He explained that Christianity was founded in an environment of persecution, and while it might seem unfamiliar to us in modern America, there really was a lengthy history of persecution that informed the development of Christian beliefs and theology 2/x
He reframed the question: in an environment where Christians have achieved liberation and no longer fear persecution, what does that do to the obligation to stand up against oppression? He gave three answers. 3/x
First, you can be grateful to God and to your predecessors who have helped achieve the liberation you enjoy today, and basically go about your life. 4/x
Second, you can take up the cause of liberation for those who are still oppressed today. 5/x
Third, you can search for ways you can label yourself as persecuted, and rally for your "liberation". He lumped a lot of, basically, anger about the culture wars into this camp. 6/x
It's a frame that explains so much of the modern Republican party, I keep returning to it. 7/7
(I am a Jew talking about something a Christian pastor told me more than a decade ago. Any theological problems in my retelling are my fault, not his.) 8/7