This episode is a strong rebuke to the evangelical church that has succumbed to identity politics in the embrace of Christian Trumpism. The infestation of identity politics in the evangelical church rests on the marked decline of Biblical literacy coupled with increasing dependence on political power to supposedly advance the Christian cause. Evangelical support of Trump, who is the master of right wing identity politics, largely reflects Christian demonization of non-Christian liberals and openness to a forceful, even autocratic champion against the left. Christian Trumpism is a repudiation of Christian ethics which prioritizes Christian earthly power over the clear teachings of Christ.
“Who is my neighbor?”–Jesus’ answer to identity politics
This episode challenges believers to repent of identity politics, particularly with the judging, labeling, and discarding of liberals, the favorite bogeymen of conservative Christians. If the great commandments are the lens through which Christians see their neighbor, then the pigeon-holing and rejection of liberals is antithetical to Christian orthopraxy and witness. Evangelical vulnerability to right wing identity politics is evident in widespread embrace of politicians who specialize in demonization of different groups. The Biblical response to identity politics should be framed by Christ's answer to the question, "Who is my neighbor?"
The Perfect Setup for Identity Politics in the American Church
This episode provides an historical overview of evangelical Christianity, highlighting the decline of Biblical literacy and a Biblical worldview in the last 50 years. While roughly one-third of Americans identify as evangelical, only 10% meet the criteria based on the core doctrine tests of Biblicism, crucicentrism, and conversionism. And only 40% of these evangelicals actually have a Biblical worldview. Interestingly, this decline in Biblically-based Christianity has occurred while Christian influence in the political sphere has dramatically increased. The concurrence of these two trends is the backdrop of the perfect storm of the invasion of identity politics in the American church.
The Christian Response to LGBTQ
This episode concludes identity politics and LGBTQ. In addition to restating the initial offensive nature of the gospel on ALL sinners and its call to a more fulfilling identity in Christ, this episode addresses some of the common objections to Christianity, particularly its abuse by those using it as a tool of oppression.
Identity Politics and LGBTQ
This episode on identity politics deals with LGBTQ and the challenges on reaching people from this background. The core assumptions behind LGBTQ and the Biblical worldview are polar opposites. While Christianity teaches that sexual orientation is a choice, LGBTQ defenders and participants mostly view sexual orientation as a given at birth, and just like race, class, and sex, LGBTQ identity is not a choice. This seemingly insurmountable disagreement over core assumptions can be bridged by the Christian's testimony, in which many testify how God called heterosexual believers to repent and abandon their old sinful identities. By asserting that Christianity is an equal opportunity offender to ALL sinners, hopefully we can better reach for Christ those embracing LGBTQ.
The evangelical response to oppression must be more than a gospel presentation
This episode challenges evangelical Christians to embrace legitimate social justice concerns so that the dominant narrative will not be dictated by leftist practitioners of identity politics. Since the Scripture has much to say about God's heart for the oppressed, we should incorporate the living gospel, actively combatting oppression as we preach the gospel.
“Oppression” from a Biblical perspective, communicating God’s heart for the oppressed.
This episode marks a shift in the series with the aim of reaching people adopting identity politics. Up to now, the series contrasts the Biblical focus on providing a solution to the universal problem of sin with the much more narrow focus of identity politics on oppression. The Biblical solution to man's sin problem is the remaking of human identity into the image of Christ. Well this episode builds a bridge from the Biblical worldview to that of identity politics by focusing on "oppression" from a Biblical perspective, mostly from Psalm 82 and Isaiah 58. If believers can communicate the heart of God towards the oppressed and marginalized, and oppression is the principal theme of identity politics, then those adopting identity politics are more likely to be receptive to Biblical solutions.
Carnality in the Church can lead to Identity Politics
This episode continues the application of embracing our identity in Christ and addresses the failure to fully embrace that identity in the Christian church. Factions and divisions within the church are sometimes based on Christian carnality in which Christ as our true identity is not urgently pursued. Sectarianism and religious division mixed with politics can lead to identity politics within the Church.
Calvary: the ultimate Payback for Oppression
This episode continues the theme of bridge-building to those who embrace identity politics by focusing on the universal demand for justice and the intuitive grasp of justice in all men. Even atheists demand justice when their rights are abridged. The episode explores the ultimate redress of all injustice in the sacrificial death of Christ, where the oppression of all oppressors was placed on Christ. The satisfaction of the demands of justice is a theme that potentially resonates with practitioners of identity politics.
Fleshly Identities can’t compare to Knowing Christ
This episode unpacks Paul's rejection of fleshly identities in which he previously boasted. Identity politics by implication should also be rejected by Christians who count secondary descriptives like race, class, sex and nationality as excrement compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ as Lord.