The Good Citizen Podcast

Over more than a decade, Greg Baker and his team at the Church Ambassador Network in Iowa have built personal relationships with governing officials, ministered to them, and partnered with them for the common good. These efforts have led to a remarkable partnership with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and HHS Secretary Kelly Garcia, including county and statewide tours to build collaboration between churches and state leaders and the launch of statewide ministries. And Greg and his team are now replicating these efforts in more than twenty states. Here’s an update on these efforts and practical advice and encouragement to build partnerships between these two God-ordained institutions (church and government) in your sphere of influence.

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What’s next in the stand for life? In 2022, the Dobbs case overturned Roe v. Wade and sent the issue of abortion back to the states. Now, more than twenty states have abortion bans; but a surprising number of pro-abortion ballot measures have succeeded–even in state such as Ohio, Michigan, Arizona, and Nevada. And this exposed more than just political opinion as exit polling showed that 1 in 3 self-identified weekly church-going Catholics and Evangelicals voted to enshrine abortion in the Ohio constitution. Now, the issue of the abortion pill is taking center stage as the pill accounts for most abortions; and religious leaders are pushing pro-abortion arguments in the media and in churches. With these developments in mind, how should Christians respond? In his recent book Life After Roe, David Closson explains next steps in the stand for life; and, in this interview, we discuss the book and what Christians should focus on in the coming years.

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Success in the public square is often measured in years or even decades and can be temporary without continued vigilance and effort. This is why persistence is a critical quality for those engaged in public life, and Paul Smith is an encouraging example of this dedication. In this interview, I talk with Paul Smith, the founder of Citizen Impact, about his efforts in supporting Christian education, a more than ten year efforts to protect religious freedom in Georgia, and a remarkable story about 9/11. 

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In Acts 25, Paul once again stands trial for his life before a Roman governor. Accused of sedition against Rome and blasphemy against the temple, Paul uses this trial to assert his innocence, witness to the Resurrection, and appeal directly to Caesar so that the gospel will go to Rome. How does Paul deal with pauses or waiting in ministry, and how does he confidently stand and witness to the Resurrection each time he is tried for his life? And how does the hatred of the Council and the corruption or reluctance of the Roman governors play directly into God’s plan of redemption? All of that and more in this remarkable chapter.

Big Idea: The early church carried the gospel throughout the known world in approximately 30 years and transformed an empire in 3 centuries. Now the church seems intimidated, uncertain amidst swift cultural changes. So, what did the early Christians, commanded by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, do that we are not doing? Here are their Acts, and may they inspire our own.

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The Internal Revenue Service included a critical clarification in a court filing last week concerning pastors and politics. In sum, the IRS stated that a pastor or church speaking about political issues and even candidates to its members does not violate the tax code or jeopardize the church’s tax-exempt status. In this episode, I review what this does and does not mean for churches, as well as some practical considerations for churches following this clarification. Also, I review several key Supreme Court cases and include some thoughts on the legal and cultural trends they represent. Key Cases:

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The Internal Revenue Service included a critical clarification in a court filing last week concerning pastors and politics. In sum, the IRS stated that a pastor or church speaking about political issues and even candidates to its members does not violate the tax code or jeopardize the church’s tax-exempt status. In this episode, I review what this does and does not mean for churches, as well as some practical considerations for churches following this clarification. Also, I review several key Supreme Court cases and include some thoughts on the legal and cultural trends they represent.

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What are the most effective methods for cultivating a Biblical worldview amidst the constant influence of media, culture, and technology? What lessons about spiritual renewal can we learn from the life and times of Jonathan Edwards? What challenges do Christian students face in secular higher education, and how should we practically live out our faith in the public life? In this interview with pastor and theologian Josh Moody, we cover these topics and more with a practical emphasis on disciple-making in a quickly changing culture and practical application of God’s Word to all of life.

Josh Moody (Ph.D., University of Cambridge) is the senior pastor of College Church. He is the president and founder of God Centered Life Ministries, which proclaims God’s Word worldwide through daily broadcasts on Moody Radio, One Place, podcasts, and live streaming on godcenteredlife.org. He is a theologian shaped by his research in understanding the challenges of the secularization of the Enlightenment to Christian faith and the answers that influential pastor Jonathan Edwards brought, culminating in a doctorate in historical theology from Cambridge University. He did a research fellowship at Yale Divinity School and was a Fellow at the Jonathan Edwards College of Yale University.

Since we celebrate the 4th of July every year (and it involves fireworks and time off work), it is easy to glance over the deeper meaning of the holiday. Beyond the fact that it marked the birth of the United States, why should we celebrate the 4th of July? What did and does it mean? And what lessons should we draw from it as we look to the future?

Here are 4 facts about the 4th of July and some reflections on America’s present and future.

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In this chapter, the Apostle Paul stands alone and on trial for his life before a corrupt and powerful Roman official, Antonius Felix. How will the high priest and their representative lay out their case against him? How will Paul respond, and what will Felix make of Christ and the Resurrection? In this high-stakes story, we can learn much about our public witness, inner strength and peace, and pointing all people (including governing officials) to the hope of the gospel.

Big Idea: The early church carried the gospel throughout the known world in approximately 30 years and transformed an empire in 3 centuries. Now the church seems intimidated, uncertain amidst swift cultural changes. So, what did the early Christians, commanded by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, do that we are not doing? Here are their Acts, and may they inspire our own.

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Father’s Day weekend is an important reminder of the role of dads in the lives of their children, and it is always encouraging to see the number of good role models on social media. However, our society has grappled for some time with a fatherless epidemic, and its impact is staggering. Here is an overview of the causes and consequences of fatherlessness and some practical steps for churches and committed Christians to make a difference.

The impact of fatherlessness in our society is staggering. For example, according to the Department for Health and Human Services, 85% of youth in prison or some form of incarceration grew up in a fatherless home. This is not meant to disparage the heroic efforts of single moms or downplay the success of many children who are growing up or grew up in a home without a dad. But, if we are to successfully reverse the breakdown of the family and impact a host of societal ills, this issue of fatherlessness stands out as a critical and often overlooked root cause. In this episode, I discuss the fatherless epidemic and how to respond with Sean Teis. He has a powerful personal testimony and leads God is My Dad, a ministry dedicated to serving fatherless families and equipping churches to do the same.

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