3 Differences Between A Theologically Driven Church vs. An Ideologically Driven Church

In an article entitled, “The Coming Church Split (It’s Not What You Think)” Carey Nieuwhof made observations about four divergent roads churches will face as we move into the future. (You can read about all four of them in the article.) 

I read this article over a year ago and I have been haunted by Nieuwhof’s fourth and final point: “Ideologically Driven Versus Gospel-Driven” churches. 

Nieuwhof writes, “A final gap is widening between churches that appear to be driven as much by ideology as by the Gospel. Particularly since the crisis hit in 2020, a growing number of church leaders have used their influence to weigh in on everything from politics, to partisanship, to masks v. no masks, vaccines, supreme court nominees, to tax policies, to immigration.”

I don’t interpret Nieuwhof’s words as someone merely addressing cultural issues from the pulpit from time to time. It’s not hard to see the validity of that. Pastors want to shepherd the congregation during divisive and confusing times. The gospel also has implications that color every corner of life. Theology impacts our Tuesday, our sexuality, our wallet, and everything else in between.

I interpret Nieuwhof’s words as advocacy, not simply address. The ideological church is the church that has taken a political side and is allowing it to shape how the church is led.

There appear to be a few differences between a church that’s driven by its theology versus a church driven by its ideology. Here are three:

1. Selective vs Comprehensive Ethic

The ideologically driven church will champion a selective ethic. They will care about life and religious freedom or about racial equality and women’s rights. In other words, this church colors within party lines. The issues of their political party are the issues they find Biblical. 

The theologically driven church makes an effort to have a comprehensive ethic. The concerns of the Scriptures, and all of the concerns of the Scriptures, are the church's concerns. The goal isn’t to color within party lines, but to color the world (interact with the world) through a Biblical filter.

2. Language from the Nomenclature of Culture vs Scripture

The ideologically driven church borrows the nomenclature of culture. For example, when speaking on issues of race, this church will use many of the culture's buzzwords and concepts as its primary source of authority.

The theologically driven church attempts to lead out of the verbiage of the Scriptures. For example, instead of throwing the word “race” around, this church prefers the word “ethnicity.” While cognizant of the buzzwords of the culture, this church tries to reframe and readjust the conversation back to the language and concepts of the Bible. 

3. The Inclusion of One Kingdom vs. The Exclusion from Many Kingdoms

The ideologically driven church ends up offending those who subscribe to a different political affiliation. When someone from a different backgrounds attends this church, they immediately feel they’re out of place. They get the impression they need to change their voter registration card to fit in.

The theologically driven church is also offensive. It is, in some ways, more offensive than the ideological church because this church offends everyone. The message of this church is hope in an in-coming eternal kingdom, not in an earthly political one. In so doing, the church invites those from all political sides to join hands together in a greater source of unity.

Conclusion

Nieuwhof says, “There are two groups losing badly when things turn partisan and ideological: the next generation and, ultimately, the congregation itself. The culture needs an alternative to itself, not an echo of itself.”

I agree with him. 

You may be at an ideologically driven church you love and believe it is faithful to the Scriptures. May that be so! A church, trying to be faithful to Jesus and the Scriptures, is a gift to the members and the broader community.

You may be at a theologically driven church. May the church’s focus lead to a Spirit-empowered engagement with others. May truth and grace show themselves to the community and beyond.

The future is more now than we even know. May we be faithful to King Jesus.