Looking at the theology of leaders and founders of Black Theology, there are serious concerns over their low view of the Bible and questions about good hermeneutics. Cone, for example, said to be the father of Black Theology, has a radical approach to the Old and New Testament documents, in denying their supreme and final authority in matters of doctrine, ethics and pastoral practice. Cone is far from orthodox. His theology can be divisive and contentious. In his original writings Cone is polemical and aggressively anti-evangelical. His soteriology is not rooted in the work of Christ on the Cross, having no faith in salvation by grace through faith unto good works, which God has prepared beforehand that Christians should walk in them. There is no clear teaching on the work of the Holy Spirit in conviction us of sin, righteousness and judgment, as commonly understood by orthodox Christians.
There is a false understanding of human nature, of mankind being dead in trespasses and sins in need of Christ's finished work, the blessed hope in His righteousness and redemption. We are in a perilous condition apart from Christ. It is a false gospel, not the Gospel of repentance and the Kingdom of God, the faith once delivered to the people of God, followers of the Way, the Truth and the Life. Cone's gospel leads people astray and I would argue in to bitterness, victimhood and alienation. It does not lead people into receiving eternal and abundant life in Christ, having the mind of Christ and finding salvation in Him. It is not a Christocentric Gospel. It is a carnal, unspiritual gospel, lacking spiritual truth, truth revealed by the Spirit of God. It does not have that light that leads to peace with God in Christ Jesus. It is a gospel of condemnation and unrest.
Any theology that embraces Marxism and the false socialist utopian belief in a future built on vain political ideas, class warfare and bad economics will end in failure. Marx believed in the removal of the wages system, which can never work or be implemented by any sane government. Marxism is the enemy of the open and free society. Black Theology wishes to chain us to false hopes. It will never see people saved, sanctified and sealed with the Holy Spirit. It is built on bad foundations, erroneous teaching and dodgy doctrines. In the final analysis Cone is heretical.
When a theology is wedded to a trendy liberation theological narrative, we will no doubt see it eventually be divorced, and divested of its power, authority and substance in the future. It will not stand up to the test of time and eternity. Black Theology is on the broad way, not the way of liberation.
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Johli Baptist here, not anonymous. The Welsh liberated themselves through education not playing the victim card. They became a proud paedagogical nation that produced preachers, poets, politicians, performers on stage, screen, in concert halls, choirs, chapels, churches and cathedrals. Chapel culture, high literacy rates and excellent education along with the eistedfodd system help the Welsh to perform well. They did not need the poison of liberation theology.
Black theology seems to divide rather than unite, to wallow in self pity, sorrow and the victim card. It starts with the experience of racism and injustice but it does not produce a balanced Biblical theology of love, justice and grace for all nations, irrespective of color/colour, ethnicity and culture. It promotes hatred of the white culture and does not mention the many Chinese Christians who deal with injustice, oppression and persecution in a positive way.
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