{"id":2162646,"date":"2024-01-30T03:15:02","date_gmt":"2024-01-30T08:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-to-stop-cultural-marxism-from-destroying-your-church\/"},"modified":"2024-01-30T03:23:55","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T08:23:55","slug":"how-to-stop-cultural-marxism-from-destroying-your-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-to-stop-cultural-marxism-from-destroying-your-church\/","title":{"rendered":"Prevent Cultural Marxism&#8217;s Church Destruction"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">10<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhow-to-stop-cultural-marxism-from-destroying-your-church%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2162646&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div class=\"article-content\">\n<h2>The Threat to Orthodox Christianity<\/h2>\n<p>As a conservative evangelical, I&#8217;ve always believed that a literal six-day creation shouldn&#8217;t be a litmus test for orthodox\u2064 Christianity. However, this doesn&#8217;t mean I&#8217;m &#8220;soft&#8221; on Darwin. In fact, I&#8217;ve witnessed firsthand\u2064 how\u200d embracing Darwinism can slowly erode a college \u200bstudent&#8217;s faith.<\/p>\n<p>Initially, they may still \u2063hold onto \u2063their\u2064 allegiance to the\u2062 Nicene Creed while embracing\u200d Darwinism. But\u200c over time, the\u200d naturalistic worldview\u2063 underlying Darwinism starts to chip away at their faith. They begin to view fellow\u200d Christians who reject Darwinism as \u2062backward and close-minded.\u200b Doubts about \u200cthe \u200bauthority of church leaders, the church itself, and even the Bible start to creep\u2063 in.\u2063 Eventually, they feel superior to \u200cthe church and\u2062 the Bible, considering themselves liberated from what they\u2064 now see as the anti-science beliefs of their former Christian peers.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, this same insidious process is now happening with college \u200dstudents who embrace critical \u200dtheories and social justice\u2062 ideologies. They\u200d initially cling to the Bible, searching\u2062 for verses that align with their newfound concerns. But \u2063soon, they start \u2064reinterpreting the Bible, \u2063the church, \u2064and Christian theology\u200b through the lens of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/this-is-about-power-black-theologian-voddie-t-baucham-exposes-demonic-ideology-behind-crt-blm-anti-racism\/\" title=\"\u2018This Is About Power\u2019: Black Theologian Voddie T. Baucham Exposes \u2018Demonic Ideology\u2019 Behind CRT, BLM, Anti-Racism\">critical social justice<\/a>. The authority of the Bible diminishes, replaced by a belief that \u200bthey\u200d are morally superior to the \u200dGod of the Old Testament\u2064 and to Christians who hold\u200b to\u2062 traditional theological truths and ethical standards.<\/p>\n<p>This dangerous trend poses a serious threat to the future of the church, the family, civil discourse, and our democratic society. To \u200bhelp\u200d navigate these treacherous \u200dwaters, Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer have written a survival guide called &#8220;Critical Dilemma:\u2063 The Rise of Critical Theories and Social Justice Ideology \u2014 Implications\u2063 for\u2064 the Church and Society.&#8221; In this book, they\u200d provide\u2063 an objective overview of \u2062contemporary critical theory and equip readers to critique and respond effectively\u2064 to\u2063 its worldview.<\/p>\n<h2>The \u200cPower of Intersectionality<\/h2>\n<p>Shenvi and Sawyer dedicate\u2064 a significant portion of their book to explaining the theories and \u200bideologies they critique. They meticulously analyze quotes from the\u200d actual theorists,\u200b lending credibility and accessibility to their arguments.<\/p>\n<p>They highlight four essential elements of \u2063contemporary critical \u2064theory: social \u200dbinary, hegemonic power, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dems-do-not-plan-to-call-impeachment-witnesses-in-trump-trial\/\" title=\"Dems Do Not Plan To Call Impeachment Witnesses In Trump Trial\">lived experience<\/a>, and social justice. These elements shape the\u2062 worldview of critical \u2063theorists and influence their approach\u2062 to\u2063 various issues such as \u2062race, class, gender, and sexuality.<\/p>\n<p>One of the most significant elements is intersectionality, which emerged from Marxist identity politics. Intersectionality \u2064views\u200d individuals as \u200cmembers\u200d of \u200dgroups either victimizers or victimized. Shenvi and Sawyer \u2063demonstrate how intersectionality has\u200c become an overarching framework that fuses different disciplines, \u2063blurring the lines between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">critical race theory<\/a>, queer\u200c theory, and more.<\/p>\n<p>Another crucial element \u2062is \u2064hegemonic power, which goes beyond\u200c overt \u200dacts of injustice. It encompasses \u2064how dominant social groups impose their \u200dvalues and norms on society, often disguising them as natural or even God-ordained. This perspective leads\u2062 to the \u2062belief that certain groups, such as white\u2064 heterosexual\u2063 males, possess inherent privilege, \u2062while others, like black\u200d lesbian atheists, are oppressed.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, contemporary critical theory prioritizes lived experience over objective evidence and\u2064 reason. This shift challenges the\u200d Enlightenment \u2062belief that reason and science provide a neutral foundation for society. Instead, the seriousness of\u2064 perceived harm is determined solely by the victimized person, and any questioning\u2062 of their response is\u2064 seen as a \u200dproduct of \u200coppression.<\/p>\n<p>Lastly,\u2062 social \u2064justice is a central \u200cconcern for critical\u2063 theorists.\u200d They seek to\u2062 transform society by empowering marginalized and \u2064disenfranchised groups and dismantling systems and structures that perpetuate the \u200csocial binary. Shenvi and Sawyer emphasize the need to critically examine how contemporary \u200dcritical \u200ctheory defines justice and identifies which \u200csystems are unjust.<\/p>\n<h2>Christianity vs. Critical Theory<\/h2>\n<p>Shenvi \u2063and Sawyer argue that contemporary \u200ccritical theory functions as a\u2062 worldview and metanarrative, just\u2064 like Christianity. However, the assumptions underlying these worldviews are fundamentally \u2063incompatible.<\/p>\n<p>Christianity recognizes the inherent worth of all individuals as made \u2064in \u200cGod&#8217;s image, while critical \u200btheory divides people into oppressor and oppressed groups. Christianity addresses\u2064 sin as \u200bthe \u200cprimary problem, \u200bwhile critical theory focuses on oppression. The solution in Christianity is redemption through Christ, while critical theory \u200cadvocates for activism and liberation \u2062politics.<\/p>\n<p>Shenvi and Sawyer highlight the stark \u200cdifferences between these worldviews in terms of\u2063 their understanding of social norms, \u200dhierarchies, the role\u2062 of law, and the focus on eternal needs versus temporal needs.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout their critique, Shenvi and Sawyer specifically address \u2062critical race\u2062 theory and queer theory, emphasizing their interconnectedness and the dangers of reading racial\u200d concerns into Scripture or assigning \u200bcollective guilt based on race. \u200dThey stress the importance of\u200c biblical\u2063 exegesis \u200band call \u200dfor a return to Scripture as the ultimate authority.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, Shenvi and Sawyer&#8217;s book serves as a timely warning against the ideas that threaten orthodox Christianity. \u200bThey urge \u2062Christians\u2063 to reject the divisive narratives of critical theory and instead embrace the \u2062unifying message of Christ&#8217;s love and redemption for people of every tribe and nation.<\/p>\n<p>While the challenges \u200dare great, there is still hope to counter \u200cthe influence \u2064of critical theory and rebuild\u2062 bridges within the body of Christ.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"> <\/p>\n<h2> According to Shenvi and\u200d Sawyer, how can \u200cindividual Christians engage with critical theories\u2063 in a\u200b constructive and respectful manner<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Ps and dismantling oppressive systems. However, Shenvi and Sawyer \u200dargue that the notion of social \u2064justice in critical theory is not a traditional understanding of justice but rather a means\u200d to redistribute \u2064power and resources based on group identity.<\/p>\n<p>Shenvi and Sawyer&#8217;s analysis of these essential elements of contemporary critical\u2064 theory sheds light on\u2062 the \u200dunderlying worldview \u2063that shapes the thinking of those who embrace this ideology. By understanding \u200bthese elements, readers can better engage in thoughtful dialogue and critique, rather than dismissing or\u200c attacking those who hold different views.<\/p>\n<h2>The\u2063 Role of\u200c the Church and \u200cChristians<\/h2>\n<p>In &#8220;Critical Dilemma,&#8221; Shenvi\u200c and Sawyer emphasize the importance of \u2064the church and individual Christians being\u2062 equipped \u200bto navigate the challenges posed by\u200d critical theories and social \u2062justice \u2064ideologies.<\/p>\n<p>They argue \u2063that the church has a\u2062 crucial role\u200c in addressing\u200b these issues. Instead of\u200d dismissing \u2064or denouncing critical theories, the church\u200d should engage in thoughtful dialogue and integration. By understanding\u200d the underlying worldview \u2063and \u2064addressing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/heres-where-gop-election-officials-stand-on-their-states-ties-to-a-leftist-controlled-voter-roll-maintenance-group\/\" title=\"Here\u2019s Where GOP Election Officials Stand On Their State\u2019s Ties To A Leftist-Controlled Voter Roll \u2018Maintenance\u2019 Group\">legitimate concerns raised<\/a> by \u200bcritical theorists, the church can offer a robust alternative that upholds theological truths while seeking justice and reconciliation.<\/p>\n<p>Individual Christians also\u200b play a \u200dvital role in \u2063engaging with critical theories in a constructive \u2062manner. Shenvi and\u200b Sawyer encourage \u2063Christians to approach these conversations with humility, empathy, and a commitment to truth. They \u200dadvocate for respectful dialogue that seeks\u2063 understanding\u2062 and common ground, rather than resorting \u200dto \u2063divisive rhetoric \u200bor personal\u200b attacks.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, Shenvi \u200dand\u2063 Sawyer emphasize the importance of Christians being well-informed and critically engaged. They provide readers\u200b with the tools to\u200d analyze\u2064 and\u200c respond to critical theories, empowering them to articulate a thoughtful Christian perspective\u2064 that addresses the legitimate concerns raised by these ideologies while remaining faithful to biblical truth.<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>The rise of critical theories and social justice ideologies\u2064 poses a significant threat to orthodox Christianity. It can erode\u200b faith, \u200dundermine the\u2063 authority of \u2063the Bible, and \u2064divide the church. However, with the right understanding\u2064 and engagement, the church and individual \u200dChristians can navigate these challenges \u200dand offer a robust alternative that\u200c upholds theological truths and\u200c seeks \u200bjustice\u2062 and reconciliation.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Critical Dilemma&#8221; by Neil Shenvi and Pat \u2063Sawyer is \u200da valuable resource for Christians \u2064who \u200cseek to understand and respond effectively to the rise of critical theories. By\u2062 providing an objective\u200c overview and practical tools for critique, the book\u200b equips readers to engage in thoughtful dialogue and integration, affirming biblical truth while \u200baddressing legitimate concerns raised by critical theorists. Through\u200d informed and respectful engagement, the church can \u2063navigate these\u200c treacherous \u2063waters and be a\u2063 force for \u200ctruth and reconciliation in our society.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A literal six-day creation. As a conservative evangelical, I lean towards a young Earth, yet I believe it&#8217;s crucial not to make it a litmus test for orthodox Christianity. However, this doesn&#8217;t imply I am lenient towards Darwin&#8217;s theories. Previously, I argued that Christian faith doesn&#8217;t rely on this belief, but now I see it differently<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":645,"featured_media":2162647,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2162646","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2162646","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/645"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2162646"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2162646\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2162647"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2162646"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2162646"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2162646"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}