Ideology: is it biblical? (Part 1 of 4) | The Old Path
The word "ideology" is a critical notion that is weighed with the Bible and not just based on dictionary meaning - because according to Bro Eli philosophy is not acceptable in the Bible. So, based on the definition of ideology in Bro Eli's teaching:
Ideology is a meaningful belief system: a set of beliefs, values, and opinions that shapes the way a person or a group such as a social class thinks, acts, and understands the world.
However, the Bible did not clearly mention the word “ideology,” unlike its definition in other dictionaries that say, “a closely organized system of beliefs, values, and ideas forming the basis of a social, economic, or political philosophy or program.” Biblically, the word philosophy is prohibited; Bro Eli made us understand why it is prohibited as mentioned in the book of Colossians 2:8.
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
The scripture written above clearly states that human philosophy is vain and it is something we need to beware of, which is why Bro Eli affirms that he does not believe in philosophy, seeing it to be prohibited by the Bible. So looking at this context, “ideology” is a system of belief, narrowing it to the idea of the Bible. In the book of Titus 1:4 –
"To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior."
Let’s note the phrase “… after the common faith,” meaning that it is a common faith among Christians. Bro Eli went further and added another scripture - Ephesians 4:4-5.
"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism,"
The “body” here means “the church,” meaning there is one Church according to the Bible; we can confirm this in Colossians 1:18, which says—
"And he is the head of the body, the church:"
So, the body is the Church. So Paul made us understand that there is one body or one Church. And in the Church, there is one hope of your calling. They are one in principles, one in every aspect of beliefs.
Finally, Bro Eli summarized by reading Philippians 1:27 –
"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you and be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel;"
As clearly stated, "one mind, one faith, one spirit, one soul, in the faith of the gospel;" this means the main ideology or the main belief of all Christians is the gospel.