obsessed Biden administration and today’s public education establishment. If, on the other hand, Sanders was merely being politically adroit, his answer demonstrates how quickly the Left’s language game breaks down when basic definitions are required.
Sanders isn’t dumb. He knows what the legacy media are loath to admit, particularly on the issue of racial inequality: most Americans, including most Democrats, strongly favor equality of opportunity over government’s assurance of equitable results.
One reason the Left doesn’t want this debate can be seen in the fight over teaching critical race theory in American schools. Recall that CRT bills itself as an academic theory that emphasizes how race intersects with societal institutions to reproduce and sustain unequal outcomes observed across racial groups today. Focusing only on whether CRT is formally being taught in K–12 lesson plans, however, is a distraction. The Left prefers to keep the dispute focused on this point of contention, which boils down to precise definitions, because it obscures a larger fight: a clash between politically popular principles of color blindness and nondiscrimination, on the one hand, and deeply unpopular schooling policies and practices that emphasize race-consciousness and equitable outcomes, on the other.
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The Re-Imagined World of John Lennon
I could not help but notice that the song is replete with the word “no”. No heaven…no hell…no countries…no religion…and no possessions. According to the lyrics, somehow or in some way, the “no” of these things is supposed to bring about “a brotherhood of man” where all share the world, and we live as one.
Efforts toward global unity have been arising since the Tower of Babel when humanity spoke a single common language and attempted to reach the heavens. With this in mind, a question needs to be asked: Does God care more about unity than diversity? It is obvious that He did not allow mankind to keep the unity of one tongue but separated the population by language for His purpose of diversification.
God’s actions in changing mankind from one tongue to many at Babel hint at the nature of truth. By nature, truth tends to separate and clarify rather than unify. It separates itself from non-truth and vice versa.
Yes, this theme of uniting humanity has been here a long time. In our day we are bombarded with socialistic propaganda that looks suspiciously like Marxism, and supposedly all for the sake of unity. Take for example John Lennon’s song “Imagine,” that was sung at this year’s Olympic opening ceremonies in Tokyo this summer. It was also sung at the opening of the 2012 Olympics. Evidently, it is a favorite of some though not all. One New York Post article referred to it as a “totalitarian anthem” ( nypost.com/2021/07/25/imagine-blared-at-the-olympics-is-a-totalitarians-anthem/). One reason for this label is that a totalitarian worldview rules out any Creator/creature distinction. So, it is atheistic with no need for such a distinction or for that matter, any distinctions.
With a little discernment, one picks up on this from the beginning of Lennon’s lyrics:
“Imagine there’s no heaven; it’s easy if you try; no hell below us; Above us only sky; Imagine all the people Living for today…Aha-ah…; Imagine there’s no countries; It isn’t hard to do; Nothing to kill or die for; and no religion, too; Imagine all the people Living life in peace… You…; You might say I’m a dreamer; But I’m not the only one; I hope someday you’ll join us; And the world will be as one; Imagine no possessions; I wonder if you can; No need for greed or hunger; A brotherhood of man; Imagine all the people sharing all the world… You…; You might say I’m a dreamer; But I’m not the only one; I hope someday you’ll join us; and the world will live as one”.
I could not help but notice that the song is replete with the word “no”. No heaven…no hell…no countries…no religion…and no possessions. According to the lyrics, somehow or in some way, the “no” of these things is supposed to bring about “a brotherhood of man” where all share the world, and we live as one.
There are worldview implications from such a “no” lens view. First, there’s the idea of no moral absolutes. If there is no heaven or hell, then all things are relative and permissible because nothing will matter and it is left to the individual to decide what is good or evil, reward or punishment. The “no” takes care of it.
Second, no countries certainly sounds like the promotion of the global community. It is a vote for open borders.
Third, no possessions sounds like there is no such thing as private property. Instead, as Lennon says, the brotherhood of man will share all the world. In light of humanity’s sin nature, please don’t hold your breath on that one.
The negation of the very things that are real or the denial of distinctions is not a biblical worldview and certainly not one that is Creator/creature distinctive. Instead, it is monistic (all is one/one is all) as expressed in Lennon’s words expressing hope that the world “will live as one,”
Not only do the Olympic ceremonies appear to promote this humanistic monism, but it also seems to be a common theme of the Olympics. Back in 1996, when they were held in Atlanta, after watching the mixing and mingling of people representing the colors of the Olympic flag, sports commentator, Dick Enberg, said “As you can see, now, the people of the world are becoming a mixture of one family as they create a mountain of humanity. All the tribes are losing their identity and for this occasion, this Olympics, they become one!”(https://arcapologetics.org/olympics-homosexuality-and-the-pagan-worldview/). One can see the parallel in antiquity, where the people of the world, all one language and one mindset, sought to secure their own future by their own efforts on their own mountain, the tower of Babel.
The truth is Lennon’s “Imagine” is more about “Re-Imagining” truth and reality, which is so prevalent today in the burgeoning woke and cancel cultures that want to redefine everything. In essence, it is an attempt to return to the tower of Babel… trying to build a world without God. Like Lennon, many of us may wish for a utopian society. But, like Lennon, we too would be dreaming, and to wish for such is a vain imagination that denies the nature of God-given truth and the very nature of God Himself.
The real God created the universe and man, and these are distinct from God. Our destiny, our noblest aspirations, and our fulfillment of them will only be complete in worship of the one true God.
Clete Hux is Director of the Apologetics Resource Center. -
15,409 Days: Psalm 90 and Wisdom
Will we listen to the voice that tells us to exist solely for the present moment and the pleasures of this life, or will we listen to the voice with a staff in his hand and a veil on his face? The voice that would have spent time with God–face to face–as a friend? The voice that says to use your time wisely since you don’t know how much you have. One of these voices is well acquainted with the character of the Lord. This voice knows that eternity is coming and that our present life is as fleeting as a vapor. That the next life will last forever.
5,409 days. That’s how long my dear wife lived on this Earth. When we were dating, we obviously had no idea. When we got engaged, there were no mystical revelation. And when we got married, this number certainly wasn’t written on the back of the marriage certificate for us to see.
In our twenties we were rather unaware. Most of our thirties passed normally. But cancer struck when she was 38 and death was suddenly part of our thoughts about the future. She would end up living four more years. Chemotherapy would work excellent and she would carry on. But one year ago the unwelcome guest would visit again. This time cancer never left. My wife lived 15,409 days. How would we have lived differently if we had a ticker counting down each day. What if we knew when we got married that she only had 8,174 days left? What would we do differently? Or when our first child was born, would knowing she only had 3,577 days left have changed the myriad of decisions we would make as we raised our children?
Some would object to this way of thinking. With all the swagger of Wayne and Garth, they would cry “live in the now!” Why waste time worrying, just live! Live your life “authentically” as you go from day to day. But another voice would disagree. With, perhaps, his staff in hand and maybe a veil on his face, he would say the opposite. “Teach us to number our days, oh Lord, that we might get a heart of wisdom.”
Psalm 90
In Psalm 90 Moses declares four characteristics of God and what our response should be. In verses 1-2 he speaks of the eternality of God.
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Slander, for Unity’s Sake
I am proud to be a member of Missouri Presbytery. I may be the only TE within the presbytery that supports the GRN. I am quick to correct detractors when they accuse our presbytery as being liberal. During your time in Missouri, I am sure you did the same. In the same vein, I have corrected elders within our Presbytery who have referred to others presbyteries and the GRN as Pharisees. That is slander. Your blog post strikes me in the same manner. We have got to start talking to one another. Pot shots from both sides do not contribute to what your latest blog post asks for: denominational peace.
I have only been a member of the PCA for 5 years, so I fully acknowledge my lack of experience within the Presbyterian Church in America. Little did I know that I would be entering the denomination during arguably it’s most contentious season. I was in my first semester at Covenant Seminary when Revoice was hosted at Memorial Presbyterian Church. In the months leading up to the conference, there was a great deal of confusion on campus. Many PCA pastors, local leaders, students, and alumni were involved to some degree-whether by attending, speaking, promoting, or giving.
To be honest, I began to wonder if joining the PCA was a mistake. Revoice was a common topic of discussion after class and during lunch. Some of my close friends debated leaving the seminary. Others left Memorial Presbyterian church. Seminary students and interns within Missouri Presbytery were largely left in the dark. We didn’t know who to talk to or what to believe. Misinformation was being spread on both sides of the aisle. Most PCA pastors and professors I spoke to at the time encouraged patience. “Let’s wait and see how the conference plays out”, was common refrain.Dr. Lecroy, I know you served as Moderator of Missouri Presbytery during those crucial years, and I want to thank you for the hundreds of hours you undoubtedly have spent engaging this issue. I want to thank you for your leadership within Missouri Presbytery during perhaps its most contentious season. I also want to thank you for your leadership in providing the PCA with a most-excellent study report on Abuse.
That being said, your latest blog post saddens me. It saddens me because it’s an appeal to unity at the expense of respectable men and organizations within the denomination. To be blunt, it’s a call for unity while slandering in the same breathe.
A Reminder on WLC 145
The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbours, as well as our own, (1 Sam. 17:28, 2 Sam. 16:3, 2 Sam. 1:9,10,15–16) especially in public judicature; (Lev. 19:15, Hab. 1:4)…speaking untruth, (Isa. 59:13) lying, (Lev. 19:11, Col. 3:9) slandering, (Ps. 50:20) backbiting, (James 4:11, Jer. 38:4) talebearing, (Lev. 19:16) whispering, (Rom. 1:29–30) scoffing, (Gen. 21:9, Gal. 4:29).
Here are a few statements I take umbrage with:“The GRN secret council will no doubt meet soon to “consider the best and most positive way forward” for our denomination.”
There is no “GRN secret council”. Every officer is listed on their website, along with all their blogposts, video series, and contact information. There is nothing secretive about the GRN.
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