Replacement Theory

by Matt Laney | published on May 3, 2024

Now a new king arose over Egypt… He said to his people, “Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and more powerful than we. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them.” – Exodus 1:8-9 (NRSV) 

I served a church as it joyfully voted to become “Open and Affirming,” the United Church of Christ’s way to designate a congregation that is a safe, fully inclusive space for the LGBTQ community. However, a few people expressed concerns that such a move would cause the church to be overrun with gay people which, in their minds, would not be good.  

That’s Replacement Theory, the fear of a majority that minorities are a threat to their position and power. It goes back a long way, all the way back to Exodus in fact. Pharoah feared an immigrant population had become so numerous they would soon take over. That prompted the Egyptians to enslave the Israelites for 400 years.  

In modern times, Replacement Theory prompted the Holocaust and has been espoused against the Irish, Italians, Jews, Latinos, immigrants and, consistently in our country, against Black people.  

Whenever we hear “They are taking over!” or “They are taking our jobs and our neighborhoods!” or “They are becoming a voting block against us!” or “White people are under assault,” that’s Replacement Theory, the irrational fear that they will soon replace us. 

Replacement Theory has no place in the church. Any fear-based theory that justifies oppression and violence is anti-Christ. The only replacement Jesus advocated is reflected in this slightly modified version of the Prayer of St. Francis. Let’s pray it together: 

Prayer
Lord, let me be an instrument of your peace. Let me replace hatred with love; Let me replace injury with pardon; Let me replace doubt with faith; Let me replace despair with hope… Amen.

Matt LaneyAbout the Author
Matt Laney is the Senior Pastor of Virginia Highland Church UCC in Atlanta, GA and the author of Pride Wars, a fantasy series published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for Young Readers. The first two books, The Spinner Prince and The Four Guardians are available now.