For centuries, the Church has enshrined its so-called “Titans of the Faith” — Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Robert Dabney, John MacArthur, James Dobson, and others — writing their obituaries in glowing terms, thereby preserving their legacies and protecting their reputations. But beneath their pedestals lies a more complicated truth: wounds still carried by those harmed through their teachings, their silence, and their theology.

In this bonus episode, we share the essay Broken Pedestals: The Church, Its Titans, and the Cost of Silence. It traces how the Church has chosen silence over truth, praise over repentance, and reputation over faithfulness. From Edwards’s purchase of enslaved children, to Whitefield’s lobbying for slavery, to Dobson’s authoritarian vision of family life that helped disciple a generation into authoritarian politics — the story is not one of faithfulness, but of complicity.

And yet, there have always been prophets who refused to be silent. Frederick Douglass, Charles Spurgeon, and the Black Church stood as witnesses against the tide, reminding us that truth has always been possible, even when it comes at a significant cost.

This is not a comfortable story. But it is a necessary one. Because faithfulness is not silence. Faithfulness is telling the truth, even when it topples our idols.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

How the Church enshrined “heroes” of the faith while ignoring their sins

The lasting harm of silence and selective memory

James Dobson’s role in shaping evangelical authoritarianism and politics

Prophetic voices who spoke truth when others refused

What it will take for the Church to break the cycle and bear faithful witness today

Why It Matters

If the Church cannot tell the truth about its heroes, it cannot be a faithful witness to the truth. Silence is not neutrality. Silence is complicity. The time has come to topple our pedestals, confront our idols, and proclaim Christ above every name.

When the symbols of faith are woven too closely with those of the nation, something sacred is lost. In this episode, The Faithful Citizen confronts the rise of Christian nationalism and its dangerous fusion of discipleship with patriotism.

We begin with the early church, where declaring “Jesus is Lord” was not only a theological confession but also a subversive challenge to the Roman Empire. We then trace how this bold allegiance to Christ has, in modern times, too often been replaced by a comfortable blend of faith and flag. From flags in sanctuaries to political ideologies masquerading as Gospel truth, we ask: what happens when our national identity eclipses our witness to Christ?

Together we’ll explore:

How the early church modelled costly allegiance to Jesus above that of the empire.

The roots of “civil religion” in North America and its distortion of the Gospel.

The real dangers of Christian nationalism—loss of credibility, fractured witness, and idolatry.

Modern examples of faithful resistance, from Bonhoeffer to Romero to the Black church.

How to reclaim our faithful citizenship in a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

This episode is not a call to abandon love for our country—it is a call to purify it. Only when our allegiance is ordered rightly to Christ above all else can we live as faithful citizens who love both God and neighbour.

Scripture referenced: Exodus 20:3Philippians 3:20 John 18:36 Acts 5:29 Matthew 6:24 Galatians 3:28 Hebrews 12:28

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They tell us empathy is sinful. They twist doctrine into a weapon. They turn the Church into a fortress against the very people Jesus came to save. In this episode, The Faithful Citizen delves into the rise of online “shepherds” such as Dale Partridge, Doug Wilson, The Transformed Wife, Joel Webbon, and others who utilize WiFi pulpits to erode compassion and rebrand cruelty as conviction.

We trace the roots of this trend—from Joe Rigney’s infamous “empathy is sin” teaching to the orchestrated campaigns against justice, mercy, and truth—and reveal how their digital reach is shaping the faith of millions. This isn’t just about bad theology; it’s about wolves in WiFi clothing devouring the heart of the gospel.

With insights from our earlier episodes What Have We Become and The Myth of Neutrality, and building on the urgent call of Disarming the Saints, we unpack the theology, tactics, and consequences of this movement—and why the Church must respond with both clarity and courage.

Listen to this episode if you want to:

Understand the origins of the “empathy is sin” argument

Recognize the patterns of manipulation in online Christian influencers

See how these teachings intersect with Christian nationalism and authoritarianism

Learn how to respond without losing your Christlike posture

Join the conversation: Your voice matters in calling the Church back to the gospel of love, truth, and justice.

What if the greatest threat to the Church isn’t persecution—but our panic? In this episode of The Faithful Citizen Podcast, we confront the temptation to arm God with our politics, our outrage, and our fear. We examine the historical, theological, and spiritual implications of conflating influence with faithfulness—and power with witness.

From the Crusades to culture wars, we trace the tragic pattern of Christians playing out of position. But Jesus never called us to conquer in His name—He called us to follow Him in the way of the cross. This episode is an invitation to lay down the sword, rediscover our role as ambassadors, and trust that God’s Kingdom is not built by might, but by mercy.

Topics Covered:

The persistent allure of Christian power and nationalism

Why fear often masquerades as faith

Jesus’ paradoxical relationship with power

What it means to be Christ’s ambassadors, not enforcers

How a disarmed Church can carry a disarming gospel

Scripture References:

Zechariah 9:9

Matthew 26:52

John 18:36

2 Corinthians 5:20

Colossians 2:15

1 Peter 3:15

1 John 4:18

Exodus 14:14

Key Quote:

“We keep trying to arm God. God keeps trying to disarm us.” — Rev. Benjamin Cremer

If this episode challenged or encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Leave a review, subscribe, and join us as we continue to explore what it means to be faithful citizens in an unfaithful age.

In this urgent episode of The Faithful Citizen Podcast, we revisit one of our most pressing themes—what happens when the Church refuses to speak, when faith is traded for influence, and when the radical middle collapses under the weight of spectacle and silence.

With Prime Minister Mark Carney now leading Canada, Pierre Poilievre left without a seat, and Christian nationalist voices like Sean Feucht drawing crowds on Canadian soil, it’s time to confront the myth that “it can’t happen here.”

From the complicity of Canadian pulpits to the fractures within the Conservative Party’s religious base, we explore why the Church risks losing far more than elections—we’re losing credibility, integrity, and our ability to hold space for grace and truth in the public square.

Episode Highlights:

- Why Christian nationalism isn’t just an American problem anymore

- The danger of a Church that refuses to name the moment

- Disillusionment within the Conservative Party’s faith base

- What Mark Carney’s win reveals—and demands—from the Church

- Reclaiming faithfulness in Canada’s disappearing middle

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In a world captivated by controversy, the Church has too often joined the chorus of outrage rather than offering a redemptive voice. Nowhere is that more evident than in sport.

In this episode, we explore how the Church became distracted by the debate over transgender athletes while ignoring the more profound crisis in the world of sport: the commodification of youth, the loss of joy, the glorification of dominance, and the normalization of burnout and exploitation.

We ask:

- What was sport ever meant to be?

- What are we fighting for—and at what cost?

- And how can the Church stop echoing empire and start modelling renewal?

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Topics Covered:

The false binary of the transgender athlete debate

How Christian outrage misses systemic harm in sport

The rise of the Enhanced Games and the cult of optimization

The real cost: joy, equity, wholeness—and witness

A redemptive vision: sport as stewardship, not spectacle

What churches, coaches, parents, and fans can do today

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Scripture Highlights:

“Let the little children come to me…” —Mark 10:14

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” —Nehemiah 8:10

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” —Mark 10:43

“Whatever is true… noble… praiseworthy—think about such things.” —Philippians 4:8

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Let’s Keep the Conversation Going:

If this episode challenged you, encouraged you, or made you uncomfortable in all the right ways—we want to hear from you. Please leave a review, share with a friend, or tag us on Threads and Instagram @TheFaithfulCitizenPodcast.

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Related Resources:

“Trans Women in Sports: Facts Over Fear” (Stats for Faithful Engagement)

NCAA President: “Less than 10 transgender athletes in college sports.”

The Enhanced Games: What they are and why they matter

Our essay: Spectacle Over Soul (available on Substack)

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Because when the Church starts cheering differently, so does the world.

Saints Made of Stone

"In the Rubble of Reputations, We Find the Wounded"

When revered leaders fall or pass, the Church often rushes to defend the legacy, forgetting those who were crushed beneath it. In this bonus episode of The Faithful Citizen, we explore the complex reality of spiritual influence, the wounds many have carried in silence, and the cost of upholding reputations over healing.

Through reflection, lament, and truth-telling, we ask:

What happens when the saints we were told to revere were also the source of deep harm?

What does accountability look like in the Body of Christ?

And how can we faithfully stand with the wounded without fear of tarnishing the memory of the powerful?

This episode is not about vengeance; it’s about vision. A vision for a Church that sees, hears, and protects the vulnerable, even if it means admitting the cracks in our most celebrated stones.

🔗 Subscribe and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms.

In this powerful follow-up to What We Cheer For and What Have We Become?, we confront one of the most seductive lies in modern Christian life: the myth of neutrality. Too often, believers retreat into silence, mistaking inaction for peace, and vagueness for virtue. But Scripture calls us to something deeper.

In this episode, we explore:

Why neutrality is not a Christian posture

The danger of mistaking silence for spiritual maturity

How our presence in the public square must reflect Christ, not seek cultural control

The difference between faithful engagement and political dominance

What we risk by trying to stay inoffensive instead of faithful

A call to graceful, Spirit-led witness in a world desperate for truth and hope

This episode challenges listeners to examine what their silence is really saying—and invites the Church to reclaim its voice with humility, courage, and conviction.

Key Scripture References:

Matthew 5:13–16

2 Corinthians 5:20

John 1:14

Isaiah 5:20

Revelation 3:15–16

Joshua 24:15

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