What does Romans 13 really say about obeying political leaders—and why are so many American Christians using it to defend authoritarianism? Former evangelical pastor Pat Kahnke breaks down the history, theology, and misuse of passages like Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2—passages used to justify everything from slavery to fascism. This is part of a YouTube series exposing how scripture has been weaponized to support corrupt power, particularly in the age of Donald Trump and Christian nationalism. It’s time for Christians to grow up, read responsibly, and speak out against injustice.

I tackle a question I hear often: *“If it weren’t for Donald Trump, would you still be open to the rest of what the GOP/MAGA movement stands for?”* I used to think *yes*. But after 2016, the marriage between the religious right and MAGA woke me up—especially when I saw even “Christian” leaders abandon their convictions overnight.

I confront the Trump administration's newly proposed 2026 refugee policy, which slashes the U.S. refugee cap to an all-time low--and openly prioritizes white South African immigrants. It's a near "white's-only" refugee policy, and it's not just political...it's spiritually bankrupt. This isn't about border security. It's about  white nationalism dressed up as patriotism, and too many white evangelicals are defending it in Jesus' name. As a pastor, I call that what it is: anti-Christian and anti-American.

This week voters across the country showed up and pushed back against Trump’s MAGA movement in a big way. And while I don’t do political hype, I saw real signs that MAGA is scared—and with good reason. (November 5, 2025)

A huge number of white conservative Christians in America aren't misled -- they're committed.  Committed to a dangerous, unbiblical view of authority. Today, I break down a deeply revealing 2024 survey from PRRI that shows how authoritarian beliefs -- not just abortion or party loyalty -- are driving Christian support for Donald Trump.

Join us as Pat Kahnke and Amy Hawk dive into the controversial teachings of Christian nationalist leader Doug Wilson (Moscow, Idaho), exploring his “church network” ties, his public interview with CNN, and what it really means for faith, culture & power.  In this episode we cover: Why we’re paying closer attention to Doug Wilson — from fringe pastor to movement figure. His representation of the “good eggs” analogy and what it signals about his worldview. How his interview with CNN frames “clown world,” drag‑queen story hours, abortion, and America ruled by Christ. The deeper concerns around domination, obedience, legalism, and authoritarianism in the churches Wilson leads. A preview of our upcoming guest interview with Tia Levings (author of A Well‑Trained Life: My Journey Out of a Patriarchal Church) and what we can learn from her story. Why it matters: This conversation isn’t just about one church or one pastor. It’s about how religious authority, cultural power, and gender dynamics play out in real life. Link to the Report from Doug Wilson's organization about his handling of the difficult situation we talked about: https://heidelblog.net/crec-presiding-ministers-report-on-the-sitler-and-wright-sex-abuse-cases/    

Pete Hegseth, Doug Wilson & the Rise of Religious Nationalism | Conversation with Amy Hawk Is America’s defense leadership aligning with an authoritarian Christian nationalist project? Pat Kahnke and author Amy Hawk unpack Pete Hegseth’s rhetoric (“FAFO,” “Department of War”), his Moscow-Idaho connections, and Doug Wilson’s “All of Christ for All of Life.” Topics We Cover Hegseth’s speech to generals: machismo, “war-fighters,” and the “enemy within” “Personnel is policy” and why it matters for civilian control of the military Doug Wilson’s Moscow movement: institutions, slogans, and authoritarian theology “All of Christ for All of Life” and culture-war governance Household headship, voting debates, and the rhetoric around “heritage Americans” Why this is not fringe anymore—and why Christians and non-Christians should care

Tihomir Kukolja and Pat Kahnke discuss a Christian response to political violence in light of the Charlie Kirk shooting. We explore patterns of political violence, Christian nationalism, and the spiritual responsibility of truth-telling in these divisive times. Drawing from Tihomir’s experience during the Yugoslav wars in the Balkans - and the parallels he sees today in the U.S. - we unpack how rhetoric can spiral out of control, and what it might look like for Christians to respond with love, justice, and courage.

Is our gospel big enough to handle race? In this episode of the Culture, Faith, and Politics podcast, Pat Kahnke sits down with Dr. Karen Johnson, historian and professor at Wheaton College, to talk about her new book, Ordinary Heroes of Racial Justice. Dr. Johnson’s scholarship explores how Christians have both shaped and resisted racial injustice in America. Together, we unpack stories of ordinary believers who stood against systemic racism, examine how evangelicals often struggle to see structures and systems, and wrestle with the question of whether personal salvation alone can carry the weight of Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom. Along the way, we explore topics like: Why many white evangelicals reduce racism to individual prejudice while Black evangelicals emphasize systems. How redlining and housing policies continue to shape American life. The fractured history of the “social gospel” vs. “personal salvation” — and why the Bible won’t let us separate justice from righteousness. What it means to “do history” with love, humility, and awe. This is a conversation for anyone wondering how faith intersects with race, justice, and American history — and for those tired of being told that seeking justice means you’ve sacrificed the gospel.

Why are so many Latter-day Saints embracing Christian nationalism—an ideology that once rejected them outright? In this episode, Pat Kahnke sits down with historian Dr. Benjamin Park to unpack the surprising—and troubling—history of how Mormonism became entangled with Christian nationalism and right-wing politics in America. From the Kingdom of Nauvoo to the Cold War era, from Glenn Beck’s obsession with The 5000 Year Leap to Trump-era culture wars, we explore how a once-persecuted religious minority became a core part of the religious right. We also discuss dissenters, myths about the Constitution, and why LDS support for Donald Trump is rising, even as the church leadership stays (mostly) silent.

Adam Swenson writes at https://substack.com/@friendlyneighborhoodphilosopher Pat Kahnke's Substack page: https://culturefaithandpolitics.substack.com/ Pat Kahnke's books are available on Amazon: "A Christian Case Against Donald Trump" (2024): https://a.co/d/iVSTqny "MAGA Seduction: Resisting the Debasement of the Christian Conscience" (2020): https://a.co/d/1KNX3uQ In this episode of Culture, Faith, and Politics, Pat Kahnke and Adam Swenson tackle a loaded label: Trump Derangement Syndrome. Is it a legitimate critique—or a tactic to silence moral and spiritual conviction? Drawing from real-life stories—Facebook fights, global health missions, and encounters with cruelty—they explore how the Trump era is reshaping Christian identity, numbing compassion, and redefining what it means to love your neighbor. They confront the growing cultural pressure to suppress emotion, detach from injustice, and label empathy as weakness. Rooted in James 1:27, they ask: What if caring deeply is actually obedience, not derangement? With political honesty, biblical grounding, and a call to stay tender in a hardening world, this episode challenges listeners to resist authoritarian tactics and reclaim faith as a force for healing—not harm. 📖 Featuring themes of: Christian nationalism Emotional integrity vs. political gaslighting The character cost of supporting cruelty Why compassion is not derangement—but discipleship

In this wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation, Pat Kahnke speaks with Reverend Tihomir Kukolja—a Christian leader shaped by war, steeped in reconciliation work, and unafraid to speak hard truths. Kukolja reflects on the collapse of Yugoslavia, the rise of Donald Trump, the horrors of Gaza, and the dangerous theology driving evangelical silence and complicity. Drawing from decades of international ministry and firsthand experience in Sarajevo, he warns that the same forces that tore apart the Balkans are at work in America—and in the church. Together, they explore:• The emotional and political costs of evangelical eschatology• How Christian nationalism mirrors religious extremism• Why “criticizing Israel” is not antisemitism• The model of Jesus vs. the model of Trump• How truth-telling, not niceness, heals division This is not abstract theology. It’s about how we lead, how we love, and whether our faith contributes to peace—or war. “Christian nationalism and Islamic jihadism are two sides of the same coin—when faith is used to justify violence, it's no longer the faith of Jesus.” – Tihomir Kukolja If you’ve been searching for faithful resistance and global Christian perspective, this episode is a must-listen.

Tihomir Kukolja's Substack page: https://substack.com/@tihackuk25 My Substack page: https://culturefaithandpolitics.substack.com/ For too long, I’ve stayed silent about what’s happening in Gaza—not because I didn’t care, but because I felt inadequate to speak. In this episode, I open up about that silence, the fears that kept me quiet, and the theology that I believe is fueling real harm in the region. I’m joined by Rev. Tihomir Kukolja, a global Christian leader shaped by the war in the Balkans, who brings wisdom and moral clarity to this urgent conversation. Together, we talk about the role of American evangelicals, the danger of dispensationalist eschatology, and why criticizing Israel’s government is not anti-Semitism. If you’re a Christian struggling to know how to talk about Israel, Palestine, or Gaza—or you’ve been afraid of saying the wrong thing—this episode is for you. It’s a beginning, not an end. 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes that go beyond partisanship and help us live with truth, courage, and conscience. My books are available on Amazon: "A Christian Case Against Donald Trump" (2024): https://a.co/d/iVSTqny "MAGA Seduction: Resisting the Debasement of the Christian Conscience" (2020): https://a.co/d/1KNX3uQ

Welcome to Culture, Faith & Politics with your host, Pat Kahnke. In this special interview, Pat sits down with Will Wright and Josh Burtram of the Faithful Politics Podcast to unpack their journey of friendship across ideological divides. Discover: How a conservative pastor who once voted for Trump in 2016 and a progressive Christian built genuine trust rooted in Christian faith Their approach to modeling civil disagreement and “disagreeing without dehumanizing” How Will reconciles progressive political identity with biblical conviction. Josh’s pastoral perspective on theology, voting, and cultural engagement The core rules of respectful political conversation they've learned through hosting tough guests—from conservative podcasters to LGBTQ advocates—to freethinkers and even the co‑founder of the Satanic Temple 💡They dive deep into bridging theological and political divides, resisting Christian nationalism, and engaging culture without losing your moral footing. If you’re seeking thoughtful, hope‑filled, justice‑oriented discourse, this conversation is for you.

Corey Nathan is the host of "Talkin' Politics and Religion Without Killin' Each Other." In this episode, Corey and Pat talk about Corey's faith journey from an Orthodox Jewish upbringing to Christianity. We also talk about his political background, and what led him to start his podcast. We talk about the difficulty - and the necessity - of having real conversations during the Trump years.

Chris Volpe's Website: http://www.volpeforamerica.com Pat Kahnke interviews Chris Volpe, Democratic candidate for the 2026 special election to fill the Senate seat vacated by JD Vance in Ohio. Pat Kahnke's Substack page: https://culturefaithandpolitics.substack.com/ Pat Kahnke's books are available on Amazon: "A Christian Case Against Donald Trump" (2024): https://a.co/d/iVSTqny "MAGA Seduction: Resisting the Debasement of the Christian Conscience" (2020): https://a.co/d/1KNX3uQ In this episode, Chris Volpe discusses his candidacy for the Senate seat in Ohio, sharing his unique background in healthcare and technology. He emphasizes the importance of community engagement, the disconnect between young voters and political messaging, and the need for a focus on healthcare as a fundamental right. Volpe also addresses the implications of AI on the workforce and the importance of a social contract in society. He advocates for a vision of a better future that prioritizes stability and imagination in political discourse. In this conversation, Chris Volpe and Pat Kahnke explore the complexities of modern politics, emphasizing the need for empathy, trust, and serious leadership. They discuss the exploitation of vulnerable communities, the role of government in economic progress, and the importance of restoring trust in institutions. The dialogue also touches on the challenges faced by young men and the necessity of finding common ground in faith and politics.

Amy Hawk's book: "The Judas Effect" https://a.co/d/3H0y3sB Pat Kahnke's Substack page: https://culturefaithandpolitics.substack.com/ Pat Kahnke's books are available on Amazon: "A Christian Case Against Donald Trump" (2024): https://a.co/d/iVSTqny "MAGA Seduction: Resisting the Debasement of the Christian Conscience" (2020): https://a.co/d/1KNX3uQ Amy Hawk and Pat Kahnke discuss Adam Serwer's key 2018 Atlantic article "The Cruelty Is the Point" now that the second Trump term is proving to be even more cruel than the first. We discuss Kristi Noem as the "face" of MAGA cruelty, selling the twisted and demented ideas of Stephen Miller. We analyze these issues through the lens of scripture, and call followers of Jesus to something better.

Robert Jeffress is only one of many "pastors" who've gained power for themselves by supporting Trump and his unchristian policies. But he's a good case study. Pat Kahnke's Substack page: https://culturefaithandpolitics.substack.com/ Pat Kahnke's books are available on Amazon: "A Christian Case Against Donald Trump" (2024): https://a.co/d/iVSTqny "MAGA Seduction: Resisting the Debasement of the Christian Conscience" (2020): https://a.co/d/1KNX3uQ  

Angela Denker and Pat Kahnke discuss her new book "Disciples of White Jesus: The Radicalization of American Boyhood". Purchase Angela Denker's books: Disciples of White Jesus: https://a.co/d/c76jyw7 Red State Christians: https://a.co/d/0elpRSo

Amy Hawk is a writer, a Bible teacher, and a YouTuber. She discusses why she chose to stand up to Donald Trump's corruption of the White Evangelical church. Purchase Amy Hawk's books: The Judas Effect: https://a.co/d/9xXOWnp Six Years in the Hanoi Hilton: https://a.co/d/4VKIKdp Pat Kahnke's Substack page: https://culturefaithandpolitics.subst... Pat Kahnke's books are available on Amazon: "A Christian Case Against Donald Trump" (2024): https://a.co/d/iVSTqny "MAGA Seduction: Resisting the Debasement of the Christian Conscience" (2020): https://a.co/d/1KNX3uQ