This is a question more churches are now facing, not from the margins of culture, but from within. Critical Theory has quietly moved from academia into corporate boardrooms, media platforms, public education—and even seminaries and pulpits. Many believers, seeking to uphold justice and compassion, have embraced elements of this worldview without fully realizing what it is or how it conflicts with biblical Christianity.

At its core, Critical Theory is not simply a sociological method or an analysis tool—it is a comprehensive worldview. It interprets the world through the lens of power dynamics, identifying people as either oppressors or oppressed, based on categories like race, gender, sexuality, and class. According to Critical Theory, truth is not objective but shaped by one’s lived experience. Language, law, religion, and social structures are often viewed as oppressive tools used by dominant groups to maintain control. Liberation, it argues, comes through activism and the dismantling of these systems.

This framework is not merely academic. It influences how people see justice, morality, and even salvation. In this way, Critical Theory functions as a rival gospel, promising redemption not from sin, but from systemic oppression.

Critical Theory, CRT, and Intersectionality

Closely related to this is Critical Race Theory (CRT), which applies Critical Theory specifically to race and claims that racism is embedded in all institutions and systems. Another offshoot is intersectionality, which teaches that individuals who belong to multiple oppressed identity groups (e.g., a black, LGBTQ woman) hold greater moral authority and insight than those with more privileged identities. These ideas reject biblical anthropology, which teaches that all humans are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), and they undermine the unity believers share in Christ (Galatians 3:28).

Where Christianity and Critical Theory Collide

The incompatibility between Critical Theory and Christianity becomes especially clear when we examine what each teaches about foundational truths:

While Critical Theory uses moral-sounding language—justice, equity, liberation—it redefines these terms and divorces them from the Bible. It replaces biblical categories with cultural ones, undermining the sufficiency of Scripture and leading many into error.

Why Are Christians Drawn to It?

For many, the appeal lies in a sincere concern for justice and compassion. Christians rightly want to oppose racism, care for the marginalized, and seek what is good. But in a culture where secular ideologies dominate the narrative, believers may unintentionally conflate biblical justice with social justice ideology. Add to this the growing cultural pressure in academic institutions, ministries, and social media, and it’s easy to see how confusion spreads.

But the church must define justice the way God does—not the way the culture does. Scripture calls us to pursue righteousness, uphold truth, and extend mercy in Christ’s name. These are not negotiable values. They are rooted in God’s unchanging character and Word.

A Better Foundation

Christians don’t need Critical Theory to care about injustice. We already have a better foundation: a biblical worldview rooted in the creation, fall, redemption, and restoration storyline of Scripture. From Genesis 1–3 to the cross of Christ, we are shown what justice, grace, and reconciliation truly mean. Our call is not to promote identity politics but to proclaim Christ crucified—the only true path to peace and unity.

Critical Theory is not a neutral tool. It is a competing worldview—one that distorts sin, redefines justice, and offers a false hope. If we are to be faithful to Christ and His Word, we must reject Critical Theory and instead view the world through the lens of Scripture.

Recommended Resources

• Check out Contending for the Word on YouTube.
• Check out Contending for the Word Q&A on Servants of Grace.