The Trump administration is eradicating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the federal government. That’s good news for Christians who believe the Bible is still the final authority on moral and political issues and who champion public policy based on God’s Word.
While much public dialogue surrounding DEI is less than truthful – especially from legacy media – the commentary below sets the record straight concerning the unbiblical nature of DEI and its connection to cultural Marxism.
DEI vs. the Bible
DEI has emerged as a dominant ideology in corporations, universities, and even some churches. Advocates present it as a means of achieving justice. However, beneath its noble-sounding language, DEI is rooted in cultural Marxism – a worldview opposed to biblical truth.
Proponents argue that DEI is a framework that creates a more just and inclusive society.
Diversity refers to ensuring the representation of a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds, and identities, particularly elevating historically marginalized groups.
Equity differs from equality; rather than providing equal opportunities, it seeks equal outcomes by redistributing resources and advantages to compensate for perceived injustices.
Inclusion demands that identities and perspectives of historically oppressed groups should be celebrated and prioritized.
These ideas may seem compassionate on the surface. However, when seen through a biblical lens, they reveal theological distortions.
The Bible affirms diversity, but in a very different context than the cultural Marxists. Scripture teaches by inference that diversity is not a goal, but rather a byproduct of God’s redemptive work. The emphasis is not on celebrating different identities for their own sakes but on bringing people of all nations into unity under the banner of Christ.
In Revelation 7:9, the apostle John paints this vivid picture: “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands.”
Unlike biblical diversity, DEI elevates human identity markers – race, gender, and social class – above the truth of God’s Word. It teaches that peoples’ worth and perspectives should be defined primarily by their group identity rather than by their relationship with Christ. This belief contradicts the biblical teaching that everyone is created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and that believers are to find their primary identity in Christ (Galatians 2:20).
Paul addresses this issue directly in Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
This does not mean that distinctions cease to exist; it means that they are not the basis of unity in God’s kingdom. Unity in Christ transcends diversity, whereas DEI makes diversity an end, in and of itself, often at the expense of biblical truth.
Unity in truth vs. forced conformity
Biblical unity is rooted in truth, not forced compliance with cultural ideologies. In John 17:17-21, Jesus prays for His followers to be united, not through social initiatives but through God’s truth: “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. … I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me” (vv. 17, 20-21).
DEI, by contrast, often demands agreement with secular definitions of justice, morality, and inclusion. Those who dissent are labeled as oppressive, intolerant, or backward. This is not the biblical model of unity; it is an ideological conformity that pressures people to prioritize worldly values over scriptural truth.
Diversity without truth
When diversity is elevated above biblical truth, it fosters division and partiality (or favoritism) rather than unity. Scripture warns against divisions based on human distinctions: “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10, ESV).
Instead, DEI fosters an “us-versus-them” mindset, reinforcing divisions instead of overcoming them through the gospel. It teaches people to view themselves and others primarily through the lens of race, gender, or social status, rather than seeing all people as either redeemed in Christ or in need of His redemption.
As Christians, our call is not to seek diversity for diversity’s sake, but to proclaim the truth of Christ, making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19) and calling people into unity of truth – not through social agendas, but through the life-transforming power of the gospel.
DEI and cultural Marxism
DEI is not a well-intentioned framework for achieving justice; it is a repackaging of cultural Marxism, a philosophy that seeks to divide society into oppressed and oppressor groups. Unlike classical Marxism, which focuses on economic class struggles, cultural Marxism applies this oppressor-oppressed dynamic to race, gender, and identity. It replaces personal responsibility with collective guilt, merit with entitlement, and reconciliation with perpetual grievance.
Dr. Voddie Baucham, a theologian and cultural critic, warns that such ideologies represent a counterfeit version of justice. He describes critical race theory (CRT), a key component of DEI, as a worldview “that sees racism as the fundamental organizing principle of society,” rather than recognizing sin as the root problem of human strife. Instead of calling individuals to repentance and reconciliation in Christ, DEI ideology fosters division, resentment, and an unbiblical pursuit of power.
Biblical justice
Biblical justice is radically different from the social justice of DEI. Scripture affirms that God shows no partiality (Romans 2:11) and calls believers to judge with righteousness (John 7:24). The biblical model of justice holds individuals accountable for their own sins, not for the sins of their ancestors or their group identity.
Ezekiel 18:20 makes this clear: “The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.”
Yet DEI, like cultural Marxism, promotes the idea of collective guilt and redistributive justice, directly contradicting God’s Word. It insists that certain groups must be penalized for historical injustices, while others must receive unearned advantages based on identity. This view undermines both the biblical view of justice and the dignity of individuals as bearers of God’s image (Genesis 1:27).
Thus, as defined by its advocates, DEI is not a neutral framework. It imposes a worldview that prioritizes collective identity over individual responsibility, elevates power struggles over biblical reconciliation, and promotes partiality rather than God’s standard of justice.
Pastor and author John MacArthur echoed this concern when he stated, “A truly biblical perspective on social issues recognizes that sin – not social or economic disparity – is the root cause of human conflicts. The answer is the gospel, not a secularized form of justice that denies the power of grace.”
The call to Christian discernment
Christians must be wary of worldly philosophies masquerading as justice but contradicting God’s Word. Paul warns in Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”
DEI, with its roots in cultural Marxism, is one such empty philosophy. Instead of embracing it, believers must champion a biblical worldview, including social policy that upholds truth, accountability, and reconciliation through Christ. The church must resist the pressure to conform to the world (Romans 12:2) and instead proclaim the gospel as the only true path to justice, unity, and peace.
Editor’s Note: This article was adapted from a commentary that was originally posted by American Family News (afn.net) and later by The Stand blog (afa.net/thestand).
