Kicking off the year, I began re-reading Genesis to the children––an all too familiar story that struck me anew. For after God finished his creative work of turning chaos into order, he admiringly reflected on his work, adoring what he had made, pleased and satisfied at his handiwork, and he proclaimed a sense of pride at how good it all was––a job well done! I also began reading a chapter book to our children, called, Mandy, about an orphan girl who discovers a nearby dilapidated cottage. Spending hours fixing up the garden, pulling weeds, trimming bushes, and clearing a path, “she noted with pride that the little garden was already beginning to have a trim, cared-for look.”1 Hmmmm, another similar story, but this time it was Mandy who had stopped to admire her work. After bringing order to the overgrown, chaotic gardens, she ended her day’s work with prideful admiration and joy reflecting on all that her hard toil had accomplished. Another job well done!
As humans, created in the image of God (Gen 1:27), we too were designed to create, invent, and achieve; to work purposefully and determinedly (Gen 2:15); to appreciate, admire, and gain satisfaction from the work of our hands. However, radical notions of social justice, e.g. diversity, equity and inclusion (a.k.a. DEI), undermines and seeks to destroy this life-giving model exampled by our Creator. While DEI posits that it stands for justice, it is an ideology that undermines human agency and promotes perpetual victimhood.
In our previous blog, (D.E.I. or D.I.E.?) we wrote about how DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) is actually DIE (Disunity, Inequality, and Exclusion). For not only does DEI create the elements expressed in this catchy acronym, but the acronym, in a prophetic irony, describes the total effect of DEI on a society––death! Here are some ways in which DEI fuels death.
Death of Human Achievement, Merit and Self-Pride
While the concept of merit is not perfect, it provides us with a guide for a well ordered society. We acknowledge that some merit is influenced by historical advantages – but it is not the norm (except in the imagination of social justice warriors). Societies, the world over, are built to reward hard work and humans have always prided themselves on their achievements. But with the current DEI, for example, women or black people do not have to prove themselves through hard work and merit. Under the banner of “the historically under-privileged,” many are now forced into a special category above society’s long held merit-based requirements. DEI creates a system of perpetual appeasement of “previously disadvantaged” and perpetual punishment of “previously advantaged.” While justice is needed to right the wrong of history, the route of DEI uses erroneous measures and processes.
How to correct history’s ills should certainly be debated; however, a reliance on a life of being shoe honed into privilege based on race or sex is a double-edged sword. It erodes the satisfaction of personal achievement, undermines personal ability, and suppresses agency. For DEI reinforces the very oppression and injustice it seeks to eradicate. Not to mention that it creates a sense of false entitlement and deprives us from using our gifts and skills to honor God and serve our neighbor. It also contradicts the biblical notion of stewardship (Matt 25:14-30) and robs us of opportunities of rejoicing over the fruit of sacrificial labour (Phil 2:14–18). These necessary elements of human society disappear with DEI, creating crippling dependence and entitlement. Human achievement, merit, and self-pride DIE.
Death of Appreciation and Gratitude
The DEI belief that “society owes me because of previous disadvantages” leads to entitlement––rewards and benefits demanded instead of earned, expected instead of awarded. In any society where this thinking of “I’m owed” is applied, with expectations to continually take a slice from a never-ending cake, our human nature naturally leads to a disappearance of gratitude as well as a lack of appreciation for the sacrifices others have made on our behalf. This is a manifestation of ungodliness which seek reward for laziness (Prov 12:27), further disadvantaging those who receive such benefits.2 Appreciation and gratitude DIE.
Death of Competency and Work Ethic
For a society to progress, it needs to embrace certain values. Free loading isn’t one of them. Instead, humans have always assigned each other rewards based on capability, merit, and skills. DEI claims to uplift people from less privileged backgrounds, an honorable and necessary desire, but its “drag and drop” method only entrenches incapability. Those who come in through DEI never develop skills or abilities to thrive and create continuity. By virtue of one’s external or social markers, DEI appoints people into positions without demonstrating the required competencies. This is different than giving an underqualified or under skilled person an opportunity to work hard, undergo training, apply and prove themselves, and climb the ladders necessary to succeed to a better position through determined grit. But DEI’s socialist-Marxist principles create a new class of untouchables as a way of countering historical injustices, turning the notion of “may the best person win” on its head.
True empowerment of the less privileged must incorporate upskilling, mentoring, and guidance. A biblical example is David. He the youngest and smallest, had proven himself capable to defeat a giant from his shepherding days protecting his flock (1 Sam 17:14, 34–36). Even when God wants to promote you, he does not skip skill, ability and training. David had to prove himself. Another example is Timothy, also young, had proven himself a faithful servant to be entrusted with ministry responsibilities (1 Tim 4:12; Phil 2:22). DEI is a destructive practice for Christian ministry as it overlooks basic requirements and indicators. Even though Timothy had the call of God, he did not bypass processes. DEI destroys work ethic altogether which is deemed unnecessary for success in any endeavor. Competency and work ethic DIE.
Death of Community and Teamwork
How can there be a sense of community when people on a team are chosen not by competence, but by race, gender or sexual orientation? A sense of mistrust develops as team members suspect others of being “quota players.” Frustration and irritation occur when having to submit to incompetent superiors, perceived as merely fulfilling a political agenda. Communally working together to achieve a greater purpose fragment into division, jealousy, gossip, and mistrust.3 Community and teamwork DIE.
Death of Self-Drive and Determination
Being a perpetual victim of historic injustice may have its short-term benefits as one may be hired to suit a “disadvantaged” category; however, this basis for hiring fuels systemic corruption. Just look at Eskom.4 Placing one’s security in external “disadvantaged” markers, rather than responsible work performance and competency, means that one must keep political loyalty and connections secure in order to sustain privileged job positions. Along with this comes a waning sense of self-drive and determination, a loss in the ability to dream or to better one’s life or that of others, for job security is assured by means of a perpetual victimhood ideology.
Oppositely, when passed over for being associated with an “advantaged” category, one also loses self-drive and determination, an ability to dream or better one’s future, for what is the point of trying? What is the point of dreaming? Work as hard as you want, but due to external markers inherited by birth, the “advantaged” can never achieve. In a DEI society, everyone loses. Self-drive and determination DIE.
Death of Self-worth and Dignity
Constant wonderment whether opportunities granted are simply for being an under-privileged woman, a token black person, or a required African representative in a company/organization shatter self-worth and dignity. How do I know if I’m good enough to be selected? Am I capable of competing at the same level as my peers? Is my race and sex all I have to offer? Overlooking abilities or lack thereof to help the weaker person may seem noble, but it only demeans the person. They have to live with the burden of knowing that their appointment is not based on capability, skill or qualification, but simply because of physical or social features. In this regard, people are not valued but are simply exploited for ideological gain. Self-worth and dignity DIE.
Death of Law, Order and Justice
A well-ordered society must be built on justice. Based on the biblical principle of impartial judgement (Lev 19:15), all lawbreakers must face equal punishment for crimes committed. But DEI undermines justice as those deemed historically “disadvantaged” get an automatic pass––for a blind eye must be turned, their wrongs become like the “Emperor’s new clothes” which cannot be pointed out. In cases which a crime occurs, the culprit is quickly identified, not based upon facts, witnesses, or a court of law, but based upon his identification as historical oppressor; the victim is also automatically determined, not based on innocence, but based on his identification as historically oppressed.5 Law, order, and justice DIE.
From Death to Life
A continuous death knell sounds on all these facets of society as DEI undermines the humanity of those it claims to be helping. As unskilled, incapable, and unqualified persons are made to run necessary institutions, society slowly crumbles under the weight of such detrimental effects. As Christians, we should be concerned for people who are suffering from historical disadvantages; however, we should advocate for their empowerment in ways that do not undermine their dignity nor absolve victims or their descendants from demonstrating values that have forged human civilization for millennia.
God has exampled a life-giving model in Genesis 1–2 that brings order, dignity, drive, determination, and pride as God’s image-bearers work and thrive using their skills and capabilities. Thus, a great way to assist previously disadvantaged communities is by investing in their education and skills acquisition through intense mentorship programs, enabling them to compete against the best among us.6 For a society fashioned after our Creator God’s example will lead not to death, but to a life-giving society for all.
Works Consulted.
[1] Julie Andrew Edwards, 2006, Mandy, New York: Harper Trophy, 37.
[2] Stephen Grootes, “Analysis: A culture of entitlement that holds us back,” Daily Maverick, January 20, 2014, https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2014-01-20-analysis-a-culture-of-entitlement-that-holds-us-back/#.UtzAA3ng62x.
[3] “The Regressive Nature of Racial Quotas in South African Sport,” IRR, accessed February 5, 2025, https://irr.org.za/fan/media/the-regressive-nature-of-racial-quotas-in-south-african-sport.
[4] Rob Dreher, “Why the Lights Are Going Out in South Africa,” The European Conservative, August 14, 2023, https://europeanconservative.com/articles/dreher/why-the-lights-are-going-out-in-south-africa/.
[5] Aya Elamroussi and Omar Jimenez, “Daniel Penny, The Man Who Held Jordan Neely in a Fatal Chokehold, Says Race Had Nothing To Do With It, New York Post Reports,” CNN, May 22, 2023, https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/22/us/daniel-penny-interview-jordan-neely-chokehold/index.html. See also: Arkaprovo Roy, “Jordan Neely’s Arrest Records: A Look at 43 Cases Linked to Daniel Penny Victim,” Times Now World, Dec 10, 2024, https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us
[6] Nosheen Iqbal, “Jamie Oliver Gave us our Big Break in the Kitchen––and He’s Still Our Hero,” The Guardian, May 26, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/may/26/jamie-oliver-fifteen-gave-us-big-break-still-our-hero#:~:text=Last%20week%2C%20after%2017%20years,been%20a%20long%20time%20coming”.
Disclaimer: The views presented in this blog are those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views of SATS.