The Bad Roman: Christian Politics for Modern Times

What happens when the faith you inherited no longer looks like Jesus? Josif Wright joins Craig to talk about leaving Christian nationalism, questioning the flag-and-cross mixture, and learning to trust Christ instead of political power. Josif is a teacher, coach, hospice chaplain, church speaker, and author of The War Within: My Story. The conversation later turns toward his son Ryan’s decade-long struggle with addiction. Craig also shares memories of his brother TJ, whose battle with alcohol ended in 2020. Together, they ask what families and churches can do when control fails, shame makes things worse, and love is the only faithful path left. They dig into: Why Christians should question “God-and-country” teaching Flags, pledges, voting, and divided allegiance Loving people beyond national and political teams Addiction from a parent’s point of view Grace, identity, recovery, and harmful church labels 📖 For Full Show Notes: thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-163 🤝Connect with Josif🤝 Book: The War Within: My Story at Barnes & Noble, Amazon Email: thewarwithinmystory@gmail.com Instagram: @Josifwright X: @Josifwright Nostr/Damus: @j3 Josif also invites people who cannot afford a copy to email him. His stated goal is not sales, but helping families and people who are struggling. Key Moments: 00:00 Leaving Christian nationalism 04:20 “Don’t trust the government and be kind” 08:30 God is pro-people 21:40 Flags, pastors, legalism, and fear 25:18 Can Christians pledge to two masters? 29:10 Voting and political identity 34:53 The War Within and Craig’s brother TJ 40:00 A family living on emotional life support 44:05 “Step back. Let God be God” 47:10 Recovery, grace, and new identity 53:40 Why people are more than their addiction Support the Show 💕 Feed the Feed 💕 Support the show at thebadroman.com/donate. Every gift helps, and everything beyond production costs goes to local charities in Memphis, Tennessee. 🌶️ SALSA THE LOVE 🌶️ Want to support the project in a tastier way? Grab Bad Roman Salsa at badromansalsa.com. Every jar helps fund more No King but Christ conversations and keeps this work independent. Want to support the project another way? Share this episode with a friend or make sure you're subscribed wherever you found this episode! 🔗 Stay Connected with the Project 🔗 Blog submissions: thebadroman.com/contribute-to-the-blog Connect with us on social: thebadroman.com/social-links Want to get more involved? Request to join the private discussion group on Facebook (Bad Romans Only!!) Explore the No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com Jesus over empire. Mercy over shame. No King but Christ.

Craig and Arkansas friend Misty Hubbard trace their journey from “vote harder” conservatism to No King but Christ. They talk about propaganda, “paid patriotism,” online Christian rage, compassion that crosses borders, and why the solution isn’t a better party but a deeper allegiance to Jesus and His Kingdom. How Mike Gaddy shattered Misty’s sense of civic religion, with the haunting question “When have you ever voted yourself more free?”, and what happens when your faith starts sounding more like a campaign ad than the Sermon on the Mount. In the end, this isn’t a call to find a better party; it’s an invitation to step out of the culture war and into small, local communities where people quietly learn to look, and love, more like Jesus. What’s Inside this Episode: How “vote harder” patriotism discipled them more than Jesus The path Misty took that broke her founding myths and civic religion Propaganda, “paid patriotism,” and how getting back to Jesus expands compassion Online Christian rage vs. everyday kindness at work (and what Jesus has to say about it) Why the solution isn’t apathy, but deeper allegiance to Christ’s Kingdom Power and importance of small, local groups (like Misty’s in Russellville) as quiet deprogramming from empire 🤝Connect with Misty Hubbard: Facebook 📖 For Full Show Notes: thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-149 Key Episode Moments:(00:25) Meet Misty: Arkansas, restaurant, and kindness over hate(01:22) The Chris Ann Hall rally and early constitutional days(12:29) “Good candidates” and the lost cause of electoral politics(14:24) Owning neocon votes and paid patriotism(15:31) “Vote harder” and the salsa break(16:25) The class that wrecked Misty’s civic religion(18:00) When have you ever voted yourself more free?(39:29) None of us were born anarchists(47:40) Compassion that outgrows the flag(52:16) A daily Jesus lesson at work(54:06) Spotfund, “No King but Christ,” and Memphis charities(55:48) “Founded on Christian values?” vs cursing your enemies(57:04) You’re pushing people away from Christianity(58:00) Take it offline: Face-to-face hits different(59:10) The solution: Be more like Jesus(1:04:12) Misty’s local Russellville group(1:06:12) How to connect with Misty(1:08:08) Stepping back from social media and cat memes(1:10:21) Outro 💕 Support the Project 💕 If this conversation with Misty Hubbard about “vote harder” Christianity, civic religion, and untangling patriotism from following Jesus helped you see your own loyalties differently, please consider supporting The Bad Roman Project at thebadroman.com/donate. Your support keeps stories like Misty’s in the feed, calling out flag-wrapped faith, online Christian rage, and party-first discipleship, and keeps pointing people back to No King but Christ. As always, 100% of donations above production costs go to local Memphis charities. 🌶️ SALSA THE LOVE 🌶️ Donations are awesome, but salsa is hands-on neighbor love. Every jar helps us create episodes that confront flag-first, party-first “faith” and call us back to a Jesus-first, neighbor-first way of living. That's a lot of firsts... so grab your first jar at badromansalsa.com and snack your way into more Kingdom conversations about patriotism, discipleship, and what it really means to say, “No King but Christ.” FREE: Share the Episode, Start a Conversation with a Fellow Christian Know a friend whose Christianity might just be patriotism in a Jesus jersey? Send them this episode with Misty Hubbard and ask: Are we following Jesus… or just cheering for “our side” with Bible verses attached? Do my posts and conversations sound more like Christ, or more like my favorite pundit? What would it look like to let Jesus, not America, define what “faithful” means? Let the questions do the work. Then listen, don’t just lecture. 🔗 Stay Plugged into the Project 🔗 Blog submissions: thebadroman.com/contribute-to-the-blog Connect with us on social: thebadroman.com/social-links Want to get more involved? Reques

What if Judas wasn’t just a betrayer, but the first to politicize Jesus? Judas’s story exposes a much older problem: the temptation to make Jesus “fit” the system. Domenic Scarcella (author of the book and Substack Good Neighbor, Bad Citizen) returns to argue that Judas tried to make the Messiah more respectable to rulers, trading costly faithfulness for public influence. From the temple clashes of Holy Week to today’s culture wars, they trace how disciples drift when we ask Jesus to fit the system instead of following Him out of it. Domenic explains why anti-Christ means impostor (not merely opponent) and how post-Constantine Christianity flipped from persecution to privilege, and why coercion never appears in Jesus’ toolkit for discipling nations. From Caesar to modern politics Domenic and Craig trace how compromise creeps in when disciples trade the cross for influence,and faithfulness for respectability. Constantine’s empire did to the Church’s soul, and how grace keeps the Gospel alive even when the Church gets it wrong. “Judas didn’t hate Jesus…he just wanted Him to be more compatible with the government.” If you’ve ever wondered what it means to follow Jesus in a world addicted to power, this conversation will challenge and comfort you. The Kingdom of God still runs on love, not control. We cover: Judas was the “normal” disciple, and that’s what makes him dangerous The difference between Antichrist and Contra Christ (imposter vs. opponent) Why Jesus never used coercion or political force How Constantine flipped Christianity from persecution to privilege Hope for the remnant: good neighbors, bad citizens under “No King but Christ” 🤝 Connect with Domenic Scarcella: Book: Good Neighbor, Bad Citizen Audio Content: Sunday Buffet Podcast & The Friday Meditation Radio Substack: Good Neighbor, Bad Citizen Twitter (X) @GoodNeighBadCit 📖 For Full Show Notes: thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-147💕 Support the Project 💕If this conversation with Domenic on Judas as the OG Christian nationalist helped you refocus on Jesus, not party, not power, please consider supporting The Bad Roman Project at thebadroman.com/donate. Your gift keeps “No King but Christ” in the feed and pushes back against the impulse to baptize coercion. As always, 100% of donations above production costs go to local Memphis charities. 🌶️ SALSA THE LOVE 🌶️Donations are cool, but salsa is spicy (or mild, Judas 👀). Every jar fuels episodes that challenge Christian entanglement and call us back to Jesus’ way. Join the craze at badromansalsa.com and snack your way to more Kingdom conversations. FREE ACTION: Share the Episode, Start a Conversation with a Fellow ChristianKnow a friend who thinks “Christian nation” is the point? Send them this episode with Domenic Scarcella and spark a better conversation: Are we following Jesus, or asking Him to bless our politics? If Judas tried to make Jesus respectable to rulers, are we doing the same? Key Episode Moments: (0:22) Judas: the OG Christian nationalist? Previous episode with Domenic: Christianity Unpacked in "Good Neighbor, Bad Citizen" with Domenic Scarcella Domenic’s Judas Article (1:05) “Good Neighbor, Bad Citizen” (1:58) What Domenic’s been building (4:02) Five years of The Bad Roman (7:26) Judas as “the normal guy” (11:42) “Judas 8:2” and the mercy of Jesus (13:55) Setting the Holy Week scene (20:16) Modern parallels (21:35) The deal that wasn’t (26:05) Antichrist vs. Contra Christ (30:10) Coercion and the Kingdom (34:03) Constantine’s inflection point (38:16) Three models of church–state fusion (47:50) The remnant remains (53:25) Imperfect messengers, perfect Gospel (56:42) Where to find Domenic 🔗 Plug into the Movement: Blog submissions: thebadroman.com/contribute-to-the-blog Connect with us on social: thebadroman.com/social-links Want to get more involved? Request to join the private discussion group on Facebook (Bad Romans Only!!) No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwo

Is political loyalty pulling our hearts away from Jesus? Craig speaks with Brian Drinkwine, a pastor and church planter who’s seen both the beauty and the brokenness of the American church. After one of Brian’s posts about Charlie Kirk’s death went viral, he found himself in the middle of a national conversation about faith, politics, and misplaced allegiance. Brian shares his story, from growing up in a strict Baptist home to planting churches across the country, and how he learned that following Jesus means laying down every other flag. Together, he and Craig talk about what happens when believers confuse the Kingdom of God with the kingdoms of this world. They dig into: Why early Christians were persecuted for refusing to worship Caesar How politics can sneak in and take the place of Christ What real repentance looks like when we’ve mixed faith with empire The freedom that comes when our only loyalty is to Jesus first Brian also shares how he’s helping others recognize political idolatry and live out the words, “No King but Christ.” Take a listen and ask yourself: where does your allegiance really lie…the flag or the cross? 📖For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-145 🤝Connect with Brian Drinkwine: Email: brian@briandrinkwine.com Website: https://briandrinkwine.com/ Linkedin X Facebook Instagram Ministry at Breakthrough Church 💕 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT: TASTE IT BAD ROMAN SALSA, ADD TO THE BAG thebadroman.com/donate, and share with a friend (it's free!)🌶️ Key Moments: (0:22) Discussing reactions to Charlie Kirk's death (0:48) Brian Drinkwine's background (4:09) The viral post about Charlie Kirk (10:45) Addressing the church's response (23:52) Reflections on the memorial service (29:19) The danger of political allegiance (35:32) Early church perspective on empire (41:34) The malaise in modern Christianity (54:46) Christian nationalism and its impact (1:06:56) Tools for self-reflection (1:17:34) Conclusion and future discussions 🔗For more on The Bad Roman Project Blog submissions: thebadroman.com/contribute-to-the-blog Connect with us on social: thebadroman.com/social-links Want to get more involved? Request to join the private discussion group on Facebook (Bad Romans Only!!) No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com

What if stepping into a voting booth is less about freedom and more about forcing your will on your neighbor? Craig sits down with writer Jeb Smith to wrestle with a question many Christians and libertarians rarely stop to ask: Is voting consistent with the values we claim to hold? Jeb, author of Is Libertarianism Consistent with Voting?, argues that casting a ballot contradicts the very heart of libertarian “live and let live” principles. And for Christians, the stakes are even higher. Jesus never told us to hand power over our neighbors to Caesar. He called us to serve, not to rule. The conversation digs into how politics twists even kind and gentle people into something unrecognizable, why voting legitimizes a corrupt system built on coercion, and how stepping away from political participation might actually free us to love our neighbors better. As Jeb puts it, “Since I stopped voting, I get along with people much better, even those with completely different political opinions.” This isn’t just another debate about left vs. right. It’s a challenge to reimagine what it means to follow Christ in a world obsessed with power. Tune in, and ask yourself honestly: are you serving Christ when you pull that lever, or are you just baptizing Caesar’s game with Christian language? 📖For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-143 🤝Connect with Jeb Smith: Jeb's Books: Defending the Middle Ages: Little Known Truths About the Crusades, Inquisitions, Medieval Women, and More Missing Monarchy: Correcting Misconceptions About The Middle Ages, Medieval Kingship, Democracy, And Liberty The Road Goes Ever On and On : A New Perspective on J. R. R. Tolkien and Middle-earth Fanmail and Hate mail via email: jackson18611096@gmail.com Jeb's Article: Is Libertarianism Consistent with Voting? 💕 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT: TASTE IT BAD ROMAN SALSA, ADD TO THE BAG thebadroman.com/donate, and share with a friend (it's free!)🌶️ Key Moments: (0:41) Libertarianism and Voting Consistency (1:51) Guest Update: Jeb Smith’s Recent Work (2:50) Libertarian Voting Paradox (4:04) Historical Voting Patterns and Motivations (5:43) Libertarian Electoral Success and Philosophical Consistency (7:34) Voting as Legitimizing Corrupt Systems (9:40) The Nature of Political Power and Authority (12:07) Fear and Coercion in State Power (14:37) Christian and Libertarian Approaches to Governance (19:06) Democracy and Bullying (22:23) Political Involvement and Dehumanization (27:01) Disengagement from Politics (30:28) Voting as Participation in War (34:10) Secularization of Christianity through Politics (36:16) The Corrupting Nature of Political Power (40:08) Psychopathy in Politics and Business (42:29) The Golden Rule and Political Non-Participation (47:54) Additional Resources and Contact Information 🔗For more on The Bad Roman Project Blog submissions: thebadroman.com/contribute-to-the-blog Connect with us on social: thebadroman.com/social-links Want to get more involved? Request to join the private discussion group on Facebook (Bad Romans Only!!) No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com

Curious about turning your backyard into a mini-Eden? This episode's for you. We're chatting with Corey Ellerbe, the green thumb behind Old 37 Homestead on YouTube. He's gone from rookie gardener to homestead pro, and he's spilling the dirt on how you can too. But we're not just talking tomatoes here. Corey and Craig dig into how growing your own grub can be a sneaky way to stick it to the state. Plus, they explore how getting your hands dirty can actually bring you closer to God. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or can barely keep a cactus alive, you'll walk away with practical tips to start your own little slice of paradise. And who knows? You might just find that the path to independence starts in your own backyard. Craig and Corey take you through: Corey's gardening journey from novice to seasoned pro Agroforestry and organic gardening techniques Gardening as a form of independence and subtle rebellion The connection between faith and tending to nature Practical advice for starting and maintaining gardens Listeners will gain insights into sustainable living, spiritual growth through gardening, and practical tips for growing their own food. This episode is valuable for anyone interested in self-sufficiency, organic gardening, or exploring the intersection of faith and nature. So grab those gardening gloves and tune in. Trust us, your future self (and taste buds) will thank you. 📖For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-141 🤝Connect with Corey: Old 37 Homestead: Corey Ellerbe's YouTube channel 💕 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT: TASTE IT BAD ROMAN SALSA, ADD TO THE BAG thebadroman.com/donate, and share with a friend (it's free!)🌶️ Key Moments: (0:44) Gardening and Agrism Discussion (1:01) Background on Corey's Gardening Experience (3:38) Craig's Gardening Journey (6:46) Gardening Advice from Corey (13:39) Corey's Gardening Philosophy (25:04) Gardening as a Way to Subvert the State (45:35) Gardening and Relationship with Christ (54:55) Old 37 Homestead YouTube Channel (1:06:27) Advice for New Gardeners (1:15:07) Gardening Zones and Regional Considerations (1:19:39) Closing Thoughts 🔗For more on The Bad Roman Project Blog submissions: thebadroman.com/contribute-to-the-blog Connect with us on social: thebadroman.com/social-links Want to get more involved? Request to join the private discussion group on Facebook (Bad Romans Only!!) No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com

Explore a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of Jesus' identity: his kingship. Duncan Palmer and Matt Mouzakis dive into the literal meaning of "Christ" (from the Greek Christos) as "King," revealing how modern translations have obscured this powerful concept. Key points: "Christ" literally means "King" in its original context Modern translations often fail to convey this crucial meaning Understanding Jesus as King reshapes our view of his role and authority This perspective challenges our relationship with earthly governments Practical implications for living under Jesus' reign in daily life The discussion highlights how referring to Jesus as "King" more frequently, rather than "Christ," could transform believers' understanding of his role and their allegiance to him. This shift in language and perspective has far-reaching implications for Christian faith and practice. Gain fresh insights into familiar Bible passages and be challenged to reconsider their relationship with Jesus as their true sovereign. This episode promises to be an eye-opening exploration of a foundational, yet frequently misunderstood, aspect of Christian faith. 📖For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-139 🤝Connect with Guests: Matt Mouzakis' New Book: Principalities, Powers and Allegiances - available on Amazon Previous Episodes wth Matt: "What about Romans 13?" From Eden to Empire: Deuteronomy 32 & Christ’s Nature with Matt Mouzakis (Part 1) From Eden to Empire: First Peter's Insights (Part 2) From Eden to Empire: Romans 13 Line by Line (Part 3) The Beasts and the Lamb of Revelation: From Eden to Empire (Part 4) Expedition 44 podcast: Website: expedition44.com Co-hosted by Matt Mouzakis and Dr. Will Ryan Duncan Palmer Duncan’s Writings https://peakd.com/a/@creatr/b https://ecency.com/a/@creatr/b The Curmudgeon's Bible series Duncan’s Christian Library series Email: duncan@sharefreely.com Previous Episodes with Duncan Palmer: Tyrants be Gone with Duncan Palmer Translating the Bible – Is the Greek Right? Other Resources Mentioned: Bibel Translation: 2001translation.org No King But Christ network Bible Project videos on the Sermon on the Mount Book recommendations: "The Global Politics of Jesus" by Neel Isaiah & N.T. Wright's "Kingdom New Testament" translation 💕 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT: TASTE IT BAD ROMAN SALSA, ADD TO THE BAG thebadroman.com/donate, and share with a friend it (it's free!)🌶️ Starting Points and Key Moments: (0:22) Discussing Jesus as King vs. Christ (1:04) Duncan Palmer's return and personal anecdotes (3:05) Matt Mouzakis's return and book announcement Matt's new book "Principalities, Powers and Allegiances" is introduced Brian Zahn Postcards From Babylon (7:45) Greek translation issues and Bible interpretation (13:22) Duncan's epiphany about the word "Christ" (19:41) Antichrist as replacement for Christ (22:58) Personal experiences with "King Jesus" terminology (50:20) Exploring the concept of Jesus as King (1:04:43) The church as God's method of ruling (1:14:26) Call to recognize Jesus as the true King (1:19:40) Closing thoughts and resource recommendations 🔗For more on The Bad Roman Project Blog submissions: thebadroman.com/contribute-to-the-blog Connect with us on social: thebadroman.com/social-links Want to get more involved? Request to join the private discussion group on Facebook (Bad Romans Only!!) No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com