The Libertarian Christian Podcast

Join us as host Doug Stuart welcomes Preston Sprinkle, accomplished author and president of Theology in the Raw. Together, they tackle the weighty topics of politics, allegiance, and the teachings of Jesus as explored in Sprinkle's latest book, Exiles: The Church in the Shadow of Empire.Dive into a discussion that journeys through the political implications wrapped in Jesus' teachings and their connection to contemporary issues such as power dynamics, citizenship, and nonviolence. Sprinkle dissects the often misunderstood statement about "rendering unto Caesar," unpacking the rich historical and contextual background that reframes this passage far beyond a simple lesson on taxation.The episode further delves into the pressing question of what it means to give "allegiance" in a biblical sense. Listeners are invited to reflect on the concept of faith as not just intellectual assent, but a soul-deep commitment that challenges notions of political and national loyalty, especially within the American evangelical context.Sprinkle and Stuart wrestle with the deep-seated views often conflating patriotism with faith, tackling the complex issues of submitting to government authorities, engaging with empire mentality, and what repentance looked like in the 1st century.Prepare for a deep examination of the essence of being strangers and sojourners in God's kingdom as Preston provides a fresh understanding of Romans 13 and advocate for a life lived in the tension between respect for earthly governance and ultimate devotion to a higher King. This episode is essential listening for those seeking to unravel the interplay between their Christian faith and political surroundings, urging believers to consider their true allegiance and what it means to be a part of a global, multi-ethnic body of Christ.Additional Resources:Theology in the Rawcenterforfaith.comLCP interview with Nilay Saiya: https://libertarianchristians.com/episode/prophetic-witness-christian-nationalism-nilay-saiya/LCP Interview with Preston on LGBTQ: https://libertarianchristians.com/episode/christianity-lgbtq-preston-sprinkle/ Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Brian Zahnd is a pastor from Saint Joseph, Missouri, whose own thought journey mirrors that of many libertarian Christians: away from neoconservatism and nationalism, and towards skepticism of empire and the pursuit of peace. Though he doesn’t self-identify as a libertarian and we have some differences, Zahnd's work does have substantial overlap with LCI's as it relates to militarism, nationalism, and how we view the kingdoms of the world.(Re-Mastered for Re-Issue.)Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Special guest Corey Nathan joins us to talk about the art of navigating contentious political conversations with grace and understanding.Corey Nathan shares personal stories and insights, including his own experiences with public figures and the importance of relational interactions over transactional debates in persuasion. He also discusses the challenges of discussing the Israel-Palestine conflict and emphasizes the importance of acknowledging complexity and having empathetic conversations.Throughout the episode, the conversation centers on engaging in civil dialogue, understanding the urgency people feel about political matters, and disarming contentiousness during conversations. The episode also covers Corey Nathan's personal journey of growing up in a Jewish family, becoming a Christian, and starting a podcast about discussing politics and religion without hostility.Join us as we explore the wisdom and strategies for having respectful and empathetic conversations about politics and religion in this engaging and enlightening episode.Additional Resources:politicsandreligion.ushttps://www.linkedin.com/in/coreysnathan/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talkin-politics-religion-without-killin-each-other/id1536169792 Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Beth Silvers from the Pantsuits Politics podcast joins us to talk about her book, I Think You're Wrong (But I'm Listening): A Guide to Grace-Filled Political Conversations, where we discuss how to have healthy conflict in political discussions, why a sports metaphor doesn't work for politics, and whether or not this is the most important election of our lifetime.(Re-Mastered for Re-Issue.)Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Preston Sprinkle recently invited Doug Stuart to be on his podcast, Theology in the Raw. Doug discusses his journey from conservative political beliefs to libertarianism, which was influenced by his doubts about American foreign policy post-9/11 and his exploration of economics, particularly the Austrian School of Economics. He emphasizes the importance of free individuals and agency in creating a moral and just society.Doug and Preston discuss various topics, including the common misunderstandings of libertarianism and the range of views within the movement on issues like immigration and foreign policy. They agree on the need for a foreign policy that avoids war, the skepticism towards the military-industrial complex, and the benefits of free movement for immigrants.Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Justin Tosi is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Texas Tech University. He works on moral, social, political, and legal philosophy. Brandon Warmke is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Bowling Green State University. He writes about ethics and politics. Today we discuss their book, "Grandstanding: The Use and Abuse of Moral Talk."(Re-Mastered for Re-Issue.)Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Arnold Kling, author of The Three Languages of Politics, joins us to discuss the complexities of political discourse and the tribalism that often underpins our beliefs and interactions. Throughout the episode, Klings dissects the challenges of communicating within the political sphere and the underlying motivations that drive these discussions. Kling introduces a three-axes model of politics, shedding light on the beliefs and motivations behind the "oppressor-oppressed," "barbarism-civilization," and "coercion-liberty" axes. The conversation extends into the influence of education and the widening gap between different groups, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. The episode explores the intricacies of using language and persuasion in political discourse, delving into the impact of motivated reasoning and the difficulty of applying the scientific method to political discussions. The hosts and guest also explore the evolving landscape of public discourse, where issues related to oppression and social justice activism take center stage. The complex nature of political discourse is a challenge to fostering genuine understanding and communication. With an emphasis on nuanced thinking and a keen recognition of the multi-faceted nature of political perspectives, this episode promises to be an engaging exploration into the heart of political discourse. Additional Resources: Buy The Three Languages of Politics Here: https://www.libertarianism.org/books/three-languages-politics http://arnoldkling.com https://arnoldkling.substack.com/ Martin Guri: Revolt of the Public Rauch: Constitution of Knowledge Jeffrey Friedman: libertarian who is constantly questioning libertarianism Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com  ★ Support this podcast ★

Concern for social justice has become one of the most effective ways for Christians to signal that they care about the world's poor, yet below the surface of this virtue signaling are some important issues about justice itself – of social well-being – and understanding how to be a Christian concerned with the common good. It is important to understand just how the message of the gospel applies to the well-being of the world. Jason Jewell joins us to talk about why a libertarian view of the state, society, and human action are critical concepts to understand before one arrives at a viable pursuit of social justice.(Re-Mastered for Re-Issue.)Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com  ★ Support this podcast ★

Chelsea Follett, author of Centers of Progress, 40 Cities That Changed the World, joins us to discuss the topic of human progress and how cities emerged as centers of progress for humanity. Chelsea's book takes listeners on an intellectual and historical tour of cities' golden ages, providing a fascinating exploration of the rise and fall of different cities, and their profound impact on progress and freedom. From lesser-known places to globally renowned metropolises, the conversation delves into the surprising innovations and achievements that have shaped our world. The discussion also uncovers the universal conditions for progress, challenging preconceived notions about the drivers of societal advancement. Through thought-provoking insights and engaging anecdotes, they shed light on the undeniable link between urbanization, autonomy, and the human experience. Join us as we embark on a journey through history, unraveling the intricate connection between cities, freedom, and progress, and uncovering the enduring influence of urban environments on the pursuit of prosperity and liberty. Chelsea Follett is the managing editor of HumanProgress.org, a project of the Cato Institute that seeks to educate the public on the global improvements in well‐being by providing free empirical data on long‐term developments. Additional Resources HumanProgress.org Centers of Progress Follow Chelsea on X Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com    ★ Support this podcast ★

On this episode, the always insightful (and frequently controversial) biblical scholar Dr. Peter Enns joins the show to talk to us about the journey of faith, trusting God, how to disagree with other Christians, pitfalls in biblical interpretation, and much more. Those familiar with Enns’ work typically have a strong opinion either for or against him. The listener is of course free to reach his or her own conclusions, though we will say that a number of us at the Libertarian Christian Institute — even those who strongly differ from Enns on some points — have greatly appreciated and benefited from his material over the years.Sooner or later, we all go through uncertain times in the Christian life. Who among us hasn’t felt scared, uncertain, or confused, and unable to voice our thoughts from fear of being made into a church pariah? One permeating theme of Enns’ work is that biblical faith is about trusting in God and moving forward even during these times; another is that being faithful to the Scripture requires us to come to it on its own terms, not ours. And all of this has tremendous relevance for how we relate to other believers in a way that honors Christ and unifies the Church, rather than furthers division.If you feel compelled to deconstruct this episode, please consider doing a grammatical-historical word study of the transcript first.(Re-Mastered for Re-Issue.)Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com  ★ Support this podcast ★