Rise of the Christian Ideologue

Lisa Spencer

I don’t think any Christian would want the claim of an ideologue. But as I observed discourse in the past several years related to social and political engagement, unfortunately I do believe there is a place where this happens.

What is a Christian ideologue? According to Webster’s dictionary, an ideologue is “an often blindly partisan advocate or adherent of a particular ideology.” Another definition: an impractical idealist; theorist. So here is my working definition;

A Christian ideologue is one whose Christian faith is so entwined with a particular social or political paradigm that becomes the chief lens and expression of Christian faith and judges how life should be according to this lens. The Christian ideologue is drawn to earthly solutions and sees them as the vehicle for Christian solutions. 

Now in fairness, I don’t think anyone who claims Christ as Savior and Lord, who submits to the authority of Scripture, and strives to live a faithful Christian life, signs up to be an ideologue. Rather, I see it as something happening over time, drip by drip, precept by precept, until a captivation has occurred.

I cannot judge motives but based on several year of discourse I’ve witnessed, here’s what I think happens. It starts innocently enough with a legitimate concern that impacts the individual Christian, the church, and society. It could be addressing racism in the church, the church’s role in addressing areas of systemic racism, policies that go against a biblical perspective of gender identity, harmful policies and practices towards pre-born and living children, political forces that impinge upon freedom of Christian conscious and expression, etc. Observe also, these examples fall on the political left and political right.

Those concerns get addressed through larger, cohesive and more organized entity: chat groups, online coalitions, conferences, and political allegiances. A conviction around a particular paradigm increasingly becomes solidified and is buttressed by group dynamics of like minded thinking. Whatever convictions were fueled by the biblical witness begin to be swallowed up by an ideology and/or partisan political framework the issues address. The authority of ALL of Scripture begins to take a back seat for the urgency of tending to these issues but still claiming the moniker of Christian faithfulness. Heroes are exalted. Enemies to the cause are identified and dealt with as those opposing Christian solutions even when the Christian foundation has been undermined.

I’m not suggesting that in our efforts to maintain faithfulness to the witness of Scripture, we cannot have strong convictions about legitimate concerns. Nor am I suggesting that one cannot have a political partisan interest based on what we believe best aligns with the commands of Scripture. What I’m referring to a complete resignation of the Christian faith to a worldly framework without the benefit of nuance, critical evaluation, or complete subjection to Scripture.

The line can get blurry. But I do think these are good indicators that one has subjected their Christianity to worldly paradigms;

  1. There is a resistance to be challenged or criticized even with empirical evidence and/or a confrontation with Scripture.
  2. There is a reluctance or inability to think critically and with nuance about issues, challenges, and solutions.
  3. There is a strong adherence to talking points that tend to define “the side.”
  4. What is right or wrong is first sifted through the earthly paradigm then through Scripture.
  5. Anyone who does not accept the full orbed parameters of that side are automatically. deemed enemies and treated accordingly.
  6. There is a swift placement of those who question or show any opposition into a categorical box. Ex) those white supremacists or those leftists
  7. There is a justification of behavior not befitting of Scripture’s commands in order to take down that opposing side (or those placed in that side’s box even if unfairly).

These are just some examples that come to mind but I hope you get the picture. Probably the most challenging part of this is confronting those who have fallen into this abyss. But all things are possible with the Lord.

Friends claiming Christ, I get that we can have convictions and passions about addressing any malfeasance that occurs in the church and in the world. But our allegiance is ultimately to Christ and his other-worldly kingdom. His ways are not a third way as if it were just some other worldly option. No, they are higher and rise above the shortsightedness ways of even seemingly good paradigms. We can’t sell out our convictions for cheap solutions. We have to operate as HIS people for his solutions. Let’s not give in.

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