Populism

Populism is one of the defining political forces of our moment. We see it in the rise of parties like One Nation in Australia, in UK and European Union, in MAGA, and in growing distrust toward political, media, and academic elites across the Western world. While the forms differ, the instinct is similar: ordinary people increasingly feel unheard by institutions that claim to represent them.

At its simplest, populism divides society into two camps: “the people” and “the elites.” The populist leader presents themselves as the voice of ordinary citizens against distant, self-interested systems. That appeal is powerful, particularly in seasons of economic pressure, rapid cultural change, institutional distrust, and social fragmentation.

And to be fair, populism often identifies real problems. Institutions can become insulated. Experts can become dismissive. Bureaucracies can lose touch with lived reality. In that sense, populism sometimes functions like a societal warning light.

Nor is it entirely new. The Bible contains similar dynamics. Absalom in 2 Samuel positioned himself at the city gate, telling dissatisfied Israelites that the king was no longer listening to them. “If only I were judge in the land,” he says, before the text concludes: “Absalom stole the hearts of the people.” The strategy feels remarkably modern.

Even elements of the Protestant Reformation carried populist energy. The doctrine of the “priesthood of all believers” challenged overly centralised religious authority and insisted ordinary Christians could read Scripture, know God, and participate meaningfully in the life of faith.

Yet populism also has weaknesses. It often assumes human problems are simpler than they really are. If only the right people were in charge and took action on "this", things could be fixed quickly. It tends to place enormous confidence in human agency: we can understand the world clearly, diagnose the problem accurately, and intervene effectively.

The Bible offers a more restrained realism. Human beings are finite, fallen, and prone to self-deception. Societies are always a mixture of order and brokenness. Crowds can be just as distorted as elites. Scripture consistently warns against placing ultimate hope in princes, systems, or movements.

That does not mean disengagement. But it does mean humility. Christians should care deeply about justice and truth while recognising that no movement, whether populist or establishment, can finally heal what is deepest in the human condition.