Now I See
When doing some research for undergraduate assignments I ‘discovered’ that my home state has incredibly deep racist roots. In 1857 Oregon voted for statehood and adopted a constitution which explicitly said that no free negro or mulatto could legally move into Oregon, own property, or make contracts. Further, the state would make laws to punish and remove any who tried to do so.[1] This ‘discovery’ led to the realization that racism was still alive and well in Oregon even though I had not recognized it because of my limited understanding of what constituted racism. I say ‘discover’ because I found these truths on my own, 15 years ago. Today, the message of ongoing injustice based on bias against race is everywhere, but the important illumination of this reality can be clouded, or even drowned, when incorporated into the full agenda of those who have turned toward redescribing the world using identity categories, such as race, gender, or sexual orientation as the most important lens.[2]
In The Identity Trap, Yascha Mounk meticulously traces the development of the forceful agenda promoted by proponents of identity synthesis, a term Mounk coined to describe the converging streams of thought resulting in the current normalization of attacks on universal values and neutral rules. The fundamentals of identity synthesis include complete skepticism of objective truth and deep-seated pessimism over western society. It is an ironic trap because the societies which have been most successful at providing all members opportunity for creating their own future are “guided by philosophically liberal emphasis on individual freedom and collective self-government.”[3]
When I initially ‘discovered’ how people I knew were still experiencing outcomes of the hidden racist history in my own backyard, I was ashamed of my ignorance. Initially, I began to share what I had learned and found a receptive audience at every turn. It seemed people who share the belief that ‘all people are created equal,’ are open to making changes when confronted with new information and evidence that people are experiencing the contrary. 15 years later, conversations like these, related to the experience of any marginalized groups have become more contentious, even impossible.
God’s people have always been assigned to care for the marginalized and they have always fallen short. But we are not to give up. Then why can it be so difficult to engage in civil discourse, even with Jesus-followers who have been further taught by Jesus’ example how to love and care for neighbors? We claim to believe that every human bears the image of God and that the natural outflow of our love relationship with God is love for others.
Now I see that the reason for resistance is backlash against the forceful agenda being promoted and resentment over being backed into a corner. When one is told that their well-meaning best is merely a smoke screen to cover their desire to maintain power and control, conversation ceases. Another conversation stopper stems from advocates of identity synthesis insisting on the adoption of a complete intersectional framework, including LGBTQ agenda. I encounter many Christians who, because of theological disagreement over this issue, distance themselves from justice work to avoid aligning with liberal theology. My own denomination is becoming increasingly divided.[4]
By eliminating universal truth and making group identity the primary factor through which to view the world, group competition ultimately rules. In the radical remaking desired by proponents of identity synthesis, scarcity mindset reigns. When identity in a specific group is more important than identity in the human race, “different communities will always be mired in zero-sum competition.”[5] ‘All are created equal’ or ‘all are created in the image of God’ are examples of universal values that get thrown out when one is more concerned with “my truth.”
But I believe in the abundant human capacity for love when sourced by the Spirit of God. Remaking broken systems remains the work of broken individuals who have themselves been remade and I hope to lead others to stay in the work. Principles of universal truth as understood in orthodox Christianity, not identity synthesis, can be our guide. A summary of Mounk’s prescription for working against the identity trap fits right into a Christian playbook.
First, speak from a position of calm confidence while claiming the moral high ground and avoid being reactionary. This sounds like the perfect opportunity to practice being non-anxious like Jesus and standing on truth. Be humble in disagreement. Jesus taught us to be humble in all things. Play the long game – the new Heaven and new Earth will come! Finally, no matter what it feels like from the simplistic distillations of media, American society is not a matter of woke vs. MAGA, the middle majority lives on! [6] For Jesus-followers, it is not donkey vs. elephant, but the middle way of the Lamb.
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:9) Identity synthesis would paint this scene with separate, defined groups. I imagine it with the all the people groups in a joyous profusion of celebration, not only of the Lamb, but of the delights of one another, united as one family with many expressions.
[1] https://www.oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/historical-records/draft-of-oregon-state-constitution/
[2] Yascha Mounk. The Identity Trap: A Story of Ideas and Power in Our Time. (London: Allen Lane an imprint of Penguin Books, 2023), 66.
[3] Yascha Mounk. The Identity Trap, 23, 255.
[4] Thomas Jay Oord and Alexa Oord, eds. Why the Church of the Nazarene Should Be Fully LGBTQ+ Affirming. (SacraSage Press, 2023.)
[5] Yascha Mounk. The Identity Trap, 262.
[6] Yascha Mounk. The Identity Trap, 272-280.
About the Author
Julie O'Hara
14 responses to “Now I See”
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Hi Julie,
I enjoyed reading your post. Your post references the image of people from every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before the throne and the Lamb. How does this image contrast with the idea of separate, defined groups promoted by identity synthesis?
Hello Shela,
Thank you for your question. Standpoint theory, a tenet of identity synthesis claims that there are experiences shared by every member of a group that outsiders can never understand. (see ch 8) I sense an element of truth in that claim and also a sense of isolationism that defies relationship and communication. I envision that in our worship before the throne we will understand our differences and that they will be celebrated. As far as hurt experienced as a result of difference our current Earth, I hope to practice being a loving listener without trying to project my own story onto other people.
Julie,
Thanks for your post. Your comment “not donkey versus elephant” reminded me of a conversation I had with my brother in Law a few years ago. I had heard someone say that Jesus was not political. He quickly disagreed with that statement saying that Jesus was very political, he promoted the Kingdom of God which upset a lot of leaders. One of our department members is at a social work conference this week and met a member of another Christian university social work department member that shared how two previous faculty members abruptly quit over being questioned as to how what they are required by our accrediting body can align with Christian beliefs. The answer to that question does take some intentional thought and study of the Scriptures, but it serves as an example that due to polarization people cannot engage in civil discourse.
My question for you is, has Oregon formally changed their Constitution? I know Ohio has worked on changing oppressive statements in theirs.
Oh Jeff – in spite of becoming illegal due to passage of the 14th amendment to the US Constitution, the language remained until mid 1920’s. And that motion to remove the language was only a 65% favorable vote. Much later, early 2000’s all references to the 1957 constitution were removed.
Julie
I appreciate how you are reflecting on your own journey towards understanding racial bias in your own State. What does it look like to apply a ‘metanarrative’ of eschatological hope from Rev 7:9 (which will likely face rejection from Critical Race Theorists and disciples of Foucault) or to Nazarenes dividing over approaches to Sexual Minorities? If, as Mounk argues, today’s adversaries can be tomorrow’s allies, what is your hope to be able to transcend and include people from across seemingly inseparable lines?
Hi Joel,
I think applying a metanarrative of eschatological hope means offering consistent invitation to Jesus-followers to live into this picture. That might be pulpit invitation, private conversation, small groups, etc. It also looks like risk and challenge. It seems the easier way might be to retreat into one’s group, whatever that mean to a person (identity, political party, local church) and just surround self with like-minded others and only talk about easy things. Another way is to be relationally in the group and to speak winsomely from within about ways to collectively be more like Jesus.
Hi Julie, Rev 7:9 is one of my favorite. It brings so much hope and promise. Thank you for making that connection.
“For Jesus-followers, it is not donkey vs. elephant, but the middle way of the Lamb.” AMEN!
Praying for you as you love like Jesus!
I agree with Christy, your comment about the “middle way of the Lamb” is excellent!
What have you found to be helpful in response to those overtly siding with elephants and donkeys and claiming to walk with the Lamb (aka political view=Christianity)?
Hi Kari,
Depends on context, but let’s start with this.
1. My job is not to change anyone, but to point to Jesus. Holy Spirit changes yielded hearts.
2. Ask questions (like Jesus.)
3. Stay connected relationally.
4. Ask Jesus to keep me tender when people leave (church, relationship) because the have and will.
Julie, I appreciate this post a lot. Thank you for sharing. You answered my initial question in a previous response when you shared, “As far as hurt experienced as a result of difference our current Earth, I hope to practice being a loving listener without trying to project my own story onto other people.”
I also love how you share here that the idea is to always look for ways to point back to Jesus since the “Holy Spirit” changes yielded hearts.
What’s been helpful for helping you be the type of “loving listener” you describe in a world where it can be really hard not to get in our own stories or let the world’s message trump the message of Jesus?
HI Akwése, This is a pretty basic answer, but a truthful one…deep breaths and praying for impulse control! Sometimes I just feel so mad. I have noticed that when I listen, I often learn how a person is situationally impacted and am reminded over an over that quick-fixes simply do not exist and we are all navigating a great deal of complexity. I want to be able to be alongside folks even when the temptation is to abandon or walk away because of disagreement. It’s hard.
Hi Christy, Thanks for your encouragement and prayer. Lots of talk here in the blog but I am still growing to live it out.
Julie,
First, thank you for sharing your knowledge with your community. Those of us who identify as POCs thank you. It takes a whole host of white people to stand up for those whose voices have been shut down and oppressed.
Your opening reminded me of when we moved to Portland. We moved into the Hawthorne district and about a year after we had been living there I learned that we were in what was once a red-lined district. I felt both privileged and nervous.
I don’t know what your NPO statement is, but how do you see the key concepts of Mount lining up with your NPO … or not?
Hi Nancy, Redlining was another thing I learned about all in that same series of papers. Again, I felt so shocked and ashamed of my previous ignorance.
My NPO is about preaching in my denomination. Preaching can reflect the culture more than Christ. Preaching risks pushing past a call for justice into identity trap. It can unwittingly partner with those who would silence orthodox Christianity and its claims of universal truth. I say this while also acknowledging that Christianity and the church do not have the right to force their agenda in a free system any more than advocates of identity-first lens. Preaching also often bypasses the way of Jesus with reactionary responses to postmodernism without taking the time to understand cultural influences and how the listeners have been impacted in very real ways. Listeners may have been impacted both in terms of actual discrimination, and impacted by group-think from media bombardment to adopt an identity-first lens about any number of issues which do not pertain in meaningful ways to their own self or life experience – which in turn leads to reactionary responses to the Gospel. Choosing the ‘conservative’ side and bellowing in the name of ‘truth’ does not invite people to receive truly good news. What are best practices, in partnership with Holy Spirit, for preaching leading toward life transformation?