163. Faith, Politics, & the War Within: Allegiance, Grace & Addiction with Josif Wright

What happens when the beliefs we were handed no longer look like Jesus?

Maybe we were taught that America was God’s special nation. Maybe we were told that supporting war was patriotic, voting was a Christian duty, and questioning a pastor showed weak faith. Then one day, we opened the Gospels and noticed something strange: Jesus did not sound much like the system built in His name.

Josif Wright knows that feeling. He is a public-school teacher, longtime coach, hospice chaplain, former youth minister, and church speaker. He has spent years helping young people think, grieving with families, and asking hard questions about what Christians have been taught. He is also the author of The War Within: My Story, a father’s account of his son Ryan’s long struggle with addiction.

At first, Christian nationalism and addiction may sound like two separate subjects. Yet the same thread runs through both parts of this conversation: our desire to control people.

The state controls through laws, fear, taxes, borders, and violence. Religious leaders may control through shame and claims of unquestionable authority. Families facing addiction may try to control a loved one because they are scared to death of losing them.

But Jesus shows us another way. Truth without coercion. Grace without denial. Love that stays close without trying to play God.

“Don’t Trust the Government and Be Kind to People”

Josif teaches Jobs for America’s Graduates, or JAG. There is a curriculum, but no single textbook. That gives him room to discuss work, current events, faith, and life with his students.

After one test, Josif asked his class what they had learned so far. One senior wrote:

“Don’t trust the government and be kind to people.” — Student response, around 04:25

That is a pretty strong report card.

The line is funny, but it also gets close to the heart of this episode. Government asks us to believe that force will keep us safe. Jesus asks us to love our neighbors. Empire teaches suspicion. Christ teaches mercy.

Josif’s classroom sometimes turns into a kind of group therapy session. His students ask why people are being bombed. They question the stories adults have handed them. Josif does not demand that they copy his answers. He wants them to think.

That may be one of the most loving things a teacher, or a pastor, can do.

When Questions Become an Act of Faith

Josif’s change did not happen in one dramatic moment. One question led to another.

He began looking again at teachings about tithing, women in ministry, Israel, government, and Romans 13. The more he studied, the more he wondered how much of his old certainty had come from Scripture and how much had come from people with microphones.

He now tells both his students and his church congregation to do their own research. Do not accept a claim just because it comes from a pulpit, a podcast, or a person with a title.

“God wants us to think and ask questions,” Josif says.

God can handle those questions. The harder question may be whether we can handle the answers.

Real faith does not need us to hide from truth. It does not fall apart when we examine it. Sometimes asking better questions is how we clear away the rubble and find Jesus again.

God Is Pro-People

The hardest part of Christian nationalism may be the way it divides human beings into teams.

We are told that one nation is righteous, another nation is evil, and the people living under each flag somehow inherit those labels. Once we accept that story, violence becomes easy to excuse. Dead children become “collateral damage.” Grieving parents become members of the wrong group.

Josif offers a simpler answer:

“I’m not pro-Israel, pro-Palestine. I think God is pro-people.” — 08:30

That does not erase history or pain. It does not mean every action is good. It means every person remains an image-bearer.

No modern nation-state gets a blank check from Jesus. The command to love does not stop at a border. Christ does not ask for our enemy’s passport before telling us to pray for them.

As Josif later says, we are called to love people “no matter who they are.”

The Flag Beside the Cross

Josif remembers churches where people stood, faced the American flag, and pledged their allegiance during worship. At the time, it felt normal.

That is how idols often work. They do not walk into the sanctuary wearing devil horns. They arrive wrapped in tradition.

Josif now sees the conflict clearly:

“We should be pledging allegiance to the King—to King Jesus—and not to a flag.” — 22:42

The Pledge of Allegiance is not only a promise to a piece of cloth. It is a promise to “the republic for which it stands.” That raises a question Christians cannot avoid: can our highest allegiance belong to both Jesus and an empire?

Jesus said we cannot serve two masters.

This does not require hatred for our neighbors, veterans, or the land where we live. Josif speaks with care about those who returned from war with lost limbs, trauma, homelessness, or despair. His concern is not contempt for people. It is the worship of the machine that used them.

“No King but Christ” means what it says. No president, nation, pastor, party, or flag gets the loyalty that belongs to Jesus.

When Pastors “Call the Shots”

Josif’s questions also led him to challenge church authority built on fear.

He remembers pastors saying things such as, “Don’t challenge me,” and, “I call the shots.” But that is not the leadership Jesus modeled. Jesus knelt. Jesus washed feet. Jesus warned His disciples not to rule like the kings of the nations.

Josif no longer stands behind a pulpit when he speaks. He comes down to the same level as the people in the room. The movement is small, but the message is clear: we are learning together.

Religious control and state control often speak the same language. Both demand submission. Both punish questions. Both build systems that benefit the people at the top.

Josif believes much of this is fear-based. Fear of punishment. Fear of disorder. Fear that everything will collapse unless a strong leader takes control.

But Christians already have a King. We do not need to manufacture another one.

Walking Away from Political Salvation

Josif once considered running for local office. He voted because that was what responsible Christians were expected to do. He even heard pastors suggest that a person was not a real Christian unless they voted.

Today, his view is different.

He no longer expects the political system to bring the Kingdom of God. He has watched systems change people more often than people change systems. Craig makes the point plainly: being “the light of the world” does not mean ruling over our neighbors.

Light looks like enemy-love. It looks like feeding people, telling the truth, forgiving, serving, and refusing to repay evil with evil.

We do not become more Christlike by gaining the legal power to force people to behave as we wish. Jesus changes hearts through invitation, truth, sacrifice, and love, not through a ballot-backed threat.

The Other War Within

Around the middle of the episode, the conversation shifts. The flag gives way to a father’s journal. Political control gives way to the helplessness of watching someone you love suffer.

Josif’s son Ryan dealt with childhood migraines and chronic pain. Pills were available. Pain relief slowly became something else. Feelings of being unloved, painful losses, broken trust, and the death of his grandmother added to the weight.

Josif wrote The War Within from a parent’s point of view. He did not want to write it at first. Returning to old journal pages brought the fear and grief back to life. Yet writing also became part of his healing.

For years, addiction shaped the whole family. Josif and his wife described their condition in medical terms. Sometimes they were stable. Sometimes critical. Sometimes on life support.

“I had a knot in my stomach for a decade,” Josif says. “Addiction is a beast.”

Love Cannot Force Someone Free

Families dealing with addiction know the terrible urge to fix everything.

Find the right rehab. Make the right phone call. Drive another three hours. Say the right prayer. Watch more closely. Try harder.

Josif drove across the state again and again during one terrible month. Ryan told him, “The hooks are in so deep. I don’t know how I’m going to get out of this.”

Then someone at a church service offered Josif a hard word:

“You’re trying too hard. You’re trying to control the situation. Just step back. Just let God be God.” — 44:05

Letting go did not mean Josif stopped loving Ryan. It meant admitting that a father could not become his son’s savior.

Three days later, Ryan called and asked Josif to come get him. Recovery was not smooth or simple. There were setbacks. There was detox, long treatment, reading, faith, and a slow rebuilding of life. Josif says Ryan had been clean for eight years at the time of the recording.

The story is not a formula. Every person and every recovery path is different. It is a witness to grace that kept showing up.

More Than a Label

Josif challenges the shame often placed on people with addictions.

Churches may call people dirty, hopeless, or permanently defined by the worst part of their lives. Josif points instead to the New Testament language of new creation, saints, and a royal priesthood.

That does not mean pretending harm never happened. Grace tells the truth. But grace also refuses to reduce a human being to a label.

Craig connects this to his brother TJ, who died after struggling with alcohol and depression. TJ was not a bad person. He was a peaceful man who carried pain and could not find a way out.

The stories of Ryan and TJ remind us that addiction touches more than one body. It reaches parents, siblings, spouses, children, and friends. Yet shame does not heal anyone.

Love may not control the outcome, but it can keep the door open.

“God Just Calls Us to Love”

Near the end, Josif talks about the people he has met in treatment centers and recovery spaces.

“They are wonderful people,” he says.

Addiction can lead people to say and do awful things. Families need boundaries. Harm should not be denied. But the addiction is not the whole person.

Josif remembers hearing someone use cruel terms for people struggling with drugs. After she read his book, her language changed.

“We’re all struggling with something… God doesn’t call us to judge. He just calls us to love.” — 54:40

There is the thread connecting both halves of this episode.

Christian nationalism looks at enemies and asks how the state can control them. Religious legalism looks at sinners and asks how the church can shame them. Fearful families may look at addiction and ask how they can force someone to change.

Jesus meets people without turning them into projects.

He tells the truth. He protects the wounded. He resists coercion. He loves without pretending. He lays down His own life rather than taking someone else’s.

Flags demand allegiance. Shame demands hiding. Jesus invites us into truth, freedom, mercy, and love. That is the Kingdom.

🤝Connect with Josif🤝

• Book: The War Within: My Story at Barnes & Noble & Amazon

• Email: thewarwithinmystory@gmail.com

• Instagram: @Josifwright 

• X: @Josifwright 

• Nostr/Damus: @j3

Highlights & Takeaways

• Questioning inherited teaching can be an act of faith, not rebellion.

• No modern nation deserves unconditional Christian loyalty or support.

• A flag in a sanctuary can quietly teach divided allegiance.

• “Be the light” means loving and serving people—not gaining power over them.

• Fear-based pastors often mirror the control methods of the state.

• Addiction affects entire families, and recovery cannot be forced from the outside.

• People struggling with addiction are still image-bearers, not insults or labels.

• Grace tells the truth while refusing to abandon the person.

Listen

Notice where Josif’s political awakening and his family’s addiction story overlap. Listen for the moments when control fails and mercy begins.

Reflect

Where has fear shaped your faith? Have you placed more hope in a political leader, pastor, program, or personal plan than in the patient way of Jesus?

Read

Read Matthew 5:43–48, Galatians 3:26–29, John 18:33–38, and 2 Corinthians 5:17. Ask what these passages say about enemies, identity, nations, and new creation.

Practice

Sit with someone who is struggling without trying to fix them in the first five minutes. Listen, learn their story, and offer one form of help they are willing to receive.

Episode Breakdown:

(00:00) Leaving Christian nationalism

• Josif Wright’s changing beliefs

• The War Within: My Story

• Craig’s connection through TJ

(02:42) Meet Josif Wright

• Public-school educator and coach

• Hospice chaplain and church speaker

• Rare-disease advocacy

(04:20) “Don’t trust the government and be kind”

• JAG classroom lessons

• Student questions about war

• Thinking beyond the curriculum

(07:02) Questioning old church teaching

• Doing your own research

• Pastors and microphones

• Tithing, ministry, and inherited claims

(08:30) God is pro-people

• Israel and Palestine

• Galatians and human identity

• Love beyond political teams

(11:22) Nation-state Israel and Christian nationalism

• Biblical Israel vs. modern government

• Allegiance to Jesus

• Violence without a Kingdom blank check

(16:19) Josif’s slow change of mind

• No single conversion moment

• Five years of deep rethinking

• Regret without hiding

(19:14) Digging deeper into Scripture

• Original-language study

• Romans 13 questions

• The Bible beyond American assumptions

(21:40) Legalism, flags, and fear

• National symbols in worship

• Authoritarian pastors

• Submission benefiting institutions

(25:18) Two masters and the pledge

• Allegiance to the republic

• Craig’s personal conviction

• Flag beside the cross

(27:37) Students who will not stand

• Classroom Pledge of Allegiance

• Respect without forced participation

• Younger people questioning nationalism

(29:10) Voting and political identity

• “Real Christians vote”

• Leaving party categories

• Josif’s changing civic habits

(33:17) Being light without ruling

• Neighbor-love and enemy-love

• Political office and coercion

• Trust in Christ beyond collapsing systems

(34:53) Introducing The War Within

• Ryan’s decade-long addiction

• Craig’s memories of TJ

• Grief as shared ground

(36:10) Writing from a father’s view

• Journals and painful memories

• Ryan’s permission

• Writing as therapy

(37:10) Pain beneath addiction

• Childhood migraines

• Pills and chronic pain

• Loss, loneliness, and grief

(40:00) A family on life support

• Years of fear

• Multiple treatment programs

• Limits of short-term fixes

(42:35) “The hooks are in so deep”

• December 2016

• Repeated drives to help Ryan

• Belief, struggle, and grace

(44:05) Letting God be God

• Releasing control

• Prayer across states and nations

• Trust without clear answers

(45:00) “Come get me”

• Leaving the heroin house

• Home detox

• A new opening

(46:00) Building a life after addiction

• Reading and new interests

• Setbacks without surrender

• Finding the next step

(47:10) Eight years and a new identity

• Recovery and freedom

• New-creation language

• Saints instead of shame

(51:00) Craig remembers TJ

• Depression and alcohol

• COVID-era isolation

• Limits of family control

(53:40) Changing how churches speak

• People beyond their addiction

• Cruel labels challenged

• Love where people are

(55:56) Where to find Josif

• Book retailers

• Social media and email

• Free copies for people in need

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Related Episodes

Related Blog Post

144. Half the Image of God: Women, Scripture & the Church

Are we silencing half the Body of Christ?

For centuries, churches have taught that men lead while women serve quietly in the background. But what if this isn’t God’s design at all? What if the church has been hobbling along on one leg, because we’ve sidelined half the image of God?

This is the heart of our latest Bad Roman conversation with biblical teacher Matt Mouzakis, who joins Craig to revisit the creation story, Paul’s letters, and the witness of the early church. Together, they ask: Did Jesus and the apostles intend women to lead, teach, and shepherd alongside men? Spoiler: the resurrection was first preached by women, and that was no accident.

The Genesis Misread

We’ve often heard that Eve was created from Adam’s “rib,” a secondary helper. But the Hebrew word tsēlāʿ is better translated as side, not rib (Exodus 25:12). Eve was not a spare part—she was Adam’s other half.

Likewise, ʿēzer kenegdo (often rendered “helper suitable”) is the same word used for God as Israel’s strong ally (Psalm 121). Far from denoting subordination, the text paints Adam and Eve as co-priests in Eden, tasked with stewarding creation together.

Paul in Context: 1 Timothy 2

One of the most-cited passages against women in ministry is 1 Timothy 2. But the Greek words tell a different story:

• Epitrepo (commonly translated “permit”) is a situational allowance, not an eternal decree.

• Authentein (usually rendered “exercise authority”) means to usurp or domineer, not healthy spiritual leadership.

In context, Paul was addressing a crisis of false teaching in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3–7), not issuing a permanent ban. His real command? “Let the women learn.” In the first-century world, that was radical.

The Corinthian Puzzle

Another stumbling block is 1 Corinthians 14:34–35, where Paul seems to demand women be silent. But some manuscripts omit these verses entirely, while others move them around — suggesting they may have been a marginal scribal note later copied into the text.

And even if we keep them, they cannot override Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 11, where he expects women to pray and prophesy in the gathered assembly.

What “Headship” Really Means

When Paul says “the husband is the head of the wife,” he uses the Greek word kephalē. In English, “head” often implies boss. But in Greek, kephalē more commonly means source or lifeline.

If we read kephalē as hierarchy, we run into theological problems—because Paul also says “the head of Christ is God” (1 Cor 11:3). That doesn’t make the Son less divine. Instead, it emphasizes relationship and origin.

In Ephesians 5, Paul doubles down: Christ is the “savior of the body,” not its tyrant. Husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church—through self-sacrifice, not domination.

Women Who Led Anyway

The witness of scripture itself contradicts the idea of silenced women:

• Junia, “outstanding among the apostles” (Romans 16:7)

• Priscilla, who taught Apollos (Acts 18:26)

• Phoebe, deacon, patron, and first carrier of Romans (Romans 16:1–2)

• Deborah, prophet and judge (Judges 4–5)

• Huldah, prophet consulted by King Josiah (2 Kings 22)

The receipts are in the text—and in history.

Why This Matters (Kingdom over Empire)

If “No King but Christ” is more than a slogan, then His Kingdom must shape how we live and lead. Genesis 3’s “he will rule over you” was a diagnosis of the Fall, not God’s ideal. In Jesus, that curse is undone.

The church should be the first place where we refuse to sideline half the image of God.

3 Ways Churches Can Honor the Full Image of God

1. Re-examine the texts honestly:  Stop proof-texting. Read passages like 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Corinthians 14 in their cultural, linguistic, and historical context.

2. Make space for women’s voicesa: From preaching to leadership, invite women to bring their Spirit-given gifts to the community—just as the early church did.

3. Practice mutual submission: Ephesians 5:21 calls all believers to submit to one another. Build a culture of mutual service, not hierarchy.

Final Word

This isn’t about bending to culture, it’s about recovering God’s original design and Christ’s new creation.

So ask yourself: What might change in your church if women were seen not as assistants, but as co-laborers in Christ?

🤝Connect with Matt Mouzakis:

• Email: matt@expedition44.com

• Book: Principalities, Powers and Allegiances 

• Previous Episodes with Matt:

  • "What about Romans 13?"

  • From Eden to Empire: Deuteronomy 32 & Christ’s Nature with Matt Mouzakis (Part 1)

  • From Eden to Empire: First Peter's Insights (Part 2)

  • From Eden to Empire: Romans 13 Line by Line (Part 3)

  • The Beasts and the Lamb of Revelation: From Eden to Empire (Part 4)

  • Jesus as King: Rediscovering the True Translation of "Christ" with Duncan Palmer and Matt Mouzakis (EP 139)

• Expedition 44 podcast:

  • Website: expedition44.com

  • Co-hosted by Matt Mouzakis and Dr. Will Ryan

Episode Timestamps:

(1:35) Complementarian vs. Egalitarian

• Defining the two camps: different “roles” vs. shared authority

• The history of the term “roles” (introduced only in the 1970s)

• Why both sides appeal to scripture but often miss the context

(6:00) Craig’s Journey

• Growing up taught that women must be subordinate

• How years of study and the Bad Roman Project flipped his view

• The resurrection moment: women as the first to proclaim the gospel (John 20, Matthew 28)

(14:00) Genesis Re-Read: Not a Rib, but a Side

• The Hebrew tsēlāʿ (commonly translated “rib”) actually means “side” (Exodus 25:12)

• Adam and Eve as two halves, not hierarchy

• “Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23)

(19:00) “Helper Suitable”: God as Ally

• The Hebrew phrase ʿēzer kenegdo (often rendered “helper suitable”) is used of God Himself (Psalm 121)

• Means “strong ally” or “partner alongside,” not assistant

• Adam and Eve depicted as priests in Eden (Genesis 2:15)

(24:00) Genesis 3 and the Fall

• “He will rule over you” as consequence of sin, not God’s design (Genesis 3:16)

• New Creation in Christ breaks this curse (Galatians 3:28)

(26:24) 1 Timothy 2 in Context

• False teachers in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3–7)

• “I do not permit” (epitrepo, Greek for “allow/permit”) is situational, not eternal command

• “I do not permit a woman to authentein (Greek verb, often translated ‘exercise authority’ but better understood as ‘domineer’ or ‘usurp’) a man”

• Paul’s actual command: “Let the women learn”

(31:00) Students, Not Silenced

• “Quietness and full submission” = posture of learning, not gag order

• Paul encouraging women to be educated in a culture that denied them

(38:00) 1 Corinthians 14 and the “Silence” Verses

• Some manuscripts don’t contain 1 Cor 14:34–35

• Others place the verses in different spots (likely a scribal note)

• Must be read alongside 1 Cor 11, where Paul expects women to pray and prophesy

(41:00) Headship: What Does “Head” Mean?

• Kephalē (Greek word usually translated “head”) means source or lifeline, not “boss”

• “The head of Christ is God” (1 Cor 11:3) — hierarchy here would break Trinitarian theology

• Ephesians 5: Christ as savior of the body (care, not command)

(47:00) Husbands & Wives in Ephesians 5

• Mutual submission (Ephesians 5:21)

• Jerome noted “submit” was added later in v.22

• Husbands called to love as Christ loved (self-sacrificial service)

(57:00) Women Leaders in Scripture

• Junia, “outstanding among the apostles” (Romans 16:7)

• Priscilla, teaching Apollos (Acts 18:26)

• Phoebe, deacon and patron, carrier of Romans

• Deborah (Judges 4–5), prophet and judge of Israel

• Huldah (2 Kings 22), prophet consulted by King Josiah

(1:09:00) Why This Matters to Matt

• Scripture led him to change his view, not culture

• Personal passion as a father of daughters and husband in ministry

• The church can’t afford to silence half the image of God

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113. From Mormon LDS to Freedom in Christ: Unveiling Lies in Medicine, Government, and Religion

About this Episode

In this episode of the Bad Roman podcast, host Craig Harguess speaks with Claire Dalton, the host of the Clarity podcast. Claire shares her journey of leaving the LDS Church, her battle with chronic Lyme disease, and her views on the influence of government and institutional corruption. This episode explores faith, freedom, and the pursuit of truth, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of these issues.

Claire begins by discussing her background, including her upbringing in Utah within the mainstream LDS Church. She delves into the cultural and religious environment she grew up in and the factors that led her to question and eventually leave the LDS Church. Claire also shares her professional experiences as a farmer, nonprofit president, and sales representative, explaining how these roles have shaped her perspectives and contributed to her current projects.

A significant portion of the conversation addresses common misconceptions about Mormonism, particularly the belief that polygamy is a central tenet of the faith. Claire provides historical context and evidence to challenge these mainstream LDS teachings, arguing that the original teachings of Joseph Smith did not endorse polygamy. She also highlights the experiences of those who leave the LDS Church to follow Christ, differentiating them from those who leave religion entirely, and discusses the importance of creating platforms to share their stories.

Claire's personal and family struggles with chronic Lyme disease are another focal point of the episode. She details the symptoms, misdiagnoses, and the long journey to finding the correct diagnosis for both herself and her mother. The conversation delves into the controversial origins of Lyme disease, including theories about government involvement and bioweapon experiments. Claire discusses the historical context, such as Operation Paperclip and the release of weaponized ticks, and criticizes the medical system for its inability to properly diagnose and treat chronic illnesses like Lyme disease. She shares her journey of seeking alternative treatments and emphasizes the importance of partnering with God for healing.

The episode also explores the influence of government and institutional corruption. Claire argues that government control has infiltrated numerous sectors, including the food industry, education, the medical system, and even religious institutions. She provides examples of how this corruption manifests and its effects on society. Claire argues that statism is inherently satanic, highlighting how government control contradicts Christian teachings and discussing the importance of recognizing and resisting this influence to live a life aligned with Christ's teachings.

Faith and freedom are central themes throughout the episode. Claire and Craig emphasize the significance of the message "No King but Christ" in contemporary Christianity, discussing how this principle guides their lives and the importance of prioritizing Christ over state and institutional allegiances. Claire shares her vision for creating authentic Christian communities that are not bound by traditional church structures, advocating for home churches and genuine fellowship centered around Christ's teachings.

Listeners will gain insights into the personal and spiritual challenges faced by those who leave the LDS Church and seek to follow Christ. They will learn about the controversial origins of Lyme disease, the failures of the medical system, and the importance of seeking alternative treatments. The episode also provides an understanding of the influence of government in various aspects of life and its implications for personal freedom and societal well-being. Finally, listeners will discover the importance of prioritizing Christ over state and institutional allegiances and the value of building authentic Christian communities.

This episode explores the intersections of faith, health, and societal structures, providing listeners with insights and encouraging them to question and explore their own beliefs and experiences. Claire's storytelling, combined with Craig's questions, makes this a valuable listen for anyone interested in the complexities of faith, freedom, and truth.

Connect with Claire Dalton:

• The Clarity Podcast on YouTube

• Claire Dalton's website

• Follow Claire on social media: Facebook @forgedinhisfire and Instagram @forgedinhisfire

Episode Timestamps:

Timestamps:

1:04 Guest Introduction

• Claire Dalton shares her background: raised in Utah, former LDS member, farmer, nonprofit president, and sales representative.

• Claire's journey from mainstream LDS to her current faith and projects.

2:22 Entanglement of Churches with the State

• Discussion on how the events of 2020 revealed the deep entanglement of many churches with the state.

• Claire's observations on the disillusionment of many Christians with their churches during this period.

1:41 Claire's Personal Journey

• Claire's story of leaving the LDS church and starting her podcast.

• The importance of sharing stories of those who leave the LDS church to follow Christ.

5:28 Misconceptions about Mormonism 

• Claire addresses common misconceptions about Mormonism, including the belief that Joseph Smith practiced polygamy.

• Historical evidence and personal beliefs that challenge mainstream LDS teachings on polygamy.

26:35 The Impact of Chronic Illness

• Claire's personal and family experiences with chronic Lyme disease.

• The political and controversial history of Lyme disease, including its origins and the government's role.

30:18 Critique of the Medical System

• Discussion on the failures of the medical system to address chronic illnesses effectively.

• The role of vaccines and other medical interventions in exacerbating health issues.

53:04 Statism and Its Influence

• Claire and Craig discuss the pervasive influence of statism in various aspects of life, including food, education, and healthcare.

• The idea that statism is inherently satanic and contrary to Christian teachings.

59:20 Closing Remarks

• Seek the truth and question the systems they are part of

• The importance of community and supporting those who are chronically ill or marginalized.

• Craig and Claire reflect on the importance of living out Christian values authentically

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76. "What about Romans 13?" with Matt Mouzakis

About this Episode

Craig is joined by Matt Mouzakis, worship pastor and co-host of Expedition 44, a popular theology podcast where the ancient languages and context of the Bible are discussed. Matt is doing his doctorate in New Testament studies, specializing in the passages often cited by Christian statists when they want to defend strict obedience to the government.

Matt explains how words like submit (hypotassesthō), and concepts like paying taxes take on very different meanings when placed in their proper context. Read Romans 13 through the eyes of a first-century Jew, see it in a fresh new light, and be prepared to confound the next statist who asks you, "But what about Romans 13?".

In fact, the only one to whom people owe allegiance and should be under the authority of is Jesus Himself. When we desire to put another into power over ourselves and our neighbors, it is a sin because humans are not to have authority over one another.

Craig and Matt delve into those passages used against women in ministry. Again, we discover that read in the context of the time and in their original language, nothing suggests women are to be subject to men in God's kingdom. We find God's ideals at the beginning and end of the Bible, and that is God alone reigning over humanity.

Expedition 44:

YouTube

Website

Covenant Theological Seminary

Expedition 44 episode on Romans 13

Ryan's book: This is the Way

Episode Timestamps:

1:54 – Who is Matt Mouzakis?

• Worship pastor at "Bapticostal" church

• Father of 4

• Theology geek doing Doctorate in New Testament

• Co-host of Expedition 44 podcast with Dr Ryan (Head Chair of Biblical Studies at Covenant Theological Seminary

• Expedition 44

• Discuss the ancient context of the Bible

• Salvation is a journey "expedition" 

• The separatist ancient Essene community gave themselves the number 22

• God doubles the portion, which is where the 44 comes from 

8:15 – The Church of Nationalism

• American pastors don't speak against the entanglement of Christians and the state

• Sometimes they advocate for candidates

• The early church was outspoken against the Roman Empire

• But it is glossed over these days

• Churches seek power through the state now

• There's no basis in the Bible for Christians to be seeking any power

• We need no king but Christ

• Politics comes into your theology

• Some would say that representative government is different from serving another king

• In the first two pages and last two pages of the Bible is where you find God's ideals

• Everything in the middle is messed up

• Humans are not to have authority over one another

• Not even men over women

• The hebrew word "Tsela" should be translated as "side" rather than "rib"

• On the last page of the Bible, you see men and women under God's authority

• That's God's ideal

• That should inform our politics

• We are ambassadors from another King

• Our government has its own kingdom

• The fall is the "defilement of all of creation"

• There are multiple falls in the Old Testament

• When people usurp God's authority, humans rule other humans

• That is not a part of God's ideals

18:58 – Women in Ministry

• A topic that is spoken about on Expedition 44

• Women were the first to tell of Jesus' resurrection

• The men were in hiding

• Paul was very egalitarian

• When we don't look at the Bible in context, it gets confusing

• If Genesis 3 is reversed in Jesus, the church should reflect that

• The local context of Paul telling women to be quiet was an all-women-led cult

• Right before that, he tells the men off for being angry

• None should have authority over others in the church

• The women were trying to teach before they had learned

• Greek tenses matter in better translation

• Keith Giles's episode about women and the church

• Women stayed at home and were less educated in Paul's day

• Women were to learn but not interrupt the service

• 1 Corinthians 14: 34-35 might be an error added to the text based on a scribble by a scribe

• Philip Payne's book – One In Christ

• Expedition 44 episode – Women Must Be Silent?

26:16 – Romans 13

• The words "submit" and "obey" are two different words

• Romans 13 is the go-to for opponents of "No King but Christ"

• Romans 13 should be read in light of Romans 12

• The chapter breaks weren't there originally

• Romans chapters 12-16 should be read as a chunk

• All the things that Jesus said about enemy love do not fit with Romans 13

• Romans 13:1 & 5 Submit is hypotassesthō

• Defined as voluntary yielding

• Obey God is hupakouó

• David Bently Heart – New Testament

• It is necessary that we obey God rather than man

• The Bible should be read as a whole

• The whip that Jesus used was a common tool to heard animals

• He didn't harm any people

• He was angry at the extortion in the temple

• The gospel spreads by word of mouth too

• "Governing authorities"

• A common expression for anyone with authority

• Not necessarily government

• The people of the day were in Rome

• A place of multiple layers of governing 

• Neighborhood watch role, rather than law enforcement

• Rome wasn't taxed at the time when Romans was written

• Romans 13:1 - exousia means evil powers

• And appears in Ephesians 6:12

• Paul understood demons controlled the empires

• Jesus didn't rebuke Satan when he offered Him the kingdoms of the world

• Deuteronomy 32 – Moses says God divided mankind and gave them to the sons of God

42:18 – Is voting a sin?

• 1 Samuel 8

• Craig has concluded that voting is a sin

• Jesus said the gentiles lorded power over others, but we were not to be the same

• God said it was not Samuel that was rejected, rather it was God Himself

• Rejecting God is a sin

• Sleeping is better than exercising power over others

• Matt and Steve discussed whether or not Christians should vote

• The desire to have a king is to reject God

• Voting is the desire to put someone in power over ourselves and neighbors

• Therefore, voting is a rejection of God

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