Articles
Foolish Hearts
* * * * * * * * * * *
Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools . . ." (Rom. 1:21-22).
* * * * * * * * * * *
When people reject God, they lose their ability to think rationally. They cast aside the logic and order that God built into His universe in favor of absurdity. This opens the door to whatever idiocy they can dream up to express their independence from a moral truth greater than themselves.
Consider, for example, the modern concept of intersectionality. This recent export from academic faculty lounges asserts that all forms of oppression--whether gender, race, or class--are somehow linked; that is, they intersect with each other. Therefore, all these oppressed groups can and should unite in common cause against their oppressor (usually portrayed as the white capitalist patriarchy).
But promoters of this philosophy are already starting to run into some problems. For decades feminists have insisted that women are an oppressed group, and have lobbied aggressively to secure special privileges and protections for women. More recently, the transgender movement also has been fighting to secure special privileges and protections for transgendered individuals. So here's another opportunity for two oppressed groups to intersect.
But the outcome of this intersection is turning out to be a train wreck. Trans women (men who identify as women) are now competing directly against biological women, especially in sports. The innate biological differences between these two groups cannot possibly be reconciled, and many feminists are starting to wake up to the threat that transgenderism poses to women's rights. The feminist movement is beginning to fracture over this issue.
This illustrates the fundamental problem with intersectionality. It is inherently divisive and destructive. It merely trades one form of oppression for another, pitting groups against groups. It can only tear apart, never heal.
The solution to oppression in society is not to draw battle lines between groups and declare war; that only intensifies the suffering. Instead, the gospel calls on all of us, whatever our race, gender, or class, to acknowledge our fallen condition and come to God in a spirit of humility. Our task is not to bring others down, but rather--like Jesus--to serve and give ourselves to others.
This is the divine order, and only by surrendering our hearts to that plan will we find the peace that we desire.
--David
