Many Christians in the United States are outspoken about their desires for Christian men and women to obtain political power and influence. The stance is that religious freedoms need to be protected, but is forcing morality on the people through legislation an effective way to spread the gospel?  Could Christians be doing more harm than good in their efforts?

Scott Arnold is the author of the article Winning the Battle, But Losing the War: The American Church’s Political Obsession.  In this episode, Craig talks with Scott about his transition from a world of conservative, Christian, and redline Republican upbringing into one of Christain Anarchy. They explore how the gospel message can be destroyed or damaged by using politics to force a Christian agenda. Scott also explains his involvement with Steiger International, whose mission is to impact the global youth culture and make the gospel relevant. This is a thought-provoking episode for any Christian who has been of the mindset that Christians need to use politics to further their agenda or force their morality on others. 

Timestamps and starting points:

1:27 Scott’s Background

• Grew up in the conservative Christian republican culture 

• majored in pastoral ministries 

• currently lives in northeast Georgia 

4:04 How Scott found The Bad Roman

• George Floyd and defund the police sparked interest in politics 

• began to research anarchy 

• found The Bad Roman through Christian podcast search 

8:04 Learning about anarchy 

• David Pierce, founder of Steiger International 

• Steiger started in Amsterdam and focused on the anarcho punk scene

• Polish Woodstock

11:35 Discussing Scott’s article: Winning the Battle, but Losing the War: The American Church’s Political Obsession

• Christians equate increased political power with increased influence

• When bringing the gospel into the political realm pieces are lost 

• Abortion and the messy art of law making

• using politics to force Christian values on others

• using the government to control morals 

• outsource morality to the state

• the state is not, and cannot be, Christian

• Myth of Christain Nation

26:25 What is the endgame in winning this war?

• Best case: Christian religious freedom and comfortability 

• worst case: suppression of all other philosophies 

• is it really religious freedom Christians are fighting for?

• prayer in school 

43:05 Polish Woodstock

• The largest outdoor music festival in Europe 

• Steiger’s outreach 

• Bands: Unrest and No Longer Music

Scott’s Plugs:

• Steiger.org 

• Unrest

• No Longer Music

• Provoke and Inspire podcast

• Scott’s Blog

• Scott’s Article on The Bad Roman Blog