God Bless America Through You

In God’s providence, we live in a great nation, and it’s at war with itself. 

“Identity Politics” — a phrase you’ve probably heard before — refers to the battle between various identity groups. In such a construct, every individual is reduced down to the boxes they check — ‘gender,’ sexuality, race, religion. Each of us is considered part of an identity group, and the “politics” of these groups is to blame other groups for the problems in our country. This politicking, blaming, and scapegoating is a kind of war, and it’s deeply religious. 

Shaped by Christian Categories

Joshua Mitchell, professor of political theory at Georgetown University, says the problems that threaten America do not stem from cultural Marxism, as many would claim, but it’s actually borrowing from Christian categories. 

In his book, American Awakening, Mitchell explains that our country, haunted by Christian influence at its foundation and true movements of the gospel, is shaped by the biblical categories of transgression and innocence. These two categories are used by Identity Politics to divide: one group must always be in the wrong (the transgressors), and another group must always be the victim (the innocent). 

The transgressors need not be eradicated (as the ‘oppressor’ might in a Marxist framework), but they must make amends by perpetual penitence. They must assume their transgression in all cases and clear the way for the “innocent victims” (a group that changes periodically due to an exponentially complex minority status — this is why they finally decided to add the “+” behind all the letters). Currently, it’s transgender people who occupy the role of the innocent victim, but that won’t last long (and let’s hope not). Next it will be another group, and the smaller and more niche the better, because it’s a race to the bottom, where there is presumed innocence. Innocence is the goal, and if you’re not in that group, then you must grovel for their approval in hopes that you might be cleansed. Waving the rainbow flag is like blood on your door, sparing you from social death, except the ‘rainbow’ will only get more colorful and complicated over time.

Mitchell explains that all of this is the consequence of “incomplete religion.” Our society, profoundly religious in its DNA, can’t help but use the Christian categories of transgression and innocence, but it is “without God and without forgiveness.” In this light, Identity Politics is like a false religion. It is picking up on valid themes, and asking the right questions, but the answers are a sham.

The Origin of False Teaching

Years ago, I discovered a similar insight from missiologist Lesslie Newbigin, related to the importance of planting churches. One reason to establish new churches is that churches, led by qualified elders, defend against gospel distortion (see Titus 1:5). 

According to Newbigin, once the gospel message sweeps through a region, some believe and some don’t, but for those who don’t, they have still been exposed to the right questions. However, if they’ve reject the gospel answer, then they must find another ‘answer’ to fill the gap. 

The right questions can’t be ignored, and substitute answers become false teachings, even whole false religions. This is why the New Testament, written in and for the era of gospel advance, is so fixated on fighting false teaching. Newbigin had observed this phenomenon: right questions, without genuine faith and discipleship, inevitably leads to wrong answers. That is basically Identity Politics in America.  

There is a valid sense of transgression and innocence in our country. Wrongs have been done and there is a true spiritual debt, but without a thoroughly Christian understanding of sin, the wrongs are externalized. Identity politics is actually too light on sin, Mitchell claims, and its solution too shallow.

In a recent interview, Mitchell comments, 

When people say “America is racist,” [Christians] need the courage to say “Is that all you got?” The darkness of the human heart is way worse than racism or misogyny [or you name it]. We have to go further than identity politics. The answer is not to scapegoat other groups, the answer is to recognize that redemption comes from a very different place. And only when we recognize that can we not look at our neighbors as possible objects of cathartic rage and scapegoating. Identity politics is part of the way there, but we need to reawaken the Christian understanding that the problem is so bad that God had to send his Son.

Could you imagine saying this to your progressive neighbor?

Getting the Answer Right

Our society, beguiled by the false religion of Identity Politics, has understated the problem. We are far worse than many people realize because sin isn’t merely external, but it’s within, and within us all.

This means that the solution is neither to blame-shift nor continue in sin, but to trust in the gospel of Jesus. Faith in the gospel involves our taking responsibility and receiving forgiveness, which then leads to showing forgiveness and doing good. The gospel is the only answer. We need more people to believe it. 

This is not only my conclusion as a Christian and pastor, but it’s Mitchell’s conclusion too, writing as a political theorist. From his perspective, historically and philosophically, there is no way out of this Identity Politics charade apart from another gospel awakening in America. 

We need, in the most profound sense, a fresh movement of the Holy Spirit — the gospel spoken everywhere, baptisms galore, new churches planted, discipleship increased, sound doctrine defended.

Through You

This is where our church comes in, and you as an individual. We don’t get to choose the times in which we live. God has placed us here, now, and he has given us something really important and good to say, even to those who might despise us. 

We are far worse than we ever dared imagine, and far more loved than we ever dared dream. The problem is deeper than most realize, but salvation has come. Jesus has lived, died, and been raised. He’s real and he’s coming again.

Jesus is our only hope.

So, in your believing that, and sharing that, one neighbor at a time, God bless America through you.