The Protestant Libertarian Podcast

In this episode I discuss how the gospel writers develop both the messianic and divine identity of Jesus, building up from their sources. I discuss my preferred theory to the Synoptic problem, the Farrer Hypothesis. It postulates that Mark was the first written gospel, Matthew used Mark as a source and added his own material, and Luke used both Mark and Matthew as a source. I then explore a recent proposal made by James Barker who ...

In this episode I talk with economist Dr. Bob Murphy about the Federal Reserve. Murphy argues that the Federal Reserve should be abolished. We explore the history of the Fed and how it has not only failed to produce economic stability but causes great economic harm. Murphy explains how the Fed devalues the currency, the impact Fed policy has on average Americans, and why Christians should be critical of the Fed. He also discusses w...

In this episode I explore Matthew 17:24-27, in which Peter is asked if Jesus pays the temple tax. After talking to Peter about this question, Jesus says the sons of kings are exempt from taxes, but “so that we do not offend them” Peter is to catch a fish with a coin in its mouth and pay the tax anyway. We explore the literary and historical context of this passage, showing that Matthew uses it to develop Jesus’ messianic identity. ...

In this episode I talk with pastor Stephen Angliss about Biblical dispensationalism. He is both reformed and a dispensationalist, and he makes the Biblical and theological case for dispensational theology. He argues that dispensationalism is a hermeneutical posture towards Scripture which enables Christians to see how God acts through different periods of history. He explains the main tenets of dispensationalism, its theological di...

In this episode I talk yet again with the great anarchist anabaptist Cody Cook. He is the author of two recent books on Anabaptism, The Anarchist Anabaptist and The Pocket Anabaptist. In this episode we explore what makes anabaptism unique and how it fits in with the wider protestant tradition. Cody explains how anabaptist have always been uncomfortable with state power, how anabaptists understand controversial theological issues s...

Kevin Burr and I discuss my article at LCI entitled ‘Progressive Christian Nationalism’ in which I explain how Christian nationalism and progressive Christianity are structurally identical. Despite wide disagreements regarding particular policy issues, both sides believe that the state should impose Christian values on society by force for the ‘good’ of the public. Enjoy this episode, and give Kevin and his podcast a follow!

Media ...

On Blair Lee’s show ‘Bibleworthy’, I revisit Romans 13, the most controversial political passage in the New Testament. I explore how it functions in its historical and rhetorical context, how it relates to Paul’s wider theology, and how we should apply it today. I consider this to be my most definitive statement on the topic to date. Enjoy, and give ‘Bibleworthy’ a follow!

Media Referenced:

Bibleworthy Website: https://bibleworthy.c...

In this second installment of a two-part series on Kevin Burr’s podcast ‘Faith in the Folds’, I explain how Christian libertarians understand taxation, drugs, and foreign policy. These are three issues that are of extreme importance to liberty-minded Christians, and we discuss each of them in detail. Enjoy this episode and give Kevin and his show a follow!

Media Referenced:

Kevin Burr Twitter: @kbburr

Faith in the Folds Twitter: @fai...

This episode is the first of a two-part series on Kevin Burr’s podcast ‘Faith in the Folds’ where I explain the relationship between Christianity and libertarianism. I discuss how I became a libertarian, the basics of libertarian philosophy, and how Christianity and libertarianism are compatible. Enjoy the episode and please give Kevin and ‘Faith in the Folds’ a follow!

Media Referenced:

Kevin Burr Twitter: @kbburr

Faith in the Folds...

In this episode I review a recent ZeroHedge article that discusses the shifting religious landscape of the United States. While Christians, and evangelicals in particular, still make up the largest religious demographic, nearly 30% of American adults are unaffiliated with any particular religious tradition. I discuss why I believe this has happened, how we should think about it theologically, and what the American church needs to d...

In this episode I talk with Dr. Cornelis Bennema, professor of New Testament at the London School of Theology. He has written several books, including his brand-new Imitation in Early Christianity: Mimesis and Religious-Ethical Formation, out now on Eerdmans. In this book he explores the concept of mimesis or imitation in early Christianity and how imitation is central to Christian ethics and discipleship. We discuss the prevalence...

In this episode I talk to Kyle Scott, an entrepreneur, small-business owner, investor, and personal friend. In 2024 he wrote and self-published a book entitled Faith and Finances: The Most Neglected Yet Important Areas of Life, in which he discusses his faith journey and the unconventional trajectory of his career, as well as the relationship between faith and finances. We discuss how his faith journey impacted his career, the impo...

In this episode I talk with pastor and theologian Dr. Allan Bevere. Dr. Bevere wrote the 2011 book The Politics of Witness that played a major role in shaping my understanding of Christian political engagement. We discuss many of the major arguments put forth in that book, which are still relevant today. Dr. Bevere argues that the church has given in to Constantinianism, the idea that Christians should rule over others using the le...

In this episode I discuss the inherently political nature of the second Jewish temple and the Sanhedrin, which was the local governing body based out of Jerusalem who were threatened by the ministry of Jesus. I explain how ‘religion’ is a modern category and that before the Enlightenment wasn’t distinguished from politics, society, or economics, and how passages in the Gospels that address the conflict between Jesus and the Jerusal...

In this episode I talk with Dr. Frank Thielman, Professor of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School, about his brand-new book Paul, Apostle of Grace, out now on Eerdmans. This book is a sweeping but readable biography of Paul that addresses his life, ministry, theology, letter writing, and more. We discuss the importance of Paul in the development of the early church, the historical reliability of Acts and his letters, his Jewish backg...

In this episode I talk to Dr. Dale Allison, Professor of New Testament Studies at Princeton Theological Seminary. He is the author of numerous books and articles, including the brand-new Interpreting Jesus, out now on Eerdmans, where he analyzes several interesting and innovative issues related to the historical Jesus. We discuss contingent eschatology in 2nd Temple Judaism, the belief that God would intervene to rescue his people ...

In this episode I talk with Richard Fulmer, an engineer and systems analyst who was written several articles related to free-market economics, about his recent piece for the Mises institute entitled Karl Marx’s Missing Link: Erasing the Line Between Mercantilism and Capitalism, where he explores how Marx wrongly conflates the results of mercantilism with capitalism and what it means for economic analysis today. He explains Marx’s g...

In this episode I talk to Econ Bro, a Nigerian minster and economist, about his plans to spread Austrian economics and libertarian ideas to the people of Nigeria. We talk about the impact of US politics on the rest of the world, the dysfunctional socialist economy of Nigeria, the country’s rampant political corruption, and the dim prospects for change. We then talk about the Nigerian Liberty Project, which has allowed Econ Bro to s...

In this episode I talk once again to Erik, a Swedish socialist who is philosophically Marxist. We discuss his perspective on what is happening in the world, the problems with the American left, how Europeans interpret Trump’s second term, imperialism, Swedish politics, how video games promote American military propaganda, and more. He offers insights into the current state of global politics that are worthy of consideration. 

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