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.
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.