President Donald Trump and his administration officials are openly eradicating DEI in the federal government. Much of the conversation, especially from legacy media, isn’t truthful about the inherent problems of what DEI actually is and why it’s antithetical to truth. Christians can and should champion truthful policy and oppose policy that is contrary to the principles of God's Word.
So what is DEI? How DEI advocates define it vs. a biblical worldview
In recent years, DEI emerged as a dominant ideology in corporations, universities, and even some churches. Advocates present it as a means of achieving justice and fairness. However, beneath its noble-sounding language, DEI is deeply rooted in Cultural Marxism – a worldview fundamentally opposed to biblical truth. As Christians, we must discern the ideological origins of DEI and evaluate it against Scripture.
DEI proponents argue that their framework is about creating a more just and inclusive society by addressing systemic inequalities. Their definitions often sound positive on the surface:
Diversity refers to ensuring 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 all identities and perspectives, especially those of historically oppressed groups, be not just tolerated but actively celebrated and prioritized.
On the surface, these ideas may appear compassionate. However, when examined through a biblical lens, they reveal serious theological distortions.
Diversity in the Bible: Unity in truth over identity
The Bible affirms diversity in a way that is vastly different from the way DEI promotes it. Scripture teaches that diversity in itself is not a goal but rather a byproduct of God’s redemptive work. The emphasis in Scripture is not on celebrating different identities for their own sake but on bringing people from all nations into unity under the truth of Christ.
Biblical diversity glorifies God
Revelation 7:9 paints a powerful picture of the redeemed people of God:
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.”
This passage shows that God’s kingdom includes people from every background, but they are unified in worshiping Christ. Their diversity is secondary to their shared faith in Jesus.
DEI diversity prioritizes identity over truth
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 contradicts biblical teaching that every person 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, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
This does not mean that distinctions cease to exist but rather that they are not the basis of unity in God’s kingdom. Unity in Christ transcends diversity, whereas DEI makes diversity an end in 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; that they may all be one, just 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 have sent me.”
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 but rather an ideological conformity that pressures people to prioritize worldly values over scriptural truth.
Diversity without truth leads to division
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)
Instead, DEI fosters an "us-versus-them" mindset, reinforcing divisions rather than 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 focused 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 (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.
A biblical perspective on 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 righteous judgment (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 soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall 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 undermines both the biblical view of justice and the dignity of individuals as bearers of God’s image (Genesis 1:27).
Thus, DEI, as defined by its own advocates, 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.
John MacArthur echoes this concern, stating:
“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 that masquerade as justice but contradict God's Word. Paul warns in Colossians 2:8:
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not 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 in social policy – one 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.
Notice: This column is printed with permission. Opinion pieces published by AFN.net are the sole responsibility of the article's author(s), or of the person(s) or organization(s) quoted therein, and do not necessarily represent those of the staff or management of, or advertisers who support the American Family News Network, AFN.net, our parent organization or its other affiliates.
