Ep. 102: Is America The Bad Guy? Exploring the Myth of American Exceptionalism

In this episode, Jacob Winograd digs into one of the most uncomfortable questions Christians and libertarians can ask: What if America isn’t the hero of the story? Tracing U.S. foreign policy from the Spanish-American War through 9/11 and into the present day, Jacob explores how the language of liberty, democracy, and even Christianity has been weaponized to justify empire. He unpacks how wars sold as moral crusades—from Iraq and Afghanistan to support for Israel and NATO expansion—have led to blowback, destabilization, and immense civilian suffering.

But this isn’t about hating America or denying its best ideals.

Jacob argues that we can still appreciate the beauty of the American experiment—its suspicion of power, its protections of free speech and conscience—while being honest about the sins committed in its name. For Christians, that means refusing to let patriotism become idolatry. Our first allegiance is to Christ’s kingdom, not the flag. True patriotism tells the truth, seeks repentance where needed, and distinguishes what reflects Christ from what reflects Caesar.

Full Episode Notes at BiblicalAnarchyPodcast.com

The Biblical Anarchy Podcast is part of the Christians For Liberty Network, a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute.

Audio Production by Podsworth Media.