Feeling caught in the crossfire of your Christian beliefs and the political turmoil around you? If the clash between your faith and the pressures of national loyalty has left you questioning where you stand, The Bad Roman is here to explore these very issues with you. Craig Harguess, once a neoconservative, now leads this engaging series, drawing from his own journey to understanding that being true to Christ often means challenging the expectations of the state.
At the heart of ”The Bad Roman Project” is the provocative idea that ”sometimes to be a good Christian means to be a bad Roman.” This concept isn’t about defiance for its own sake (the mol tov cocktail version of anarchy) but emphasizes that our primary allegiance is to Christ’s teachings, which can sometimes put us at odds with worldly powers. It’s a call to prioritize our heavenly citizenship over earthly political ties, embodying the principle of ”No King but Christ.” This phrase underlines the choice to follow Jesus’s example of love, service, and justice, rather than aligning with the ambitions of worldly leaders within a state-bound system.
This podcast offers a platform for those who feel the tension between their spiritual convictions and the political narratives that seek to co-opt them. It’s a community for open, honest dialogue about navigating these challenges while staying true to our faith. Through thought-provoking discussions, ”The Bad Roman Podcast” invites you to consider how your Christian journey intersects with the societal structures around you. Join us as we dive deep into what it means to live out our faith authentically, even when it means being ’bad Romans’ in the eyes of the world.
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Feeling caught in the crossfire of your Christian beliefs and the political turmoil around you? If the clash between your faith and the pressures of national loyalty has left you questioning where you stand, The Bad Roman is here to explore these very issues with you. Craig Harguess, once a neoconservative, now leads this engaging series, drawing from his own journey to understanding that being true to Christ often means challenging the expectations of the state.
At the heart of ”The Bad Roman Project” is the provocative idea that ”sometimes to be a good Christian means to be a bad Roman.” This concept isn’t about defiance for its own sake (the mol tov cocktail version of anarchy) but emphasizes that our primary allegiance is to Christ’s teachings, which can sometimes put us at odds with worldly powers. It’s a call to prioritize our heavenly citizenship over earthly political ties, embodying the principle of ”No King but Christ.” This phrase underlines the choice to follow Jesus’s example of love, service, and justice, rather than aligning with the ambitions of worldly leaders within a state-bound system.
This podcast offers a platform for those who feel the tension between their spiritual convictions and the political narratives that seek to co-opt them. It’s a community for open, honest dialogue about navigating these challenges while staying true to our faith. Through thought-provoking discussions, ”The Bad Roman Podcast” invites you to consider how your Christian journey intersects with the societal structures around you. Join us as we dive deep into what it means to live out our faith authentically, even when it means being ’bad Romans’ in the eyes of the world.
Jesus Centered Life, Not Left or Right: Christianity without Compromise with Jake Doberenz
The Bad Roman
53 minutes
1 month ago
Jesus Centered Life, Not Left or Right: Christianity without Compromise with Jake Doberenz
When Christians step into politics, how much compromise comes with the territory? Can we preach about loving enemies on Sunday while voting to bomb them on Tuesday? Jake Doberenz, host of Christianity Without Compromise and author of the Smashing Idols newsletter, joins us to explore what happens when believers trade the cross for a ballot, and call it discipleship.
From a high school election that may have been rigged to the very adult reality of war-making, political idolatry, the allure of power, we ask: what happens to our witness when we outsource sin to Caesar?
Jake shares his journey from Republican Club president to his tug of war between faith and politics, highlighting the compromises often required in politics and presenting a firsthand look at how politics pulls Christians away from the teachings of Jesus.
Craig and Jake dive deep into the inconsistencies that arise when Christians prioritize political allegiances over Jesus' teachings, particularly in hot-button issues like the Israel-Palestine conflict. Together they revisit 1 Samuel 8, Psalm 146, the Sermon on the Mount, and why Romans 12 must shape any reading of Romans 13. The heartbeat: No King but Christ is a reminder that Scripture consistently warns us against putting our trust in rulers and systems that thrive on coercion.
Through it all, Craig and Jake call the church back to consistency, repentance, and allegiance to a Kingdom that doesn’t run on violence or votes. Jake explains the mission behind his podcast, emphasizing the importance of addressing modern idols (including politics and Christian nationalism) that often distract from true faith.
If you’ve ever wondered whether Christians can follow Jesus without compromise in a world obsessed with power, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you live out your loyalties. Because at the end of the day, there’s only one political statement that matters:
No King but Christ.
Highlights & Takeaways
Why “small” political compromises become soul-sized contradictions for disciples of Jesus.
The high-school election story that exposed politics’ deep messiness.
How participation can cause real harm (especially when the rulers we empower unleash violence)
1 Samuel 8: Israel demanded a king. God forecast the taxes, conscription, and sorrow that followed.
Psalm 146 as a Christian political manifesto: “Do not put your trust in princes.”
Read Romans 13 through Romans 12 (enemy-love before empire-law)
Why consistency (“love your neighbor/enemy”) draws seekers, while hypocrisy drives them away.
📖For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-146
🤝Connect with Jake Doberenz:
Article Discussed in this episode: I Think I Rigged an Election
Christianity Without Compromise Podcast: Apple, Spotify
Jake’s Website
Substack
Instagram
Twitter (X)
LinkedIn
Facebook
Company Website: Theophany Media
Key Moments:
(0:22) Introducing guest Jake Doberins
(1:00) From “Smashing Idols” to “Christianity Without Compromise”
(2:26) Standing firm on the words of Jesus
(4:07) Jake’s background and calling
(8:00) Early political experience
(15:22) Wrestling with faith and politics
(19:52) The cost of Christian political involvement
(24:12) Consistency as Christian witness
(28:51) 1 Samuel 8 and Israel’s demand for a king
(32:00) Reading Romans 13 through Romans 12
(35:35) The corrupting nature of power
(40:17) Psalm 146 — trusting God, not princes
(45:39) The mission behind Christianity Without Compromise
(50:28) Encouragement for Christian creators
💕Support the Project💕If this episode helped you refocus on Jesus, consider supporting the work of The Bad Roman at thebadroman.com/donate. Thank you for helping us keep the message going.
🌶️SALSA THE LOVE🌶️
Donations are cool, but salsa is spicy (or mild if you like)? Every jar eaten helps keep us in your ears. Join the craze and get a jar at badromansalsa.com
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The Bad Roman
Feeling caught in the crossfire of your Christian beliefs and the political turmoil around you? If the clash between your faith and the pressures of national loyalty has left you questioning where you stand, The Bad Roman is here to explore these very issues with you. Craig Harguess, once a neoconservative, now leads this engaging series, drawing from his own journey to understanding that being true to Christ often means challenging the expectations of the state.
At the heart of ”The Bad Roman Project” is the provocative idea that ”sometimes to be a good Christian means to be a bad Roman.” This concept isn’t about defiance for its own sake (the mol tov cocktail version of anarchy) but emphasizes that our primary allegiance is to Christ’s teachings, which can sometimes put us at odds with worldly powers. It’s a call to prioritize our heavenly citizenship over earthly political ties, embodying the principle of ”No King but Christ.” This phrase underlines the choice to follow Jesus’s example of love, service, and justice, rather than aligning with the ambitions of worldly leaders within a state-bound system.
This podcast offers a platform for those who feel the tension between their spiritual convictions and the political narratives that seek to co-opt them. It’s a community for open, honest dialogue about navigating these challenges while staying true to our faith. Through thought-provoking discussions, ”The Bad Roman Podcast” invites you to consider how your Christian journey intersects with the societal structures around you. Join us as we dive deep into what it means to live out our faith authentically, even when it means being ’bad Romans’ in the eyes of the world.
