I fully understand the “burn it to the ground” instinct. I understand that people are simply trying to safeguard the church. But I fear that their efforts will not just be unsuccessful, but positively counter-productive. If I were a proponent of critical theory, I would like nothing better than to see evangelicals insisting loudly that there is nothing of value in critical theory.

A Parable

Let me tell you an updated parable about the Trojan Horse.

Finding itself unable to conquer Troy by military strength alone, the Greek army has just deposited a giant wooden horse outside the city gates. Greek soldiers are, of course, concealed within.

Inside the city are three of groups of people. The first group consists of Greek sympathizers who would like nothing better than to see Troy turned into a Greek province. The second group consists of ordinary citizens who have no idea that the Trojan Horse is a trap. However, as soon as they see the horse, a third group immediately starts screaming: “It’s a trap! Burn that horse to the ground!”

The first group replies: “Nonsense. What are you afraid of? Once we get this statue inside, we’ll disassemble it. Wood is beautiful and extremely useful.”

Here, the third group hits a snag. Some of them realize that there are soldiers hidden in the horse. Others are rightly suspicious of the Greeks, but can’t quite articulate the danger. Still others are just terrified of wooden horses due to an unfortunate childhood experience at the circus.

Sensing weakness, the first group picks out the least coherent objection: “Ah, an irrational fear of wooden horses. Get over it. We told you, we’re going to disassemble it. Look at the craftsmanship! The scroll work! The shiplap! There are dozens of ways this wood could be useful. Look, you have hardwood floors, and wood furniture, and wood paneling in your houses yourselves. As for these rumors about ‘soldiers’, that’s just a bogeyman.”

The second group turns expectantly to the third group, which is growing increasingly agitated. After all, some of them really are just afraid of horses. And many of them don’t know exactly what’s wrong with the horse; they just recognize that it’s suspicious. So they yell more and more loudly: “Burn it down! There’s nothing about the wood that’s potentially useful. Nothing at all. It’s been created to destroy us. If you let it in, we’re all going to die!”

“Ah,” says the first group, “now we come to the point. You don’t really know what you’re talking about.  You haven’t studied wood-working, carpentry, or carving. And you can’t even recognize the type of wood (mahogany, by the way). You can’t see all the legitimate ways the wood can be used. Here’s a reading list. Get back to us when you’ve finished it.”

The second group nods solemnly in agreement, and opens the gate.

An Interpretation

I hope you’ll forgive my attempt at humor, but I’m trying to make an important point. The third group was truthful, passionate, and cognizant of a real danger. But they also played right into the hands of the first group.

In their commendable desire to warn, they forgot to convince. They failed to anticipate their opponents’ arguments and therefore handed them the very cudgel with which they were eventually beaten.

And now we come to the unpleasant part. I worry that too many of us are making the same mistake when it comes to the dangers of critical theory.

A few months ago, SBC Resolution #9 “On Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality” caused quite a stir, both at the convention and on social media. Atheist James Lindsay, whom I consider a personal friend, compared Resolution 9 to a Trojan Horse poised to infiltrate the SBC. Although he recognizes that the resolution’s key statements about critical race theory and intersectionality are “all superficially true,” let’s run with that metaphor and return to our parable.

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