The Good Citizen Podcast

What do you think about the future of the United States? Should we expect and just accept further division and decline? Can the United States remain, well, united amidst differing worldviews and visions for the future of the country? The national debt, the temperature of our political rhetoric, the departure from Biblical principles, the dysfunction of Washington, D.C, and the rise of geopolitical forces new and old are certainly cause for grave concern. And it is easy to grow discouraged about the direction of the country. But, there are still strong Biblical and practical reasons for us to re-invest in the American experiment. Here are four.The post #412 The American Future: 4 Reasons We Should Not Give Up on the American Experiment [Encore] first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

In our current political climate, patriotism is often treated with spiritual and secular suspicion. Especially as we mark America’s 250th birthday, is waving a flag or celebrating America’s rich spiritual heritage “political idolatry” or “Christian nationalism”? The short answer: no. Patriotism can and should be an expression of rightly ordered love and commitment to the place where God has placed us (Jer. 29). In this episode, Dan Darling joins me to discuss his timely book A Defense of Christian Patriotism and explain why love of country (i.e., place) is essential for the Christian. We discuss America’s founding principles, the necessity of telling the full story of America including here failures and triumphs, the importance of Christian civic engagement, and practical ways we can impact America’s future from our own back yards. Daniel Darling is an author, pastor and thought leader. He currently serves as the Director of The Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Assistant Professor of Faith and Culture at Texas Baptist College.  Dan has served in a variety of senior executive positions, including eight years as Vice President of Communications at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, where he is now a research fellow. He has also pastored churches in Illinois and Tennessee. He is also a columnist for World and a contributor to USA Today.  Key takeaways/links: Link to In Defense of Christian Patriotism . Link to The Land Center for Cultural Engagement. Connect with Dan Darling on X. Click Here to Watch on YouTubeThe post #411 In Defense of Christian Patriotism with Dan Darling first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

In this episode, I briefly address the disruption by protestors of a church service in Minneapolis, including the relevant legal protections for churches and some general guidelines on responding to protesters if they enter a sacred space. Then, I turn to five lessons for Christian citizens from the remarkable life of Frederick Douglass. He was a modern-day prophet who stirred the American conscience, decried the grave hypocrisy of the Christian church on the issue of slavery, and challenged and encouraged President Abraham Lincoln to lead the United States to abolish the institution. Douglass remains a key example to us as we work to fulfill the promise of the Declaration of Independence and build the society he envisioned but never experienced. Key Lessons: Biblical Christianity is the cure, not the cause. Prophets are important. Ground reform in creation order, not politics. Expect setbacks and snapbacks. Hope and work until the end. Link to Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. Click Here to Watch on YouTubeThe post #410 5 Lessons from Frederick Douglass first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

In this episode, I share my thoughts on the ICE shooting last week with a focus on how to respond to the issue of immigration and law enforcement (and the response to ICE) moving forward. More specifically, I look at this event through the lens of tragedy, authority, ideology, and theology. Also, last year, I did a deep dive into what Scripture has to say about immigration, a history of U.S. immigration law, and how churches and ministries can both promote the rule of law and love their immigrant neighbors. I am replaying that review as this issue will (apparently) continue to impact ministries in 2026.The post #409 Thoughts on the ICE Shooting; the Church, Immigration, and ICE Raids first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

In this interview, Katy Faust, founder of Them Before Us, joins me to address one of the most pressing and misunderstood moral issues of our time: the rights of children—beginning with their right to be raised by their own mother and father whenever possible. Katy Faust is Founder and President of Them Before Us, a global movement defending children’s right to their mother and father. She publishes, speaks and testifies widely on why marriage and family are matters of justice for children. Her articles have appeared in Newsweek, USA Today, The Federalist, Public Discourse, WORLD Magazine, The Daily Signal, the Washington Examiner, the American Mind, and the American Conservative. She is on the advisory board for the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship. Katy helped design the teen edition of CanaVox which studies sex, marriage and relationships from a natural law perspective. Katy and co-author Stacy Manning detailed their philosophy of worldview transmission in their second book, Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City.  She and her husband are raising their four children in Seattle. In this interview, Katy Faust draws from research, natural law, and a Biblical worldview to make the case that marriage and family are not social constructs designed to serve adult preferences; rather, they are child-centered institutions designed to promote human flourishing. We also explore how modern cultural narratives—often framed in the language of compassion and equality—have quietly displaced children from the center of cultural and policy considerations. The church has always been a pro-child champion; and it is time for the church to speak with courage and clarity on matters such as marriage, divorce, reproductive technologies, and surrogacy. Key Takeaways: Why children’s rights must come before adult desires. The unique and irreplaceable roles of mothers and fathers. A review of the church’s history as a pro-child champion. How the church can respond Biblically and compassionately. What faithfulness looks like when cultural pressure is high. Follow Katy Faust on X. Link to the Them Before Us Substack. Click Here to Watch on YouTubeThe post #408 Them Before Us: Defending the Right of Children to a Mom and Dad with Katy Faust first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

Every great story has a villain. And, I would argue, every great story has a great villain (in the sense that they are cunning, powerful and evil). The Christmas story is no different. We spend a lot of time talking about Mary and Joseph, the wise men, and the shepherds, but what about the villain–Herod? And did you know there are several Herods in the Bible and not just one? In this sermon, I reviewed the historical and Scriptural references to these “Christmas Villains” (the Herods), the key lessons from their lives and how they, in a counterintuitive way, point to the one, true King. Here’s a list of the important Herods: (1) Herod the Great was the key figure in the Christmas story that killed the babies in Bethlehem, (2) Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great that killed John the Baptist and earned a reprimand from Christ, (3) Herod Agrippa I was the grandson of Herod the Great that arrested Peter and was eaten of worms, and (4) Herod Agrippa II was the great-grandson of Herod the Great that conversed with Paul and almost became a Christian. Here’s a family tree: Here’s the Outline: The Monarch in the Manger The Fox and the Lion At Terms with the Worms The Gospel to the Great And some key takeaways: An explanation of the varying levels of government at the time of Christ. What Jesus meant when He called Herod Antipas a “fox.” The remarkable family history that both Paul and Agrippa knew during Paul’s sermon in Acts 26. This perspective completely changed the way I read that passage. Though the Herods were royally messed up, they weren’t the actual Christmas villains. I explain why. The post #407 The Christmas Villains [Encore] first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

2025 has been a somber year with a rise in politically motivated violence–including the public assassination of Charlie Kirk–and heightened tensions and conflict around the world. 2025 has also been an encouraging year with a comeback of creation order (i.e., women’s sports and the Skrmetti case allowing states to take cross-sex hormones and transition surgeries off the medical menu for minors), a renewed opportunity for and interest in church-state partnership, and the sparks of spiritual renewal. Here are five lessons from 2025. Key Sources/Interviews: Os Guinness – Our Civilizational Moment: The Waning of the West and the War of the Worlds Indiana State Comptroller Elise Nieshalla – The National Debt Crisis and How to Respond Birjan Crispin – Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and Christian Citizenship Tim Goeglein – Stumbling Toward Utopia: How the 1960s Turned Into a National Nightmare and How We Can Revive the American Dream Andrew Walker – What Do I Say When Pastors and Politics; Review of Key 2025 SCOTUS Decisions Pew – Religion Holds Stead in America National Debt Clock Click Here to Watch on YouTubeThe post #405 5 Lessons from 2025 first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

In this episode, I share seven key lessons I learned while completing a verse-by-verse study of the book of Acts. Also, Professor Sean O’Neill joins me for an interview-style discussion on the reliability of the book of Acts (and the New Testament generally), including the accuracy of official/government titles recounted by Luke; the interplay between Herod and Rome; Paul’s Roman citizenship, and the incredible details of Paul’s sea voyage in Acts 27. This Christmas (and all year round), we can be confident that our faith is rooted in real people and real places. And we can know that God‘s Word is a sure foundation for our lives and families. Big Idea for the Series: The early church carried the gospel throughout the known world in approximately 30 years and transformed an empire in 3 centuries. Now the church seems intimidated, uncertain amidst swift cultural changes. So, what did the early Christians, commanded by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, do that we are not doing? Here are their Acts, and may they inspire our own. Here are some of Professor O’Neill’s credentials: Bachelors, University of Michigan; — Masters and PhD, University of Cincinnati – Bronze age archeology. Egypt. Teaching at Hanover College since 2011 in the Dept. of Classical Studies (focusing on the archaeology, language, literature, and history of the Ancient Mediterranean world). Published scholarship on topics ranging from the archaeological site of Troy to the art and archaeology of Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt. Ancient Language and Literature studies have included working on (and teaching) texts in Latin, Greek, Aramaic, Hebrew, Hieroglyphic Egyptian, and Demotic Egyptian. Can read and write 11 languages. Key Lessons: Christ is King. We have Holy Spirit Power. Don’t Do Ministry Alone. The Gospel is for All People. Expect Persecution. The Church is God’s Plan A. The Word does the Work. *Correction Notice: Professor O’Neill mentioned that detractors of the book of Acts hypothesize that the book was written in the 4th and early 5th centuries. He reached out to us later and asked us to included a correction: detractors of the book of Acts hypothesize that the book was written in the 3rd and early 4th centuries. Click Here to Watch on YouTubeThe post #405 Acts: Postscript – Key Lessons and Reliability with Professor Sean O’Neill first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

I recently spent a week in Israel on an incredible trip split between visiting Biblical/historical sites and understanding the geopolitical situation in the region post-Oct. 7th. In this episode, I share three key lessons from my time in the Holy Land. The video is linked below if interested in seeing the pictures and places I describe in this episode. A couple more detailed notes: First, a few reflections on the spiritual impact. I have studied the Bible most of my life. After touring so many Biblical sites over the last week, I have the sense that I have read the Bible in black-and-white but now see it in color. A few highlights: 1. Visiting the Garden Tomb and Golgotha was, of course, a powerful experience. As one of two sites believed to be the location of Christ’s tomb (the other is at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre; the Garden Tomb is favored by many Protestants/evangelicals), we observed communion, read Scripture, and sang hymns. He is risen! 2. Walking up the Pilgrim Road from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount brings the Gospel and the book of Acts to life. Christ almost certainly walked up these same stones. Lost to history for almost 2,000 years, this road and the City of David is currently being excavated, and archaeologists found coins and a Roman sword still in its leather scabbard dating from the first Jewish revolt in AD 66-70. Website if interested: https://cityofdavid.org.il/…/5-things-to-know-about…/ 3. I just finished preaching through the trials of Paul in Caesarea toward the end of the book of Acts, and archeologists recently uncovered a cell in the palace that may have held Paul! There is also a stone commemorating Pilate’s renovation of the palace originally built by Herod the Great. Real people. Real places. 4. Visiting the House of Peter and the synagogue in Caperneum where Jesus taught as well as a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee were powerful moments. Concerning the geopolitical situation, I have always generally supported Israel. I do not read Gen. 12:2-3 as a requirement to endorse all actions of the Israeli government, but I do recognize Israel as a part of God’s ongoing plan in human history (see Rom. 11; “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. ..God hath not cast away His people which he foreknew.”). This trip highlighted Israel’s determined and proportional efforts to defend its interests in the region and the importance of US support. A couple highlights: 1. Along with a few other pastors, I had an opportunity to connect with Ambassador Leiter (Israeli ambassador to the US). We even had an opportunity to pray with him–a powerful moment as he shared with us that a memorial for his son Moshe (killed in Gaza) would be held the next day. 2. Hearing testimony from released hostage Yair Horn was gutwrenching, as he shared his harrowing story of 498 days in Hamas captivity. Also, we heard a first-hand account of a resident of Netiv Ha’asara–one of the communities hit on Oct. 7th. She described how her close neighbors were murdered that day. The Nova festival site also echoed of the same hatred and butchery as the sites in Poland. 3. We visited the border with Gaza, West Bank, and Syria. I was aware of this before, but an IDF spokesperson explained in greater detail the necessity of an attorney to sign off on strikes on Hamas in Gaza and the routine humanitarian assistance supplied to Gaza but intercepted by Hamas. This trip also gave me great sympathy for the people of Gaza as Hamas refuses to hold elections; diverts aid to military use; places military infrastructure such as rocket launchers and tunnels in or around civilian buildings (including a Boy Scout building and near a hospital); and threatens civilians with injury or death if they leave buildings when notified by the IDF of military operations in the area. Praying that the current ceasefire in Gaza holds. 4. On a lighter note, Israel’s technological developments are remarkable–especially in the area of water technology. Israel’s desalinization plants now have the capacity to pump water back into the Sea of Galilee. And Israel has made the desert bloom. A memorable trip for so many reasons, and grateful to Christians United for Israel (CUFI) for the opportunity. Click Here to watch on YouTubeThe post #404 3 Lessons from the Holy Land first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

One of the greatest paradoxes in American life is a Thursday dedicated to quiet gratitude followed by a Friday dedicated to a frenzied pursuit of more. In the midst of a mental health crisis and a quickly changing world, Scripture calls us to an often forgotten, daily practice that demands attention more than one day a year. Here’s why gratitude is the secret ingredient to greatness and how to practice it in your life and sphere of influence. It’s not an option. It prevents Friday frenzy. It’s the secret sauce. It comes in daily doses. Key Takeaways: “The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts.  No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.”  ~H.U. Westermayer Great question from Michael Hyatt, “What does this make possible?” Practical ideas for practicing gratitude. You learn what you need to learn and you change what you need to change to do what you want to do. Lessons from Victor Frankel, Corrie Ten Boom, and Winston Churchill. The post #403 Gratitude: The Secret Ingredient of Greatness [Encore] first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.