Book Review: Fire in the Streets
- Josh Klein
- May 19, 2023
- 8 min read
Updated: Nov 13
If you have followed Dr. Douglas R. Groothuis’ work through the years you will know him as an excellent philosopher and dynamic apologist. His work in philosophy at Denver Seminary is among the best in the nation and his keystone work on Christian Apologetics released in 2022 is as well. Dr. Groothuis' most recent work, however, carries the most significance yet.
I have taken a keen interest in racial issues and ideologies within the American historical framework for quite some time. Recently, I wrote a review on a pastoral book about God and Race and I have spent quite a bit of time in my personal life familiarizing myself with this incendiary topic.
As a result of this study I have become quite familiar with the assumptions, arguments, and claims concerning the topic on both sides of the aisle. In my review of God and Race I mentioned that it was the best book for the church (and I still believe that) but today I seek to review a book that is best read by the lay individual within the church.
Fire in the Streets
(How You Can Confidently Respond to Incendiary Cultural Topics)
by Douglas R. Groothuis.
First, a quick story. About two years ago I happened upon another book on a similar topic by a well-known theologian named Voddie Baucham. The book
Fault Lines
was released in April of 2021 and I read it almost as soon as it was published. In my opinion, what Voddie sought to accomplish in
Fault Lines
was accomplished by Dr. Groothuis in
Fire in the Streets
with more academic rigor and winsomeness. That is not an indictment on
Fault Lines,
but it does inform why Groothuis’ book is receiving a review from us and Baucham’s book did not.
Fire in the Streets
seeks to simplify the narrative around what is commonly referred to as CRT (Critical Race Theory). CRT has become a hot button topic in recent years, causing conservatives and progressive to argue about its efficacy in handling the racial issues of America's past. But what is CRT? Is it just a boogeyman made up by conservatives to get people riled up? Is it just an analytical tool in case-law that is not taught in schools? What IS Critical Race Theory and how is it impacting our culture today?
Dr. Groothuis' goal, as far as I can tell, is to give the lay person a primer into what CRT is and is not and how it does or does not align with scripture and give the Christian tools to navigate the new CRT laden world we live in. In only 198 pages! Groothuis does a great job breaking through the veneer of political interests and drilling down to the core tenants of CRT philosophy and how they square with reality and truth. He pulls no punches, but he does not smear the critiques of America's past that are warranted.
In the book, he offers a quick introduction to the philosophies on which CRT is based, proffers a critique of the assertions and solutions given by CRT proponents and gives the church a simple road map in responding to them.
Most books on this issue could be shortened by half but Groothuis' book is almost too short. He whets the appetite and offers solutions but does not get mired down in deep philosophical wonderings (something that was difficult for him to avoid I assume!). The book is not without some issues, but it is, by far, the most well written book on the topic meant for the novice to consume.
Issues with Fire in the Streets
The first issue this book has is timeliness. Unfortunately, there is a certain fatigue among American Christians concerning issues like CRT and Marxism and thus, another resource on the topic seems uninteresting and unfortunately part of an oversaturation in the market. This does not make the work any less necessary, because fatigue can easily give way to complacency and we cannot become complacent on this topic. However, this could be why the book has simply not sold as well as many hoped. Dr. Groothuis himself has taken to social media to implore people to read it and to share it and buy it for others. https://twitter.com/DougGroothuis/status/1656667218942529537?s=20 Dr. Groothuis does a fantastic job defining and outlining the problems with Critical Race Theory, however, I would have liked a more robust treatment of the Frankfurt School’s role in the establishment of Critical Theory in general and Critical Race Theory in particular. Along the same lines, I would have liked more interaction with Richard Delgado's and Derrick Bell’s work than with faux intellectual Ibram X Kendi’s work on the topic. I do understand that Kendi is a popularizer of CRT and the most mainstream voice on the topic, but his work is built directly from the foundation of Delgado, Bell, and Kimberlé Crenshaw. Kendi is an easy target, but Bell’s work is more foundational to the ideology underpinning our current cultural movement and given Baucham’s issues in accurately portraying Delgado’s work in
Fault Lines
I had hoped Groothuis could give a more complete effort. Groothuis does challenge Bell directly (pgs. 75-79) but the treatment of Bell’s work in four pages is no simple task and the surface is only scratched in rebuttal. I am, perhaps, being unfair in this critique, but I believe a book dedicated to the dangers of CRT could use an entire chapter, or two, dedicated to the persons of Bell and Delgado and their arguments. I understand that this could “bog” the book down, but I believe it would make the book’s arguments and prescriptions much stronger. My final critique of the book is that I feel it tries to do too much in too little space. The topics are broad, the history immense, and the philosophy robust. As one reads the book one could get lost in the purpose of the book as Groothuis moves from topic to topic very quickly. This is not to say the book is random, it is not. There is a clear and purposeful trajectory but it also tends to move so quickly from topic to topic that one
can
get lost if one does not have at least a foundation of understanding concerning certain names and ideas discussed in the book. Which puts the book's target audience, the novice, in a difficult position. The book does read well for a beginner and takes care to define certain things like the word
ideology
(pgs. 89-93) but often will take what feels like quick turns into other topics. For instance, the book takes a decided turn into an apologetic tome in
section IV
(pg. 149). I understand the reasoning for this – Dr. Groothuis wants to set forward the idea that only Christianity can rightly critique CRT and its adherents but takes time to critique James Lindsey in the process.
He does so with purpose, but the critique takes precious space away from the argument based on Christianity and a biblical ethic. For those wanting to read the book, I would highly recommend it, but be prepared to move quickly, and you might need to underline some names and pay attention to foot notes for further study if you get lost in some of the rapid movement throughout the book.
What this book does well
One of the best things about this book is its unapologetic reliance on scripture to bolster its arguments. There are occasions, especially in the middle part of the book, where scriptures seem to be tacked on as an afterthought but more often than not, especially in the latter sections of the book, Groothuis makes an effort to base his arguments on scripture. There are three parts of the book that are particularly worth the price of purchase alone. As always, with my reviews, I will attempt to tease these sections out to encourage you to purchase the book! The first part is in Groothuis’ treatment of the history (and mismanagement thereof by CRT advocates) of the United States. In my review on
God and Race
I took umbrage with the misrepresentation of the 3/5 compromise. Groothuis knocks this section out of the park (pgs. 53-55). Any young person that wants a quick sampling of the difference between an honest reading of American History and CRT’s reading of American History should simply read Chapter 3 in
Fire in the Streets
as Groothuis does a superb job at boiling down the racial history of America and CRT’s poor handling of it in only 20 pages. Likewise, chapter six, again only 20 pages, gives the reader a quick and robust review of economics and a cogent and simple perspective on reparations. Groothuis does an admirable job at introducing arguments, defining them, and then dismantling them with precision and accuracy. I thought the section on reparations was one of the best and easiest to understand that I have read in my life. Groothuis also leans heavily on Thomas Sowell and Milton Friedman in this section, but he is able to communicate their findings on economics with a clarity. Not easily accomplished in such a limited amount of space considering the mountains of literature on the topic from both men. Finally, the last section of the book,
A Better Fire
takes the time to give concrete steps for individuals to take in engaging with a culture that is caught in the sway of CRT. What I like about this section is that Groothuis does not seek to inflame the base passions of the conservative heart for the culture war but he calls for a much more subversive and tangible response to the situation. Rather than asking readers to become writers and public intellectuals to fight for the cause themselves he calls them to respond in love, prayer, and action. In that order.
This call takes a cultural problem and intentionally makes it a matter of spiritual conviction rather than political activism. The call to oppose the ideology comes, not from a form of dogmatic patriotism that obfuscates the lines between love of God and country, but in the form of practical discipleship within the midst of a nation where we, as citizens, have the unique opportunity to effectuate lasting and meaningful change on a cultural level (see: The Right Christian Nationalism). Groothuis calls the reader to love and prayer but also gives concrete steps to take moving forward. He calls for a reimagining of education on a personal and local level and also insists on the importance of civic rituals to maintain and propogate the cultural mores of this great nation which are based on the Judeo-Christian ethic.
This is the first book I've read that makes the problem of CRT not seem like an impossible cultural monster to fight, but a foe that we can understand and engage on a personal level as we disciple our kids and move forward in the future in our communities. The message of hope is palpable within the final chapters, especially in the quoting of scripture at the end of the book.
Whether you are someone that has spent decades looking into this topic or a novice that simply wants to understand more, this book has the unique ability to speak to you where you are. I could not recommend it enough and believe it should be a book on reading lists in Christian Schools across the country as we seek to engage with this insidious ideology as Christians living faithfully in the United States of America.
Overall I give this book a 9 out of 10
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