Josh Allen sits down with Craig to discuss his article “Christians without Borders.” Josh is a deacon at his church and focuses his life on doing what’s right and loving everyone around him regardless of nationality, political party, or any other measure.
Craig and Josh explore the Christian response to people coming across the United States' southern border and how they understand it as christians and anarchists. Regardless of one’s political stance, Jesus taught that everyone is our neighbor and commanded us to love them. Our focus should be on His borderless Kingdom, not on the Empire of America. We need to give ourselves permission to let our love for God and for all people be our priority in life life with others, whoever these "others" may be.
“Anarchist friends. Don't let anarchy be to you what politics is to the folks that we've sort of left behind. Right? Love Jesus. More than you love anarchy or anything else.”
- Josh Allen
Timestamps & Starting Points:
1:30 “a great governor in Texas”
Craig’s coworker comments how glad he is the National Guard is protecting our border
So, Craig tunes him out and decides we need an article
Enter Josh Allen
2:37 Who is Josh Allen?
Floridian
Deacon
Republican → Libertarian → anarchist/label-less
3:58 “People want to label everyone as either conservative or liberal; you're Democrat or Republican; you're this, or you're that. I'm in the camp of doing what's right.” -Josh Allen
5:00 Who is my neighbor?
Literally everyone
5:53 “[Jesus] didn’t care about nation-states. He said all the time: He has a different Kingdom.” -Craig
6:10 “Jesus is essentially telling people to shift their focus, stop caring about what the government says is important and care about what I (you know, the Son of God who sacrificed Himself for the salvation of the entire world) -- focus on what I'm telling you is important. You know, as God-- the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, who is essentially the King of the universe.” -Josh
7:00 Interpreting Scripture
Most Christians are biblically illiterate; they don’t know how to study the Bible
OR they’re proud and think they have all the answers
God is mysterious. No one has all the answers
They make the entire Bible say what they want about one political issue, like the border
It's really all quite simple
Love God
Love your neighbor
Love your enemy
9:30 Are borders good or bad?
I don't know
But we don't have control over whether or not there are borders, so what's the point in arguing?
Why don't we just love the people around us?
Are the people coming over the border evil? Are they coming to hurt us?
They're mostly coming to escape problems caused by our government
They're coming over to feed their families
Threat or opportunity?
Christian priority is to tell people about Jesus and spread His love
12:17 Christian identity entangled in the state
Giant American flag in church's ceiling
Teaching that America is the new Israel
Or was at least created to protect Israel
But in reality, America is Babylon
Religion of the state is blatant, but we don't see it
The temple of Abraham Lincoln
People wrap their identity in who they watch on the news
17:33 Trump vs Biden on the border
Trump said so many hateful things about the wall
But Biden has locked up more kids and hurt more people than Trump ever did
And the Left is silent!
They are so loyal to their team, they can't admit the evil
18:54 Teams
People voted solely based on fear of the other side
Christians latched on to Trump despite his hateful words because the Republican party is "godly"
Choosing
Cannot support the atrocities of the bipartisan options
Voted 3rd party in 2016
No viable options in 2020
If we can’t even be libertarian, who are we?
American identity is so wrapped up in political tribes
Found anarchist communities
Space to actually talk through issues without being accused of hating America
28:09 Childhood Education Propaganda “Truths”