The Gottesdienst Crowd

TGC 579 – Christian Nationalism on Trial: A Conversation Pro and Con

In this episode, we tackle the contested and often misunderstood question of Christian Nationalism. With two guests offering opposing perspectives—David Ramirez arguing in favor and Peter Burfeind raising concerns—we explore what the term actually means, where it comes from, and whether it can be squared with Lutheran theology. The conversation probes the relationship between Church and state, the limits of political authority, the nature of Christ’s kingdom, and the risks of confusing the Gospel with national identity. Our aim is not heat, but clarity—testing claims carefully, naming real points of disagreement, and helping listeners think more precisely about faith, nation, and Christian witness in the public square.

Links:

Books/Articles: 

"The Challenge of History: Luther's Two Kingdoms Theology as a Test Case" by Prof. Cameron MacKenzie 

http://www.ctsfw.net/media/pdfs/mackenziechallengeofhistory.pdf

Gnostic America by Pr. Peter Burfiend

https://www.amazon.com/Gnostic-America-Contemporary-according-Christianitys/dp/0692260498

Martin Luther and Religious Liberty by Pr. David P. Ramirez 

https://www.academia.edu/89633865/Martin_Luther_and_Religious_Liberty

"Are Rulers to Uphold both Tables of the Law" by Pr. David Ramirez

https://cc.lutherclassical.org/summer-2025/are-rulers-to-uphold-both-tables-of-the-law/

Interviews (in chronological order):

Christian Nationalism-The Gottesdienst Crowd

https://www.gottesdienst.org/podcast/2022/11/2/tgc-232-christian-nationalism

Biermann-Ramirez Debate on Christian Nationalism-On The Line

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIru3RAff28

A Christian Response to Christian Nationalism-Issues, Etc.

https://issuesetc.org/2025/10/09/a-christian-response-to-christian-nationalism-pr-peter-burfeind-10-9-25-2822/

 

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[From The Archives] TGC 470 — Thinking Out Loud (Sexagesima)

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for Sexagesima, Luke 8:4–15.

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TGC 578 – Higher Stakes Than Combat: Training Pastors for the Real Battle

In this episode, the Gottesdienst Crowd welcomes back Jarryd Allison—former MARSOC officer and current software engineer—for a conversation with David Petersen on pastoral formation, accountability, and courage in the Office of the Ministry. Drawing on the rigor of special operations training, the panel raises necessary questions: If the eternal stakes of the ministry are higher, should the training and evaluation of pastors be more demanding? Why do nearly all seminarians graduate, yet so many pastors leave within the first years of ministry? Together they explore attrition, peer evaluation, ongoing training, lay responsibility, catechesis, and the need for humility, standards, and perseverance—arguing that the Church must recover a serious, formative approach to preparing men for the weight of preaching Christ, teaching the faith, and caring for souls.

Previous episode with Jarryd Allison: https://www.gottesdienst.org/podcast/2025/10/29/tgc-561-fit-for-the-call-why-the-man-and-the-office-both-matter

 

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TGC 577 – Thinking Out Loud (Septuagesima)

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for Septuagesima, Matthew 20:1–16.

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TGC 576 – Thinking Out Loud (Epiphany 2)

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the Second Sunday after Epiphany, John 2:1–11.

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TGC 575 – Thinking Out Loud (Epiphany 1)

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the First Sunday after Epiphany, Luke 2:41–52.

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TGC 574 – Thinking Out Loud (Christmas 1)

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for the First Sunday after Christmas, Luke 2:33–40.

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TGC 573 – Thinking Out Loud (Holy Innocents/Christmas 2)

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for Holy Innocents & the Second Sunday after Christmas, Matthew 2:13–18.

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TGC 572 – Thinking Out Loud (Christmas Eve)

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for Christmas Eve Midnight, Luke 2:1–14.

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TGC 571 – Thinking Out Loud (Advent 4)

Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for The Fourth Sunday in Advent, John 1:19–28.

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