In this episode, I look at an article published in the fall of 2022 by Barna Group, an organization that does research related to Christianity and American culture. The article, which is entitled Does a Divided Public Look to Pastors for Guidance?’, looks at the statistics surrounding which people or institutions Americans trust to make a positive change in society. Shockingly, many Americans, even those that don’t go to church, still think that religious leaders should give guidance on issues that divide our nation. I break down the article, and then offer a theological reflection of it based on Revelation 5, 1 Timothy 3, and James 4. I argue that Jesus is the messiah, that we are his people, and that church leaders enable us as the people of God to make a positive difference in the world. Media Referenced:https://www.barna.com/research/midterms-pastors-guidance/ Questions, comments, suggestions? Please reach out to me at theprotestantlibertarian@gmail.com.  You can also follow the podcast on Twitter: @prolibertypod. If you like the show and want to support it, you can! Check out the Protestant Libertarian Podcast page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theplpodcast. Also, please consider giving me a star rating and leaving me a review, it really helps expand the shows profile! Thanks! 

In this episode, we look at a recent piece published at Reason Magazine by Stephany Slade entitled ‘Against Game of Thrones Christianity’, in which she argues that there is a growing tendency among members of the Christian right to use state power against their political opponents. According to Slade, this represents an abandonment of classical liberalism and is antithetical to Biblical teaching. I read and comment on this excellent article, and then provide a Biblical reflection on the problematic use of state power by those that claim to follow a crucified Messiah.  Media Referenced:‘Against Game of Thrones Christianity’ by Stephanie Slade: https://reason.com/2022/12/24/against-game-of-thrones-christianity/Stephany Slade on Twitter: @sladesrQuestions, comments, suggestions? Please reach out to me at theprotestantlibertarian@gmail.com.  You can also follow the podcast on Twitter: @prolibertypod. If you like the show and want to support it, you can! Check out the Protestant Libertarian Podcast page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theplpodcast. Also, please consider giving me a star rating and leaving me a review, it really helps expand the shows profile! Thanks!

Henry Cadbury (1883 – 1974) was a Quaker Biblical scholar. He was an outspoken critic of the anti-German propaganda being pushed by the US media during World War I and was also critical of Woodrow Wilson’s passing of the Selective Service Act, which would draft members of religious organizations who opposed violence into non-combat roles in the military. His critique of the war propaganda cost him his teaching position and Haverford University. He would go on to write in 1937 the incredible book The Peril of Modernizing Jesus, in which he argued that interpreters of Jesus often impose modern categories and concepts upon his thinking. This process of modernization obscures the understanding of who he was as a historical figure and is often a thinly veiled attempt to use Jesus to legitimate our own theological, social, and political biases. We look specifically at Cadbury’s explanation of the appropriation of Jesus to defend modern social and political programs as well as why Jesus couldn’t have been a libertarian, a conservative, or a progressive because those categories didn’t exist in the ancient world. Henry Cadbury is a Biblical scholar who is both worthy of respect and whose work is still deeply relevant. Media Referenced:The Perils of Pacifist Dissent During WWI: https://www.friendsjournal.org/henry-cadbury-afsc-haverford/The history of the Quaker movement: https://quaker.orgThe Peril of Modernizing Jesus, Henry Cadbury   Questions, comments, suggestions? Please reach out to me at theprotestantlibertarian@gmail.com.  You can also follow the podcast on Twitter: @prolibertypod. If you like the show and want to support it, you can! Check out the Protestant Libertarian Podcast page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theplpodcast. Also, please consider giving me a star rating and leaving me a review, it really helps expand the shows profile! Thanks!

It is the holiday season, which means you will most likely be receiving at least one Amazon gift card! In this short Christmas special, I present six books, three written about the Bible and the church and three written about politics and economics, that shaped my political worldview and led me to a uniquely Christian version of libertarianism. Below is the list, with Amazon links for your convenience. Happy reading, and merry Christmas! Are You the One Who is to Come?  by Mike Bird: https://a.co/d/dBD49ywThe King Jesus Gospel by Scott McKnight: https://a.co/d/7qSxDgEThe Politics of Witness by Allan Bevere: https://a.co/d/hYw3xO5Economic Facts and Fallacies by Thomas Sowell: https://a.co/d/70aieGxThe Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayek: https://a.co/d/5kq85GSEnough Already by Scott Horton: https://a.co/d/3O9tehv

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Christoph Heilig, who is on the faculty of theology at the University of Basel in Switzerland. He has written extensively on the relationship between Paul and the Roman empire, and his recent book The Apostle and the Empire analyzes the debate in New Testament scholarship surrounding Paul’s supposedly ‘hidden’ criticism of Rome. Heilig explains, contrary to many prominent strands of New Testament scholarship, that Paul did not have a veiled critique of Rome but openly expresses his discomfort with the Roman empire. He explains the significance of 2 Corinthians 2:14 and the way in which Paul’s language would have been in conflict with Roman political ideology. We also discuss the most politically contentious passage in the New Testament, Romans 13:1-7. This is not a conversation you will want to miss! Media Referenced:Follow Dr. Heilig on Twitter: @ChristophHeiligBuy The Apostle and the Empire: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0802882234?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_VGCEYTT2BRFMWJXQW0P8Dr. Heilig on Academia: https://unibas.academia.edu/ChristophHeilig (You can download some of his work for free!) Questions, comments, suggestions? Please reach out to me at theprotestantlibertarian@gmail.com.  You can also follow the podcast on Twitter: @prolibertypod. If you like the show and want to support it, you can! Check out the Protestant Libertarian Podcast page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theplpodcast. Also, please consider giving me a star rating and leaving me a review, it really helps expand the shows profile! Thanks!

In this episode, I sit down with Cody Cook, an author and podcaster who explores the relationship between Christianity and anarchism. Many of his interests overlap with the Protestant Libertarian Podcast, and I know that you are going to love everything that he has produced! After getting to know Cody, we talk about two articles that he has written exploring the relationship between Christmas and libertarian thinking. He gives us some very interesting historical and theological insights into how Christians need to reflect on the true message of Christmas, and how, as always, Jesus is the real reason for the season. Enjoy!Media Referenced;The State vs. Christmas: https://stream.org/the-state-vs-christmas/Swords into Plowshares: What WWI and Nagasaki Should Remind Us About Christmas: https://libertarianchristians.com/2021/12/22/christmas-swords-plowershares/Cody Cook’s Website: https://www.cantus-firmus.comTwitter: @CantusFirmusCCCantus Firmus Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cantus-firmus/id926516807  Questions, comments, suggestions? Please reach out to me at theprotestantlibertarian@gmail.com.  You can also follow the podcast on Twitter: @prolibertypod. If you like the show and want to support it, you can! Check out the Protestant Libertarian Podcast page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theplpodcast. Also, please consider giving me a star rating and leaving me a review, it really helps expand the shows profile! Thanks!

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Brandon D. Crowe, professor of New Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary, to discuss his 2020 book The Hope of Israel: The Resurrection of Christ in the Acts of the Apostles. In this book, he argues that the resurrection of Jesus is the central theme of the book of Acts, and we discuss the historical, exegetical, and theological significance of the resurrection. Our conversation is a great introduction not only to his book but to the meaning and centrality of the resurrection to Christian faith and doctrine. As an added bonus, we discuss the relationship between Biblical studies as a historical discipline and theology, and we discuss the fundamentals of Reformed theology. I highly recommend this book!Media Referenced:The Hope of Israel: The Resurrection of Christ in the Acts of the Apostles, Brandon D. CroweAmazon link: https://a.co/d/4JSRSKaDr. Crowe’s faculty page at Westminster: https://faculty.wts.edu/posts/?facultyfilter=189Westminster Theological Seminary on Twitter: @WestminsterTS  Questions, comments, suggestions? Please reach out to me at theprotestantlibertarian@gmail.com.  You can also follow the podcast on Twitter: @prolibertypod. If you like the show and want to support it, you can! Check out the Protestant Libertarian Podcast page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theplpodcast. Also, please consider giving me a star rating and leaving me a review, it really helps expand the shows profile! Thanks!

*Episode originally recorded in August 2022.*In round two of Ludwig von Mises vs. a Christian scholar, we look at the brilliant Christian philosopher James K.A. Smith’s collection of essays called ‘The Devil Reads Derrida’. There is a lot of great content, but his definition of capitalism and libertarianism are at odds with the tradition of Austrian economics.  We compare his statements with Ludwig von Mises’ great essay ‘Liberty and Property’ in an attempt to offer a more holistic understanding of capitalism. I agree with Smith on most other issues, and I would highly recommend his exceptional book ‘Who’s Afraid of Postmodernism’, which is the best introduction to both postmodern philosophy and it’s relevance for the church. Episode Outline:I. Capitalism and Misunderstanding EconomicsII. James K.A. SmithIII. Liberty and PropertyIV. Capitalism Accomplishes Christian Goals Media Referenced:Liberty and Property, Ludwig von Mises (https://mises.org/library/liberty-and-property)The Devil Reads Derrida, James K.A. SmithGreat Society, Amity ShlaesMeltdown, Tom WoodsThe Road to Serfdom, F.A. HayekJames K.A. Smith’s Website: https://jameskasmith.comSmith on Twitter: @james_ka_smith Questions, comments, suggestions? Please reach out to me at theprotestantlibertarian@gmail.com.  You can also follow the podcast on Twitter: @prolibertypod. If you like the show and want to support it, you can! Check out the Protestant Libertarian Podcast page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theplpodcast. Also, please consider giving me a star rating and leaving me a review, it really helps expand the shows profile! Thanks!

Happy bonus Thanksgiving episode! I wanted to organize my thoughts on the current war in Ukraine and, on this episode, I look at a few short articles and narrate an introductory overview that explains my current understanding of the conflict. The media, the military industrial complex, political interests, and history all shed light on the reason for US involvement in this eastern European conflict. As always, it is much more complicated than we have been led to believe. Take a listen while you are preparing yourself for the holiday festivities!Media Referenced:Benjamin Abelow, How the West Brought War to UkrainePlaying Russian Roulette With Ukraine: https://southseattleemerald.com/2022/10/06/opinion-playing-russian-roulette-in-ukraine-with-rep-adam-smith/NATO’s New Order: https://origins.osu.edu/article/natos-new-order-alliance-after-cold-war?language_content_entity=enAmerica’s Ukraine Hypocracy: https://www.cato.org/commentary/americas-ukraine-hypocrisy#Ron Paul on Ukraine: https://original.antiwar.com/paul/2022/11/21/is-washingtons-dangerous-ukraine-boondoggle-starting-to-unravel/Thomas Massie’s opposition to the war: https://www.businessinsider.com/marjorie-taylor-greene-thomas-massie-vote-against-ukraine-russia-bills-2022-5Questions, comments, suggestions? Please reach out to me at theprotestantlibertarian@gmail.com.  You can also follow the podcast on Twitter: @prolibertypod. If you like the show and want to support it, you can! Check out the Protestant Libertarian Podcast page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theplpodcast. Also, please consider giving me a star rating and leaving me a review, it really helps expand the shows profile! Thanks!

On this episode, I talk to Econ Bro, a Christian and a libertarian from Nigeria, who runs the excellent Twitter account @TruEconBreau. We had an exchange about women in ministry online, and we agreed that we wanted to have an extended discussion about the issue. Econ Bro takes the position that while women are gifted in many ways, the Bible prohibits them from leading men in church. I take the position that the Bible does allow for women in ministry. We have a thoughtful, friendly, and thorough conversation about the topic. This episode will leave you thinking!  Episode Outline:I. Econ Bro explains how he became a Christian. II. Econ Bro explains how he became a libertarian. III. What’s happening in Nigerian politics?IV. Our conversation about women, leadership, and the Bible. Media Referenced:1 Timothy 2:8-151 Corinthians 14: 34-351 Corinthians 9:19-27Romans 16:1-7Junia: The First Woman Apostle, Eldon J. EppQuestions, comments, suggestions? Please reach out to me at theprotestantlibertarian@gmail.com. If you like the show and want to support it, you can! Check out the Protestant Libertarian Podcast page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theplpodcast. Also, please consider giving me a star rating and leaving me a review, it really helps expand the shows profile! Thanks!