Covenant and Constitution

Jenna Hays
  • 5.0 (3)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Covenant & Constitution is a comprehensive resource for understanding Christian Moral & Political Theology, applied for the Church. How should we, as believers, understand modern political issues in light of Scripture? Jenna Hays is Founder of Mountain Academy, a K-10th American Classical Christian Leadership Academy in Oregon. She’s also co-host of The School of Life podcast which is a comparative worldview podcast, dissecting the prevailing worldviews of our day. Jenna grew up as a minority thinker (as a conservative Christian) in a radical leftist progressive city and while attending the University of Oregon and Southern Oregon University. Leaving with a degree in Political Science, she knows firsthand the ideological soil of our cultural moment. This became the training ground to truly understand what it means to live as a faithful exile in a modern Babylon. She learned from early on that one must develop entirely different spiritual muscles to effectively engage our cultural moment from the lens of unchanging Biblical truth. In this podcast, Jenna utilizes the texts & thoughts of thinkers such as: - Dr. Wayne Grudem’s books, “Politics According to the Bible,” and “Ethics” - Nancy Pearcey's book, "Total Truth” - Oliver O’Donovan and Joan Lockwood O’Donovan‘s book “Bonds of Perfection,” - Hillsdale College’s Western Heritage Reader and their Civics curriculum - Scott David Allen’s book “ Social Justice is Not Biblical Justice” - Voddie Baucham’s book “It’s Not Like Being Black” - Eric Metaxes’s book “Letter to the American Church” and “Religionless Christianity” - Thomas Sowell’s books “ Discrimination and Disparities,” and “Basic Economics” In this podcast, Jenna examines questions such as: Should churches exert any influence in politics? Should pastors preach about political issues? Is there only one “Christian“ position on political issues? How should we think through American civics with a worldview lens? Did the Church become more political, or has government reached into the church’s sphere? What happens when God’s instruction to individuals, to the Church, and to the government get blurred? This podcast offers a bite-sized approach for average people to study the specific issues of our cultural moment from a Biblical worldview. www.jennahays.com

  1. 1D AGO

    Civics & Worldview Ep 8: Who Decides Our Rights? The Supreme Court and Constitutional Power

    In this episode of our Civics and Worldview series, we take a closer look at the judicial branch of the United States government—what the Constitution says about it, what the founders intended, and how the role of the courts has evolved over time. We explore the purpose of the judiciary within the separation of powers. The courts were designed to interpret the law—not to make it. Yet over the past two centuries, especially following the establishment of judicial review in Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court has increasingly played a powerful role in shaping national policy through constitutional interpretation. You’ll often hear the criticism that Christians have become “too political.” But many would say something else happened first: politics expanded into spaces it had never occupied before. Government once focused on things like collecting taxes, building roads, and issuing driver’s licenses. But when courts began defining marriage, granting legal protection to abortion, and weighing in on questions of gender and identity, the state stepped into institutions that had historically been shaped by family, faith, and community. In doing so, the lines between these spheres blurred. And once the state began redefining those foundations of society, people of faith inevitably found themselves defending what had once been considered pre-political truths. In this conversation, we examine the ongoing debate about judicial activism versus judicial restraint—and how, in certain landmark rulings, the Court has interpreted constitutional language in ways that critics argue effectively create new rights not explicitly found in the text of the Constitution. These decisions have had profound effects on issues like life, marriage, and the definition of equality. But this episode goes deeper than constitutional mechanics. It asks an important question: How do underlying worldviews influence the way laws are interpreted? Questions about human identity, family, morality, and justice cannot be separated from deeper beliefs about truth and human nature. When courts weigh in on these questions, worldview inevitably plays a role. As citizens in a constitutional republic, understanding how the judicial branch functions—and where its authority begins and ends—is essential for thoughtful engagement in civic life. We close this episode by stepping back from politics and remembering something even more important. In a time when global tensions and geopolitical uncertainty can feel overwhelming, our hope does not ultimately rest in courts, governments, or political outcomes. Our hope rests in the unchanging character of God. When the world feels unstable and the future unclear, we are called to lean into trust, prayer, and deeper intimacy with God, anchoring ourselves in the truth of the gospel and the faithfulness of the One who holds history in His hands. Even in uncertain times, God remains good, sovereign, and faithful. Show Notes & Sources Foundational Constitutional Texts     •    United States Constitution Article III     •    The Federalist Papers – Federalist No. 78 Landmark Supreme Court Decision     •    Marbury v. Madison Philosophical Reference     •    The Abolition of Man by C. S. Lewis Lewis explores the dangers of moral relativism and warns about the potential rise of “benevolent tyranny” when objective moral truths are replaced by shifting human preferences. Educational Resources     •    Hillsdale College – Constitution & Civics Courses Hillsdale’s Constitution and civics curriculum provides instruction on:     ◦    The structure of the judicial branch     ◦    The role of the Supreme Court     ◦    Judicial review     ◦    Judicial activism vs. judicial restraint Learn more at: https://online.hillsdale.edu Recommended Reading     •    The Federalist Papers (Federalist Nos. 78–83) – A deeper look at the founders’ thinking on the courts and the separation of powers.

    51 min

  2. MAR 5

    Civics & Worldview Ep 7– The Presidency Explained: Design, Power, and Constitutional Limits

    What is the president actually supposed to do? Most Americans think of the presidency in terms of personalities, headlines, and political battles—but the Constitution describes something much deeper and more structured. In this episode, we step back from the noise and explore the original design of the executive branch. Why did the Founders believe a single executive was necessary? What powers does the president actually have—and just as importantly, what powers does the president not have? We also examine how four key constitutional amendments—the 12th, 20th, 22nd, and 25th—have reshaped the presidency over time. From fixing early election problems to setting term limits and clarifying presidential succession, these changes reveal how the American system has adapted while trying to preserve its original balance of power. Along the way, we ask deeper worldview questions:     •    Why did the Founders fear concentrated power?     •    How does the Constitution attempt to restrain human ambition?     •    And what happens when citizens misunderstand the role of the presidency? Whether you’re a student of civics, a concerned citizen, or simply someone who wants to better understand how our government was designed to function, this episode will help you see the presidency through the lens of constitutional structure, historical wisdom, and the enduring challenge of self-government. Primary Sources for Further Study (Referenced in this episode on the Executive Branch) Foundational Constitutional Texts ​ The United States Constitution, Article II – The Executive Branch ​ The 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1804) – Reforming the presidential election process ​ The 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1933) – Changing inauguration dates and presidential succession procedures ​ The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1951) – Presidential term limits ​ The 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1967) – Presidential succession and disability Founders’ Writings on Executive Power ​ The Federalist No. 70 — Alexander HamiltonOn the importance of an energetic executive ​ The Federalist No. 69 — Alexander HamiltonComparing the American presidency to monarchy ​ The Federalist No. 51 — James MadisonOn checks and balances in government ⸻ Historical Reference ​ The National Archives – The Electoral College Explainedhttps://www.archives.gov/electoral-college ​ Library of Congress – The Presidency and the Constitutionhttps://guides.loc.gov/presidency Recommended Civics Learning Resources ​ Hillsdale College – Constitution 101 Coursehttps://online.hillsdale.edu/courses/constitution-101 ​ National Constitution Center – Interactive Constitutionhttps://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution

    47 min

  3. FEB 26

    When the Idols Fall: A Call Back to the Unshakable Kingdom

    In this unscripted and deeply personal episode, I speak candidly about the growing geopolitical and national instability we’re witnessing right now — from the unraveling of powerful institutions, to cultural upheaval, global tensions, division, and the erosion of public trust. It can feel like everything is shaking. But what if that shaking is not random? What if we are watching the slow collapse of our cultural idols — the gods of power, security, comfort, celebrity, technology, and political saviors — revealing themselves to be fragile substitutes for the One true God? In moments like this, the people of God have a choice. We can be swept into fear, outrage, and constant reaction… or we can return to the ancient paths. Crisis often precedes renewal. Throughout history, seasons of exposure and instability have prepared the ground for spiritual awakening. When false foundations crumble, hearts become hungry again for what is real. If you are a believer, this is an encouragement to remember who you are and what you carry. We bear the gospel — the only message that truly satisfies the longing and the deepest need of the human soul. If you are not a Christian, this may be the invitation you didn’t know you were waiting for. The idols are failing. The promises of the age are thin. There is a better King. Now is the time to seek Him while He may be found. And let the erosion of our trust structures drive you toward the only unshakable Kingdom.

    53 min

  4. FEB 23

    Civics & Worldview Ep 6: Congress and the Moral Logic of the Constitution

    In this episode of Covenant & Constitution, we walk through the structure, purpose, and moral logic of Congress. What did the Founders intend when they vested legislative authority in Congress? Why is lawmaking deliberately slow? And what does the structure of the House and Senate reveal about human nature, power, and accountability? We explore: • Why Article I comes first in the Constitution • The difference between representation and direct democracy • How bicameralism restrains impulse and protects minority voices • The lawmaking process — and why its friction is a feature, not a flaw • The moral responsibility of legislators under natural law and biblical anthropology This episode is not merely procedural. It is philosophical. Law is not neutral - It reflects moral judgment. Legislation reveals what a nation believes about justice, human dignity, responsibility, and the limits of authority. We also ask an uncomfortable question: What happens when representatives abandon self-government, virtue, and constitutional boundaries? If we want a healthy republic, we must understand not only how Congress works — but why it was designed the way it was. This episode is part of an ongoing effort to equip families, students, and citizens to think clearly about government through a serious, biblically informed lens. Listen in as we recover the architecture of legislative power — and what it demands of us. Sources & References Primary Constitutional Documents • The United States Constitution, Article I • The Federalist Papers, especially: • Federalist No. 10 (James Madison) • Federalist No. 51 (James Madison) • Federalist No. 62 (James Madison) • Federalist No. 63 (James Madison) ⸻ Hillsdale College Resources • Hillsdale College, Introduction to the Constitution (Larry P. Arnn) • Hillsdale College, The U.S. Constitution: A Reader ⸻ Founding-Era Context • James Madison, Notes from the Constitutional Convention (1787) • The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution (Elliot’s Debates) • The Declaration of Independence (1776) ⸻ Philosophical & Moral Framework • John Locke, Second Treatise of Government • Montesquieu, The Spirit of the Laws • Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England ⸻ Christian Worldview & Moral Anthropology • Romans 13:1–7 • Genesis 1–3 (human nature and fall) • Augustine, The City of God (two cities framework) • Nancy Pearcey, Total Truth • Wayne Grudem, Politics According to the Bible • Roy Clouser, The Myth of Religious Neutrality ⸻ Modern Commentary & Analysis • Thomas Sowell, The Vision of the Anointed

    47 min

  5. FEB 13

    Civics & Worldview Ep.5: When We Call It a ‘Right’… What Changes?

    You’ve heard the phrases: “Healthcare is a human right.” “Reproductive rights.” “Education is a right.” “Housing is a right.” But what do those statements actually mean? In this episode, we slow down and unpack the word right itself. • Is a right something that protects you from government interference? • Or is it something someone else must provide for you? Because that difference changes everything. We look at how the American founding originally understood rights — like free speech, religious liberty, and property — as protections from coercion. Then we contrast that with modern claims that certain goods and services must be guaranteed. If healthcare is a right, who is responsible to provide it? If something is called a human right, does that mean someone else is obligated to supply it? Where does conscience fit when participation is required? What happens when average families, already managing real scarcity, are told they must bear new obligations in the name of justice? We also examine the theological side of this conversation: What does the Bible call justice? Does Scripture define justice as equal outcomes? How do compassion, personal responsibility, and stewardship all fit together? This episode isn’t about dismissing care for the vulnerable — It’s about asking deeper questions: • When does compassion become compulsion? • When does justice become redistribution? And what do we risk losing when we redefine rights? If you’ve never really examined the assumptions behind phrases like “human right,” this episode will give you a first clear framework for thinking about them.

    1h 27m

  6. FEB 11

    Civics & Worldview Ep 4: The Constitution Is Not the Gospel — But It Still Matters

    In this episode, we begin an introduction to the United States Constitution — not as a sacred document, not as a substitute for the gospel, and not as a political rallying cry — but as one of the most consequential experiments in self-government in human history. What were the founders actually attempting to build?Why did they design a system of limited government, separated powers, and checks and balances?What assumptions did they make about human nature? And why does any of this matter today — whether you’re a Christian, a progressive Christian, spiritually curious, or entirely secular? We spend time exploring an important distinction that often gets blurred in modern Christian conversations: The gospel is about the finished work of Jesus Christ — salvation, redemption, eternal hope. The Constitution is a structural framework designed to restrain power and order civil society. One is salvific. The other is institutional. Confusing those two categories creates unnecessary tension. It is possible to appreciate a constitutional system without sanctifying it. It is possible to critique a nation’s failures without dismissing its achievements. And it is possible to study the American founding without collapsing faith into nationalism. Some argue that strong patriotism or an emphasis on America’s biblical influences risks drifting into “Christian nationalism,” where religious and national identity merge. That concern is worth taking seriously. History shows us that when church and state become indistinguishable, both suffer. But there is also a category distinction that must be preserved. Evaluating a system of government — asking whether it restrains tyranny, protects conscience, and promotes human flourishing — is not the same thing as assigning it redemptive status. When those are treated as identical, we end up talking past each other. This episode invites a more careful approach. Governments are not ultimate.They are not saviors.But they are consequential. Not all political systems are alike. Some account for human fallenness better than others. Some diffuse power more wisely. Some create more stable conditions for families, work, worship, and civil peace. The American experiment is deeply flawed — and yet it was an intentional attempt to build ordered liberty in light of history, tyranny, and human nature. Studying that attempt is not about baptizing patriotism. It is about intellectual honesty and historical awareness. Whether you approach this from faith or from civic curiosity, this conversation is an invitation to think clearly, separate categories carefully, and engage the Constitution with both gratitude and realism. The goal is not nationalism.The goal is discernment. Primary Sources Cited: The United States Constitution United States. Constitution of the United States. Philadelphia, 1787. Library of Congress, Manuscript Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/mtjbib000477/ ———— Federalist No. 1 By Alexander Hamilton Hamilton, Alexander. “Federalist No. 1.” October 27, 1787. In The Federalist Papers. New York: J. & A. McLean, 1788. Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/mtjbib000291/ ⸻ Federalist No. 10 By James Madison Madison, James. “Federalist No. 10.” November 22, 1787. In The Federalist Papers. New York: J. & A. McLean, 1788. Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/mtjbib000291/ Federalist No. 51 By James Madison Madison, James. “Federalist No. 51.” February 6, 1788. In The Federalist Papers. New York: J. & A. McLean, 1788. Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/mtjbib000291/

    57 min

  7. FEB 6

    Immigration and Moral Clarity

    This is a pastoral and theological examination of immigration, written not to offer political slogans or policy prescriptions, but to help Christians recover discernment in a morally complex and emotionally charged issue. Rather than beginning with partisan conclusions, it begins with formation—asking how Scripture shapes the way believers think about compassion, justice, law, authority, and human dignity. It explores the biblical distinction between the roles of individuals, the church, and the state, and examines commonly cited passages about the sojourner, refugees, and Jesus’ flight to Egypt with careful attention to context and meaning. The episode then addresses enforcement, justice, and accountability, arguing that compassion and law are not opposites, and that refusing to count costs or consider consequences often harms the vulnerable rather than protecting them. It engages cultural narratives, media framing, and moral inconsistencies that shape public opinion, while calling Christians to examine their own assumptions and resist being formed by outrage. Throughout, the emphasis remains pastoral: to help believers think clearly, love faithfully, and act wisely in a fallen world. The work closes by inviting both Christians and skeptics to slow down, question easy certainties, and recover a disciplined, thoughtful approach to moral reasoning—one that holds truth and compassion together without collapsing either. Episode Roadmap I–III. Foundations for Discernment Spiritual realities shaping our moment, core biblical principles for moral reasoning, and the distinction between the roles of individuals, the church, and the state. IV–VI. Scripture and Immigration Jesus’ flight to Egypt, the biblical category of the sojourner, and a careful Old Testament and covenantal framework for lawful presence and ordered compassion. VII–IX. Justice, Compassion, and Authority Biblical justice versus modern social justice, why enforcement is not cruelty, and how democratic mandate and authority actually function. X–XII. Narrative, Outrage, and Moral Inconsistency Media framing, selective outrage, protest versus disorder, and the limits of progressive compassion when moral principles are applied selectively. XIII–XV. The Church, Politics, and Moral Formation Why Christians did not “suddenly” become political, the proper expectations of leaders, and how tolerance and empathy collapse without moral boundaries. XVI–XVIII. Immigration as a Systems Issue Economic incentives, fiscal realities, and historical data on deportations—separating narrative from fact. XIX–XXII. History, Contempt, and Envy Moral consistency in historical claims, contempt for America and Christianity, and how envy reshapes modern justice language. XXIII–XXV. Diagnosing the Real Crisis Why the church often misidentifies evil, how due process and humane enforcement fit together, and a call to recover the Christian mind and ordered compassion. Final Appeal A direct invitation to skeptics and believers alike to pause, examine assumptions, and resist being formed by outrage and propaganda. Sources Cited in the show: Wayne Grudem — Politics According to the Bible James K. Hoffmeier — The Immigration Crisis: Immigrants, Aliens, and the Bible Scott, David Allen — Why Social Justice Isn’t Biblical Justice Eric Metaxas — Letter to the American Church Eric Metaxas — Religionless Christianity Thomas Sowell — The Vision of the Anointed Thomas Sowell — Discrimination and Disparities Milton Friedman — Capitalism and Freedom Frank Turek — Stealing from God Voddie Baucham — Fault Lines John MacArthur — Why Government Can’t Save You Plato — The Republic Studies: Barna Group — American Worldview Inventory (Biblical Worldview Research) Center for Immigration Studies — Immigration Policy and Fiscal Impact Reports

    2h 53m

  8. FEB 2

    Civics & Worldview: Ep 3 The Citizen and Self-Government

    Lesson Three tackles the question modern civics quietly avoids: Who governs first—the state, or the citizen? In this episode, we explore the Founders’ radical assumption that self-government begins long before ballots, laws, or institutions — it begins with the moral formation of the individual. A free society, they believed, depends on citizens capable of governing themselves through conscience, virtue, and responsibility. Without that internal restraint, external control becomes inevitable. This lesson contrasts three worldviews that answer the idea of self-government very differently. The Biblical–Classical worldview sees the citizen as morally accountable, formed by truth, and capable of freedom precisely because they are bound by conscience. The Modern Secular worldview retains the language of individual autonomy but increasingly relies on institutions to manage behavior. The Progressive/Postmodern worldview largely rejects self-government altogether, shifting responsibility to systems, power structures, and state intervention. By the end of this episode, listeners will understand why the erosion of character always precedes the erosion of liberty — and why no amount of legislation can save a society that no longer believes citizens should govern themselves. This is a defining lesson for anyone who wants to understand not just how freedom works, but why it fails when self-government disappears. Book Recommendation: Consent of the Governed by Jason w. Hoyt https://a.co/d/7JzGri5

    1h 7m
See All (65)

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Covenant & Constitution is a comprehensive resource for understanding Christian Moral & Political Theology, applied for the Church. How should we, as believers, understand modern political issues in light of Scripture? Jenna Hays is Founder of Mountain Academy, a K-10th American Classical Christian Leadership Academy in Oregon. She’s also co-host of The School of Life podcast which is a comparative worldview podcast, dissecting the prevailing worldviews of our day. Jenna grew up as a minority thinker (as a conservative Christian) in a radical leftist progressive city and while attending the University of Oregon and Southern Oregon University. Leaving with a degree in Political Science, she knows firsthand the ideological soil of our cultural moment. This became the training ground to truly understand what it means to live as a faithful exile in a modern Babylon. She learned from early on that one must develop entirely different spiritual muscles to effectively engage our cultural moment from the lens of unchanging Biblical truth. In this podcast, Jenna utilizes the texts & thoughts of thinkers such as: - Dr. Wayne Grudem’s books, “Politics According to the Bible,” and “Ethics” - Nancy Pearcey's book, "Total Truth” - Oliver O’Donovan and Joan Lockwood O’Donovan‘s book “Bonds of Perfection,” - Hillsdale College’s Western Heritage Reader and their Civics curriculum - Scott David Allen’s book “ Social Justice is Not Biblical Justice” - Voddie Baucham’s book “It’s Not Like Being Black” - Eric Metaxes’s book “Letter to the American Church” and “Religionless Christianity” - Thomas Sowell’s books “ Discrimination and Disparities,” and “Basic Economics” In this podcast, Jenna examines questions such as: Should churches exert any influence in politics? Should pastors preach about political issues? Is there only one “Christian“ position on political issues? How should we think through American civics with a worldview lens? Did the Church become more political, or has government reached into the church’s sphere? What happens when God’s instruction to individuals, to the Church, and to the government get blurred? This podcast offers a bite-sized approach for average people to study the specific issues of our cultural moment from a Biblical worldview. www.jennahays.com

Information