The Good Citizen Podcast

After two years of research and writing and just in time for America’s 250th, my latest book – Created Equal – is now live! The United States was founded on a profound and Biblical idea: all people are created by a Creator and are, therefore, equal. Though the phrases “created equal” and “made in the image of God” are often used in American public life, do we fully un...

As we prepare to celebrate America’s 250th birthday or semiquincentennial, here are 4 facts about the 4th of July and some reflections on America’s present and future. It was improbable. It was impressive. It was imperfect (think “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the ge...

After an inspirational family trip to Washington, D.C. in 2022, John and Faith Gelsthorpe launched Lost History Tours to create app-based, self-guided history tours that make David Barton’s rich historical knowledge accessible to everyone, anywhere. Just in time for America’s 250th (and summer road trips), here’s the story of this homeschool family’s kingdom entrepreneurshi...

In this chapter, the fate of Esther and her people hangs in the balance as she approaches the Persian king without invitation. This episode/sermon explores this dramatic moment, including the courage required to stand before an unpredictable ruler, the wisdom behind Esther’s surprising strategy, and the deadly pride and bitterness that consumed Haman. Along the way, we consider God’s p...

As we count down toward America’s 250th anniversary, here’s a brief review and lessons from six of the most remarkable moments in our brief history as a nation: the signing of the Declaration of Independence against seemingly impossible odds, George Washington’s voluntary resignation of military power, the spark of the Second Great Awakening and spiritual and social renewal, Abra...

Many Christians know where to find religious freedom in the U.S. Constitution, but do we know where to find it in the Bible? In this interview, theologian and ethicist Andrew Walker discusses the Biblical roots of this “first freedom,” the current state of religious freedom in the United States and explains why Christians should defend and promote it in the coming years. Dr. Walker serves as Assoc...

The future of our churches, communities, and country is tied to the strength of the family, and that institution is in free fall. Here’s how to respond. In this episode, I sit down with J. P. De Gance, founder of Communio , to discuss why marriage ministry is essential to the mission of the church and the future of the nation. Together, we explore the connection among strong marriages, thriv...

Against the backdrop of the massive Persian empire and a decree of destruction, Mordecai grapples with grief and how to encourage and challenge Esther to action without exposing her to Haman. Esther, a young queen, is then confronted with a terrifying reality: approach the king uninvited and risk death, or remain silent while her people perish. In this compelling passage, we find lessons about dea...

In this week’s episode, I welcome Answers in Genesis founder Ken Ham to the podcast for a conversation on why America’s renewal must begin—not with politics, economics, or education alone—but with a return to God’s created order revealed in Genesis 1. Ken shares his personal spiritual formation in Australia, his early ministry, and the remarkable story behind his move to America and the foun...

Given the resurgence in armed conflict around the globe, what does it mean for Christians to think Biblically about war? In this episode, I review the striking exchange between President Trump and Pope Leo XIV, explain the Christian just war tradition, and explore how that tradition applies in the current conflict with Iran. If you have ever wrestled with the intersection of foreign policy, nation...

In this episode, I welcomed Tim Goeglein—Vice President of External Relations at Focus on the Family and former special assistant to President George W. Bush—back on the podcast to discuss his timely new book, What Really Matters: Restoring a Legacy of Faith, Family, and Freedom . Drawing from decades of experience in Washington, D.C., Goeglein offers a compelling vision for recovering the foundat...

I recently had the honor of sitting down with Indiana Governor Mike Braun for an in-office discussion on faith, leadership, and public service. Governor Braun shares the story behind his call (quite literally) into public life, why he chose to step away from the U.S. Senate to serve his home state, and why faith is important to him personally as an entrepreneur and public servant. We also explore...

In this chapter, we encounter Haman–the antagonist of the story–and the question of Old Testament violence. How should we answer objections about the destruction of Amalek and the Canaanites, and what do these stories teach us about God’s justice and His merciful plan to redeem humanity? Mordecai also models when and how to stand up for one’s beliefs, and King Ahasuerus mod...

Freedom of speech is a key right that is fundamental to the American experiment, but is under deep scrutiny and even attack these days. In this episode, I walk through recent wins and trends for free speech, explain the details of the case E.D. v. Noblesville School District that has now been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court (in the form of a Writ of Certiorari or request for SCOTUS to take the...

As I have reflected on the Resurrection the last few years, I have been struck by its importance in the here and now as well as the hereafter.  In this weeks podcast episode/post, I explain 3 reasons Easter is essential in our secular age: Link to blog post . Watch on YouTube The post #420 3 Reasons Easter is Essential in a Secular Age first appeared on The Good Citizen Project .

Is your ministry prepared to minister with confidence in a changing culture? In this episode, we explore recent legal developments and explain proactive steps your ministry can take to build and maintain strong legal protections. Recent legal developments: Define what you intend to defend. Exemption from religious education. Encouraging developments in sports. Developments in employment. Persisten...

William Wilberforce, well known for his work on the abolition of slavery, also championed the protection of children during the Industrial Revolution. Now, it is our turn to guide and protect the next generation in the midst of a developing digital and sexual revolution. In this episode, we will explore five recent cultural developments and provide proven recommendations for responding to them in...

In Esther 2, Xerxes returns from a disastrous Greek campaign and focuses on replacing his deposed queen. We are also introduced to Mordecai and Esther as well as the ugly reality of the harem system and the contest for the crown that Esther faced. Here, we find deep truths and difficult lessons about identity, purity, and our own resilience in the face of disaster. Big Idea for the Series: Once up...

I often ask government officials this question: “What is the worst problem in your district/area of responsibility?” The answer is often the same and even phrased in the same way: “the breakdown of the family.” In this interview, Delano Squires explains this collapse of two-parents homes raising children in the United States; the profound impact of that collapse on educatio...

Ideas that start in the ivory tower of America’s universities do not stay there; and higher education has fundamentally impacted our families, churches, and communities. And, as goes the American university (with 1 in 3 world leaders attending a U.S. school), so goes the world. In this interview with Dr. Corey Miller based on his new book , he explains the religious foundation of American hi...

Once upon a time—and I mean in God’s perfect time—a Jewish orphan girl named Esther became a Persian Queen. But, as many of you know, this book is less fairy tale and much more mystery—a book full of lessons about the mysteries of divine calling, evil and justice, finding courage to stand for truth, and understanding God’s eternal purposes in history and in our story. Though her husband claimed th...

The definition of sex as binary–male and female–is a creation order issue (Gen. 1:26-27) and at the core of a number of current cultural and legal debates. This definition impacts sports, birth and medical records, medical treatment, placement in correctional facilities, our sense of self, and apologetics and disciple-making at home and in the local church (to name a few). And culture...

What do you think about the future of the United States? Should we expect and just accept further division and decline? Can the United States remain, well, united amidst differing worldviews and visions for the future of the country? The national debt, the temperature of our political rhetoric, the departure from Biblical principles, the dysfunction of Washington, D.C, and the rise of geopolitical...

In our current political climate, patriotism is often treated with spiritual and secular suspicion. Especially as we mark America’s 250th birthday, is waving a flag or celebrating America’s rich spiritual heritage “political idolatry” or “Christian nationalism”? The short answer: no. Patriotism can and should be an expression of rightly ordered love and commitme...

In this episode, I briefly address the disruption by protestors of a church service in Minneapolis, including the relevant legal protections for churches and some general guidelines on responding to protesters if they enter a sacred space. Then, I turn to five lessons for Christian citizens from the remarkable life of Frederick Douglass. He was a modern-day prophet who stirred the American conscie...