The Libertarian Christian Podcast

Lawrence W. Reed is president of the Foundation for Economic Education, and has a long history of promoting liberty in the classroom and in think tanks. In this episode he tells us how he became a libertarian, how he has worked in and for the liberty movement over the decades, and discusses with us some of the problems in today's society. ★ Support this podcast ★

Nullification is the idea that, in these United States, the individual states have the power the supercede and “make null” federal law that goes beyond the powers given to the federal government by the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison are two of the Founding Fathers most associated with these principles, but nullification has been largely absent from national discussion from the Civil War up until the late 1990s and 2000s. Now, with the government spiraling out of control in its grasping for power, nullification is more relevant than ever. In this episode, we're joined by Michael Maharrey, Communications Director of the Tenth Amendment Center, to learn more about nullification and its importance for the progress of liberty. He proudly resides in the original home of the Principles of '98 - Kentucky. He is the author of the book, Our Last Hope: Rediscovering the Lost Path to Liberty. He has been a contributor to the LCI website and runs his own site on politics at michaelmaharrey.com, and another site specifically about Christianity and liberty at GodArchy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this "Extended Edition" of our podcast, we talk with Armond Boudreaux and Corey Latta, authors of the book Titans: How Superheroes Can Help us Make Sense of a Polarized World! about the real-world insights that superhero stories give us. More than mere entertainment, the genre of superhero comics and movies allow us to wrestle with the ethical and philosophical puzzles humanity has been wrestling with for millennia. They are a mythos for our era, and as such have important insights into the political and ethical problems our society faces today. ★ Support this podcast ★

If libertarianism is neither of the left nor the right, then why do libertarians still get cornered as “conservative” or “right-wing” on a regular basis? Furthermore, for Christians especially the conflation of political conservatism with theological conservatism is confusing at best, grossly problematic at worst. Many Christian libertarians start off as conservatives, so understanding the key changes in thought on the pathway to liberty is useful in a variety of ways. Norman and Nick discuss key points in the “libertarianism vs. conservatism” debate and explain why they believe libertarianism provides better answers to conservatism's big questions about ethics, political order, and economics. ★ Support this podcast ★

Dr. Eric Larson is an anesthesiologist in private practice in Grand Rapids, MI, and host of the podcast Paradocs. He joins us to talk about his experience with immigration, and he also shares some helpful information on what non-physicians need to know about the medical industry. ★ Support this podcast ★

Trump told his supporters that they would get tired of all the winning America would be doing if he were president. Now Trump has worked tirelessly to impose tariffs, which cause a lot of economic woes upon many in the United States. Dr. Art Carden of Samford University joins us to talk about the reason why tariffs are a bad idea and why trade deficits don't matter (unless it's with Waffle House). ★ Support this podcast ★

Futurists warn humans that our ability to stay competitive will be dramatically reduced because robots and artificial intelligence will make our work obsolete. While Jay Richards does not believe A.I. poses a threat the way some do, he does believe that humans working in a new economy will demand the kinds of virtues that amplify the human advantage over automated labor. ★ Support this podcast ★

Join us for our second episode where we answer questions you have submitted, as well as popular topics from our Facebook group. We talk about pacifism, pledging allegiance, prayer in public schools, what would happen if Adam and Eve never sinned, and more! ★ Support this podcast ★

Join us for our third episode where we answer questions you have submitted, as well as popular topics from our Facebook group. Nationalism, idolatry, voting, and how would the rights of the unborn be protected in a stateless society. ★ Support this podcast ★

Christians know about Jesus from the Bible, but can we really know Jesuswithout it? What is the difference between “the Word of God” and “the word of God”? Where does the Bible fit into Christian discipleship and habits of spiritual formation? We discuss all this and more with the author of Jesus Unbound, Keith Giles. ★ Support this podcast ★

Libertarianism is the political philosophy of compassion, says Mary Ruwart, longtime libertarian and author of Healing Our World.Mary joins us to talk about a variety of issues that every libertarian has to defend or confront, including regulation, welfare, and the health industry. ★ Support this podcast ★

Doug Bandow of the Cato Institute joins us to talk about foreign policy from the standpoint of a Christian libertarian. We talk about North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and of course, Israel. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, LCI is joined by the liberty movement's favorite podcaster — historian and entrepreneur Tom Woods — as we dive into constitutional history and try to answer the question, “Is the Constitution any good?” Has it actually been effective at limiting government? Is the government it creates even capable of being limited by a document? What about the heavy emphasis in U.S. politics on the Supreme Court? Would we be better off under the Articles of Confederation? Listen in as we discuss all this and more. ★ Support this podcast ★

LCI recently released our Mission, Vision and Core Values statement: a concise, systematic presentation of what we stand for as an organization. This document will provide a framework for LCI going forward, and also serve for branding purposes as a broad explanation of what we believe about the intersection of Christian theology and libertarian political philosophy. Over the coming weeks, we will be exploring this statement and its five Core Values; discussing why they are in the document, what they mean, why we believe them, and how they fit into the bigger picture. CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY AFFIRMS THE ESSENTIAL TENETS OF FREE MARKET ECONOMICS Respect for private property, voluntary exchange, condemnation of theft, and the value of cooperation and service towards achieving common goals flow naturally from Christian thought and habit. This is what defines “capitalism” in the libertarian view. Wealth is a tool given by God, and all who possess such wealth are expected to utilize it for God’s Kingdom and the good of our neighbor. Taxation and regulation tend to destroy wealth, discourage innovation, and centralize power, and therefore hamper our ability to fulfill the calling of God. Where free markets are allowed to flourish, human beings will prosper both materially and spiritually. Additionally, Christian ethics helps equip our economies for service toward God and neighbor. Emphasis on private property from a biblical perspective ★ Support this podcast ★

LCI recently released our Mission, Vision and Core Values statement: a concise, systematic presentation of what we stand for as an organization. This document will provide a framework for LCI going forward, and also serve for branding purposes as a broad explanation of what we believe about the intersection of Christian theology and libertarian political philosophy. Over the coming weeks, we will be exploring this statement and its five Core Values; discussing why they are in the document, what they mean, why we believe them, and how they fit into the bigger picture. SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS MATTER FOR HUMAN FLOURISHING Humans are created to be social beings, and God’s design is that we work together to develop institutions which promote human flourishing. Insofar as these institutions are voluntary, peaceful, and non-coercive, human beings possess the God-given capacity to solve the worst of problems in the best of ways. Social institutions founded upon mutual cooperation — such as marriage, family, church, organizations, and businesses — are vital for authentic humanity. ★ Support this podcast ★

LCI recently released our Mission, Vision and Core Values statement: a concise, systematic presentation of what we stand for as an organization. This document will provide a framework for LCI going forward, and also serve for branding purposes as a broad explanation of what we believe about the intersection of Christian theology and libertarian political philosophy. Over the coming weeks, we will be exploring this statement and its five Core Values; discussing why they are in the document, what they mean, why we believe them, and how they fit into the bigger picture. INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY AND THE COMMON GOOD ARE NOT AT ODDS As God is intrinsically relational within the Trinity, so also human beings are created to live in community. Sin has marred the communal relationships for which we were created by pitting individuals against God, against one another, and against the earth for which we are called to be wise stewards. Affirming the dignity, worth, and rights of the individual as an image-bearer of God is a first step toward restoring authentic, Christ-centered community among diverse individuals. Because society is comprised of individuals, a healthy society requires healthy individuals. Through voluntary cooperation and respect for freedom, people can join together to trade, innovate, create, collaborate, share, and build a world that simultaneously respects the individual and betters our neighbor. ★ Support this podcast ★

LCI recently released our Mission, Vision and Core Values statement: a concise, systematic presentation of what we stand for as an organization. This document will provide a framework for LCI going forward, and also serve for branding purposes as a broad explanation of what we believe about the intersection of Christian theology and libertarian political philosophy. Over the coming weeks, we will be exploring this statement and its five Core Values; discussing why they are in the document, what they mean, why we believe them, and how they fit into the bigger picture. Core Value #2: A Free and Civil Society Depends Upon Respect for the Non-Aggression Principle ★ Support this podcast ★

This episode is second in a series covering our Mission, Vision, and Core Values statement: a concise, systematic presentation of what we stand for as an organization. This episode focuses on why Christian political philosophy should be informed by a holistic view of Scripture, reason, and historical theology. ★ Support this podcast ★

LCI recently released our Mission, Vision and Core Values statement: a concise, systematic presentation of what we stand for as an organization. This document will provide a framework for LCI going forward, and also serve for branding purposes as a broad explanation of what we believe about the intersection of Christian theology and libertarian political philosophy. Over the coming weeks, we will be exploring this statement and its five Core Values; discussing why they are in the document, what they mean, why we believe them, and how they fit into the bigger picture. ★ Support this podcast ★

Intellectual property affects us daily, but is hardly understood by the average individual. Is it something libertarians need to be concerned about? Is it legitimate “property” in the first place? Stephan Kinsella joins us to discuss the important of IP. ★ Support this podcast ★

Capitalism has gotten a bad rap, unfortunately because most people are unaware of what it truly means. Marxism beliefs are creeping into the public's view of economics, causing people to question the morality of a free market. Even Christians are unwittingly accepting Marxist dogma as economic fact. Dr. Jay Richards from the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America joins us to talk about his book, Money, Greed, & God, which takes aim at the faulty beliefs many Christians have about economics and capitalism. ★ Support this podcast ★

The issue of abortion is of great concern to pro-lifers, yet even libertarians debate the political issues with as much disagreement as the left and the right. Is there a Christian libertarian view? How would it differ from the typical pro-life position? What does it mean to say one is pro-life or anti-abortion? Does it change how we discuss electoral politics? Philosopher and Christian libertarian Kerry Baldwin joins us to discuss this issue. ★ Support this podcast ★

Is there a Christian view of economics? If so, what makes The Economic Way of Thinking different for the Christian? Why do people easily believe economic fallacies? Today Dr. Victor Claar joins us to talk about a Christian economic perspective. ★ Support this podcast ★

The left frequently criticizes free market capitalism with inaccurate caricatures and economic fallacies. However, in recent years, many business leaders and academics have been revisiting the philosophical foundations of capitalism and asking: "Is there more to this than just making a profit?" LCI board member and CEO of Conscious Capitalism, Alexander McCobin, joins us to discuss this shift in modern business, respond to criticisms of the conscious capitalist movement, and advance a case for a holistic view of business as a powerful engine for societal good which lifts up employees, vendors, and communities alongside shareholders. ★ Support this podcast ★

It's still true even if it's a cliche: “kids are our future.” That's why reaching children with the message of liberty is important. Joining us today is author of the Tuttle Twins book series, Connor Boyack, who has not only created a way for kids to learn about liberty, they are excitedto learn about liberty. Boyack tells us a bit of the backstory on the Tuttle Twins, as well as how he as a dad solved a problem for many parents: reaching our children with the message of liberty. ★ Support this podcast ★

Tired of hearing bad arguments about why the state is good, but need a better way to respond? Author Zack Rofer (pseudonym) has you covered with his free e-book, Busting Myths About the State. His concise, well-argued book counters some common myths raised in defense of big government. In this episode, we discuss some of the myths and how to answer them. ★ Support this podcast ★

Regardless of your denomination, many American Christians have the sense that something is wrong in the Church today. Have we forgotten our mission and values, and if so, what can we do about it? Joining us to discuss these questions is entertainment industry professional and Christian media expert Jonathan Bock, co-author of the new book, The Way Back. ★ Support this podcast ★

Human flourishing depends on individuals who have an entrepreneurial spirit. In the past several decades, world poverty has plummeted in part due to capitalism and entrepreneurial endeavors. Chris Horst of HOPE International joins us today to talk about the importance of entrepreneurship for human flourishing. ★ Support this podcast ★

The gun control debate in the United States has raged on for decades, and in many ways has escalated in recent years. Every time there is a mass shooting, calls for more gun control as the “obvious solution” engulf social media and public policy discussions. Furthermore, faulty statistics and bad arguments tend to run rampant in any discussion. In this episode, legal scholar Trevor Burrus of the Cato Institute joins us to unravel some myths surrounding the gun control debate. ★ Support this podcast ★

Join us for our second episode where we answer questions you have submitted, as well as popular topics from our Facebook group. We talk about cannabis, whether libertarianism can become an idol, why it's difficult to get people to see taxation as aggression, who our favorite theologians are, and much more! ★ Support this podcast ★

Concern for social justice has become one of the most effective ways for Christians to signal that they care about the world's poor, yet below the surface of this virtue signaling are some important issues about justice itself – of social well-being – and understanding how to be a Christian concerned with the common good. It is important to understand just how the message of the gospel applies to the well-being of the world. Jason Jewell joins us to talk about why a libertarian view of the state, society, and human action are critical concepts to understand before one arrives at a viable pursuit of social justice. ★ Support this podcast ★

What distinguishes Christian libertarianism from secular (or other) forms of libertarianism? Is it mostly a question of motivation, or are there also differences in policy application? Do Christian libertarians sometimes even disagree with one another on policy? In this round table discussion, we explore these and other questions pertaining to what may be considered unique about a Christian perspective on libertarianism. ★ Support this podcast ★

LCI recommends a lot of books for libertarians. Many of our regular readers or listeners may already be familiar with some of the most influential books amongst libertarian Christians, but in this episode, we're going to discuss some other, perhaps lesser-known books (as well as some of the obvious ones), and explain what relevance they have for understanding political and economic theory in light of Christianity. Books covered in this episode: Called to Freedom, ed. Elise Daniels and Jacqueline Isaacs For a New Liberty by Murray Rothbard Libertarian Theology of Freedom by Edmund Opitz Religion and Capitalism: Allies not Enemies by Edmund Opitz Bible and Government by John Cobin Anarchy and Christianity by Jacque Ellul Healing Our World by Mary Ruwart Democracy, the God that Failed by Hans Herman Hoppe The Quest for Community by Robert Nisbet The Powers Trilogy by Walter Wink ★ Support this podcast ★

It's not the Old Testament that a Christian often goes to for their theological defense of non-violence. Our guest, Matthew Curtis Fleischer, believes that the Old Testament not only sets the stage for a non-violent Jesus, but also believes Christians will find in its pages the foundations for an ethic of non-violence. A lawyer and a libertarian, Fleischer's approach will feel familiar to a libertarian audience as he explores the Scriptures with attention to important clues as to what God was doing with his people. ★ Support this podcast ★

You don't have to become a radical Christian to begin changing the world. Our guest, psychologist Richard Beck, has written Stranger God to deal directly with what a Christian is to do when they know they should reach out to strangers – those on the margins. In an effort to get away from mere academic discussions of hospitality and overcoming our personal barriers, Beck sought out ministry opportunities that put him directly in the presence of those on the margins. In this episode, Beck discusses how important it is to take personal responsibility for one's own actions regarding others and how understanding the main principle of comedy improv helped him say yes to strangers in his midst. He even talks with LCI about how we can relate to those who are our “political enemies” (ideologically speaking). ★ Support this podcast ★

Constitutions are a divisive topic even amongst libertarians, with the debate often centered on the anarchism v. minarchism issue. But as stateless projects like the Seasteading Institute and others gain more traction, even anarchists and voluntaryists are asking: is there a place for “constitutions” in a fully privatized society? Joining us to discuss is political commentator and author Trey Goff, who recently wrote a model constitution intended for a privatized, stateless society. We cover some of the various strengths and weaknesses of the concept, how it may be improved or altered, and what role it may have in the developing landscape of stateless society projects. ★ Support this podcast ★

About a year and a half in the making, the Libertarian Christian Institute is now blessed to present our inaugural volume of Christian Libertarian Review: our new scholarly journal dedicated to the intersection of Christianity and libertarian thought. On this episode, General Editor Jamin Hübner and Assistant Editor Ruth Ryder join us to discuss the mission and vision of the journal, what readers can expect to find in Volume 1, and some plans for the journal's future. ★ Support this podcast ★

Most people, including most libertarians, have a very negative perception of lobbyists, often because lobbyists seem to represent those who loot the rest of us on behalf of special interests. While this is often the case, there are also some lobbyists who represent liberty. How does someone go about lobbying for more freedom in a formal political capacity, and what does it look like as a career? In this episode, libertarian Christian lobbyist Aaron Day joins us to discuss his take, as well as other potential career paths for those who want to work full-time in the liberty movement. ★ Support this podcast ★

One year ago, it was widely acknowledged and discussed that for good or bad, 2016 had been truly extraordinary. As we now reflect on 2017, what are we to make of it? In this episode, LCI contributor and Mimetic Theory expert David Gornoski returns to give a Girardian take on some of the top stories from 2017. Mixing theology, philosophy, sociology and anthropology, David helps us to interpret the past year and prepare for what may await in 2018. ★ Support this podcast ★

As we celebrate the Advent, economist and friend of LCI Bob Murphy returns to the show to tell us about his Christian testimony. Once a staunch atheist who planned to write (in his words) “the definitive refutation of Christianity,” Bob was converted to Christ in the early 2000’s and has become a leading voice in the libertarian Christian movement. How did he come to know the Lord? Unwrap this episode to find out. ★ Support this podcast ★

Doug and Norman talk about the birth stories of Christ and how Matthew and Luke both use language and employ storytelling techniques that provide a clear anti-Roman and anti-empire story. This is good news for all because the message of liberation is not only about our personal liberation from the captivity of sin, but the cosmic liberation of captivity from slavery and oppression. ★ Support this podcast ★

Parabolic interpretation has been seen through many lenses throughout Christian history. While the deepest theological meaning of the parables carry the greatest importance, there are also important lessons which can be gleaned from the historical context in which the parables occur. In this episode, Jeffrey Tucker returns to discuss principles of economics in the parables of Jesus. By stepping into first century Israel and looking at the parables as stories which, on their surfaces, resonated with the life and times of Second Temple Jews, we can see that Jesus assumes a world of just property rights, freedom of contract, and economic liberty. ★ Support this podcast ★

Jared Byas does theology and business, and he integrates the two in this episode about what it means to do business with a kingdom perspective. Jared has experience with launching businesses as well as organizational planning and family business consulting. He is also the co-host of The Bible for Normal People podcast, where he gets to work with one of his other passions: theology. Jared rarely gets to talk about how he integrates the two, so listen in to hear some insightful advice and stories from a businessman and theologian. ★ Support this podcast ★

God created a world in which our work matters. Often we fall into the mindset of compartmentalizing our lives into sacred or secular categories, but in the Christian life, everything is sacred and eternally valuable (including our work). In this episode, we are joined by pastor, author and ministry leader Tom Nelson to discuss how we can and must bridge the gap between Sunday and Monday, connecting our Christianity with our 'secular' work lives. We also see how a right understanding of free markets fits within the Christian worldview and orients us to better promote human flourishing. ★ Support this podcast ★

It seems that people are no longer able to have a decent conversation with each other about politics or other controversial topics. Social media exacerbates our tribal tendencies and often we get entrenched in our own beliefs. It often takes the wisdom of one who has had years of experience talking to and discussing hot-button topics. There's no better person for to talk to about this than EconTalk host, Russ Roberts. Russ Roberts joins us for this episode to discuss what it takes to maintain a civil discussion during the holiday season (or any season!). With insight and wisdom from Adam Smith to his experience as host of EconTalk and a professor, Russ shares with us some very important things about life, both in the personal sphere and the social sphere. ★ Support this podcast ★

No matter where we are in the world, Silicon Valley plays a big role in most of our lives. Much of the technology that we have come to rely on for daily use is either designed in, managed from, or otherwise largely affected by the engineers, developers, programmers and executives who live in the Bay Area. Over the years --- and especially within the last two or three --- Silicon Valley has been increasingly in the spotlight for its politics, particularly how the political agendas of its influencers and executives affect the rest of us. In this episode, we are joined by Silicon Valley insider and LCI advisory board member Aaron Ginn. Aaron helps us sort fact from fiction in how we think about the politics of Silicon Valley, and to understand what it all means for freedom of speech and other key principles of liberty. We also discuss futurism in a Christian context, and how we should look at technology as a tool given to us by God in order to love our neighbors and advance the Lord's kingdom. ★ Support this podcast ★

The popular perception of libertarianism is often skewed. While those on the left tend to think of libertarians as greedy and self-absorbed with no concern for the poor, those on the right --- and particularly the Christian right --- often conflate libertarianism with libertinism. What's worse, many libertarians have contributed to this error by mixing libertarianism with other elements of their ethics, giving the inaccurate impression that libertarians must be hedonists, abuse narcotics, or live licentiously, or that at the very least they must not object to someone else's questionable behavior. As we continue our interview series with the authors of Called to Freedom, Taylor Barkley joins us to talk about the differences between libertarianism and libertinism. What are the different shades of libertarianism? How do the distinctions between 'thin libertarianism' and 'thick libertarianism' come into play? Why do some libertarians mix libertinism into their libertarianism? How should we explain libertarianism to those on both the left and the right? ★ Support this podcast ★

What is the biblical portrayal of the state? The Libertarian Christian Institute frequently discusses this question; it has bery important ramifications for how we think about political philosophy. In this episode, we continue our interview series with the authors of Called to Freedom as we are joined by Jason Hughey, author of the chapter on the Bible and government. Jason walks us through the narrative portrayal of the state in the Bible and helps us to see that state officials are sinful people just like the rest of us. As such, they should not be viewed as a special class with some intrinsic ability or right to rule, nor are they exempted from the ethical constraints that bind everyone else. In contrast to political power, the power of Christ is found in the gospel. We also cover some helpful guidelines for thinking about political power and the Bible, some pragmatic considerations, and of course, we get Jason's take on Romans 13. ★ Support this podcast ★

Mass shootings, gun control Protest with a football North Korea, South Korea, Rajoy as Franco No, it’s not a new Billy Joel song; it’s a discussion of some very important current events in culture, domestic and foreign policy, and international news which have happened during the last couple of months. 2017 has seen a lot of extraordinary developments --- some good, some bad, and some downright evil --- and in this episode we discuss a few which have been prominent in recent news cycles. We start off with the Las Vegas shooting and the left calling for gun control, move into football in American culture and the anthem protest controversy, spend some time going over the escalating North Korean conflict and the Iranian nuclear deal, and close out discussing the Catalonian secession vote and what is currently transpiring in Spain. ★ Support this podcast ★

The Diocese of South Carolina, once part of the Episcopal Church, seceded from the denomination in 2012 after a complex dispute, and in 2017 joined another Anglican denomination, the Anglican Church in North America. However, the Episcopal Church claims ownership of the diocese's real estate, as well as certain trademarks and intellectual property rights pertaining to its name and branding. What has ensued is an intricate and multi-faceted legal dispute between the diocese and the Episcopal Church. This story illustrates important considerations for handling ecclesiastic disputes and church splits, and what can happen when the state gets involved. Joining us to discuss his take is the Rev. Canon Jim Lewis from the Diocese of South Carolina. ★ Support this podcast ★