In response to the Biden administration appointments of judges to U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky stated . . . .
“We all know that there are many cases where the ideology of the judges makes all the difference . . . . As a lawyer, the first thing I want to know, as soon as I can find out, is who is [on] my panel.”
Chemerinsky understands that the law is not always what you think the law is, but laws are interpreted through the ideological glasses of the judge adjudicating the matter. Just like in politics, facts do not dictate actions when an ideology prevails. “Ideologies” is why your mind spins when trying to figure out the thinking that explains decisions and actions. Sometimes you say, “That sounds (or is) crazy!” It is because the decision or action is ideologically driven. It doesn’t compute because the ideology dictates the response, not the “real world.” “Trust the science” goes by the wayside if an ideology is the guiding rule.
That is also what happens theologically! There are strong theological ideologies that color how one reads the Scriptures. Those theological ideologies also color what is preached and not preached, taught and not taught, from the “pulpit,” among the staff, and in discipleship.
When ministries are driven ideologically, they emphasize verses and passages that support their ideology. They fail to provide the counterbalance that other verses and passages provide, losing the Scriptural balance.
I have often said that when we read about “the beauty of the Lord” (Psalm 27; 90), “beauty” includes the idea that everything is in proper proportion. All of us probably have something about our appearance that we wish were different. Cosmetologists and plastic surgeons make a living off of that fact. Maybe it is a strong chin, a large nose, big ears, skinny or heavy legs, deep-set eyes, a big mouth, wild eyebrows, long legs, short fingers, or a balding head. A beautiful person has everything in proper proportion!
Theological ideologues lose that proportionality. A “single” truth seems to override all other truths. Most everything they read in the Scriptures somehow ends up revolving around that truth! When that happens, things can get ugly!
Ideologues are prone to bypass the fact that some truths are enveloped in mystery — the inability to reconcile the fact that two truths are equally presented and cannot be harmonized except in the mind of God. We just won’t be able to put them together without some uneasiness.
Ideology drives one into theological ditches. The ditches may be “left” or “right,” but they are ditches.
After a period of commitment to an ideology, the ditch begins looking like the main road!
The idealogues limit their consideration of other “maps.” Their ideology is bolstered by other “theological cartographers” who support their theological-ideology. Their study desk is replete with old and new commentaries written by those of the same ideological persuasion. Reading a commentary or religious book that significantly challenges their ideology “is a waste of time, no less money.”
The result is a ministry or church that learns to ride the ditch — all with his map in their hands!
No matter what the realities — few saved, fewer baptized, little-to-no outreach, a slowly dwindling overall attendance, financial concerns, et al. — the ditch is now believed to be the main road by all who are still aboard.
“Ditch managing” is the solution, as one seeks to convince other map holders that we are not where we obviously are!
Regardless of the realities that coincide with “ditch riding,” the solution is to purposefully select messages to explain away the realities that naturally come with “riding in the ditch” — “We are standing on what the Bible teaches no matter what the impact on our church or church ministries!”
Yes, theological-ideologues are a clear and present danger in law, politics, and ministry!
Typically, just as in judicial appointments and politics, someone new will come along and assume the leadership after enough damage is done.
How does it all end? Most ministries survive such theological-ideologues. After a period of time of slow erosion, a new ministry leader will assume leadership, and he will try to re-map God’s people out of the ditch that they have come to believe was the road.
All Things Church 
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