Cultural Marxism is the philosophy often said to be behind the political correctness, or ‘wokeism’, underpinning our contemporary culture (as seen in the Manly jersey debate and the resignation of Essendon’s Christian CEO). While considered a conspiracy theory by some, today’s university students are studying subjects such as feminism, gender studies and critical race theory that are inextricably linked with this ideology. 

ECM missionary Joel Oliveira pastors a church in Vila Nova de Gaia, a city in the north of Portugal. He has recently published the book, “Is Marxism still a thing? Cultural Marxism from a Christian perspective.” Joel argues that it is imperative for Christians to be well informed about the academic influences that are shaping modern society and culture. 

Sam Boog asked him about cultural marxism and how this ideology is affecting mission across the western world, and especially Europe.

...this ideology shuts Christian ideas out of public debate and labels them as outdated, harmful, or even violent...

What does the term ‘cultural marxism’ mean? 

It simply refers to a twentieth-century development of Marxist thought which came to see Western culture as a key source of human oppression. It is often used as a right wing political slogan to attack those on the left who place themselves against values and institutions traditionally seen as ‘Western’, like the nuclear family or Christianity. On the other hand, people on the left accuse the right of using cultural Marxism to instil fear of progress. But it is really a series of philosophical and intellectual efforts to promote a Marxist outlook of society in Western culture. 

What is the relationship between classical Marxism and cultural Marxism?

Classical marxism started with the premise that society was divided into two different groups: the oppressed - the working class with no power in society, and the oppressor - the rich ruling class who hold control over property, the means of production, and therefore power itself. For Karl Marx and his friend Engels, there was only one effective path for social justice: the violent revolution, by means of which the oppressed could overcome the oppressive state and social institutions, and so be free to implement a just society - the communist society. 

Cultural marxism is the idea that after the fall of communism, Marxist ideals have adapted to the cultural reality: the oppressed have become all the vulnerable and traditionally powerless groups in society (women, the disabled, immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, ethnic and religious minorities, etc); the oppressor groups changed from the rich ruling class to those groups that have historically held power, like men, heterosexuals, whites, Christians, etc. So the path to social justice is no longer an armed revolution to overthrow a tyrannical political and military state, but a cultural revolution to be fought from the inside of societal structures. 

Is it seen as the equivalent of de-Christianising?

Rob Smith lectures in Theology, Ethics and Music Ministry at SMBC, explains:

Marxism, whether in classical or cultural form, can be viewed as a corruption or parody of the gospel—replete with its own false prophet (Marx), false bible (Das Kapital), false doctrine (materialism), false apostles (Lenin, Stalin, Mao, etc), and false hope (the communist utopia). Therefore, the fact that Cultural Marxism is a real ideology making a real impact on our world is not good news.¹

It is undoubtedly both a cause and a consequence of a post-Christian society. It encourages people to see Christianity as a historical tool of oppression, and it brings an increasing rejection of judeo-christian traditional values as a consequence, particularly in the public sphere. For example, if people believe Christianity is a cause for the historical oppression of LGBTQ+ people (in part, rightly so), they will reject completely any Christian ideas about sexuality. As we’ve been seeing recently, in practice this ideology shuts Christian ideas out of public debate and labels them as outdated, harmful, or even violent - without as much as even considering them.

ECM Missionaries in Berlin, A and R have seen this in practice

Even though he had Muslim friends and spent most of his life living within multicultural environments, our 16 year old son was labelled a racist at his school because he was Christian. At one crisis meeting with a teacher, we were informed that ‘the whole class has turned against J’ ...simply because he had a pro life stance. 

Does it undermine free speech?

It is a totalitarian ideology because it permits no dissent. It creates a kind of prescribed thought, the only one accepted as appropriate - political correctness. It equates defending ideas with actual violence, and violence obviously has no place in civilised society. It sees vulnerable groups as inherently virtuous and the oppressor groups as inherently evil. So the more oppressed group boxes you can check, the more virtuous you are and the more compassion you generate from people.

So, for example, if you are defending a traditional Christian view of marriage, then it is believed that you are exerting violence against homosexual people, actively trying to deny them the right to get married, or perhaps to exist. You are labelled a homophobic bigot guilty of perpetuating discrimination; you are censored in social media; or even fired from your job for publicly holding these views. 

ECM missionaries in Portugal, Sam and Emily note...

We’ve witnessed a growing restriction of expressions of faith in universities. Recently, the GBU group in Aveiro (a city in central Portugal) was refused permission by the university administration to advertise an upcoming Mission Week. This GBU group has historically had a good standing with the university administration. The university claimed that such advertising doesn’t fit within their “new guidelines” which are yet to be disclosed. 

What kind of influence is it having in Europe?

Cultural marxism has largely taken over the minds of Europeans (and Western people in general). We see its influence in the entertainment we consume, for example: we see the increase of LGBTQ+ characters in films and TV shows and all of them are portrayed as virtuous, whereas Christians are usually portrayed as oppressors or downright lunatics. When Elon Musk purchased Twitter and pushed for free speech on the platform, a top European regulator immediately warned Musk that any company would need to comply with the European Union rules for content on social media platforms - rules that are getting more and more strict towards so-called, and widely interpreted, harmful content (including holding dissenting views on hot social topics). 

A also notes that the high school playground is the most ruthless and unforgiving place where this ideology is working itself out. My son was recently told to see the school’s ‘discrimination officer’ because he refused to call a girl transitioning to become a boy…him. So, the gender identity spectrum is considered a fact; feelings determine the truth. You now cannot hold an alternative view. I also recently shared the Biblical perspective on gender with a young girl who visited our church recently… She reacted as if what I said was truly evil.

How does the rise of these ideas affect ministry in Europe?

It certainly makes ministry increasingly difficult. As Christian ideas are dismissed as outdated, oppressive, dangerous, and even violent, so people’s receptiveness to the message of the gospel becomes diminished and open rejection of any Christian truth-claim becomes the rule. Essentially, the post-Christian society in Europe is becoming a neo-pagan society, where all truth is seen as relative, and no god is better than any other. The good news is that Christianity thrived in the pagan world, and will continue to thrive in the neo-pagan world of our time. While we will probably see more persecution in the near future, the Spirit of God will still be moving in the hard soil of the European continent, so we have every reason to be hopeful and bold in our ministry. 

What is the Biblical response? How can we respond to these culture wars in a godly way?

One of the greatest testimonies that Christians can present to the polarised world of our time is to be balanced and loving while affirming the truth of the Gospel. John says in his gospel that Jesus came full of grace and truth, and those two fundamental dimensions - loving grace and non-negotiable truth - are precisely what the church needs to be full of as well. This means loving our opponents and those that reject us whilst boldly proclaiming the message of Jesus. This is an impossible balance to maintain without a deep reliance on the Holy Spirit, but that is exactly the presence we are called to have in this world. 

A left-wing Portuguese political commentator, Sérgio Sousa Pinto, said that in our time concepts are bullets shot at people to attack and hurt them. This is exactly the kind of trap that the church cannot let herself be forced into. Like Paul writes in Colossians, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4:6). To give gospel answers in loving conversation: this is the true Christian response.

Joel Oliveira’s book, Is Marxism still a thing? Cultural marxism from a Christian perspective, can be purchased through Amazon.

Sam Boog has been working in Communications for European Christian Mission in Australia for the last few years. She has a particular passion for Europe and is keenly aware of the needs there and the resources we have here.

1.  Rob Smith “Cultural Marxism:Imaginary Conspiracy or Revolutionary Reality” Themelios, Vol 44, Issue 

PLEASE PRAY

• For Joel to have opportunities to speak about this topic and educate Christians so we may be better equipped to share our faith.
• For God’s grace and love to share the gospel and not be tempted to water down its truth claims, no matter how unappealing they may increasingly become in the world’s eyes.
• For ECM missionaries and believers in the hardening continent of Europe; that their conversation would be full of grace, seasoned with salt and that they would present Christ clearly.