This final episode calls believers to evaluate their reaction to the Trump electoral victory and use it as a mirror to gage where their true identity lies. Our reaction to the Trump victory, particularly how we subsequently relate to liberals, highlights the degree that we have embraced Christ as our true identity. Do we rejoice more in the defeat of our political enemies than in our identity in Christ? Do we uncritically embrace the demonizing rhetoric of the president-elect, even though Christ calls us to love and pray for our enemies? The sign that we are making true progress in sanctification, that we are "sons of God," is loving our enemies.
Don’t Shoot the Hostages!
This episode is an invitation to have mercy on many embracing identity politics. 2 Timothy 2 tells us that unbelievers are held captive by the devil to do his will. The real enemy is the devil and not the hostages, so waging war against "liberals" per se is misplaced and tantamount to shooting the hostages. Extending mercy, as Micah 6:8 commands is a much more effective way to "win" the culture war.
Evil within is the Real Issue
This episode unpacks the Micah 6:8 inversion that characterizes the misplaced focus of identity politics. Micah 6:8 commands believers to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God. The distorted version of Micah 6:8 operative in identity politics, and sadly to say among many carnal evangelicals, is "demand justice from others, love mercy for yourself (not so much for others), and use God accordingly. Solzhenitsyn noted the tendency among all men to address evil out there without dealing with the evil within.
“Whose side are you on?”
This episode was recorded on election day and appropriately deals with the question, "Which candidate does God favor?" Joshua also asked a variation of this question to an angelic being but soon realized his question was irrelevant. The only pertinent question is are we in step with God's plan and are we obedient servants to His instructions. A real encounter with the holy God of Scripture destroys any secondary tribal identity that one might depend on.
Evangelicals whoring after other gods
This episode lays out more evidence for the corruption of the evangelical church based on its embrace of rightwing identity politics. It discusses the Micah 6:8 inversion in which the demands for justice are placed on others, but mercy is not given but leveraged exclusively for personal salvation. Many evangelical Christians embrace a culture war worldview that is shaped more by Fox new and rightwing conspiracy theories than Scripture. The blasphemous embrace of the Trump bible signals the infestation of identity politics in the evangelical 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.
“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.
Identity Politics and the Rise of “Christian” Trumpism
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?"