Advertise on podcast: The Libertarian Christian Podcast

In this wayback episode from 2023 that has never been shared on the Libertarian Christian Podcast, Cody Cook interviews Alex Bernardo about medieval Christianity’s integration of church and state, how liberalism paved the way for freedom of religion, and why right and left wing extremists are now questioning whether freedom was such a good idea. This is a great discussion on its own, or as a companion to episode 434 with Gary Chartier: https://libertarianchristians.com/episode/ep-434-is-embracing-diversity-the-secret-ingredient-to-creating-a-libertarian-society-with-gary-chartier/ Alex Bernardo is a history teacher and host of CFLN show The Protestant Libertarian Podcast. He’s also on X as @prolibertypod Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com Use code LCI50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings and also support LCI! Full Podsworth Ad Read BEFORE & AFTER processing:https://youtu.be/vbsOEODpQGs  ★ Support this podcast ★

Can libertarians win meaningful victories for liberty in our lifetime? Jacob Huebert, revisiting his 2011 Mises Circle presentation "Is There Hope for Liberty in Our Lifetime?", delivers a clear verdict: not through the paths most people chase. Electoral politics poisons principles and delivers more statism, grassroots populism like the Tea Party is less interested in freedom than its proponents suggest, and it fizzles without real change, and pushing for freedom in the courts can offer beneficial but limited results. Yet hope exists through quieter, surer means—the remnant strategy of personal improvement and idea-spreading leads to incremental gains in personal and societal freedom. For Christians committed to a free society, this conversation offers a principled alternative to short-term political fixes: focus on becoming the change, draw the receptive, and trust ideas to bear fruit when crises demand them. Huebert's update shows why libertarians should reject the lesser-evil trap and embrace long-term fidelity to individual rights and sound economics. The episode argues that true progress comes not from capturing power but from changing minds among those who think independently. Who Jacob Huebert Is and Why His Perspective Matters Jacob Huebert serves as senior litigation counsel at the New Civil Liberties Alliance, which fights administrative state overreach—most notably contributing to the Supreme Court case that overturned Chevron deference. As a Mises Institute associated scholar and author of Libertarianism Today, Huebert brings a rare combination: deep theoretical grounding in Austrian economics and libertarian philosophy, plus practical courtroom wins for liberty. His 2011 talk captured pessimism amid Ron Paul and Tea Party optimism; now, with hindsight including Trump-era disappointments and recent freedom trends, he sharpens the case for why libertarians win by refusing to play the conventional political game. Why Electoral Politics Cannot Deliver Liberty Electoral politics consistently fails libertarians because it rewards compromise, short-term thinking, and team loyalty over principle. The Tea Party promised anti-federal backlash but delivered standard Republicans with mild rhetoric—not radical reduction in government size or scope. Polls showed less than half of Tea Partiers even angry at federal power, and mainstream exploiters quickly co-opted it. Fifteen years later, the pattern repeats: libertarians who backed Trump as the "lesser evil" against perceived leftist threats rationalized away his statist actions, accelerating government growth instead of reversing it. Even bright spots like Javier Milei prove exceptions, not the rule—politics attracts few consistent principled voices like Ron Paul or Thomas Massie, who remain isolated outliers rather than catalysts for systemic change. Grassroots Populism Lacks the Clarity for Lasting Freedom Movements like the Tea Party or MAGA surge on unfocused rage against elites but lack a coherent vision of a freer society. They attract liberty-curious people yet funnel them toward conventional Republican figures who preserve the status quo. True liberty requires rejecting collectivism—whether left-wing central planning or right-wing racial or national collectivism that creeps in among some libertarian-adjacent circles. Populism exploits frustration without building the intellectual foundation needed for real reform, leaving participants more prone to statism when the pendulum swings. Courts Offer Discrete Wins—but Are Not the Whole Solution Legal activism through groups like NCLA yields tangible liberty expansions where public opinion already leans that way. Overturning Chevron constrained unelected bureaucrats, Heller affirmed individual gun rights nationwide, and other rulings erode old censorship norms. These victories matter because they protect rights concretely and shift cultural recognition of those rights. Yet courts cannot impose libertarian limits against majority will or entrenched political demands for spending and intervention—the Constitution itself permits far more than a free society demands. Sustainable freedom requires a critical mass of people who understand government action as immoral when private actors would face condemnation. The Remnant Approach: The One Reliable Path to Advance Liberty Albert Jay Nock's "Isaiah's Job" provides the blueprint libertarians need: stop chasing mass conversion and focus on improving yourself—deepening knowledge of morality, economics, and liberty. This draws the "remnant"—independent thinkers scattered everywhere who sense the status quo's failures and seek better answers. They approach receptive, not resistant, because they ask first. When crises expose statism's bankruptcy (as in Argentina's turn toward Austrian ideas), prepared remnant ideas stand ready. Christians especially grasp this: faithfulness to truth persists even without immediate societal transformation, much like discipleship amid an unremade world. Practical Ways to Increase Liberty Now The remnant strategy works in daily life through personal choices that expand freedom despite the state. Homeschooling exploded post-COVID because remnant families had already built alternatives—curricula, networks, conviction—ready when government schools faltered. Moving to freer jurisdictions (states, countries), minimizing taxes legally, starting businesses in low-regulation areas, and making trade-offs (e.g., Switzerland's high freedom with grocery shopping across the border, or prioritizing family proximity) let individuals thrive. These steps reject the false binary of total liberty or misery, embracing pragmatism while holding moral absolutism on aggression and intervention. Positive Trends Show Liberty Quietly Winning Despite federal overreach, liberty advances incrementally. Marijuana legalization spread far faster than predicted, gun rights expanded via court rulings, conscription ended, speech protections strengthened compared to World War I repression, and slavery's legacy ended. Globally, freer markets slashed extreme poverty and boosted living standards. The Cato Institute's human progress indicators confirm markets quietly improve lives even amid bad policy. Americans overlook these gains while fixating on negatives, but the trajectory favors more freedom when ideas spread among the remnant. Conclusion: Can Libertarians Win? Yes—Through the Remnant, Not Politics Libertarians can win real victories for liberty in our lifetime, but only by abandoning electoral shortcuts that erode principles and embracing the remnant path that builds lasting change. Politics delivers more government; personal action delivers discrete freedoms; the remnant spreads the moral and economic case that makes freedom sustainable. For Christians called to a free society, this means living the truth now—improving ourselves, drawing seekers, celebrating incremental wins—trusting ideas to prevail when the moment arrives. Liberty grows not by capturing the state but by freeing minds one at a time. Additional Resources Isaiah's Job by Albert Jay Nock — The classic essay on the remnant strategy.Libertarianism Today by J...

Cody Cook welcomes Eamonn Butler, British economist and co-founder/director of the Adam Smith Institute, for a timely discussion marking the 250th anniversary of Adam Smith's seminal work, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (published March 9, 1776). Butler, author of primers on Hayek, Friedman, and Mises, shares insights from his work studying and promoting the ideas of Adam Smith. The conversation explores Smith's enduring legacy as the father of modern economics, rooted in the Scottish Enlightenment. Butler explains how The Theory of Moral Sentiments (Smith's earlier work on virtue, sympathy, empathy, and justice) underpins The Wealth of Nations, showing that self-interest in markets—when guided by moral foundations like trust and honesty—produces social harmony via the famous "invisible hand." Rather than benevolence alone, we get our bread from the baker's self-interest, yet this serves society beneficially. Smith's revolutionary ideas shine through: the division of labor (illustrated by his pin factory example boosting productivity dramatically), national wealth as productive capacity (not hoarded gold), the benefits of free trade, opposition to tariffs, monopolies, and mercantilism (which he saw as cronyism enriching the few at others' expense), and limited government to prevent corruption and rent-seeking. Butler also addresses common misconceptions: early capitalism Smith opposed slavery not just morally but economically, arguing it stifles incentives and efficiency. He contrasts this with critics like Thomas Carlyle, who dubbed economics the "dismal science" in defense of hierarchy and authoritarianism. The episode tackles modern critiques from both left and "new right," defending self-interest (prudent and long-term) against charges of short-sighted selfishness, and refuting claims that markets idolize materialism or erode meaning—pointing to how prosperity enables philanthropy, education, leisure, and cultural flourishing. Smith's framework rejects the "man of system" (central planners treating people like chess pieces), favoring emergent order from individual actions under justice. Butler highlights real-world successes: globalization and market liberalization since the 1990s have nearly eradicated extreme poverty for billions, far outperforming decades of socialism. The discussion ties Smith's ideas to Christian liberty, noting his deistic leanings, regular churchgoing, and emphasis on virtue. It compares the 1776 publications: The Wealth of Nations (providing a blueprint for prosperity and freedom) vs. the Declaration of Independence (asserting independence), with Butler arguing Smith's work has greater long-term impact on liberty. This episode offers a refreshing, faith-informed defense of free markets, countering cronyism and statism while celebrating Smith's vision of human flourishing through competition, trust, and voluntary exchange. Perfect for libertarians, Christians, and anyone interested in economics' moral foundations—especially timely in 2026. Links: The Adam Smith Institute The Wealth of Nations The Theory of Moral Sentiments Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com Use code LCI50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings and also support LCI! Full Podsworth Ad Read BEFORE & AFTER processing:https://youtu.be/vbsOEODpQGs  ★ Support this podcast ★

Mike Maharrey has been in the libertarian Christian space for a long time. In this episode he steps back from politics entirely and talks about his own story: a decades-long journey through evangelical Protestantism that eventually landed him in Eastern Orthodoxy. What drove the move, what he found when he got there, and what he'd say to other Christians who feel spiritually restless. Check out Mike's show on the Christians for Liberty Network: The Godarchy Podcast Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com Use code LCI50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings and also support LCI! Full Podsworth Ad Read BEFORE & AFTER processing:https://youtu.be/vbsOEODpQGs  ★ Support this podcast ★

Adoption belongs at the center of the pro-life conversation, not on its periphery. Yet Christians who can speak fluently about abortion policy often go quiet when the topic turns to adoption -- what it means theologically, what it demands practically, and why it is one of the most concrete pictures of the gospel available to the church. In this episode of the Libertarian Christian Podcast, host Doug Stewart and guest Jacqueline Isaacs make the case that the theology of adoption is not a sentimental add-on to Christian ethics but a load-bearing wall. Jacqueline serves as managing editor for the Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics, president and chief content officer of Bellwether Communications, and adjunct professor of business at Cumberland University. She and Doug both have personal stakes in this conversation: Doug is himself an adoptee, and Jacqueline and her husband completed the adoption of their son about two and a half years ago. What makes this episode work is that the theology flows from lived experience, not from abstract argument. The episode moves through the personal stories, the economic and demographic realities of adoption in America, the church's specific calling to support adoptive families, and the rich Pauline theology that makes adoption more than a social good -- it makes it a sign of the gospel itself. Here is the argument the episode builds. Additional Resources: Libertarian Christian Podcast: Ep. 436: Sympathy for a Scrooge, with Jacqueline Isaacs -- Jacqueline's previous appearance on the show; a natural companion for listeners who want more from this guest.External Reads: "The Joy of Our Adoption" by Jacqueline Isaacs, Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics -- Jacqueline's personal account of her family's adoption journey, referenced in the episode. Available at tifwe.org.Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com Use code LCI50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings and also support LCI! Full Podsworth Ad Read BEFORE & AFTER processing:https://youtu.be/vbsOEODpQGs  ★ Support this podcast ★

Host Cody Cook sits down with Patrick Carroll, a sharp libertarian opinion journalist based near Toronto whose writing appears in outlets like the Mises Institute, Libertarian Institute, AIER, and FEE (where he once served as managing editor). Carroll's Substack, Against the Left, regularly dismantles progressive arguments from a free-market vantage point—and this conversation dives deep into one of his most provocative pieces: “Why SNAP Spending Should Be Cut Even If Charity Doesn’t Replace It.” The episode centers on the dramatic events of late 2025, when a record-breaking U.S. government shutdown stretched into its second month. By early November, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) faced a funding lapse. The Department of Agriculture announced that the roughly $100 billion annual program—serving about 42 million Americans, or one in eight—would not issue full November benefits. Chaos ensued: food banks reported overwhelming demand, long lines formed, and media stories highlighted desperate families suddenly without their usual grocery support. Left-leaning commentator Carl Beijer seized on the crisis in a Jacobin piece, declaring it definitive proof that private charity cannot substitute for state welfare. Overwhelmed pantries and panicked recipients, he argued, exposed the fantasy of market-based solutions replacing government safety nets. Carroll pushes back hard. He concedes the short-term strain on food banks but argues the episode reveals more about SNAP’s overreach than charity’s inadequacy. With little advance certainty (the shutdown’s duration remained a day-to-day uncertainty), private organizations had scant time to scale. Yet many still responded impressively—businesses like DoorDash offered free meals, churches and local groups rallied, and some food banks pivoted quickly. Had there been months of clear notice, Carroll contends, the charitable response would have been far stronger. More controversially, he challenges the scale of need SNAP addresses. Citing a 2021 USDA study, he notes that 39% of recipients are obese, 26% overweight, 33% normal weight, and only 3% underweight. This, he says, shatters the media stereotype of widespread starvation and suggests the program subsidizes far beyond genuine hardship—often enabling poor lifestyle choices rather than preventing famine. Carroll proposes an initial 50% cut, returning spending to roughly 2007 levels after years of ballooning budgets. He acknowledges “food insecurity” statistics (around 13% of Americans) but critiques their definitions, which can include anyone who occasionally buys cheaper groceries or skips a preferred item—hardly a crisis justifying $100 billion annually. The discussion turns philosophical and theological. Carroll invokes the “negative contact hypothesis”: while meeting marginalized groups often reduces prejudice, direct exposure to many in poverty can erode naive sympathy when observers see patterns of self-inflicted hardship—addiction, unwise relationships, financial irresponsibility. Anecdotes from YouTuber Caleb Hammer’s Financial Audit series reinforce this, as do studies showing that more well-off people’s support for redistribution weakens after real contact with the poor. From a Christian libertarian perspective, Carroll emphasizes voluntary generosity over state coercion. Jesus warned against lording authority over others (Matthew 20); early Christians practiced communal sharing without petitioning Caesar for taxes. He praises historical mutual-aid societies and modern examples like Mormon welfare systems as superior, more personal, and non-coercive alternatives to centralized bureaucracy. Addressing bleeding-heart objections, Carroll entertains the sequencing argument: enact free-market reforms (deregulation, free trade, ending occupational licensing and minimum wage barriers) first to boost opportunity and reduce poverty, then phase out welfare. He’s sympathetic but rejects indefinite delay—some cuts can and should happen now without catastrophe, especially given SNAP’s questionable targeting. This episode is bold, data-driven, and unapologetically challenging. It refuses easy compassion narratives, forces listeners to grapple with uncomfortable stats, and calls Christians to prioritize peaceful, voluntary charity over state redistribution. Whether you bristle or cheer, it’s a thought-provoking case for rethinking welfare in a free and faithful society. Links: Patrick's Substack Patrick's piece Why SNAP Spending Should Be Cut Even If Charity Doesn’t Replace It Patrick’s Twitter/X: https://x.com/PatrickC1995 David Beito's book From Mutual Aid to the Welfare State: Fraternal Societies and Social Services, 1890-1967 Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com Use code LCI50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings and also support LCI! Full Podsworth Ad Read BEFORE & AFTER processing:https://youtu.be/vbsOEODpQGs  ★ Support this podcast ★

Jennifer Townsend—adjunct instructor, death-and-dying scholar, and Heterodox Academy campus co-chair at Western Michigan University—challenges the ideological monoculture dominating higher education. Awarded for promoting open inquiry and viewpoint diversity, she shares how she openly defends free speech on a left-leaning campus without hiding her views. The conversation dives into Jonathan Haidt's moral foundations theory, the limits of identity-based diversity, the value of listening to understand (not just to win), and why free inquiry remains essential—even when bad ideas persist. Townsend also critiques credential inflation, encourages trades over debt-laden degrees, and describes classroom strategies that shift students toward nuanced, less knee-jerk thinking. Books and resources mentioned: Heterodox Academy website: heterodoxacademy.org Jennifer's Substack on death and dying: The End Jennifer's Instagram accounts (death education, death book club) The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl Don't Label Me: How to Do Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Without Sacrificing the Truth or Your Own Soul by Irshad Manji How to Have Impossible Conversations: A Very Practical Guide by Peter Boghossian and James Lindsay The Three Languages of Politics: Talking Across the Political Divides by Arnold Kling On Liberty by John Stuart Mill Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com Use code LCI50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings and also support LCI! Full Podsworth Ad Read BEFORE & AFTER processing:https://youtu.be/vbsOEODpQGs  ★ Support this podcast ★

Economist and author Bryan Caplan returns to discuss his latest book, You Have No Right to Your Culture. Bryan explains why genuine “cultural preservation” would require totalitarian control over children and future generations, why most cultural change comes from generational shifts rather than immigration, and why appeals to a “right to culture” only seem to appear when immigrants are involved. Doug and Bryan dig into Western civilization’s global influence (“Westtoxification”), the rapid cultural transformations in places like the UAE and Japan, and whether Western culture is really “under attack” or simply winning the world by passing the market test. They contrast perceived threats from immigration with the rise of critical theory and “wokeness,” and Bryan lays out his famous “Caplan compromise” on open borders—keyhole solutions like limiting welfare and voting while radically expanding migration. The conversation also covers: What Bryan actually means by “culture” and why you don’t have a right to others practicing yoursWhy true cultural preservation implies a deeply totalitarian mindsetWestern civ, liberalism, and how the Enlightenment reshaped bothColonialism, anti‑colonialism, and why peace often matters more than political controlWhy fears of a coordinated partisan “open borders” plot are largely fantasyCohesion, “turning the other cheek,” and how to actually build social peace in a diverse societyBryan’s debate strategy as the “passive‑aggressive Jesus”Lightning round: best meal, most overrated destination, surprising cultural practices, and dream dinner guestsAudio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com Use code LCI50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings and also support LCI! Full Podsworth Ad Read BEFORE & AFTER processing:https://youtu.be/vbsOEODpQGs  ★ Support this podcast ★

In a more theology-heavy discussion, the Libertarian Christian Podcast welcomed guest Rev. Nicholas Quient, pastor and New Testament PhD candidate, for a deep dive into apocalyptic theology in Pauline studies. Quient contrasts the traditional Lutheran/Reformed view of Paul (individual justification and guilt), the New Perspective (covenantal nomism and Jew-Gentile unity), and the apocalyptic Paul—which sees the Christ event as God's invasive victory over enslaving cosmic powers, sin, and death, ushering in new creation amid the overlapping present evil age. This episode explores how this framework emphasizes liberation, principalities and powers, and Christ's sovereignty, as well as its implications for libertarian thought: Paul's sharp distinction between the church (allegiant to King Jesus) and the wicked worldly powers. Nick's book: https://amzn.to/4sySXzL Nick's X profile: @nickquient  Nick's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nttheologist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NickQuient Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com Use code LCI50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings and also support LCI! Full Podsworth Ad Read BEFORE & AFTER processing:https://youtu.be/vbsOEODpQGs  ★ Support this podcast ★

Doug Stuart interviews Caleb Franz, author of The Conductor: The Story of Reverend John Rankin, Abolitionism's Essential Founding Father. Franz shares the fascinating story of how he discovered and researched this largely forgotten figure from his hometown of Ironton, Ohio. The conversation explores Rankin's pivotal role in the abolition movement, particularly in the Ohio River Valley—a region often overlooked in abolitionist history that typically centers on New England. Franz discusses Rankin's theological arguments against slavery, his work on the Underground Railroad helping thousands of enslaved people escape to freedom, and his profound influence on key historical figures including Harriet Beecher Stowe (whose "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was inspired by Rankin's letters) and Ulysses S. Grant (who studied under Rankin before attending West Point). The episode delves into the research process behind writing historical biography, the intersection of faith and liberty in the abolition movement, and how Rankin's Christian convictions drove his radical opposition to slavery from the 1820s through the Civil War era. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com Use code LCI50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings and also support LCI! Full Podsworth Ad Read BEFORE & AFTER processing:https://youtu.be/vbsOEODpQGs  ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, Cody Cook interviews Joel Miller, author of The Idea Machine: How Books Built Our World and Shape Our Future. A former publishing executive, Miller reveals how books—far more than mere containers of text—have profoundly shaped civilization. He explores the "magic" of their physical form (which enabled Augustine’s transformative encounter with Romans) the timeless dialogues they allow with dead thinkers like Paul and Athanasius, and the preservation of classical knowledge by monks and Muslim scholars. The conversation highlights pivotal moments: Charlemagne’s reforms that spread readable texts, the printing press’s role in supercharging the Reformation and scientific progress, and literacy’s liberating power—even as slaveholders banned it to maintain control. Miller also reflects on modern trade-offs: digital Bibles, AI tools, and the enduring value of books in freeing us from the tyranny of the present while building on centuries of accumulated wisdom.Perfect for anyone who loves history, ideas, and the quiet revolution of reading. Links: The Idea Machine: How Books Built Our World and Shape Our Future Bad Trip: How the War Against Drugs is Destroying America Size Matters: How Big Government Puts the Squeeze on America's Families, Finances, and Freedom Miller's Book Review (Joel's Substack) The Full Focus Planner Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com Use code LCI50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings and also support LCI! Full Podsworth Ad Read BEFORE & AFTER processing:https://youtu.be/vbsOEODpQGs  ★ Support this podcast ★

Doug welcomes back returning guest Jim Babka for a libertarian Christian deep dive into Donald Trump’s “second first year” in office. They walk through key events from 2025–26 and ask what they reveal about power, symbolism, and the state. Topics include: Why Trump’s second term feels so different from his first, and how anger and “getting even” seem to shape his decisionsThe Iran bunker‑busting strike and what it says about the myth of Trump as a “peace president”The push to buy Greenland, the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico, and how Trump uses symbolism and deal‑making theatricsICE’s shocking tactics as “terror theater” to drive self‑deportation and deter migrationWhy Jim argues the Epstein files are thedefining story of 2025:How Congress slow‑walked and then quietly passed the disclosure lawHow the administration has violated it with redactions and delaysWhat the limited releases already reveal about Epstein’s roles in intelligence, arms, and under‑the‑table influenceHow the Epstein issue is uniquely damaging Trump in the pollsAlong the way, Doug and Jim connect these developments to memetic theory, the deep state, Zionist influence, and the fragility of American faith in both church and state. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com Use code LCI50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings and also support LCI! Full Podsworth Ad Read BEFORE & AFTER processing:https://youtu.be/vbsOEODpQGs  ★ Support this podcast ★

Cody Cook sits down with Javan Lapp—a manufacturing executive, amateur historian, and Lancaster County keeper of goats—to explore the insights of 16th-century Anabaptist thinker Pilgram Marpeck into what it means for the church to be embodied without succumbing to state Christianity. Drawing from Javan’s contribution to Anabaptist Political Theology After Marpeck, the conversation examines Marpeck’s theology of the incarnation and how Christ’s literal body informs the identity of the church as the body of Christ. They discuss Marpeck’s debates with spiritualists, his emphasis on voluntary faith and embodied practice, his critique of both legalism and disembodied spirituality, and why his “middle way” remains relevant today. The episode also touches on the church as voluntary society, suffering, cruciform spirituality, and the balance between creedal conviction and lived ethics—offering fresh insights for libertarian Christians interested in both ecclesiology and political theology. Buy Anabaptist Political Theology After Marpeck: https://amzn.to/4qebIXV Javan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/javanlapp/ Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com Use code LCI50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings and also support LCI! Full Podsworth Ad Read BEFORE & AFTER processing:https://youtu.be/vbsOEODpQGs  ★ Support this podcast ★

Gregory Baus of the Reformed Libertarians Podcast joins Cody Cook to discuss how he grounds his libertarian views as a Reformed Christian. As an Anabaptist Christian, Cody was a little skeptical at the start of the conversation; but tune in to hear Gregory make his case! While he comes at it from a different direction, Cody concludes that he makes a good argument. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com Use code LCI50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings and also support LCI! Full Podsworth Ad Read BEFORE & AFTER processing:https://youtu.be/vbsOEODpQGs  ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of the Libertarian Christian Podcast, host Cody Cook and guest Jacob Winograd (host of Biblical Anarchy) dissect the provocative Dispatch article “Is MAGA Christianity True Christianity?” by Michael Renaud and Paul D. Miller. The article's authors frame “old-guard” conservatism as the heir to the magisterial Protestant Reformation (Luther, Calvin, Zwingli) — elite, intellectual, and state-aligned — while casting MAGA Christianity as a modern echo of the populist, emotional, and disempowered Radical Reformation (Anabaptists). Cook (Anabaptist) and Winograd (reformed Baptist) find the parallel historically flawed and politically irritating, yet valuable for discussion. They critique the article’s oversimplifications and discuss whether true Radical Reformation principles align more closely with libertarianism’s emphasis on voluntary society and rejection of state violence. The conversation explores whether political positions can ever disqualify Christian faithfulness, the dangers of conflating anti-elitism with anti-statism, and why both establishment conservatism and MAGA ultimately fail to challenge coercive power meaningfully. A thoughtful, nuanced critique of Christian political engagement that challenges listeners across the spectrum to examine the gospel’s true implications for power, authority, and liberty. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com Use code LCI50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings and also support LCI! Full Podsworth Ad Read BEFORE & AFTER processing:https://youtu.be/vbsOEODpQGs  ★ Support this podcast ★