The Foundation of Christian Justice
Black Protestant pastors and the perspective of CRT
This reflection is based on my work with the Congregations and Polarization Project, exploring the perspectives of ten white evangelical pastors, ten Black Protestant pastors, and two scholars. Their insights reveal how theological traditions and cultural contexts shape churches’ engagement with social justice and Critical Race Theory (CRT). A previous blog post examined the views of the ten white evangelical pastors. This post examines the views of the ten Black pastors.
The perspective offered by Critical Race Theory (CRT) causes controversy in contemporary discussions about race and justice, both inside and outside the church, even for African Americans. CRT emerged in legal studies in the 1970s from scholars like Derrick Bell and Kimberlé Crenshaw, who argued that racism is not just the prejudice of individuals toward certain groups of others, but it is woven into laws and institutions. CRT challenges the idea that legal systems are neutral; it emphasizes the importance of lived experience in which power is not evenly distributed and some groups face obstacles others do not. One of the key concepts in CRT is interest convergence—the idea that racial progress happens only when it benefits those in power. CRT asks, “Who benefits from the status quo?” and examines race and privilege through the lens of power.
The pastors I interviewed for this project agreed that CRT exposes the systemic nature of racial disparities but worried that CRT is rooted in a secular worldview that lacks spiritual dimensions like sin, redemption, and transformation. This is not a problem for CRT as pure theory—it never claims to be anything other than secular—but this difference means CRT presents a problem for clergy. Many Black Protestant pastors in this study appreciated CRT’s ability to diagnose injustice but contended that it does not offer a fully adequate solution. They argued that the Church must go beyond identifying structural inequality and offer a gospel-centered response. As one pastor said, “CRT can diagnose the problem, but it doesn’t offer a cure.” For such pastors, the true cure must contain spiritual truth too.
These pastors believe addressing racial injustice is necessary, but they expressed that it must be done in a way that aligns with their understanding of Scripture. In my interviews, they acknowledged systemic sin but warned against CRT’s tendency to divide people into rigid categories of “oppressors” and “oppressed”—the language of materialism. For the pastors, theories like CRT view justice through the lens of power struggles, while the gospel teaches that all people are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26–27) and that sin is universal (Romans 3:23). One pastor put it this way: “The cross doesn’t divide people into victim and villain. It calls all of us to repentance.”
Some churches have integrated CRT into their teachings to address racial justice. This approach offers a systemic lens on sin, but seeing sin as only systemic can overshadow personal sin, redemption, and individual responsibility. CRT is effective at calling attention to structural injustice, but these pastors warned against adopting a works-based approach where activism replaces Christ as the foundation for reconciliation. As one pastor noted, “No policy change can do what only the gospel can.” Another pastor cautioned that when churches rely too heavily on secular ideologies, they risk redefining justice according to cultural trends rather than God’s righteousness. They believe that the danger arises not from acknowledging systemic injustice, but from allowing secular, materialistic theories to dictate the Church’s mission.
This tension points toward an even larger issue: How can the church engage in social justice in a fallen world without compromising biblical truth? The pastors I interviewed emphasized that justice must be rooted in a gospel framework. While CRT highlights injustice, it cannot replace the gospel’s role in healing and transformation. They urged churches to recognize systemic sin but address it through redemption rather than changes that are only secular or material. They also encouraged action—serving marginalized communities, mentoring youth, and advocating for fair policies—while keeping Christ at the center.
Ultimately, the Black pastors I interviewed offered a balanced perspective: CRT can be useful for understanding injustice, but it cannot be the sole foundation of Christian justice. For them, the foundation is, and must always be, the gospel of Jesus Christ. If the Church is to be a voice for justice, it must do so in a way that reflects biblical truth—acknowledging injustice while pointing to Christ as the only true source of reconciliation.
These Black pastors expressed their belief that the Church’s mission is to change systems and transform hearts—and that only the gospel can do both. For this reason, Black congregations will likely continue to have a strong, positive relationship with secular intellectual approaches to diagnosing racism and its effects. While they will also share many ideas with secular intellectuals about solving these problems, there will always be some tension when the spiritual solutions embraced by pastors runs up against solutions that are primarily material.
Tim Orr
Tim Orr is an evangelical minister who served as an adjunct professor in religious studies at Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus for 15 years. Tim is also a Research Assistant for the Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Churches project funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. and led by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. He has earned six degrees and is an award-winning faculty member. Tim has sought to involve his fellow evangelicals in ecumenical dialogue in the U.S. and the U.K. He has published book reviews in the Journal of the Contemporary Study of Islam and written three books.
Stay Connected with CAP
Sign up for the Congregations and Polarization Project-s newsletter to receive regular updates on case studies, research findings, and resources related to this work.