Part 3 of the Series: Critical Theory, the End Times, and the Christian Response
Introduction: The Invisible Battle Behind the Headlines
Imagine scanning the news:
- Protests erupting over “justice.”
- Debates over what it means to be human.
- Calls to dismantle traditional family, morality, and belief.
It would be easy to think we are witnessing mere political, economic, or social struggles.
But Scripture pulls back the curtain:
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12, LSB)
Behind Critical Theory’s rise stands a spiritual conflict — ancient, global, and intensifying.
About This Series
This is the third installment in our series Critical Theory, the End Times, and the Christian Response.
In Part 1, we exposed Critical Theory as a false gospel. In Part 2, we saw how it rewrites truth itself.
Now we step deeper — recognizing that Critical Theory is not merely bad philosophy but spiritual warfare manifest in cultural form.
To view all parts of the series, please visit the Series Page
The True Battlefield: Spiritual, Not Just Ideological
Critical Theory wears academic robes, political slogans, and activist hashtags.
But underneath, it is a weapon in a cosmic war for human souls.
Paul warns in 2 Corinthians 10:3–5:
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the tearing down of strongholds, as we tear down speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God…” (LSB)
Critical Theory:
- Tears down God’s created distinctions (male/female, right/wrong, truth/falsehood).
- Raises up alternative “knowledge” rooted in rebellion.
- Captivates minds through deception, masking sin as liberation.
This is not merely politics.
It is demonic ideology repackaged for a modern audience.
Satan’s Old Strategy, New Packaging
Satan’s oldest trick is deceiving humanity about God’s truth:
- “Has God really said…” (Genesis 3:1)
- Offering false enlightenment (“your eyes will be opened…”) while delivering death (Genesis 3:4–5).
Critical Theory follows the same pattern:
- Doubt divine revelation
- Redefine good and evil
- Promise freedom through rebellion
What began in Eden now echoes through universities, corporations, entertainment, and even churches.
Critical Theory as a Stronghold of Thought
A stronghold (Greek: ochurōma) in Paul’s language is a fortified structure — a way of thinking so deeply entrenched it resists truth.
Critical Theory creates strongholds by:
- Defining identity by grievance, not grace
- Interpreting justice as power redistribution, not righteousness
- Replacing sin with systemic oppression
- Replacing salvation with revolution
These mental fortresses must be torn down — not with human anger, but with divinely empowered weapons:
- Truth (John 8:31–32)
- The Word of God (Hebrews 4:12)
- Spirit-empowered proclamation of Christ crucified (2 Corinthians 4:5)
The Spirit of the Age: Preparing for Apostasy
Paul warns in 1 Timothy 4:1:
“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.” (LSB)
Deceitful spirits do not usually appear in red horns and pitchforks.
They appear through deceptive ideas:
- “Justice means equality of outcomes.”
- “Freedom means the right to define yourself.”
- “Love means affirming whatever someone believes.”
These “doctrines of demons” prepare the world for mass apostasy — the great rebellion prophesied before Christ’s return (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
Critical Theory doesn’t merely mislead cultures.
It primes them for global spiritual defection.
Story: The Trojan Horse
Ancient Troy famously fell not to battering rams, but to a gift.
A wooden horse — left at the city gates — seemed like a trophy.
Yet inside, soldiers waited to bring destruction from within.
Critical Theory is the Trojan Horse of our time:
- It promises compassion, justice, progress.
- But hidden inside is lawlessness, deception, rebellion.
Once welcomed, it dismantles societies from within.
Christians must be those who see through the facade and warn others while there is still time.
Practical Application: Fighting the Right Battle
- Put on the Full Armor of God: (Ephesians 6:13–18) — Truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, the Word, prayer.
- Guard Your Mind: Refuse to adopt Critical Theory categories without biblical discernment (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 10:5).
- Speak Gospel-Centered Truth: Engage not merely to win debates, but to win souls.
- Expect Resistance: As Paul said, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12, LSB)
Reflection Questions
- Why is it important to recognize Critical Theory as spiritual warfare, not merely intellectual error?
- How does the biblical description of strongholds apply to modern ideological movements?
- In what practical ways can you strengthen your spiritual defenses against ideological deception?
References
Horkheimer, M. (1982). Critical theory: Selected essays (M. J. O’Connell, Trans.). Continuum. (Original work published 1972)
Lindsay, J., & Pluckrose, H. (2020). Cynical theories: How activist scholarship made everything about race, gender, and identity—and why this harms everybody. Pitchstone Publishing.
Trueman, C. (2020). The rise and triumph of the modern self: Cultural amnesia, expressive individualism, and the road to sexual revolution. Crossway.
The Holy Bible. (2021). Legacy Standard Bible. Three Sixteen Publishing. https://read.lsbible.org/
Footnotes
[^1]: The “spirit of the age” (Greek: aion) refers to the prevailing world system opposed to God (Ephesians 2:2). Christians are called to resist conforming to it (Romans 12:2) and instead shine as lights in a darkened world (Philippians 2:15).
Glossary: Key Terms for Understanding Critical Theory and the End Times
