Christians, Libertarians, and Voting: The Golden Rule Test with Jeb Smith

What if stepping into a voting booth is less about freedom and more about forcing your will on your neighbor?

Craig sits down with writer Jeb Smith to wrestle with a question many Christians and libertarians rarely stop to ask: Is voting consistent with the values we claim to hold?

Jeb, author of Is Libertarianism Consistent with Voting?, argues that casting a ballot contradicts the very heart of libertarian “live and let live” principles. And for Christians, the stakes are even higher. Jesus never told us to hand power over our neighbors to Caesar. He called us to serve, not to rule.

The conversation digs into how politics twists even kind and gentle people into something unrecognizable, why voting legitimizes a corrupt system built on coercion, and how stepping away from political participation might actually free us to love our neighbors better.

As Jeb puts it, “Since I stopped voting, I get along with people much better, even those with completely different political opinions.”

This isn’t just another debate about left vs. right. It’s a challenge to reimagine what it means to follow Christ in a world obsessed with power.

Tune in, and ask yourself honestly: are you serving Christ when you pull that lever, or are you just baptizing Caesar’s game with Christian language?

 

📖For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-143

🤝Connect with Jeb Smith:

• Jeb's Books:

  • Defending the Middle Ages: Little Known Truths About the Crusades, Inquisitions, Medieval Women, and More
  • Missing Monarchy: Correcting Misconceptions About The Middle Ages, Medieval Kingship, Democracy, And Liberty
  • The Road Goes Ever On and On : A New Perspective on J. R. R. Tolkien and Middle-earth

• Fanmail and Hate mail via email: jackson18611096@gmail.com

• Jeb's Article: Is Libertarianism Consistent with Voting?

 

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Key Moments:

(0:41) Libertarianism and Voting Consistency

(1:51) Guest Update: Jeb Smith’s Recent Work

(2:50) Libertarian Voting Paradox

(4:04) Historical Voting Patterns and Motivations

(5:43) Libertarian Electoral Success and Philosophical Consistency

(7:34) Voting as Legitimizing Corrupt Systems

(9:40) The Nature of Political Power and Authority

(12:07) Fear and Coercion in State Power

(14:37) Christian and Libertarian Approaches to Governance

(19:06) Democracy and Bullying

(22:23) Political Involvement and Dehumanization

(27:01) Disengagement from Politics

(30:28) Voting as Participation in War

(34:10) Secularization of Christianity through Politics

(36:16) The Corrupting Nature of Political Power

(40:08) Psychopathy in Politics and Business

(42:29) The Golden Rule and Political Non-Participation

(47:54) Additional Resources and Contact Information

 

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