The Bad Roman: Christian Politics for Modern Times Star-Spangled Jesus: Waking up From Christian Nationalism with April Ajoy
Are we wrapping the cross in a flag? How far can party and country go before our Christianity must say “stop”? Craig sits down with April Ajoy, author of Star-Spangled Jesus and co-host of The Tim and April Show, to talk about growing up inside Christian nationalism and learning to follow Jesus instead of the party line. The point is not to chase outrage, but to measure all power by the words of Jesus. God first, always.
They cover flags in church, fear-based politics, and the quiet shift from “this is my conviction” to “the state should enforce my conviction.” Craig urges us to stop outsourcing love to Caesar and get back to simple, neighbor-first faith that looks like the Sermon on the Mount.
If you feel the tug between cross and country, this conversation gives language, laughter, and a clean path forward, to put Jesus over team, platform, and flag.
Their conversation digs into:
- How “good Christians” get discipled by politics without noticing
- Flags in the sanctuary and what symbols preach
- Humor as healing: naming the “Jesus juke”
- Propaganda, fear, and why panic feels like faith
- Coercion vs. consent: the Kingdom’s way of love
- Threads vs. tables: why face-to-face changes hearts
- A simple test for allegiance: cross over party, Jesus over nation
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Get the book: Star-Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding A True Faith
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Listen to the Book on Spotify like Craig did!
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Instagram: @aprilajoy
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Facebook: April Ajoy
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X (Twitter): @aprilajoyr
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TikTok: @aprilajoy
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Podcast: The Tim and April Show, YouTube, Instagram, Apple Podcast, Spotify
Try This Week: an enemy by name; refuse to excuse violence because “it’s my side”; choose presence over outrage.
📖 For Full Show Notes:www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-153
Key Moments:
(00:00) Waking up from Christian nationalism
(01:04) Finding April’s work
(02:18) “Good Christians” and blind spots
(03:25) April’s current projects
(10:31) Threads vs. tables
(12:48) Flags in the sanctuary
(15:05) The “Jesus juke”
(18:22) Fear and propaganda
(26:10) From conviction to control
(30:44) Stop outsourcing love to Caesar
(45:50) Where to find April
(52:12) No King but Christ
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