Identity
The game has changed. We don't debate anymore. We no longer look at issues through the lens of our underlying philosophy. We look at issues through our identity and our lived experience. As a result, many people fail to see how they are functioning under a neo-Marxist ideology. Without a second thought, we have bought into this view of the oppressor and oppressed in regard to capitalism, culture, ethnicity and religion. We have divided the world this way and we look at it through that lens. We identify ourselves with political parties, movements, disabilities, “genders”, cultures and generations. These groups or factions provide a social justice army for us to fight in when our rights become oppressed by powerful oppressors. These groups become who we are, and influence what we say and think. This is significant because it changes any issue from, “this is my opinion” to, “this is my identity, and this is my lived experience along with oppressed army.” When you follow the consistent train of thought to the next station, you arrive at the expiration of any civil discourse over differing views. Why? Because, “this is not just my opinion, this is my identity and lived experience, and you can’t debate with me on this.” This is why there has been so much hostility of late. This is why anyone with an opposing view to immigration or homosexuality is considered racist or homophobic. This is why Chalie Kirk was murdered. “For you to have a debate on something that I have declared as my identity and my lived experience is for you to negate my identity and to negate my lived experience. And since words are now violent. Your words are violence against my very identity, and it is therefore reasonable that I would respond to your words with actual violence.”
So, what do we do?
You can’t hide. You don't even have to declare your position anymore. Simply having a British flag, being a white heterosexual male or a black youth in a hoodie is sufficient evidence for social media prosecution these days. Soon, simply attending churches that are not in line with the mainstream rhetoric may be enough going forward.
You can’t run. Where would you go? Civil liberties have been enjoyed in the West because of the impact of the gospel. Slavery, sexism and racism is unchallenged in many places in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The further you go out, the more gruesome the persecution of Christians.
You can’t be nice enough. Nice and loving today means excepting of everything that someone does or believes, and compromise is not an option. Helping the old lady cross the road or cutting your neighbours grass isn’t going to magically save them and cause them to repent from their sin and false Marxist ideologies. They need to be spoken to. They need the gospel
Education and politics are not the answer to man biggest problem – the gospel is. Education and policies can definitely be improved. Laws could be tightened. But sin will find a way through it all. Therefore, all Christian have been commissioned to speak the truth of the Word of God and make disciples of all nations. All Christians are called to fear God and not man, and to press on in declaring the gospel of Christ in love and confidence and gentleness. To be a follower of Christ, you must deny yourself and take up your cross. You must recognise that your life is not your own. You must know that for our sake He made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
The believer’s only identity is in Jesus Christ. Not right wing or left wing, but under the shadow of His wings (Psalm 17:8). Christians are not identified by what we wear, as seen in other religions or movements, but by our conduct, which is from above, that is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere (James 3:17). We are a mixed bag. A great multitude…from every nation, tribes, peoples and language, who will stand before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10).
