Guest Blog by Christian Parenting Author, Andrea Crum
In June of 2020, the internet was flooded with black squares in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death. Like many Christians, I was tempted to join in by showing solidarity. However, as I sat down to write a post, I realized I didn’t fully understand what I was endorsing. Did my post support George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement, or something else?
That moment became a turning point for me. My husband’s advice—"maybe you shouldn’t write it"—reminded me to slow down, seek discernment, and apply biblical wisdom. I’m grateful I listened because later, I learned more about the ideology behind the Black Lives Matter movement and Critical Race Theory (CRT), both of which go beyond biblical justice.
This experience isn't uncommon for Christians today, especially our children. Our kids are trying to balance godly compassion and biblical truth, often feeling pressure from the cultural ideas around them. To help them navigate this, we need to equip them to discern between social justice and biblical justice.
What is the Difference between Social Justice and Biblical Justice?
Our world is filled with mixed messages, and when movements like CRT present themselves as promoting love and justice, it's easy for children (and even adults) to get confused. Social justice, especially through the lens of CRT, teaches:
- Everyone is inherently racist, and racism can only be solved by dismantling current systems.
- You must be an "anti-racist"—actively working to change the system.
- Any injustice against a person of color is automatically considered racism.
These ideas, while seemingly compassionate, are rooted in a worldview that often conflicts with the Bible. Many influential figures behind CRT, such as Ibram X. Kendi and Robin DiAngelo, do not hold a biblical view of sin, justice, or redemption. Yet their books, How to Be an Antiracist and White Fragility, have become widely read in Christian circles.
The result? According to a Harvard Caps Harris Poll, 79% of young adults ages 18-24 now believe that white people are oppressors and non-white people are oppressed—a narrative that stems directly from CRT. This is shocking, but it shows how quickly these ideas can take hold when we don’t offer biblical alternatives.
What Is Biblical Justice?
Biblical justice is vastly different from the social justice movement's approach. It is rooted in God’s standards of righteousness, morality, and goodness. OS Guinness wisely reminds us Biblical justice involves:
1. Confession – Acknowledging and taking responsibility for sin.
2. Repentance – Turning away from sin.
3. Forgiveness – Receiving grace and forgiveness from God and others.
4. Reconciliation – Restoring relationships with God and people.
For example, in the case of racism, biblical justice would call for the individual to confess the sin of racism, turn away from it, seek forgiveness from God and the person they harmed, and reconcile the relationship. This contrasts sharply with the narrative of CRT, which often propagates a works-based redemption that excludes the need for Christ’s forgiveness and redemption.
How to Teach Biblical Justice to Your Kids
As Christian parents, we must be intentional about teaching our children how to discern between social justice and biblical justice. Here are five ways to help your kids stand firm in biblical truth:
1. Talk about Biblical Justice: Explain how biblical justice is grounded in God’s character and His standards of righteousness.
2. Expose Critical Race Theory: Share the core tenets of CRT so that your children can recognize it when they encounter it in conversations or media.
3. Teach Discernment: Encourage your kids to ask, "Is this situation really unjust?" and use biblical principles to evaluate it.
4. Balance Compassion with Truth: Help your kids see that they can respond with both biblical compassion and truth, without falling into unbiblical ideologies.
5. Focus on Jesus: Remind them that true justice is found in Christ’s finished work on the cross, and only He can bring lasting reconciliation and healing.
A Resource for Christian Parents
For a deeper dive into how to raise your children with a biblical worldview in today’s postmodern culture, check out my book, Christ Over Culture: Raising Christian Kids to Stand in a Postmodern World. In it, I guide parents on how to help their children navigate challenging cultural ideas, including topics like social justice, sex positivity, gender ideology, feminism, and more.
Let’s equip the next generation to stand for biblical justice and truth while demonstrating the compassion of Christ in everything they do.
