Foreign Policy ProvCast

When Christians attempt to derive political principles from the New Testament absent the context of the Old Testament, the result is sloppy political theology. But why is that? Providence Magazine Managing Editor James Diddams is joined by Tim Milosch, lecturer in politics at Biola University and Providence Contributing Editor, to discuss how the moral framework of the Old Testament can help Christians better understand the teachings of Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament. In particular, Milosch and Diddams examine three major excesses in contemporary evangelical political theology: propheticism, pacifism, and cosmopolitanism. Each represents a legitimate category of political reflection that can serve an important role, but which can also become distorted when detached from the interpretive lens of the Old Testament. Milosch and Diddams also discuss how the Vietnam War contributed to a significant shift in how the Bible's message was interpreted. Articles referenced: Milosch, Tim. "Our Political Theology Shouldn't Start at Romans 13." Providence: A Journal of Christianity & American Foreign Policy, November 2023. https://providencemag.com/2023/11/our-political-theology-shouldnt-start-at-romans-13/ Milosch, Tim. "'Jesus Christ: Refugee' and Other Fallacies in the Immigration Debate." Providence: A Journal of Christianity & American Foreign Policy, February 2025. https://providencemag.com/2025/02/jesus-christ-refugeetm-and-other-fallacies-in-the-immigration-debate/ Milosch, Tim. "Solomon: The Archetype of a Just Ruler." Providence: A Journal of Christianity & American Foreign Policy, May 2025. https://providencemag.com/2025/05/solomon-the-archetype-of-a-just-ruler-1/

Providence Managing Editor James Diddams and Executive Editor Marc LiVecche are joined by Redeemer University Professor of Politics and International Robert Joustra to discuss Operation EPIC FURY in its ethical and strategic dimensions. Can we expect to see a flowering of democracy in Iran soon as a result of President Trump's attacks on Iran's theocratic regime? Are these attacks in accordance with the tenets of Just War Theory? How will Trump cast the results of the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, both in the best and worst case scenarios? Articles referenced: Joustra, Robert. "Which Is More Durable: Iran's Regime or Trump's Commitment to Regime Change?" Providence. March 2, 2026. https://providencemag.com/2026/03/which-is-more-durable-irans-regime-or-trumps-commitment-to-regime-change/. Kosc, Jozef Andrew. "Iran's Enduring Apocalyptic Political Mythology." Providence. September 17, 2024. https://providencemag.com/2024/09/irans-enduring-apocalyptic-political-mythology/. Kosc, Jozef Andrew. "Thousands of Paper Cuts, Then a Nuclear Bomb: Georges Sorel, French Anarchism, and Iran's Revolutionary Warfighting Doctrine." Providence. October 21, 2024. https://providencemag.com/2024/10/thousands-of-paper-cuts-then-a-nuclear-bomb-georges-sorel-french-anarchism-and-irans-revolutionary-warfighting-doctrine/. Diddams, James. "Striking Iran Will Not Change the Long-term Strategic Picture—America Should Still Do It." Providence. June 19, 2025. https://providencemag.com/2025/06/striking-iran-will-not-change-the-long-term-strategic-picture-america-should-still-do-it/.

On the second anniversary of the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023, the Provcrew sits down to review Donald Trump's proposal for ending the war. Although it's a good plan with significant support, many ambiguities and questions remain. Will the Arab states step up? Will the Israeli far-right bring down the Netanyahu government? And will Hamas fighters really put down their weapons? Turning closer to home, the crew then takes up the Trump Pentagon's new national defense strategy which centers on "hemispheric security" in North and South America. Is this just rhetoric for domestic politics? What does it mean for our competition with China?

(…actually, Wesley was a teetotaler so not possible.) Ladies and gentlemen, the Provcrew is at war. "Can you be a Wesleyan Protestant and a Christian realist?" The battle lines are drawn. Providence editor Mark Tooley, a Methodist Christian realist, says yes; editor at large Robert Nicholson, a non-Methodist who knows about John Wesley's optimistic theology, is skeptical. To break the deadlock, they hosted Methodist theologian and Reinhold Niebuhr scholar Robin Lovin to set the record straight. Sin, grace, anthropology, eschatology, nationalism, fascism—they got to all of it. And the outcome was surprising.

The shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk is a wakeup call for Americans of every stripe. What is happening to our society? How can we fix it—and where do we start? In a fascinating conversation with Wilfred McClay and Stuart Halpern, authors of a new book entitled The Jewish Roots of American Liberty: The Impact of Hebraic Ideas on the American Story, the Provcrew discusses the pivotal place of the Judeo-Christian heritage in US history and how we can reclaim it in troubled times. Here's the link to their book: https://www.encounterbooks.com/books/jewish-roots-american-liberty/