Judas the OG Christian Nationalist: Why Imposters Are Worse Than Opponents with Domenic Scarcella

When you hear “Judas Iscariot,” what comes to mind? Most of us picture betrayal — the silver coins, the kiss in the garden. But what if Judas’s real mistake wasn’t greed, it was compromise? What if he wasn’t just a traitor, but the first disciple to decide that Jesus would be more effective with a little help from the government?

In this episode of The Bad Roman Podcast, Craig Hargis welcomes back Domenic Scarcella, author of Good Neighbor, Bad Citizen, to ask a provocative question:

 👉 Was Judas the original Christian nationalist?

The Respectable Disciple: Judas as the “Normie”

Domenic doesn’t see Judas as a cartoon villain. He sees him as the reasonable one, the disciple who wanted Jesus to tone it down a bit, to play nice with the powers that be.

“Judas is the guy who wanted Jesus to be more compatible with the government,” Domenic says. “He’s the first person to think the Kingdom would work better if it looked a little more like the empire.”

That’s what makes Judas so hauntingly familiar. He’s not the rebel in the shadows; he’s the insider trying to make Jesus palatable to power.

Imposter Faith: Antichrist vs. Contra Christ

Judas’s story isn’t just about betrayal; it’s about the distortion of discipleship. Domenic draws a line between being against Christ (contra) and trying to replace Him (anti).

“Anti doesn’t mean ‘against,’” he explains. “It means ‘imposter.’ That’s what makes Antichrist worse than Contra Christ — trying to change Jesus into something else.”

That’s the heart of Christian nationalism: turning Jesus from the Lamb who lays down His life into the lion who roars for our tribe. And it’s not new. It’s just Judas’s logic reborn, century after century.

The Politics of Coercion

Craig and Domenic agree — Jesus never used force to accomplish His mission. Not once. His Kingdom runs on persuasion, not power.

“There are zero examples in the Gospels of Jesus using coercion,” Domenic says. “But there are plenty of examples of Him confronting coercion — especially in institutions.”

That contrast cuts deep in an age when many still believe we can vote the Kingdom in.

You can’t legislate love your enemies.

You can’t bomb your neighbor and call it freedom.

You can’t baptize coercion and call it righteousness.

Constantine’s Shadow: From Cross to Crown

What Judas began in miniature, Constantine perfected in empire.
Once Christianity became the state religion, the incentives flipped.
It no longer cost you to follow Jesus — it paid.

“To be Christian used to mean giving up power,” Domenic notes. “After Constantine, it meant gaining it.”

That shift is what Domenic calls the inflection point of history — when Christendom traded cruciform faith for political privilege. And that’s the same trade Christians still make today every time we seek safety, status, or influence instead of obedience.

The Illness That Didn’t Kill the Body

If Judas represents the infection, the miracle is that the Body of Christ still lives. Seventeen hundred years of compromise haven’t destroyed the Church — because grace, not greatness, keeps it alive.

“Our imperfections aren’t deal breakers,” Domenic says. “They’re the reason the Gospel exists.”

The Church’s survival isn’t proof that it got politics right; it’s proof that Jesus still heals, still forgives, still chooses imperfect people to bear His name.

Faithfulness Over Familiarity

Judas’s betrayal wasn’t a rejection of Jesus — it was a rebranding of Him. He wanted a Jesus who would “fit,” who could climb the ladder and earn the world’s respect. Sound familiar?

It’s the same spirit that drives churches to bless flags, defend wars, and fear being called unpatriotic. But the Gospel doesn’t need a PR strategy. It needs a people willing to live as if Jesus meant what He said.

No King but Christ

Domenic sums it up with quiet conviction:

“Judas was the normal one. The faithful ones were the weirdos.”

That’s the paradox of the Kingdom. The weirdos — the ones who refuse to kneel to Caesar, who love enemies instead of destroying them — are the ones who look most like Jesus.

Maybe faithfulness has always looked like being a bad Roman.

Listen & Reflect

🎧 Listen to the full episode: Judas the OG Christian Nationalist: Imposter Faith vs. the Politics of the Lamb with Domenic Scarcella — available on all major podcast platforms.

💬 Question for reflection:
If Judas’s mistake was trying to make Jesus more “respectable,” where might we be doing the same today.

📖 Scriptures to Revisit:
Matthew 26 | Luke 22 | John 13 | Acts 1 | 1 John 2 | Philippians 2:5–8 | Matthew 6:24

🤝Connect with Domenic Scarcella:

• Book: Good Neighbor, Bad Citizen

• Audio Content: Sunday Buffet Podcast & The Friday Meditation Radio

• Substack: Good Neighbor, Bad Citizen

• Twitter (X) @GoodNeighBadCit

Highlights & Takeaways

• Judas wasn’t a rebel; he was reasonable, and that’s what made him dangerous.

• Antichrist means “imposter,” not “opponent.” Judas wanted to change Jesus, not reject Him.

• Jesus never used coercion, His power is persuasion through love.

• Constantine’s alliance with empire flipped Christianity’s social incentives.

• Seventeen centuries later, the Church still struggles with Judas’s temptation: respectability over faithfulness.

• The remnant remains, imperfect people living out “No King but Christ.”

• Grace keeps the Gospel alive even in a compromised Church.

• The call isn’t to fix empire, but to embody the Kingdom.

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS

(0:22) Judas: the OG Christian nationalist?

• Craig introduces returning guest Domenic Scarcella

  • Previous episode with Domenic: Christianity Unpacked in "Good Neighbor, Bad Citizen" with Domenic Scarcella

• Framing Judas as the “normie” disciple tempted by respectability

(1:05) “Good Neighbor, Bad Citizen”

• Recapping Domenic’s first appearance in 2023

• Why this conversation still matters

(1:58) What Domenic’s been building

• Substack essays, Sunday Buffet, and Friday Meditation Radio

• Expanding from book to movement

• Domenic’s Judas Article

(4:02) Five years of The Bad Roman

• Craig reflects on God’s provision and the journey so far

• Finding content in divine timing, not worry

(7:26) Judas as “the normal guy”

• Respectable, pragmatic, compromise-driven

• Why that’s more dangerous than open opposition

(11:42) “Judas 8:2” and the mercy of Jesus

• Jesus feeds and washes the feet of His betrayer

• What real mercy looks like in a world of self-interest

(13:55) Setting the Holy Week scene

• Jesus teaches in public, tensions rise in the temple

• How power fears love that won’t be controlled

(20:16) Modern parallels

• Lockdowns, fear, and Christians who “went along to get along”

• Choosing safety over truth and calling it obedience

(21:35) The deal that wasn’t

• Judas overplays his hand; the priests use him for their agenda

• When compromise becomes complicity

(26:05) Antichrist vs. Contra Christ

• Domenic’s key distinction: imposter faith vs. honest rejection

• Why trying to change Jesus is worse than denying Him

(30:10) Coercion and the Kingdom

• No Gospel precedent for force

• How Jesus subverts coercion with voluntary love

(34:03) Constantine’s inflection point

• From persecuted faith to state-approved religion

• When “Christian” became a brand of empire

(38:16) Three models of church–state fusion

• Hosios’s “Two Swords,” Ambrose’s “Overlap,” Eusebius’s “Co-Regency”

• Different roads to the same compromise

(47:50) The remnant remains

• Good neighbors, bad citizens, the politics of the Lamb

• The hope of faithfulness in small numbers

(53:25) Imperfect messengers, perfect Gospel

•  Grace, not purity, sustains the Church

•  How God uses flawed voices for truth

(56:42) Where to find Domenic

• Substack, Sunday Buffet, Meditation Radio

• Continuing the conversation

🔗 Join the Movement🔗

• 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

💕 Support the Project 💕

If this conversation with Domenic on Judas as the OG Christian nationalist helped you refocus on Jesus, not party, not power, please consider supporting The Bad Roman Project.

Your gift keeps “No King but Christ” in the feed and pushes back against the impulse to baptize coercion. As always, 100% of donations above production costs go to local Memphis charities.

🌶️ SALSA THE LOVE 🌶️

Donations are cool, but salsa is spicy (or mild, Judas 👀). Every jar fuels episodes that challenge Christian entanglement and call us back to Jesus’ way.

Join the craze at badromansalsa.com and snack your way to more Kingdom conversations.

FREE ACTION: Share the Episode, Start a Conversation with a Fellow Christian

Know a friend who thinks “Christian nation” is the point? Send them this episode with Domenic Scarcella and spark a better conversation:

Are we following Jesus, or asking Him to bless our politics?

If Judas tried to make Jesus respectable to rulers, are we doing the same?

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132. allegiance to God or Government? with Jason Porterfield

In a world where political divisions run deep and national identity often overshadows faith, how can Christians navigate the complex relationship between church and state? This episode of the Bad Roman Podcast featuring author of Fight Like Jesus: How Jesus Waged Peace Throughout Holy Week, Jason Porterfield, explores the complex relationship between Christianity and the state. 

As Christians, we know we're called to follow Jesus. Yet, many of us find ourselves caught in a web of conflicting loyalties. We pledge allegiance to flags, sing patriotic anthems, and even display national symbols in our places of worship. But is this what Jesus intended for His followers?

Jason challenges us to reconsider our assumptions about Christian citizenship and allegiance. His insights offer a fresh perspective on what it means to be a follower of Christ in a world that falsely demands our loyalty to earthly powers.

The Kingdom of God: More Than Just a Spiritual Concept

When Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God, He wasn't merely describing a spiritual realm. He was making a bold, politically charged statement that challenged the very foundations of earthly power structures. Yet, many Christians today shy away from this revolutionary concept, preferring instead to speak of the "family of God" or other less confrontational terms.

Why do we do this? Perhaps it's because we've become too comfortable with the idea of dual citizenship – claiming allegiance to both God and country. But as Jason points out, this divided loyalty often leads to a watered-down faith where Jesus becomes Lord of less and less, while Caesar (or the state) claims lordship over everything else.

Consider this: What if we took Jesus' words about the Kingdom of God as seriously as the early Christians did? How might it change our relationship with the state and our understanding of our role in society?

Allegiance vs. Faith: Reclaiming the Power of Pistis

One of the most striking insights from this episode is the discussion around the Greek word "pistis." Often translated simply as "faith," this word carries a much deeper meaning of allegiance or loyalty. When the New Testament writers speak of giving one's pistis to Jesus, they're not just talking about believing in Him – they're calling for a complete transfer of allegiance from earthly powers to Christ.

This understanding challenges the modern Christian tendency to reduce faith to a personal, spiritual matter divorced from political and social realities. It calls us to reconsider what it truly means to declare Jesus as Lord and King.

Ask yourself: Have I reduced my faith in Jesus to mere belief, or am I willing to give Him my complete allegiance, even when it conflicts with the demands of the state?

Flags in the Sanctuary: A Symbol of Divided Loyalties

The presence of national flags in church sanctuaries is a relatively recent phenomenon, yet it's become so commonplace that many Christians don't think twice about it. However, as Jason reminds us, the early church would have found this practice deeply troubling.

Tertullian, an early Christian writer, declared that "the divine banner and the human banner do not go together, nor the standard of Christ and the standard of the devil." These words may sound harsh to modern ears, but they reflect a deep understanding of the exclusive nature of our allegiance to Christ.

Consider this: What message are we sending when we display national symbols alongside Christian ones in our places of worship? Are we inadvertently suggesting that our loyalty is divided between God and country?

Practical Implications: Living as Citizens of Heaven

So how do we live out this radical allegiance to Christ in practical terms? Jason offers several thought-provoking suggestions:

1. Rethink your language: Instead of speaking of Jesus as your personal Savior, try referring to Him as your Lord and King.

2. Reconsider your participation in national rituals: Jason shares how he stands silently during the Pledge of Allegiance, reciting the Lord's Prayer instead.

3. Engage in your community, but with a different perspective: Work for the welfare of your city or country, but do so as an ambassador of Christ's kingdom, not as a citizen of an earthly nation.

4. Be prepared for pushback: Standing firm in your allegiance to Christ may cost you relationships or opportunities, but remember that your citizenship is in heaven.

What We Learned About True Allegiance

This episode challenges us to examine our assumptions about faith, citizenship, and allegiance. It reminds us that following Jesus is not just about personal salvation – it's about pledging our loyalty to a different kingdom altogether.

As we navigate the complex landscape of modern politics and national identity, let's remember that our primary citizenship is in heaven. Our allegiance is to Christ alone, and from that foundation, we can engage with our earthly communities in ways that reflect His love, justice, and peace.

Are you ready to reclaim the revolutionary nature of your faith? Listen to the full episode for more insights on living as citizens of God's kingdom in a world that demands our allegiance. And don't forget to check out Jason Porterfield's book "Fight Like Jesus" for a deeper exploration of how Jesus modeled peacemaking and confronted injustice during Holy Week.

Let's commit to being "bad Romans" – Christians who are willing to challenge the status quo and live out our allegiance to Christ, no matter the cost.

Connect with Jason:

• Free ebook

• Website

• Twitter

• Facebook

• Instagram

Episode Timestamps:

(0:22) Episode Overview

• Discussion on phrases used to define the kingdom of God

• Examination of national flags in churches

• Guest Jason Porterfield returns to the show

(0:56) Jason Porterfield Returns to the Show

• Jason Porterfield on Past Bad Roman Episodes

• Waging Peace: Seeing God Before the Resurrection with Jason Porterfield, Episode 54

• Keith Giles & Jason Porterfield - Fight Like a Christian, Episode 14

• Updates on Jason's family and work

• Impact of recent political policies on Jason's life and ministry

(2:47) Current Political Climate

• Craig and Jason discuss the challenges of Christian engagement with politics

• Concerns about Christians celebrating divisive political actions

(4:26) Motivations Behind Jason's Recent Post

• Jason shares the context of a church service that inspired his post

• Reflection on J.D. Vance's comments about Christian priorities

(9:24) Church Diversity and Political Tensions

• Discussion on political diversity within Jason's church (Quaker Friends Church)

• Challenges of maintaining Christian unity amid political differences

(12:27) Analyzing Jason's Four-Point Post

• Point 1: Jesus spoke of the kingdom of God, but that's too political

• Exploration of reducing the meaning of Jesus' teachings

(18:03) The Power of Language in Christian Identity

• Importance of recognizing Jesus as King

• Implications of using "Christ" vs. "King" in reference to Jesus

(24:24) Early Church Perspectives on Allegiance

• Historical examples of early Christians prioritizing allegiance to Christ

• Tertullian's statements on allegiance to God vs. Caesar

(28:22) Jesus' Teachings on Taxes and Allegiance

• Justin Martyr

• Analysis of Jesus' response to paying taxes to Caesar

• Early church interpretations of Jesus' teachings on allegiance

(35:33) The Bruderhof Community's Resistance to Nazism

• Example of Christians maintaining allegiance to Christ during political pressure

• Bonhoeffer's influence on the Bruderhof's stance

(46:21) Flags in Churches and Pledges of Allegiance

• Jason's personal approach to pledges of Allegiance

• Discussion on the presence of national flags in church sanctuaries

(54:56) Jason's Resource: 100 Early Christian Quotes on Not Killing

• Origin and purpose of Jason's compilation of early Christian quotes

• Importance of understanding early church perspectives on violence

(57:51) Jason's Book: Fight Like Jesus

• Overview of the book's focus on Jesus' actions during Holy Week

• Encouragement to read the book during the Lenten season

(59:48) Conclusion and Additional Resources

• Invitation to explore Jason's website for more resources

• Importance of Christians considering their relationship to the state

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97. Christianity Unpacked in "Good Neighbor, Bad Citizen" with Domenic Scarcella

About this Episode

Are we forgetting the rebellious, defiant nature of Jesus? Have we overlooked his active resistance to the political and religious hierarchies of his time, and his challenging calls for us to be good neighbors rather than good citizens? That's what we'll be unpacking in our fascinating conversation with our guest, Domenic , author of the book "Good Neighbor, Bad Citizen". 

 Domenic provides an intriguing reading of Jesus' teachings, bringing to light the elements that often get overlooked in contemporary Christianity. We dissect the Stations of the Cross, Jesus's nonviolent resistance, and how to use his book as a tool for contemplation. 

As we journey through these narratives, we confront the controversial topic of police violence and its relationship to the Christian faith. This episode holds some challenging viewpoints that question the traditional support of law enforcement and military by modern Christians. The non-violent teachings of Jesus and his brutal treatment by the 'good cops' of his day serve as the crux of this discussion. We highlight that violence, be it personal or outsourced, remains a contradiction to the teachings of Jesus, and is thus a sin.

We also carve out time to talk about the unfathomable nature of God, and the significance of the Holy Spirit, offering some new food for thought on the intersection of faith and politics.  Domenic gives us a glimpse into his new sub-stack, extending an invitation to join the ongoing conversation about Christian ethics. As we round off, we reflect on the essence of community, shared faith, and why being both a good neighbor and a bad citizen, as Jesus was, might just be the unconventional perspective we need today. This is one episode that is sure to challenge your perspectives and spark spirited discussions. Tune in, and let's question together!

Connect with Domenic:

• Get the book!

• Follow his Substack - Good Neighbor, Bad Citizen

• Twitter (X) @GoodNeighBadCit

Episode Timestamps:

(00:00) Jesus' Way of the Cross

Domenic Scarcella shares insights from his book on being a good neighbor and citizen, using Jesus' teachings and the principle of no King but Christ.

(12:07) Stations of the Cross in Christianity

Early Christians made pilgrimages to Jerusalem, walking the way of the cross, and Jesus chose to be a good neighbor despite brutal treatment by civil authorities.

(26:02) Contemporary Christianity and the Nature of Christ

Contemporary Christianity, faith and presence, the temptation of Christ, Gospels as a guide, Jesus' resilience, God's gifts, the role of the cross in redemption.

(34:28) Cross and Nonviolence

Jesus teaches nonviolence, defiance of hierarchy, and humbling of authorities for redemption.

(45:05) Reflections on the Cross Stations

Veronica's role in Jesus' crucifixion and the importance of women in his ministry, along with the good neighbor model of crime and justice.

(53:35) Correcting Bad Theology, Bible Importance

Jesus corrects bad theology and prioritizes himself over the Bible, as shown in his death by good cops.

(56:59) Good Cops and Violence in Christianity

Police violence and Christianity, good cops led to Jesus' death, the entire system protects the state, Jesus practiced non-violence, early church's stance on non-violence.

(01:07:22) Holy Spirit and Book Promotion

Seeking the Holy Spirit, exploring the intersection of faith and politics, and discussing the harmony between anarchism and Christianity.

(01:11:28) Faith and Community Conversation

Domenic discusses community, shared faith, and how Jesus was a good neighbor and bad citizen in this passionate conversation.

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