Christ Over All

ABOUT THE EPISODE
Listen in as David Schrock and Stephen Wellum interview Aaron Edwards on his testimony and COA Longform Essay "Soft Jihad: Multiculturalism, Islamic Conquest, and Christianity"
 Resources to Click
“Soft Jihad: Multiculturalism, Islamic Conquest, and Christianity” – Aaron Edwards
“Multiculturalism & Rootlessness” – Aaron Edwards
“Multiculturalism, Nation, and Church” – Aaron Edwards
“5 Reasons Christians Don’t Like to Oppose Immigration” – Aaron Edwards
“When the Church Shrinks Back” – Aaron Edwards
“In Defence of Christian Britain” – Aaron Edwards
“Theocracy, Theonomy, and Civil Society” – Aaron Edwards
“Culture and the Kingdom of God” – Aaron Edwards
“Episode 10 – How to Be A Christian Dissident” – Pod of the Gaps
“Christian Preacher Vindicated After Arrest, Prosecution and ‘Non-Crime Hate Incident’ Threat for Questioning Quran” – Christian Concern
“People Crossing the English Channel in Small Boats” – The Migration Observatory
“Mum Jailed over ‘Racist’ Migrant Hotel Tweet after Southport Stabbings Is Denied Temporary Release to See Ailing Husband” – James Tapsfield
David Atherton Tweet
“Record number of rape offences recorded as minister promises ‘urgent action’” – Holly Bancroft & Ian Jones
“Sexual Offences in England and Wales Overview: Year Ending March 2025” – Office for National Statistics
“Rupert Lowe’s 600k grooming gang inquiry hears shock claims of ‘Eid rapes’ and police cover-ups: ‘Barbarians!’” – Gabrielle Wilde
“National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Expoitation and Abuse” – Baroness Louise Casey
“’Imams promote grooming rings’, Muslim Leader Claims” – Hayley Dixon
“The Rape Gang Inquiry Report” – Rupert Lowe
“British Muslims in Numbers: Census Summary Report 2025” – Muslim Council of Britain
“UK Mosque Statistics/Masjid Statistics” – MuslimBritain.org
“Sharia Law or “One Law For All?” – Denis Mac Eoin
“The Truth about Sharia Law in Britain” – Hannah Baldock
“Parents are pulling children from RE lessons – so they don’t learn about Islam” – Paul Smalley
“Watch: Boy Scout Refuses to Bow to Allah During Mosque Visit” – Doug Mainwaring
“2021 Census: As UK Population Grows, So Do British Muslim Communities” – Muslim Council of Britain
Bob (@shariakill) Tweet
Ben Zeisloft Tweet
“When Islam Was Called the ‘Religion of Peace’” – Times of India
“Is Islam a Religion of Peace?” – Mark Durie
“Misunderstanding Islam Is Basically a Slow- Motion Suicide – An Interview with Raymond Ibrahim” – The Hungarian Conservative
Michael Foster Tweet
Theme of the Month: Unmasking Islam
Give to Support the Work

Books to Read
Live Not By Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents – Rod Dreher
The Challenge of Islam: Understanding and Responding to Islam’s Increasing Influence in the UK – Tim Dieppe

ABOUT THE EPISODE
Listen in as David Schrock and Stephen Wellum interview Alex Kocman on his COA Longform Essay, "The Order of Love and a Defense of Biblical Patriotism"
Timestamps
00:00 – Understanding Ordered Love and Biblical Patriotism
04:58 – Exploring the Core of “Ordered to Love”
07:50 – Augustine to Aquinas: Ordered Love’s Legacy
10:17 – Navigating Abuse and Misconceptions of Patriotism
15:41 – Distinguishing Love for People from the State
26:50 – Reclaiming Natural Affections: Nation and State
37:33 – Eschatology and the Persistence of Nations
43:54 – Cultivating a Missionary Heart for the Nations
50:30 – Worship, Decor, an National Affections in the Church
59:59 – Final Thoughts and Further Reading

Resources to Click
“The Order of Love and the Defense of Biblical Patriotism” – Alex Kocman
“Patriot” – Etymonline
“Pietas” – Britannica
“They’re Coming! The Invasion Scares of 1803-05 &1940” – David Porter
Theme of the Month: God (B)less America: The United States at 250
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Books to Read
Ordered to Love – Alex Kocman
The Republic – Plato
Nicomachean Ethics – Aristotle
The Abolition of Man – C.S. Lewis
The Screwtape Letters – C.S. Lewis
Summa Theologiae – Thomas Aquinas
“Christian Patriotism” in The Complete Works of the Rev. Andrew Fuller, vol. 1 – ed. Joseph Belcher
Return of the Strong Gods – R.R. Reno

ABOUT THE EPISODE
Listen in as David Schrock and Trent Hunter interview Ryan Helfenbein on his COA Longform Essay, "Retrieving The Christianity of America's Founding"
Timestamps
00:00 – Introducing Ryan Helfenbein
04:33 – Ryan’s Path From Seminary to Liberty University
11:30 – Falwell’s Shift: From Ministers to Moral Majority
16:39 – Debating the Christian Nature of America’s Founding
19:03 – Reappraising Founders’ Faith: Beyond the Deist Label
23:19 – The First Amendment’s True Intent: No Denominational Establishment
28:01 – How Preachers Stirred Resistance to Tyranny
32:05 – From Christian Roots to Secular Education
37:40 – The Civil War and the Christian Nation Concept
40:06 – Wayne Grudem’s Framework for a Christian Nation
46:15 – Historical Christian Character and Moral Laws
48:34 – Tom Holland and Christian Origins of Modern Balues
51:32 – Modern Religious Freedom, Immigration, and the Church’s Civic Role
01:01:12 – Rebuilding America and Defending Our Christian Inheritance
01:03:30 – Trent’s Advice for Pastors on Civic Engagement
01:07:06 – Recommended Resources and Outro
Resources to Click
“Retrieving The Christianity of America’s Founding” – Ryan Helfenbein
“Competing Visions of America at 250: Politics, Religion, and American Identity” – PRRI
“Mapping Christian Nationalism Across the 50 States: Insights from PRRI’s 2025 American Values Atlas” – PRRI
“Speaker Johnson Leads Nation in Prayer of Rededication” – Mike Johnson
“MS NOW’s Katy Tur Forgets the Declaration of Independence’s Most Famous Line in Botched Hit on Mike Johnson” – Isaac Schorr
“‘Christian Nationalists’ like Speaker Mike Johnson are a bigger threat than al-Qaeda” – James Carville
“Political Strategist’s Dire Warning About Mike Johnson” – Rachel Dobkin
“Sorry, Politico: You Don’t Get to Rewrite the Declaration of Independence” – Rachel Del Guidice
“The Right Way to Cover the Intersection of Religion and Politics” – Heidi Przybyla
“North Carolina pastor rejects ‘Christian nation’ claims from GOP legislators” – Cardinal & Pine Staff
“A Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission and Non-Resistance to the Higher Powers” – Jonathan Mayhew
“The Catechism of the Revolution” – David Kopel
“Samuel Davies: Apostle of Dissent” – R. Isabela Morales
“George Washington, letter to John Augustine Washington” – George Washington’s Mt. Vernon
“The Federalist Papers: No. 37” – James Madison
“The Federalist Papers: No. 2” – John Jay
“The Relative Influence of European Writers on Late Eighteenth-Century American Political Thought” – Donald S. Lutz
“Religious Tests and Oaths in State Constitutions, 1776-1784” – Center for the Study of the American Constitution, University of Wisconsin
“Constitution of Delaware; 1776”
“Constitution of Maryland, 1776”
“Fighting the Good Fight of Faith: 250 Years of Sacred Service of the United States Army Chaplain Corps” – Chaplain (Capt.) Joseph Feaster
“Under providence and liberty: George Washington and the sacred birth of the Army Chaplain Corps” – Stella Naulo
Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States
“America’s Christian Founding?” – Bradford Littlejohn
“A Christian Manifesto” – Francis Schaeffer
“Is America a Christian Nation?” – Apologetic Junkie
“Seal of Approval” – Harvard Gazette
“The Oldest Endowed Professorship” – Harvard Gazette
“History of the United States” – Noah Webster
“Of the Mode of Education Proper in a Republic” – Benjamin Rush
“Horace Mann and the Irony of Secular Education” – Jeffrey Polet
Everson v. Board of Education
“Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptists” – Thomas Jefferson
Theme of the Month: God (B)less America: The United States at 250
Give to Support the Work

 Books to Read
On Rebellion – John Knox, ed. Roger A. Mason
Did America Have a Christian Founding? – Mark David Hall
Politics: According to the Bible: A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture – Wayne Grudem
BLM: The Making of a New Marxist Revolution – Mike Gonzalez

ABOUT THE EPISODE
Americans have grown increasingly unfamiliar with their own founding documents, and as a result, our country has grown increasingly less Christian. What is the path forward?
Resources to Click
“Providence, Protestantism, and the Classroom: The Christianity of America’s Founding and Only Future” – Ryan Helfenbein
“Competing Visions of America at 250: Politics, Religion, and American Identity” – PRRI
“Mapping Christian Nationalism Across the 50 States: Insights from PRRI’s 2025 American Values Atlas” – PRRI
“Speaker Johnson Leads Nation in Prayer of Rededication” – Mike Johnson
“MS NOW’s Katy Tur Forgets the Declaration of Independence’s Most Famous Line in Botched Hit on Mike Johnson” – Isaac Schorr
“‘Christian Nationalists’ like Speaker Mike Johnson are a bigger threat than al-Qaeda” – James Carville
“Political Strategist’s Dire Warning About Mike Johnson” – Rachel Dobkin
“Sorry, Politico: You Don’t Get to Rewrite the Declaration of Independence” – Rachel Del Guidice
“The Right Way to Cover the Intersection of Religion and Politics” – Heidi Przybyla
“North Carolina pastor rejects ‘Christian nation’ claims from GOP legislators” – Cardinal & Pine Staff
“A Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission and Non-Resistance to the Higher Powers” – Jonathan Mayhew
“The Catechism of the Revolution” – David Kopel
“Samuel Davies: Apostle of Dissent” – R. Isabela Morales
“George Washington, letter to John Augustine Washington” – George Washington’s Mt. Vernon
“The Federalist Papers: No. 37” – James Madison
“The Federalist Papers: No. 2” – John Jay
“The Relative Influence of European Writers on Late Eighteenth-Century American Political Thought” – Donald S. Lutz
“Religious Tests and Oaths in State Constitutions, 1776-1784” – Center for the Study of the American Constitution, University of Wisconsin
“Constitution of Delaware; 1776”
“Constitution of Maryland, 1776”
“Fighting the Good Fight of Faith: 250 Years of Sacred Service of the United States Army Chaplain Corps” – Chaplain (Capt.) Joseph Feaster
“Under providence and liberty: George Washington and the sacred birth of the Army Chaplain Corps” – Stella Naulo
Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States
“America’s Christian Founding?” – Bradford Littlejohn
“A Christian Manifesto” – Francis Schaeffer
“Is America a Christian Nation?” – Apologetic Junkie
“Seal of Approval” – Harvard Gazette
“The Oldest Endowed Professorship” – Harvard Gazette
“History of the United States” – Noah Webster
“Of the Mode of Education Proper in a Republic” – Benjamin Rush
“Horace Mann and the Irony of Secular Education” – Jeffrey Polet
Everson v. Board of Education
“Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptists” – Thomas Jefferson
“Federal Appeals Court Upholds Texas Ten Commandments Law” – NY Times
“Bluebonnet Learning” – Texas Education Agency
“State Board of Education Approves Bible-infused Curriculum” – Jaen Edison
“Long march through the institutions” – Wikipedia
“Sanford Alters Western Culture Course” – Lee A. Daniels
“The Politics of Official Knowledge: Does a National Curriculum Make Sense?” – Michael W. Apple
“New Poll: Nearly Half of Americans Don’t Know What America’s 250th is Celebrating” – Emily Ekins
“PBS News Poll 2026” – PBS on Facebook
“Suicide Prevention” – CDC
“Loneliness in America 2025” – The Cigna Group
“Teens Spend Average of 4.8 Hours on Social Media Per Day” – Jonathan Rothwell
“Education Scorecard” – Stanford Educational Opportunity Project
“Why U.S. Testscores are in a Generational Decline” – NY Times
Theme of the Month: God (B)less America: The United States at 250
Give to Support the Work

 Books to Read
On Rebellion – John Knox, ed. Roger A. Mason
Did America Have a Christian Founding? – Mark David Hall
Politics: According to the Bible: A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture – Wayne Grudem
BLM: The Making of a New Marxist Revolution – Mike Gonzalez

ABOUT THE EPISODE
Our republic is not the same as it was at its founding. Though the Constitution remains unchanged, the way it is interpreted has not. Understanding that distinction is essential.
Resources to Click
“The Five Republics of the United States” – Auron MacIntyre
The Auron MacIntyre Show – Blaze Media
The Total State – Auron MacIntyre’s Substack
“The Fate of Empires and Search for Survival” Sir John Glubb
“The Iron Polygon: Power in the United States” – Mencius Moldbug (Curtis Yarvin)
“One Constitution or Two? Reviewing The Age of Entitlement by Christopher Caldwell” – Brad Green
Theme of the Month: God (B)less America: The United States at 250
Give to Support the Work

Books to Read
The Total State: How Liberal Democracies Become Tyrannies – Auron MacIntyre
The Age of Entitlement: America Since the Sixties – Christopher Caldwell