The Bad Roman
Are you a Christian who feels disillusioned by politics? Do you see political systems—whether democratic, authoritarian, or otherwise—promising change but often leaving you unfulfilled? As followers of Christ, our calling isn’t tied to any earthly power; it’s to live like Jesus, no matter the political landscape. On this podcast, we explore what it means to set aside man-made allegiances—be they national, partisan, or ideological—and instead take up the Cross. Host Craig Harguess, a former neoconservative Southern Baptist Republican turned pacifist and Christian Voluntaryist, delves into the complex relationship between faith and political power. Through conversations with everyday Christians, church leaders, and even non-Christians, we challenge the ways politics can distract us from God’s work. True change starts where we are—because when we live like Christ, the world around us shifts, regardless of who holds power. New episodes release bi-weekly. Learn more at www.thebadroman.com.
Listen on:
Episodes
Thursday Dec 15, 2022
Thursday Dec 15, 2022
Lily Forester, of HBO’s “The Anarchists” (Anarchapulco, Anarchaforko) documentary series fame, joins Craig to discuss freedom, anarchism, and agorism. Lily is a trailblazer of agorist activity, putting anarchist and agorist ideas into action in her own life. She was a part of the Fireweed Universe City anarchist community in Detroit until her and her boyfriend John moved to Mexico and joined the Anarchapulco community. She ran a restaurant and farm from her house until John was killed in a shooting. These days she keeps herself busy training in circus arts, crocheting custom orders, blogging, building websites, and working with Anarchapulco and Anarchoforko.
Craig and Lily discuss their frustrations with self-proclaimed anarchists who don’t act like anarchists. Both the ones that go back to the Libertarian Party to try to work through the state and the ones who abuse the title, complicating explanations of anarchist philosophy. Craig and Lily define the term agorist and discuss where it overlaps with anarchist as well as the differences. Where anarchists may shy away agorists tend to follow through on anarchist activities. They are the ones asking themselves how far they are willing to go and using their skills to build healthy communities of voluntary exchanges. Lily gives some advice on becoming an agorist, how to find an agorist community and using crypto-currency.
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-71
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!!)
No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com
Episode Starting Points:
5:15 – Who is Lily Forester?
7:58 – Frustrated with anarchists
18:04 – Anarchists paying taxes
33:04 – How to become an agorist
44:56 – Spirituality
55:37 – Food
Thursday Nov 17, 2022
Thursday Nov 17, 2022
Jamie Cain, host of the Liberty Uninterrupted podcast, joins Craig to discuss the military-industrial complex as someone who lived as its pawn. Despite his father’s warning that he would not be fighting for freedom but rather for lobbyists and bankers, at 17 years old, liberty-loving Jamie joined the military. A few years later, Jamie left the military out of his love of liberty, having learned that war is a racket. Since then, he has had some success talking young people out of joining the military by exploring their reasoning for doing so and turning their patriotic logic on its head. Other times, shocking young people by being brutally honest is the only way, but Jamie is not scared of awkward conversations.
With Craig equally likely to blow up comfortable public narratives, these two could write the book on conversations guaranteed to ruin Thanksgiving dinner! In this episode, they share their views on the military-industrial complex, its propaganda, recruiting and indoctrination techniques. The Military-Industrial Complex is the murdering wing of the state. It indoctrinates and enslaves young Americans as pawns in wars for the financial gain of special interest groups and politicians.
Craig and Jamie envision a world where America’s competitors act the way America has, policing the world in the name of democracy, bombing critical infrastructure and setting up occupying forces and military bases. Of course, if anyone tried it, Americans would be rightfully angry. With military recruitment figures at crisis levels, maybe after 20 years of illegal wars it is time to bring the troops home.
Connect with Jamie:
Website
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook
Practical Christology
TikTok
Liberty Uninterrupted podcast on:
Apple
Spotify
YouTube
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-70
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!!)
No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com
Episode Starting Points:
2:23 – Who is Jamie Cain?9:15 – Why shouldn’t people join the military?19:54 – Everyone has a man crush on Ron Paul38:30 - Should we pull the troops back and simply defend the US?48:55 – Talking young people out of joining the military54:58 – Do the police help?1:00:19 – We won’t all agree
Thursday Nov 03, 2022
Thursday Nov 03, 2022
Craig is joined by John Krueger for a conversation about his journey from being an angry Anarcho-Capitalist to a peaceful Anarcho-Christian. Unjust police killings, SWAT raids gone wrong and harsh lockdowns made John angry. He was eager to learn how to use a gun and imagined himself needing to protect his family from police violence. In the midst of this, the Holy Spirit met John and showed him a peaceful option.
Libertarian philosophy is peaceful, but we need Jesus and His word to have the whole picture. Craig and John advocate for Christian pacifism and examine what was going on in their hearts at the points when they both contemplated joining the military. Craig and John discuss the libertarian and Christian anarchist positions on the decriminalization of drugs, the real needs of terrorists, the US at war, gun control, and other contentious current issues.
The state is coercion and violence. Laws are enforced with fines that are begrudgingly paid to avoid the threat of violence or time spent in a cage. You cannot make people peaceful like this, using the state’s methods. But rather, we need to be those who allow the Holy Spirit to work in us to change the hearts and minds of those surrounding us; that is how social change works in the Kingdom. Let’s listen to Jesus and do things His way, forsaking violence and anger. Let’s work towards peace.
John Krueger on
Practical Christology
TikTok
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-69
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!!)
No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com
Timestamps and Starting Points:
1:27 Who is John Krueger?
8:58 Libertarians, drugs, and terrorists
20:11 Craig and John considered joining the military
26:24 Libertarians and Gun Control
37:10 From angry An-Cap to peaceful Christian Anarchist
42:48 Romans 13 and libertarianism
54:12 How should we pray for government?
1:02:54 Let’s bring it back to Jesus
Thursday Oct 20, 2022
Thursday Oct 20, 2022
The Kingdom of God is at hand! Duncan Palmer joins Craig for a discussion of what the Good News entails and a key point that Christians are missing today: The Kingdom of God is here and now. Poor Bible translations go all the way back to Augustine, leading God’s people into confusion about their purpose. For example, ‘ecclesia’ is often rendered ‘church’ in modern translations, whereas a better translation refers to a gathering or assembly of people who managed the local city. The only God-ordained governance structure is the ecclesia, which happens when the church willingly submits to servant leadership and God’s laws alone.
Craig and Duncan discuss the historical points where the church went wrong, then turn to Duncan’s article “Tyrants be Gone: Say Hello to the New Boss”. There are no good guys in the fiefdoms of Satan; even your favorite candidate is nothing more than a tinpot tyrant playing with authority that does not belong to him. No human being is given authority to rule over another. Therefore, instead of participating in politics, Christians are to opt out, declare independence, and make worldly governments obsolete. When we do, we will usher in the Kingdom of God. We need to be creating things of value helping and encouraging each other, and trading amongst ourselves. Jesus invites us to live freely in this voluntary society. He welcomes us into the Kingdom of God! This is the missing part of the Good News!
Duncan’s article
Duncan’s Hive Blog Articles
Key Moments:
2:25 – Introduce Duncan’s article
3:33 – Who is Duncan Palmer?
7: 11 – The importance of language
14:16 The church is in bed with the state
22:20 How Duncan became a Christian Anarchist
26:52 The church has gone wrong at a few historical points
32:02 The church should act as God’s new governance structure
37:34 Tyrant be Gone - Say hello to the New Boss
41:53 There are no good guys at all in the fiefdoms of Satan
55:06 Implementing God’s Kingdom
1:02:37 1 Timothy 6: 11-17
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-68
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!!)
No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com
Thursday Oct 06, 2022
Thursday Oct 06, 2022
Craig is joined by Paul Parayil for his first-ever podcast appearance. Through his prolific and provocative writings, Paul advocates for liberty, truth, honesty, and the Kingdom of God. His blog and Facebook posts have garnered quite a following. In this episode, they discuss Paul's article, "Do you believe Gambling is a vice? I don't think you do". In the article, Paul grabs the attention of the evangelical right audience and shows how Christians engage in high-stakes gambling on something worse than cards. Fear produces voting, but just like casino gambling, the house (or the state) always wins.
When the church condones the state's violence, it fails to align with people's consciences, becoming a stumbling block. However, the church will find itself more attractive when Christians promote Jesus's basic teachings of self-governance and doing no harm. We use the term Christian Anarchist because a core component of Christianity has been lost. Instead, that which should be an obvious and natural occurrence in the church must be emphasized. Anarchy is implied, and the entire gospel message is summed up in one sentence: No King but Christ.
Since the beginning of the church, we have had one King. Jesus never sought political office! It is morally inconsistent of us to believe we have the right to coerce our neighbors with political power gained through participation in state activities, be they politics or voting. We are more consistent with Jesus's actions when we serve from the fringes of society with love and charity. The beginning of the healing of this world is through peacefully walking away from the gamble that is voting.
Episode Starting Points:
1:15 Introduce Paul
5:45 How did Paul come to Christian anarchy?
10:15 What is Christian Anarchism?
15:35 No King But Christ
20:30 Paul pokes the bear to make people think.
22:46 Read Paul’s Article: "Do you believe Gambling is a vice? I don't think you do."
29:05 What is voting?
31:48 What is the state?
36:00 God alone gives liberty
39:00 Why don't Christians just walk away?
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-67
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!!)
No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com
Thursday Sep 22, 2022
Thursday Sep 22, 2022
Stephen is from Anarcho-Christian (https://www.anarchochristian.com/), our brother-in-Christ podcast (https://www.anarchochristian.com/category/podcast-episodes/). He has spent the last 6 years providing an online presence and community (https://www.facebook.com/AnarchoChristian) for people like us. He has a way with expressing many viewpoints on a hotly debated topic, so we’ve invited him into our conversation on voting.
Midterms are fast approaching. As people who serve only one King, we must consider whether we ought to participate in the kingship of others. Is it ever justifiable to participate in choosing laws and rulers for our neighbors? How involved should an anarchist really be in politics? How involved should a Christian be? Is there a difference? Listen for our take on these and other questions relating to the issue.
Starting Points:
1:45 Unbiased
3:07 Facebook page disappeared
8:14 Should anarchists vote?
19:36 Should Christians get involved in politics?
29:26 Christian anarchy
49:48 Roe v Wade and other big decisions
53:26 Just keep following Jesus
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-66
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!!)
No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com
Thursday Sep 08, 2022
Thursday Sep 08, 2022
Craig is joined by the Rev. Dr. Dan Morrison, the Assistant Rector of All Saint Anglican Church in Springfield, Missouri. Dan brings his plethora of experience and knowledge of scripture to the show for a conversation on the original role of the Church and how modern Christianity is living up to the model Jesus set forth over 2,000 years ago.
Why do Christians seek solutions through political systems of power and fail to remember those are the very systems that murdered our savior? How did we get here, and how can we reclaim Churches for Jesus rather than sell out to the state and its illusions for physical and spiritual freedom? Too often we forget it is Jesus who makes us free, but that freedom is not freedom from suffering, but rather a call towards it. It should be difficult to be a citizen of heaven in a fallen world, but that is when we need to turn to God most.
In divinity school Dan became an expert on the book of Revelations, he shares his expertise and vision for the future of Churches with Craig, as well as some perspective on how we have gotten so off course as Christians. Listeners will leave this episode with a renewed desire to pursue Christ over politics, to not fall trap to the illusions of earthly power, but to instead do what Jesus would do, turn from the earthly kingdoms, and show the world what it means to know the love of God.
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-65
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!!)
No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com
Thursday Aug 25, 2022
Thursday Aug 25, 2022
Ian Minielly has written several articles for the Bad Roman and most recently is the author of the book The Genetic God. He is passionate about the church worshiping Jesus without the state and encouraging people to seek first His Kingdom.
Who is our king? Many people would respond that we don’t have one in America. But Christians do. We have a global King. Our president is the furthest person on Earth from meeting God’s standards for a ruler. We do not meet those standards. No one does but Jesus. He is our King.
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-64
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!!)
No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com
Thursday Aug 11, 2022
Thursday Aug 11, 2022
Three brilliant minds join us on this episode to talk about what made them decide Christian universalism makes the most sense compared to other theologies. They share their personal stories as well as Scriptures to explain why Hell cannot exist, everyone will be together with Jesus in the end, and what that means for our current life here on Earth. These three are Abby Cleckner, Scott Goldman, and Aree Spivey from Failed Kingdoms – the artist of our intro song. Find him on YouTube and Kindle Vella, among other platforms.
God is love. God is just. God is infinitely merciful. God is not willing that any should perish. So, why do most Christians balk at the idea that God doesn’t send people to eternal punishment or obliterate them after death? We’ve been trained in what the correct answers are and never to question what the pastor says. But have you ever even truly thought it through for yourself?
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-63
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!!)
No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com
Thursday Jul 28, 2022
Thursday Jul 28, 2022
Jordan Blake is the Executive Director and co-founder of The Reckless Saints of Nowhere. He finished his own rehab journey in 2015 and started Reckless Saints with his wife shortly after. They lead a team that destroys barriers for those ready to go through treatment for substance addiction. They go against the status quo to show the love of Jesus to those most of the world finds repugnant. And it works.
No matter who you are, you know someone struggling with addiction — even if you don’t know it. This touches everyone. If it’s not you, it’s your sibling, cousin, teacher, friend, coworker… it's a deadly problem. It needs to be talked about. Shame only keeps people from getting the help they need. Those dealing with it need and deserve our love. If you or someone you know is ready to accept help, go to recklesssaintsofnowhere.com or call
(918) 864-2719 to start the process.
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-62
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!!)
No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com