My Thoughts After Reading "Fault Lines," by Voddie Baucham

Fault Lines

A fault line? How can a worldview, perspective, or way of thought have a fault line within it? A person who’s lived just under 25 years may not have experienced a time where there is a necessary sifting within any worldview, but the time is surely upon us. This Fault Line as Voddie Baucham describes through the book requires that the church must reform; Voddie uses this term in the book, semper reformanda - which means “the church must always be reformed.”

It’s time that the church be reformed.  

So we have a fault line?

The fault line.

What we’re experiencing today within our churches, schools, and all of society is nothing new; it's been brewing for decades. What Voddie calls the Fault Line of our time is Critical Race Theory, also known as CRT. Simply put, CRT goes in depth through many terms and thought to explain how in every sector of society the oppressors are against the oppressed, but it is also so much more. What began as a theory from Karl Marx has developed into a way that many people view society, a worldview. “Critical Theory is not just an analytical tool, as some have suggested; it is a philosophy, a worldview” (pg. xiv).

Critical race theory, the view that the law and legal institutions are inherently racist and that race itselfs, instead of being biologically grounded and natural, is a socially constructed concept that is used by white people to further their economic and political interests at the expense of people of colour. (pg, 70). 

Currently progessive thought leaders are pinning white people against black. The thought that white people are born inherently racist is running rampant through the minds of many & a mentality of victimhood is floating through the minds of black Americans.

Many are using CRT and its components as a way of liberation for people. Recently I heard this quote from Elizabeth Elliott, “I very much fear that this liberation is not freedom but a new and demonic bondage. By throwing away the things that guarded it’s meaning, we have thrown away the very thing itself. What was once priceless is now the cheapest commodity on the market.” Through this faulty view of liberation we bring more harm than good & to this point it beckons a book like Voddies to point out the Fault Line. 

We’re being fooled.

Many believers are fooled into thinking that what the world screams of justice is what scripture speaks of. It’s not. In our western society only 26 percent of adults believe that the bible is the actual word of God and should be taken word for word, (Barna). Twenty six percent. Also within western society, only eleven percent of adults read their bibles daily, (Barna). So we know why we’re being fooled into believing that social justice is the way that we'll bring unity into our world, we don’t know the Word. 

Social justice aims to liberate a people, though it is based primarily on subjective truths. Anything subjective will never truly liberate. 

We need a sure foundation to rest in.

A Narrative

They’re pushing a narrative.

The media and people in high offices are telling a story and dividing this country faster than we could have imagined. “CRT uses storytelling as an alternative truth,” (pg. 105). We often hear “sex sells,” but in our current climate a good story is selling just as fast it seems.

We all enjoy a good story, they are so compelling. Yet we find ourselves uplifting the stories of some and not others, then also leaving out the facts overall.

Accepting the facts is hard. Facts can seem cold and insensitive in the face of hurt and chaos… But there are facts. There is truth to what's happening and it’s not told by the media, because it doesn't fit their narrative. 

If the media doesn’t care about the truth, neither will it’s people who watch. In the book, Voddie shares a scenario from a PragerU interview that further explains this - when asked how many unarmed black men were killed in 2019, three young black men were astonished at the true number of victims, 9 -  versus what they mentioned, which was 1,000’s. 

We have to begin to care about what is true.

So, what can we do?

Don’t take the media at its word - think critically. This is a simple habit that’s not taught in many schools and has long been lost for many. We have to begin to evaluate things. It has in many ways become bad to question what we’re told, but it is in fact the opposite, it’s quite healthy to think through what we’re told; it helps us come to our own conclusions that we’re sure of. 

We must seek scripture to understand what it has to say about justice and how to handle wrong doings among each other. Nothing from the world will be helpful in bringing unity, as what the world produces will always bring despair. As we study what scripture has to say we must also cast aside our own judgements and ideas and allow the spirit to guide us. 

In a time such as this, it is helpful to begin to understand our need for the Gospel every single day and to live it out in relationship with others. Practicing self forgetfulness is one of the best ways to do this. A passage of scripture that is helpful in this: 

1 Cor. 3:21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. 

The Ministry of Apostles

4 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

Know that Jesus is our solid rock and sure foundation - in no other place can we find anything as sure as our Lord. It is by grace through faith that we’re saved. No ideology will save us, only hopping in Christ and Christ alone. 

If you must reform the way that you think, do so. It is a weight experience, but worth it to experience the truth of who He is and understand His goodness. 

Fault Lines is a weighty book. Voddie has strong convictions that come straight from the word, which keeps our perspective solely on the Lord. I’d pick up this book no matter what you know about this fault line sweeping our nation. Spend some time thinking about how you may be affected, or your children, or your church. 

Cites:

BAUCHAM, V. O. D. D. I. E. T. (2021). Fault lines;the social justice movement and evangelicalism's looming catastrophe. SALEM BOOKS. 

State of the bible 2021: Five key findings. Barna Group. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://www.barna.com/research/sotb-2021/.