The Good Citizen Podcast

Joshua Hershberger: Attorney | Minister | Speaker
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Equipping Christians to be Gospel-Centered Citizens in Post-Christian America

  1. 5D AGO

    #414 Esther: The King’s Queen, Chapter 1

    Once upon a time—and I mean in God’s perfect time—a Jewish orphan girl named Esther became a Persian Queen. But, as many of you know, this book is less fairy tale and much more mystery—a book full of lessons about the mysteries of divine calling, evil and justice, finding courage to stand for truth, and understanding God’s eternal purposes in history and in our story. Though her husband claimed the title “king of kings,” Esther’s ultimate allegiance lay elsewhere—to the high King of the universe. In that sense, here’s the story and the lessons we should learn from Esther: the King’s Queen. Outline: The Book The King The Queen The Temper Key Takeaways: The size and scope of the Persian Empire. A sketch of how Daniel, Esther, Nehemiah, and Ezra fit on a timeline. The geopolitics of the time, including the pending Persian invasion of Greece by Xerxes. The story of Esther as set in God’s grand plan of redemption. Lessons about Providence and God’s rule and reign throughout history. Watch on YouTube The post #414 Esther: The King’s Queen, Chapter 1 first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

    40 min

  2. FEB 10

    #413 Binary: Debunking the Sex Spectrum Myth with Zachary Elliott

    The definition of sex as binary–male and female–is a creation order issue (Gen. 1:26-27) and at the core of a number of current cultural and legal debates. This definition impacts sports, birth and medical records, medical treatment, placement in correctional facilities, our sense of self, and apologetics and disciple-making at home and in the local church (to name a few). And culture and especially the transgender movement has pushed for an understanding of sex as a subjective spectrum rather than the male/female binary. In this interview, Zachary Elliott from the Paradox Institute sets out the evidence in genetics and fetal development (as well as other fields) for the binary reality of sex; responds to common arguments for the sex spectrum and objections such as intersex conditions/Disorders of Sexual Development; and explains why accurately defining sex as binary is critical for the common good. Zachary A. Elliott is a science educator who has studied the biology of sex since 2017. Through his research of the scientific literature, he has authored four books on sex differences, combining rigorous research with accessible explanations for a general audience. His work has been informed through collaboration and consultation with medical doctors, biologists, and other experts in the field. Key Takeaways: How to accurately and concisely define sex in the midst of cultural confusion. How to respond to common objections, such as intersex conditions and Disorders of Sexual Development. Why we do not all “start as female.” The importance of this topic for apologetics and disciplemaking at home and in the local church. Binary: Debunking the Sex Spectrum Myth The Sex Development Handbook Paradox Institute YouTube Channel Watch on YouTube The post #413 Binary: Debunking the Sex Spectrum Myth with Zachary Elliott first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

    52 min

  3. FEB 3

    #412 The American Future: 4 Reasons We Should Not Give Up on the American Experiment [Encore]

    What do you think about the future of the United States? Should we expect and just accept further division and decline? Can the United States remain, well, united amidst differing worldviews and visions for the future of the country? The national debt, the temperature of our political rhetoric, the departure from Biblical principles, the dysfunction of Washington, D.C, and the rise of geopolitical forces new and old are certainly cause for grave concern. And it is easy to grow discouraged about the direction of the country. But, there are still strong Biblical and practical reasons for us to re-invest in the American experiment. Here are four. The post #412 The American Future: 4 Reasons We Should Not Give Up on the American Experiment [Encore] first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

    27 min

  4. JAN 27

    #411 In Defense of Christian Patriotism with Daniel Darling

    In our current political climate, patriotism is often treated with spiritual and secular suspicion. Especially as we mark America’s 250th birthday, is waving a flag or celebrating America’s rich spiritual heritage “political idolatry” or “Christian nationalism”? The short answer: no. Patriotism can and should be an expression of rightly ordered love and commitment to the place where God has placed us (Jer. 29). In this episode, Dan Darling joins me to discuss his timely book A Defense of Christian Patriotism and explain why love of country (i.e., place) is essential for the Christian. We discuss America’s founding principles, the necessity of telling the full story of America including here failures and triumphs, the importance of Christian civic engagement, and practical ways we can impact America’s future from our own back yards. Daniel Darling is an author, pastor and thought leader. He currently serves as the Director of The Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Assistant Professor of Faith and Culture at Texas Baptist College.  Dan has served in a variety of senior executive positions, including eight years as Vice President of Communications at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, where he is now a research fellow. He has also pastored churches in Illinois and Tennessee. He is also a columnist for World and a contributor to USA Today.  Key takeaways/links: Link to In Defense of Christian Patriotism . Link to The Land Center for Cultural Engagement. Connect with Dan Darling on X. Click Here to Watch on YouTube The post #411 In Defense of Christian Patriotism with Daniel Darling first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

    48 min

  5. JAN 20

    #410 5 Lessons from Frederick Douglass

    In this episode, I briefly address the disruption by protestors of a church service in Minneapolis, including the relevant legal protections for churches and some general guidelines on responding to protesters if they enter a sacred space. Then, I turn to five lessons for Christian citizens from the remarkable life of Frederick Douglass. He was a modern-day prophet who stirred the American conscience, decried the grave hypocrisy of the Christian church on the issue of slavery, and challenged and encouraged President Abraham Lincoln to lead the United States to abolish the institution. Douglass remains a key example to us as we work to fulfill the promise of the Declaration of Independence and build the society he envisioned but never experienced. Key Lessons: Biblical Christianity is the cure, not the cause. Prophets are important. Ground reform in creation order, not politics. Expect setbacks and snapbacks. Hope and work until the end. Link to Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. Click Here to Watch on YouTube The post #410 5 Lessons from Frederick Douglass first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

    45 min

  6. JAN 13

    #409 Thoughts on the ICE Shooting; the Church, Immigration, and ICE Raids

    In this episode, I share my thoughts on the ICE shooting last week with a focus on how to respond to the issue of immigration and law enforcement (and the response to ICE) moving forward. More specifically, I look at this event through the lens of tragedy, authority, ideology, and theology. Also, last year, I did a deep dive into what Scripture has to say about immigration, a history of U.S. immigration law, and how churches and ministries can both promote the rule of law and love their immigrant neighbors. I am replaying that review as this issue will (apparently) continue to impact ministries in 2026. The post #409 Thoughts on the ICE Shooting; the Church, Immigration, and ICE Raids first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

    1h 5m

  7. JAN 6

    #408 Them Before Us: Defending the Right of Children to a Mom and Dad with Katy Faust

    In this interview, Katy Faust, founder of Them Before Us, joins me to address one of the most pressing and misunderstood moral issues of our time: the rights of children—beginning with their right to be raised by their own mother and father whenever possible. Katy Faust is Founder and President of Them Before Us, a global movement defending children’s right to their mother and father. She publishes, speaks and testifies widely on why marriage and family are matters of justice for children. Her articles have appeared in Newsweek, USA Today, The Federalist, Public Discourse, WORLD Magazine, The Daily Signal, the Washington Examiner, the American Mind, and the American Conservative. She is on the advisory board for the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship. Katy helped design the teen edition of CanaVox which studies sex, marriage and relationships from a natural law perspective. Katy and co-author Stacy Manning detailed their philosophy of worldview transmission in their second book, Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City.  She and her husband are raising their four children in Seattle. In this interview, Katy Faust draws from research, natural law, and a Biblical worldview to make the case that marriage and family are not social constructs designed to serve adult preferences; rather, they are child-centered institutions designed to promote human flourishing. We also explore how modern cultural narratives—often framed in the language of compassion and equality—have quietly displaced children from the center of cultural and policy considerations. The church has always been a pro-child champion; and it is time for the church to speak with courage and clarity on matters such as marriage, divorce, reproductive technologies, and surrogacy. Key Takeaways: Why children’s rights must come before adult desires. The unique and irreplaceable roles of mothers and fathers. A review of the church’s history as a pro-child champion. How the church can respond Biblically and compassionately. What faithfulness looks like when cultural pressure is high. Follow Katy Faust on X. Link to the Them Before Us Substack. Click Here to Watch on YouTube The post #408 Them Before Us: Defending the Right of Children to a Mom and Dad with Katy Faust first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

    40 min

  8. 12/23/2025

    #407 The Christmas Villains [Encore]

    Every great story has a villain. And, I would argue, every great story has a great villain (in the sense that they are cunning, powerful and evil). The Christmas story is no different. We spend a lot of time talking about Mary and Joseph, the wise men, and the shepherds, but what about the villain–Herod? And did you know there are several Herods in the Bible and not just one? In this sermon, I reviewed the historical and Scriptural references to these “Christmas Villains” (the Herods), the key lessons from their lives and how they, in a counterintuitive way, point to the one, true King. Here’s a list of the important Herods: (1) Herod the Great was the key figure in the Christmas story that killed the babies in Bethlehem, (2) Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great that killed John the Baptist and earned a reprimand from Christ, (3) Herod Agrippa I was the grandson of Herod the Great that arrested Peter and was eaten of worms, and (4) Herod Agrippa II was the great-grandson of Herod the Great that conversed with Paul and almost became a Christian. Here’s a family tree: Here’s the Outline: The Monarch in the Manger The Fox and the Lion At Terms with the Worms The Gospel to the Great And some key takeaways: An explanation of the varying levels of government at the time of Christ. What Jesus meant when He called Herod Antipas a “fox.” The remarkable family history that both Paul and Agrippa knew during Paul’s sermon in Acts 26. This perspective completely changed the way I read that passage. Though the Herods were royally messed up, they weren’t the actual Christmas villains. I explain why. The post #407 The Christmas Villains [Encore] first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

    38 min
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About

Equipping Christians to be Gospel-Centered Citizens in Post-Christian America

Information

  • Creator
    Joshua Hershberger: Attorney | Minister | Speaker
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Good Citizen Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Good Citizen Podcast

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