Marxism in the Garden

Class warfare
The basic worldview of Marxism is one of conflict between classes. As R.J. Rummel, professor of political science at Yale University, notes, “It is important to recognize that Marx viewed the structure of society in relation to its major classes, and the struggle between them as the engine of change in this structure.” In other words, all of life was about conflict between the powerful oppressor class and the weak oppressed class. For Marx, this was an economic theory, and the classes were defined by wealth and control of resources.

Antonio Gramsci, a disciple of Marx, adapted Marx’s ideas from a mere economic theory to a socio-cultural one. Gramsci argued that the classes could exist across many identity lines. The oppressors could be men, rich people, Christians, and white people, while the oppressed could be women, poor people, non-Christians, and non-white people. Gramsci, while he himself never used the term, had given birth to Cultural Marxism.

If you look at the Woke cultural behemoth in our world today, it is the great-grandchild of Cultural Marxism – the bitter fruit of a rotten tree. Today, we call oppressors cis-gender, Christian Nationalist, white-skin privileged, heterosexual, able-bodied, English-speaking men. Class warfare, or at least the belief that it rages on, is alive and well.


A very old game
Philosophers debate the origins of Cultural Marxism and Wokeism. Everyone must acknowledge Marx, but some look back to the philosopher Emmanual Kant, whose ideas of reality and epistemology played a significant role in Enlightenment thinking. Others look to French Deconstructionists such as Foucault and Derrida, seeing Postmodernism as the real culprit.

While the case can be made for all of the above as influences in our current cultural moment (and I would make that case), I believe that the source of the cultural revolution – the real cause of our contemporary woes – is a very old enemy with a very old ideology. In fact, it goes all the way back to the first man and the first woman.

Snapping at heels
The interaction between Adam, Eve, and the Serpent in Eden was a confluence of several sins and temptations. Satan tempted them with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the yes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). He tempted them to doubt both God’s goodness and His provision. He led them to question God’s Word. Idolatry, pride, and apathy all abounded in that Garden.

There is, however, a subtle undertone in all of Satan’s deceptions. He pitted God against His human creations. He deceived Adam and Eve into thinking that God, who owns and controls everything and is supremely wealthy and powerful, was holding out on Adam and Eve. They were His poor creations, limited and finite. They could never have what He had, and, in fact, God was unwilling to share with them, to lift them out of their lowly estate.

Before the word Marxism was coined, and long before the 1800’s, Satan came to Adam and Eve as the proto-Marxist, the original Cultural Marxist, the Father of Woke. This is where Marxism comes from, not a German philosopher in the late nineteenth century, and not an Italian philosopher in the early twentieth century, but a fallen angel, a father of lies and a murderer.


Fight the right enemy
This Biblical and historical understanding allows us to engage in the cultural war effectively. We think we are battling human philosophies, human activists, and a system propped up by the State, the health bureaucracies, the entertainment industry, higher education, and the legacy media. Friends, we are fighting a spiritual war against humanity’s ancient foe.

This means that our primary weapon is not a better political ideology, a more robust fiscal policy, or even better scientific and medical evidence. Our primary weapon is the Word of God, which is the Word of truth and which reveals the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all its glory.

The Apostle Paul wrote this: “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).

We combat Wokeism, Cultural Marxism, and Intersectionality with the truth of the Gospel. We wage war with the Word of God and we cut down all the Satanic lies, and we stand on the Good News so that we are not taken captive by hollow philosophy and empty deceit (Colossians 2:8).

How do we do this? First, you need to read, study, discuss, and memorize the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit. This is non-negotiable. You cannot fight in a war as a swordless soldier – you will be defeated. Second, you must do the first thing with other like-minded and battle-ready Christians in a church community that recognizes this is wartime, not peacetime. Third, cling to Christ in prayer and worship, and make sure you do this with the aforementioned people. Fourth, have hope and take courage. Jesus, our snake-crusher, will one day destroy sin and death once and for all when He returns in glory to finish what He began on the cross.