Faithful Citizen Podcast

The Faithful Citizen Podcast
  • 4.6 (9)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Living at the intersection of faith, facts, and politics. In a time of polarization, misinformation, and moral confusion, The Faithful Citizen creates space for principled conversation; rooted in Christian conscience, civic engagement, and compassion for the common good. thefaithfulcitizen.substack.com

  1. The Day You Don’t Want

    18H AGO

    The Day You Don’t Want

    In the Wilderness of 2026, the American Church faces a terrifying temptation: the lust for a spectacle of judgment. Drawing from the prophetic warnings of Jonah and Amos, this episode examines the "spectator’s hill"—that place where we sit, refreshing our feeds and waiting for our political and religious enemies to burn. We perform a spiritual autopsy on the current state of Evangelicalism, exploring why we have traded the heavy burden of biblical justice for the electric thrill of tribal vengeance. From the fallout of the Epstein files to the dismantling of federal institutions, we ask a sobering question: Are we priests who intercede for the city, or prosecutors who cheer for the fire?. Key Discussion Points The Jonah Complex: Why we often find ourselves like the original "doomscroller," hoping for the destruction of those we believe deserve it. The Amos Correction: An obituary for the "Evangelical Mind" and the architects who built a machinery of political desire that is now producing darkness instead of light. The Shepherd’s Betrayal: A direct look at how modern leaders have converted evangelistic platforms into partisan tools, officiating the state's worship while ignoring the poor and the immigrant. Vengeance vs. Justice: Discerning the difference between a "dopamine hit" of mockery and the restorative, structural weight of true justice. A Wilderness Ethic: Practical protocols for the faithful remnant, including the discipline of silence, the necessity of lament, and the "Abrahamic posture" of standing in the gap. Scripture References Jonah 4:5, 10-11: The prophet’s anger at God’s reluctance to destroy. Amos 5:18-19: The warning that the "Day of the Lord" may be darkness, not light. Isaiah 28:21: Judgment as God’s "strange work." Proverbs 24:17: The command not to gloat when an enemy falls. Connect & Support Read the Full Transcript: Head to our Substack to engage with the community and read the complete essay. Support the Work: We are committed to keeping our content free and accessible. If you feel led to support our research and production, you can join our new voluntary paid subscription tier here. Engage: Like, subscribe, and leave a rating to help this message reach those who need it most. Get full access to The Faithful Citizen at thefaithfulcitizen.substack.com/subscribe

    30 min
  2. Obituary of the Evangelical Mind

    FEB 12

    Obituary of the Evangelical Mind

    We're gathered here today not to mourn a tragedy, but to read a coroner’s report. For decades, we were warned that the "Secular World" would kill the Church. We were told that if we didn't fight the Culture War, the faith would be crushed. But the autopsy reveals a different story. The American Evangelical Mind didn’t die of natural causes, and it wasn’t murdered by the "Radical Left." It died by its own hand. In this searing episode, we examine the "intellectual suicide" of a movement that traded the credibility of the Gospel for a seat at the political table. We name the architects of the transaction, from the Falwells to the seminary presidents, and we ask the hard question: Now that the Empire is eating itself, how do we rebuild the faith in the wilderness?. Key Topics Discussed The Coroner’s Report: Why the death of the Evangelical Mind was a calculated transaction, not an accident. The Architects of the Transaction: How Jerry Falwell Sr. & Jr. shifted the church’s identity from a "Prophetic Remnant" to a "Power Bloc," turning the pastor into a political broker. The Intellectual Suicide: Albert Mohler: The shift from "Character Matters" to the "Binary Choice," and the theological attack on empathy. Wayne Grudem: The invention of the "Policy Launderer" ethic—teaching the church that good policies wash away wicked character. The Fortress of Patriarchy: How James Dobson, John Piper, and John MacArthur constructed a theology that prioritized male authority over female safety, leading to the "Death of Empathy". The Racial Apostasy: The severance of the Imago Dei from the "Pro-Life" movement and the heresy of the "Statement on Social Justice". The Resurrection: Why we must let the Evangelical Mind die so the Christian Faith can live. Moving from the Stage to the Table, and from the Moral Majority to the Holy Minority. Memorable Quotes "We traded the Credibility of the Gospel for the Utility of the Empire." "The gatekeepers told us they were building a wall to keep the world out. We now know they were building a tomb to keep the rot in." "Empathy is the check engine light of the soul. And when these men smashed that light, they willingly drove the church off a cliff." "The Evangelical Mind is dead. Long live the Christian Faith." Links & Resources Join the Conversation: Share your thoughts on this "autopsy" on our Substack. Support the Show: Help us keep the lights on by joining our voluntary subscription tier. Rate & Review: If this episode gave you language for what you’re seeing, please leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Get full access to The Faithful Citizen at thefaithfulcitizen.substack.com/subscribe

    32 min
  3. The Mustard Seed and the Monument

    FEB 5

    The Mustard Seed and the Monument

    We live in an era of the "Big." From the plans for a colossal 250-foot Independence Arch to the rebranding of the Department of War, the structures surrounding us are designed to induce a "vertigo of the soul"—a sense that the State is everything and the individual is nothing. But what if the sheer scale of these monuments is actually a symptom of their impending collapse? In this episode, we explore the "Architecture of Intimidation" and the "Gospel of the Proud" that currently dominate our national landscape. We contrast the gilded, dead weight of the Empire’s monuments with the quiet, relentless life of the Mustard Seed. From the legal battles in United States v. Levy-Armstrong to the chilling revelations found in the 2025 FBI files, we discuss why the Church must refuse the role of "Chaplain to the Empire" and instead embrace its calling as the "Church in the Wilderness." Statues crumble. Seeds grow. It’s time to stay small, stay faithful, and stay dangerous. In This Episode, We Discuss: The Architecture of Intimidation: Why the Empire builds massive structures like the Independence Arch to make citizens feel insignificant. The Gospel of the Proud: Analyzing the 2026 National Defense Strategy and the shift from "defence" to "maximum lethality." The Precinct of the Police State: How the case of United States v. Levy-Armstrong marks the end of the sanctuary as a place of refuge. The Theology of the Seed: Why the physics of the harvest is more powerful than the physics of the monument. The Millstone vs. The Monument: Addressing the moral foundations of a "Golden Age" built on the exploitation of the vulnerable. Connect with The Faithful Citizen Join the Conversation: Read the full transcript and join the community discussion on our Substack. Support the Work: We’ve launched a new, completely voluntary paid subscription. All content remains free and accessible to everyone, but your support helps us continue this independent work. Follow Us: Find us on Threads to engage with us daily. If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and review us on your favourite podcast platform. Sharing this episode with one friend is the best way to help our "mustard seed" of a community grow. "The illusion is over. The American Myth has been evicted. But the Kingdom is just waking up." Get full access to The Faithful Citizen at thefaithfulcitizen.substack.com/subscribe

    23 min
  4. The Radicals You Raised

    JAN 29

    The Radicals You Raised

    In this episode, we explore the "spiritual biography" of a generation caught between two distinct universes: the earnest moral absolutism of VeggieTales and the systemic fury of Rage Against the Machine. We discuss how these seemingly opposite cultural forces fused to create a cohort of believers who are "tender with people and ruthless with systems". We dive into why the Sunday School lessons about resisting idols and the funk-metal anthems about resisting the "Machine" were actually teaching us the exact same lesson. If you are exhausted by the tension of trying to be faithful to the text while dismantling the culture that taught it to you, this episode is for you. Key Topics Discussed The Accidental Synthesis: How a specific cohort straddling the line between Millennial and Gen Z internalized an "absurd synthesis" of suburban evangelical safety and radical leftist politics. The Subversive Theology of the Tomato: Re-examining VeggieTales not as safe entertainment, but as a catechism in civil disobedience. Rack, Shack, and Benny: A primer on resisting the State and refusing to bow to "The Bunny" (consumerist idolatry). Josh and the Big Wall: Learning that when a city builds walls to hoard power, God’s instruction is to march until they fall. The Soundtrack of Empire: How Rage Against the Machine functioned as the "secular prophets" of our adolescence, echoing the biblical call of Amos to interrupt the feasts of the unjust. Understanding the "Machine" as the biblical "Powers and Principalities". Why "F*** you, I won't do what you tell me" became a liturgy of resistance akin to Acts 5:29. Stripping the Paint: Redefining "deconstruction" not as an act of vandalism, but as renovation—stripping away the "lead paint" of Christian Nationalism to find the original foundation. Christian vs. Christ Follower: The ontological shift from seeking power, safety, and compliance to seeking presence, sacrifice, and resistance. Memorable Quotes "We’re the generation that internalized the earnest moral absolutism of the cucumber and the systemic fury of the Molotov." "We realized that you can’t sincerely sing 'God made you special and He loves you very much' and then support policies that starve, deport, or shoot the very people God made special." "They taught us that 'peace' without justice is just quiet oppression." "We’re tender with people and ruthless with systems." Links & Resources Join the Conversation: Share your story on our Substack. Support the Show: We are committed to keeping this content free, but if you want to help us keep the lights on, check out our new voluntary subscription tier. Rate & Review: If you recognized your own story in this episode, please leave us a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Get full access to The Faithful Citizen at thefaithfulcitizen.substack.com/subscribe

    23 min

  5. JAN 23 · BONUS

    THE PRIVATIZATION OF PEACE

    We're watching the end of the post-war order in real time. In this urgent bonus episode, we sit down with two documents: The 1945 UN Charter and the newly released 2026 "Board of Peace" Charter. The difference between them isn't just legal; it's theological. We are moving from a "Family of Nations" model to a "Real Estate Syndicate" model—where peace is no longer a human right, but a luxury product managed by a Chairman. We break down the text of the new Charter to expose the "Theology of Empire" hiding in the fine print. What We Cover: Covenant vs. Contract: Comparing the "We the Peoples" preamble of 1945 with the "Pragmatic Judgment" of 2026. The New Babel: Why the "English Only" mandate in Article 13 is a spiritual red flag. The End of Sovereignty: Analyzing the "No Reservations" clause that turns allies into tenants. Gentrifying Gaza: How the Charter codifies the President’s view of war zones as "distressed real estate assets." Support the Work: If this episode helped you make sense of the noise, please share it with a friend. If you are able and inclined, you can support The Faithful Citizen with a paid Substack subscription, but our content will always remain free for everyone. Get full access to The Faithful Citizen at thefaithfulcitizen.substack.com/subscribe

    18 min

  6. JAN 22

    The Sword and the Shepherd: Redeeming Policing from the Spirit of Occupation

    In the modern visual lexicon, two images have come to define our crisis of authority: the Shield (the phalanx of officers holding the line) and the Knee (the weight of the state pressing down on the citizen). We are constantly told we must choose between the "Idol of Immunity" (Back the Blue at all costs) or the "Idol of Utopia" (Defund/Abolish). But what if both sides are missing the theological mark? In this episode, we dig into the genealogy of the badge, reckoning with the dual bloodlines of the Night Watch and the Slave Patrol. We confront the "Spirit of Occupation" that has turned our neighbourhoods into battlefields and ask the difficult question: How do we turn the "Warrior" back into the "Guardian"? In this episode, we discuss: The Binary Trap: Why the choice between "Law & Order" and "Social Justice" is a false theological dilemma. The Genealogy of the Badge: Understanding the history of policing to redeem its future. The Centurion Option: A biblical framework for authority that serves rather than conquers. Incarnational Policing: Practical steps to move from an occupying force to a neighbourhood presence. The New Jerusalem: Why the ultimate vision of a safe city has its gates open, not closed (Revelation 21). Resources & Links: Read the Full Essay: Dive deeper into the history and theology discussed in this episode by reading The Sword and the Shepherd on our Substack Support the Show: We are now offering paid Substack subscriptions to help support our work. This is completely optional, but if you value this content, please consider upgrading. Join the Conversation: Leave a comment on the essay or reply to us on social media. Scripture Reference: "Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there." — Revelation 21:25 Rate & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a brief review. It helps us get this message in front of more listeners. Get full access to The Faithful Citizen at thefaithfulcitizen.substack.com/subscribe

    28 min

  7. JAN 16

    The Coin in the Fish’s Mouth: Redeeming Taxation from the Idol of Ownership

    Tax season often reveals more than our financial status; it reveals our theology. In our modern political discourse, we are usually presented with two loud options: the Libertarian cry that "Taxation is Theft" and the Populist demand to "Tax the Rich." But what if both sides are worshipping the wrong god? In this episode of The Faithful Citizen, we explore how these competing worldviews are actually rooted in the same error: the Idol of Ownership. We look to the "Third Way" offered by the Gospel—specifically the strange and miraculous account in Matthew 17 involving Peter, Jesus, and a coin found in the mouth of a fish. Join us as we move past the anger of the political cycle and embrace the "Theology of the Tenant," discovering how we can render to Caesar what is Caesar’s without losing our peace. Key Topics Discussed: The Two Angry Gods: Why the "Idol of Autonomy" and the "Idol of Retribution" both miss the point of biblical stewardship. The Theology of the Tenant: Understanding that we are not owners of the field, but workers within it. The Caesar Paradox: How to view the State as a temporary servant rather than a demon or a messiah. Matthew 17:24-27: A deep dive into the only miracle Jesus performed to pay a bill. The Happy Taxpayer: How to write a check to the IRS/CRA without resentment. Scripture References: Matthew 17:24-27 (The Temple Tax) Mark 12:17 (Render to Caesar) Links & Resources: Read the full essay Join the conversation: Leave a comment on the Substack post to discuss the "Caesar Paradox." Support The Faithful Citizen: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating on your podcast player! We are committed to keeping all our essays and episodes freely accessible to everyone. However, for those who wish to support our work financially, we have launched optional paid subscriptions on Substack. Your support helps us continue to produce high-quality content for the Kingdom. Subscribe here: The Faithful Citizen Get full access to The Faithful Citizen at thefaithfulcitizen.substack.com/subscribe

    29 min

  8. JAN 9

    The Hoarded Table: Redeeming Mercy from the Myth of Meritocracy

    Why do we sing about "Amazing Grace" on Sunday but demand our neighbours "earn their keep" on Monday? In this episode of The Faithful Citizen, we continue our "Redeeming..." series by tackling the uncomfortable disconnect between the Vertical Grace we receive from God and the Horizontal Mercy we often refuse to extend to the poor. We explore the "Myth of Meritocracy," the idolatry of the "Bootstrap Gospel," and why the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant might be the most political text in the New Testament. It is time to drop the ledger and redeem Mercy. In This Episode, We Cover: The Sunday/Monday Paradox: The jarring theological shapeshift between our worship of Sola Gratia (Grace Alone) and our political demand for ruthless meritocracy. The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant: Retelling Matthew 18 as a commentary on the modern American voter. Smashing the Idols: Identifying the "Idol of Merit" (poverty as a moral failing) and the "Idol of the System" (outsourcing compassion to the State). The Theology of the Beggar: Why the Gospel demands we identify with the poor, not just serve them. Dropping the Ledger: Practical steps to move from transactional relationships to covenantal generosity. Scripture Referenced: Ephesians 2:8: "For by grace you have been saved through faith..." Matthew 18: The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. Isaiah 58:6-7: The fast that God chooses (bringing the poor into your house). Luke 16: The Rich Man and Lazarus. Memorable Quotes: "We’re the people of Sola Gratia. We fiercely defend the doctrine that we’re spiritual beggars who’ve been given a seat at the King's table... yet we champion a ruthless meritocracy." "When you know you’ve been forgiven a debt of 10,000 talents, you don't choke your neighbour over a few dollars. You tip extravagantly." "The Gospel calls us to drop the Ledger." Connect & Support: If you enjoyed this deep dive, we invite you to continue the conversation on our Substack. This is where we publish our long-form essays and engage with our community. Read the full article Support the Work: We now offer paid Substack subscriptions for those who wish to support this ministry financially. Please Note: There is absolutely no obligation. We are committed to ensuring all our resources remain free and accessible to all, but your support helps make that possible. Leave a Review: If this episode challenged or encouraged you, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a rating on your podcast app. It helps others find their seat at the table. Get full access to The Faithful Citizen at thefaithfulcitizen.substack.com/subscribe

    30 min
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4.6
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About

Living at the intersection of faith, facts, and politics. In a time of polarization, misinformation, and moral confusion, The Faithful Citizen creates space for principled conversation; rooted in Christian conscience, civic engagement, and compassion for the common good. thefaithfulcitizen.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    The Faithful Citizen Podcast
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Faithful Citizen
  • Show Website
    Faithful Citizen Podcast

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