

By Dr. Tim Orr
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has become one of the most powerful forces shaping contemporary culture, affecting policies in corporations, universities, and even churches. While DEI is often presented as a neutral or benevolent initiative designed to ensure fairness and justice, a closer examination reveals that it is far more than a set of workplace policies. It is an ideological system with deep philosophical roots, drawing from postmodernism, critical theory, and identity politics. Rather than merely addressing issues of fairness, DEI introduces a new way of understanding human identity, justice, and morality—one that often conflicts with biblical truth.
For Christians, this presents a challenge. Some believers embrace DEI uncritically, assuming that it aligns with Christian values because it speaks about justice and inclusion. Others reject it outright, seeing it as a manifestation of secularism and leftist politics. While DEI contains many troubling elements, the real danger is that many Christians have not thought deeply about its principles. Instead of simply reacting—either by embracing it without discernment or by opposing it without understanding—Christians need a theologically grounded response. We must assess where DEI aligns with biblical values and where it departs, and we must do so with clarity, conviction, and wisdom. More importantly, we must offer a better alternative, a vision of justice, dignity, and reconciliation grounded in the truth of the Gospel rather than the shifting sands of cultural ideology.
Affirming What is Good: Justice, Human Dignity, and True Inclusion
Before launching into a critique, it is important to recognize why DEI has gained traction. DEI speaks to real issues—issues of fairness, justice, and the treatment of marginalized groups. These concerns should not be dismissed outright because the Bible itself commands us to care for the vulnerable and to seek justice for the oppressed. The problem with DEI is not the issues it raises but the ideological framework it uses to address them.
Biblical Justice vs. DEI’s Redefined Justice
The Bible presents justice as a reflection of God's righteous character. Biblical justice is never arbitrary or based on social trends; it is rooted in absolute moral truth. Throughout Scripture, God calls His people to uphold justice by treating others fairly, protecting the vulnerable, and ensuring that society upholds righteousness. The Old Testament prophets frequently rebuked Israel for failing to practice justice, warning that oppression, corruption, and moral compromise would bring God’s judgment. The biblical vision of justice is not limited to individual ethics but extends to societal structures. However, biblical justice always balances righteousness, fairness, and mercy.
DEI, on the other hand, redefines justice in terms of power dynamics and oppression. Instead of grounding justice in an objective moral order, DEI assumes that justice is achieved when power and privilege are redistributed from historically dominant groups to historically marginalized ones. This is why many DEI initiatives emphasize equity over equality. In a biblical sense, equality means equal treatment under the law and fairness in opportunity. Still, equity, as defined by DEI, means ensuring equal outcomes, often by penalizing certain groups and elevating others based on their identity category. This approach does not produce true justice but fosters resentment and deepens division.
Biblical justice calls for impartiality. God commands His people not to show favoritism, whether to the rich or the poor. In Leviticus 19:15, we read, "Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly." This principle directly opposes many DEI-driven policies that promote preferential treatment based on identity rather than individual merit and moral responsibility. Instead of restoring justice, this approach distorts it, replacing past injustices with new forms of partiality and bias.
The Image of God and the Foundation for Human Dignity
The biblical doctrine of Imago Dei teaches that every human being is created in God’s image and, therefore, possesses intrinsic dignity and worth. This truth provides the foundation for a Christian understanding of human rights and equality. It is why Christians have historically been at the forefront of social reforms, from the abolition of slavery to the civil rights movement. The belief that all people are made in God’s image ensures that dignity is not granted by society or the state—it is a divine reality that cannot be taken away.
DEI, however, offers a different foundation for human dignity. Rather than grounding dignity in the image of God, it roots dignity in identity categories such as race, gender, and sexual orientation. This shift has profound implications. If human worth is tied to group identity rather than a shared divine image, dignity becomes a fluid and politically contested concept. Instead of emphasizing the unity of humanity, DEI promotes a hierarchical view of oppression, where some identities are elevated while others are diminished. This creates a culture of division and victimhood rather than reconciliation and unity.
The church should be where true dignity is affirmed—not as a social construct that can be redefined or manipulated, but as a God-given reality that applies to all people equally. Rather than adopting DEI’s flawed vision, Christians should proclaim the unshakable worth of every human being, recognizing that our deepest identity is not found in race, class, or gender but in our relationship with God through Christ.
Where DEI Conflicts with a Biblical Worldview
While DEI promotes fairness and inclusion, its core assumptions conflict with a biblical understanding of identity, justice, and reconciliation. These conflicts are not merely academic; they shape real-world policies, influence institutions, and impact how Christians interact in their workplaces, churches, and communities.
A key tenet of DEI is that human identity is primarily shaped by group affiliation rather than individual moral character. This is why DEI frameworks categorize people into oppressor and oppressed groups, often based solely on characteristics such as race or gender. In contrast, the Gospel calls people into a new identity, transcending these social divisions.
Paul’s words in Colossians 3:11 are striking: "Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and is in all." Paul is not denying cultural distinctions but rejecting the idea that these distinctions should define our primary identity. The problem with DEI is that it elevates racial and gender identity to the level of ultimate significance, often making them more important than personal beliefs, moral integrity, or even shared humanity.
This obsession with identity politics has led to perpetual division rather than genuine reconciliation. Instead of fostering unity, DEI often teaches people to view others primarily through the lens of historical grievances and systemic oppression. This contradicts the biblical command to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). The Gospel does not deny past injustices. Still, it offers a path to true healing rooted in forgiveness, repentance, and redemption rather than grievance, retribution, and ideological warfare.
Avoiding the Reverse Polemic: Don’t Make DEI the Scapegoat
As much as I critique DEI, I also recognize that many conservatives have fallen into an equally flawed reactionary mindset. Just as progressives reduce every societal issue to racism, misogyny, or some other type of oppression, some Christians blame every cultural decline on DEI and “wokeness.” This kind of reactionary thinking is not only intellectually lazy but also spiritually unhealthy. It is easier to point fingers at an ideology than to take a hard look at the state of the church and recognize that many of the challenges we face are due to internal weaknesses rather than external threats.
I have heard Christians claim that the decline in church attendance is due to DEI infiltrating pulpits. While there are certain churches that have embraced progressive ideologies at the expense of biblical truth, the deeper issue is a failure of discipleship. Many churches are not struggling because of DEI but because they have watered down theology, prioritized entertainment over worship, and neglected serious engagement with Scripture (DeYoung, 2020). If congregations were deeply rooted in biblical teaching and equipped to engage with culture thoughtfully, DEI would not be nearly as influential. The real crisis is that many Christians lack a firm foundation in their faith, making them susceptible to whatever ideology is dominant in the culture.
Beyond church decline, I have also heard people blame DEI for broader societal problems, from corporate corruption to declining academic standards. While DEI has certainly contributed to problematic policies, we should not overlook the fact that greed, dishonesty, and moral decay existed long before DEI became a buzzword. The erosion of ethical business practices, the breakdown of the family, and the loss of objective truth in education are not solely caused by DEI but by a much deeper spiritual drift in the culture—a rejection of biblical authority and a shift toward self-worship and moral relativism (Romans 1:18-32). If we ignore these root issues and blame DEI, we risk missing the bigger picture and failing to address the true spiritual crisis.
Christians must be careful not to fall into the same trap that progressives do when they frame every issue through the lens of systemic oppression. If we reduce all cultural and moral failures to DEI, we oversimplify complex problems and fail to engage with the deeper theological and ethical questions that shape society. The focus should not simply be on tearing down DEI but on offering a compelling biblical alternative. If Christians are only known for what they oppose, they will eventually lose credibility. The world does not need more reactionary voices; it needs people who embody true justice, true inclusion, and true dignity—values not defined by political trends but rooted in God's character and the Gospel's transformative power.
Instead of being defensive, Christians should proactively shape culture by living out the truth in love. The best way to counter DEI’s flawed vision of justice is to demonstrate what real justice looks like—justice that is not based on shifting power dynamics but on God’s righteousness. The best way to reject identity politics is to model a community where people find their deepest identity in Christ, not in racial or social categories. And the best way to stand against false notions of inclusion is to extend the kind of radical welcome that Jesus did, calling all people to repentance and new life in him.
Christians should not fall into the trap of cultural despair, acting as if DEI or any other ideology has the power to undo the kingdom of God. The church has faced and overcome far more significant threats in history, not by fixating on what the world was doing wrong, but by staying faithful to making disciples and proclaiming the truth. If we want to push back against the errors of DEI, we must first make sure that we embody a better way—one that reflects God's love, truth, and justice.
Conclusion: A Biblical Alternative to DEI
The church must resist the temptation to embrace DEI uncritically or reject it superficially. Instead, we need to offer a deeper, more compelling vision of justice, dignity, and inclusion—one that is not dictated by cultural trends but rooted in the unchanging truth of Scripture.
True justice is not about redistributing power but about reflecting God's righteousness. True dignity is not assigned by society based on identity categories but given by God as a reflection of His image. True inclusion is not about ideological conformity but about the radical invitation of the Gospel, which calls all people—regardless of race, class, or gender—to find their true identity in Christ.
If Christians want to influence the culture meaningfully, we must do more than just critique DEI; we must model a better way. This means living out biblical justice, treating all people with dignity, and offering the only real hope for unity in a divided world—the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
References
Baucham, V. (2021). Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism’s Looming Catastrophe. Salem Books.
DeYoung, K. (2020). What is the Mission of the Church? Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom, and the Great Commission. Crossway.
Shenvi, N., & Sawyer, P. (2023). Critical Dilemma: The Rise of Critical Theories and Social Justice Ideology—Implications for the Church and Society. Harvest House.
Tim Orr is a scholar of Islam, Evangelical minister, conference speaker, and interfaith consultant with over 30 years of experience in cross-cultural ministry. He holds six degrees, including a master’s in Islamic studies from the Islamic College in London. Tim taught Religious Studies for 15 years at Indiana University Columbus and is now a Congregations and Polarization Project research associate at the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at Indiana University Indianapolis. He has spoken at universities, including Oxford University, Imperial College London, the University of Tehran, Islamic College London, and mosques throughout the U.K. His research focuses on American Evangelicalism, Islamic antisemitism, and Islamic feminism, and he has published widely, including articles in Islamic peer-reviewed journals and three books.