So how do you feel about “kinism?” A couple of weeks ago I would have asked, what is kinism? A week after General Assembly I was scrolling through my newsfeed on Facebook and saw a post from a page I had never seen before called “Tribal Theocrat.” The article was speaking about the PCA’s passage of the racial reconciliation overture. It caught my attention because of its negativity and vulgarity. It seemed to be put out by people either posing as or considering themselves to be Presbyterians. I was taken aback by their unabashed, hateful speech. Without thinking much about it, I went to the main page and messaged the administrator of the page asking simply, “who are you?” I wish that I had paid more attention to the name of the page and thought before I clicked (always a good idea). I found myself caught in a place of dealing with a “theonomist” and I couldn’t just back out because I had initiated the conversation. Very generally speaking, theonomists believe the Old Testament Civil laws should still apply everywhere today. Unfortunately I’ve had a lot of interaction with theonomists and have seen how they can ravage a church, it is not pleasant. I should say here not all “theonomists” are bad and evil people, but I know some that are the virtual reincarnation of the Pharisees and should be avoided. These folks are typically very well versed in their ideas and wantonly blind to any germane biblical arguments. They tend to be “sophists” and embody the idea of knowledge “puffing up.” Making biblical arguments to them is like casting pearls before swine. More than just espousing theonomy, I discovered these folks also are putting forth the theological error called kinism.
Kinism is a belief that God has created the world with different ethnicities (races) and that these various ethnic groups should stay separate. They see segregation as something God has ordained and it is to be pursued. The few kinists that I have encountered also believe in the superiority of the white race, in short they are racists. Guarding the sheep is the responsibility of the shepherd. It is as one tasked with guarding the flock, that I write this. These people are snakes in the grass, calling themselves Christians, yet believing in racism and the segregation of ethnicities as God’s will for the world. It is not a particularly new idea, but I could have gladly done without this acquaintance. “Kinism” is a heretical philosophy. Why am I telling you this? Well they’re out there and I want you to be able to recognize the danger these people represent. They hate in the name of Christ. The very idea is abhorrent, but that is who they are. They love to arrogantly boast and spout their appalling theology and in a social media context, they will do it using pseudonyms and pen names in order to avoid being recognized and disciplined by their churches. They are cowards and heretics. Remember what Jesus said in John 3:19-20, And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed…
Now how do we deal with kinists so that we don’t fall into the same categories of arrogance, hatred, and heresy to which they are subject? First, pray for these people, they are trapped in bondage. Pray that they will see the light of Christ and come into the light rather than continuing to love the darkness. Speak the truth to them in as loving a way as possible realizing they’re not really interested in what you have to say. Finally, ask the Holy Spirit to guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus so that you may walk in the light and be kept in the truth.
