In the wake of one of the most current socio-political issues, Voddie T. Baucham Jr. contributes a challenge to the evangelical world: do not succumb to the social justice movement.
In this 200-page powerhouse, pastor, author, and head of African Christian University (ACU) provides an incredibly dense analysis of Critical Race Theory (CRT), the social justice (SJ) movement, and how evangelicals have and should handle its future. This book does not come from neutral ground in any way. Within the first few pages, the author critiques the likes of Timothy Keller, Thabiti Anyabwile, Russell Moore, The Gospel Coalition, and more for embracing CRT and the SJ movement.
In later chapters, he gives grounds for most of his name-dropping. However, I do believe this is his weakest and most unnecessary writing in the book. While he uses cases like Platt’s upfront apology for his congregation’s lack of diversity as ammunition for his cause, the way he isolates those situations does not reflect well on Platt or himself. Simultaneously contending for context while ignoring the context and reputation of great theological leaders is counterintuitive against Baucham in this case.
Though the book has weak points due to his attack on other leaders in the Christian faith, his overall thesis and framework are incredibly strong and justified. He uses extensive research to first prove that the things happening to black people in America happen to white people in America as well. He convincingly addresses racism in a light that neither succumbs to CRT nor neglects the existence of it in modern times.
One of the things I enjoyed from the book was a real definition of Critical Race Theory. CRT seems so cloudy these days. It is thrown about by a variety of people, from preachers to social justice activists, but not many of them spend the time to publicly define it and its purpose. Baucham takes time to record CRT’s origin, history, and development throughout the years, arriving at arguably its most explosive year, 2020.
Fueled by CRT, the vehicle of antiracism has become the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. The author goes into detail about BLM’s establishment and the premise of their activism. He contends that to use the phrase “black lives matter” in any sense without extreme and detailed clarification of one’s intent is to give in to the popular (yes, it may be a trend in some ways) movement. While I do not agree that saying “black lives matter” is a way of consciously or unconsciously supporting BLM, I understand his caution. In using such terms that have become politicized and so closely related to an anti-biblical movement, one must be wise and clear, leaving no room for someone to question meaning.
Overall, Fault Lines is an extremely necessary book for the modern church. It offers a robust critique of the most prominent issue in current events, leaving the Christian with a choice: succumb to the culture, or bow to the King.
Title: Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism’s Looming Catastrophe
Author: Voddie T. Baucham Jr.
Publisher: Salem Books
Publication Year: 2021
Audience: Adult
Rating: 5/10
Readability: 7/10
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