The Bad Roman: Christian Politics for Modern Times

Not everything that competes with Jesus looks dark at first. Sometimes it looks polished, powerful, and close enough to the truth that people stop asking questions. In this episode, Craig and Scipio Eruditus explore Freemasonry, Christianity, and government, tracing both the bigger history and Scipio’s personal path from Afghanistan war veteran to active critic of the powers he once believed were worth defending. What unfolds is a conversation about secrecy, loyalty, and whether followers of Jesus are being formed by Christ or by a world that teaches us to trust what happens behind closed doors. They Explore: government and spiritual formation Freemasonry: secrecy, symbols, and hidden loyalty why power feels safer than trust the Christian pull toward influence truth in the open vs control in the dark allegiance to Jesus above every system 🤝Connect with Scipio: Substack: Dispatches from Reality YouTube: Dispatches From Reality @ScipioEruditus Podcast: Dispatches from Reality - Narrated (Spotify and Apple Podcasts) Listen & Reflect Listen: Listen for how early the episode contrasts the way of Jesus with systems built on secrecy, influence, and protected power. That contrast carries the whole conversation. Reflect: Where have we learned to trust what feels strong, connected, and in control more than what is honest, open, and faithful? Where have hidden loyalties shaped us without our noticing? Read: Read John 3:19–21, Matthew 5:14–16, Matthew 23:27–28, and 2 Corinthians 4:2. Sit with the difference between what lives in the light and what depends on the dark. Practice: This week, before defending any leader, movement, institution, or system, ask one question: Is this teaching me to walk in the light with Jesus, or to trust the kind of power that protects itself behind closed doors? Key Moments: (0:00) Opening the question: Freemasonry, Christianity, and the state (1:15) Meeting Scipio Eruditus (2:12) War, patriotism, and the breaking of trust (5:16) Fraternities as a gateway into deeper questions (6:43) The initiation experience that shook him (8:28) Freemasonry and the making of the modern world (9:24) Patriotism losing its innocence (10:14) The “mystery” question (11:05) Secret societies and conspiracy against church and state (12:26) Ancient religion, Babylon, and Egypt (13:32) The unfinished pyramid and “the great work” (14:25) The oldest heresy returns Genesis 3 (18:04) Lower ranks, hidden knowledge, and the shield of charity (29:01) Why such a small group carries so much influence (30:30) The Morgan Affair (31:46) Political dominion and suppression of scandal (49:09) Symbols on the currency (50:39) Allegiance, Lucifer, and false light (53:17) “Further light in masonry” (58:58) Is Freemasonry still driving government today? (59:17) Can Christians make government righteous? (1:12:20) Where to find Scipio’s work Support the Show 💕 Want more episodes that keep our loyalty with Jesus, not power? 💕 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 and ask: Am I trusting the open way of Jesus, or am I still drawn to the kind of power that hides behind closed doors?

What if the freedom we defend is really just control in disguise? In this episode, Craig and Cal Robbins dig into rightful liberty, the idea that true freedom comes from God and must honor the equal rights of others. From Thomas Jefferson to Galatians 5, they explore the difference between liberty and license, why legal does not always mean moral, and what it means to say No King but Christ in a world shaped by fear, borders, voting, and state power. This is a sharp, Christ-centered conversation about free will, neighbor love, and the lies we tell when we trust Caesar more than Jesus. In this episode: Rightful liberty and the equal rights of others Freedom, free will, and the teachings of Jesus Why legal does not always mean moral Slavery, immigration, voting, and Christian witness “Render unto Caesar” and what belongs to God alone 📖 For Full Show Notes: thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-156 Connect with Cal Robbins Republic Broadcasting Michael Gaddy’s Substack Listen & Reflect Listen for how early the episode defines rightful liberty. Everything else builds from that one distinction. Reflect: Where do we call something freedom when we really mean control? Where do we demand rights for ourselves that we deny to others? Read: Galatians 5:1, Matthew 22:15–22, and 1 Samuel 8. Then hold them next to Jefferson’s definition of rightful liberty and sit with the tension. Practice: Before you defend any law, policy, border, or political habit this week, ask one question: does this honor the equal rights of others, or violate them? Key Moments & Starting Points: 0:00 Rightful Liberty 1:04 Safety Over Freedom 2:20 Cal’s Liberty Journey 3:45 Jefferson’s Definition 6:21 Equal Rights Of Others 8:24 Freedom Vs. Liberty 9:27 Sympathy And Empathy 11:12 Rightful Liberty And Christ 12:50 Freedom In Christ 14:20 Slavery And Immigration 15:12 Rejecting God’s Gift 16:45 Image Of God 17:30 Slavery Never Really Left 18:25 Voting And Coercion 20:00 Render Unto Caesar 22:45 War And Repentance 24:07 Unconditional Love 25:15 Broken Christian Witness 27:20 One Human Family 30:24 The Golden Rule 31:30 Rendering To Caesar What Is God’s 34:00 Jesus Rejected The Kingdoms 35:30 Why The World Rejects Us 37:15 Hate Cannot Heal 41:20 No King But Christ 43:00 Asking For A King 44:05 What Jesus Never Did 45:30 The Temptation Of Power 47:00 Rights Come From God 49:45 Proper Exercise Of Liberty 53:45 Don’t Hurt People 54:57 The Full Jefferson Quote 56:30 Patrick Henry and the Anti-Federalists 57:42 Forensic History 58:40Learn The Real History 🔗 Ways to Get Involved in 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

Is Trump Barabbas? In this episode, Craig sits down with Paul Lazzaroni (Crossing Cornerstone / No King but Christ Network) to talk about the Barabbas mindset, our craving for a strongman savior, political control, and “winning,” even when it contradicts Jesus’ way. We explore modern Babylon, the wilderness formation of God’s people, and why “Jesus is Lord” can’t be a slogan that still needs Caesar’s power to do the work. Topics covered Barabbas vs. Jesus: what kind of “savior” we want Christian nationalism and the temptation of state power Strongman politics and fear-based faith“Modern Babylon” as a pattern (empire thinking) Exodus / wilderness formation and slavery mindsetReading the Bible without using it to justify domination “No King but Christ” as lived discipleship 🤝 Connect with Paul Lazzaroni 🤝 Cross and Cornerstone (Website / Blog + Articles) C&C Facebook Page No King but Christ Network (Paul’s work is featured there): nokingbutchristnetwork.com Paul’s Personal Pages Instagram Facebook YouTube TikTok Try This Week: Notice where you assume force is necessary. Pause before reaching for control. Choose persuasion, presence, and honesty in one real situation, and see what it reveals about what you trust. 📖 For Full Show Notes: thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-155 Key Moments & Starting Points: (0:00) Jesus or Caesar? (0:45) Meet Paul Lazzaroni (1:27) “Is Trump Barabbas?” (2:20) The Barabbas Mindset (8:36) Why Paul Doesn’t Vote (17:57) Wilderness First (47:30) Modern Babylon (47:57) Mindsets and Mimic Kingdoms (53:33) What Is Cross and Cornerstone? (55:32) Why “Cornerstone”? (57:16) Writing, Learning, Humility 💕 Want more episodes that keep loyalty with Jesus, not power? 💕 Support the show at thebadroman.com/donate. Anything helps—and everything beyond production costs goes to local charities in Memphis, TN. 🌶️ SALSA THE LOVE 🌶️ Prefer tasty support? Grab Bad Roman Salsa at badromansalsa.com. Every jar fuels more No King but Christ conversations and keeps this work independent. Want to the support the project in another way? Share & Start a Conversation Send this episode to a friend and ask: Am I trusting Jesus’ cross-shaped way… or trusting force to hold it all together? Listen slowly. Love boldly. No King but Christ. 🔗 Ways to Get Involved in 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

Christians often say “Jesus is King,” but live as if someone else has to keep order. Every system promises order. Few ever ask what that order costs. Craig sits down with economist Bob Murphy, author of Chaos Theory, to explore a disruptive question many Christians have never been invited to ask out loud: What if law, safety, and social order didn’t require rulers at all? This conversation isn’t about voting, parties, or political strategy. It’s about discipleship. Craig and Bob wrestle with fear, control, Christian politics, and the quiet assumption that force is necessary to hold a society together. They examine what a voluntary society might look like in real life—how cooperation could replace coercion, why consent matters more than compliance, and what changes when no one gets a special pass to use force “for the greater good.” Along the way, Craig keeps circling back to Jesus. If we wouldn’t threaten our neighbor to make things right, why do we trust systems built on threats? And what does it say about our faith when Christian nationalism feels more practical than the Sermon on the Mount? This episode gives listeners language for naming fear, tools for thinking beyond power, and space to ask a deeper question beneath the politics: Do we actually trust the way of Jesus to hold a people together? Their conversation digs into: Why “law and order” feels safe—and what it costs What a voluntary society actually means (and what it doesn’t) Contracts, incentives, insurance, and reputation as alternatives to force Why voting isn’t the same as consent Fear as a driving force behind Christian politics Christian nationalism as a discipleship problem, not just a political one A simple test: would this be okay if my neighbor did it? 🤝Connect with Bob Murphy: Read the Book: Chaos Theory (buy on Amazon), Chaos Theory (pdf) Bob’s other books: Contra Krugman: Smashing the Errors of America’s Most Famous Keynesian; Lessons for the Young Economist; Choice: Cooperation, Enterprise, and Human Action Bob’s Podcasts: Human Action Podcast and The Bob Murphy Show X (Twitter): @BobMurphyEcon Bob’s YouTube Channel: @BobMurphyAncap Try This Week: Notice where you assume force is necessary. Pause before reaching for control. Choose persuasion, presence, and honesty in one real situation, and see what it reveals about what you trust. 📖 For Full Show Notes: www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-154 Key Moments: (00:00) Voluntary Society: “Wouldn’t That Be Chaos?” (00:45) Welcome Bob Murphy Craig’s intro + how they got connected (Dominic) Episodes with Dominic Judas the OG Christian Nationalist: Why Imposters Are Worse Than Opponents with Domenic Scarcella EP #147 Christianity Unpacked in "Good Neighbor, Bad Citizen" with Domenic Scarcella EP #97 (06:19) Why Bob Avoids the “Anarchist” Label (07:19) Sermon on the Mount + Politics That Fit Jesus (10:57) “I Don’t Have to Have a Plan” (11:33) Salsa Break: No King but Christ (12:14) Chaos Theory: Contracts (14:37) “Institutionalized Aggressor” + Imposed Rules (33:14) Insurance as Due Diligence (34:03) Incentives: Background Checks + Risk (46:57) “Give the Experts Guns” Problem (58:27) “Aren’t Insurance Companies the Government?” (1:03:24) Where to Find Bob + What He’s Building (1:04:22) Wrap-Up + Possible Part 2 💕 Want more episodes that keep loyalty with Jesus, not power? 💕 Support the show at thebadroman.com/donate. Anything helps, and everything beyond production costs goes to local charities in Memphis, TN. 🌶️ SALSA THE LOVE 🌶️ Prefer tasty support? Grab Bad Roman Salsa at badromansalsa.com. Every jar fuels more voluntary society centered conversations. FREE: Share & Start a Conversation Send this episode to a friend and ask: Do I trust Jesus’ way, or do I trust force to keep things together? Listen slowly. Love boldly. No King but Christ. 🔗 Ways to Get Involved in 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