Cody Cook sits down with Javan Lapp—a manufacturing executive, amateur historian, and Lancaster County keeper of goats—to explore the insights of 16th-century Anabaptist thinker Pilgram Marpeck into what it means for the church to be embodied without succumbing to state Christianity.
Drawing from Javan’s contribution to
Anabaptist Political Theology After Marpeck, the conversation examines Marpeck’s theology of the incarnation and how Christ’s literal body informs the identity of the church as the body of Christ. They discuss Marpeck’s debates with spiritualists, his emphasis on voluntary faith and embodied practice, his critique of both legalism and disembodied spirituality, and why his “middle way” remains relevant today.
The episode also touches on the church as voluntary society, suffering, cruciform spirituality, and the balance between creedal conviction and lived ethics—offering fresh insights for libertarian Christians interested in both ecclesiology and political theology.
Come meet fellow Christian libertarians, sharpen your thinking, and be part of a growing movement rooted in faith and freedom at the Christians for Liberty Conference.
Lunch is included in the price of the ticket. We will send out a form ahead of the conference requesting dietary preferences and restrictions.
Learn more here.What is The Libertarian Christian Podcast?
Join the Libertarian Christian Institute as each week they explore, debate, and analyze the issues that are directly relevant to the intersection of Christianity and liberty. Always thoughtful, frequently controversial, and never boring (trust us), it is our hope and prayer that The Libertarian Christian Podcast serve as a valuable resource to the Church for years to come.
If you'd like to reach out to us and ask a question or submit some feedback, you can reach us at podcast@libertarianchristians.com, as well as on Facebook, Twitter, and of course, our website, libertarianchristians.com.