Podcast Summary: Live Free with Josh Howerton

Episode Title: How America Is Being Taken Over by Islam!?
Host: Pastor Josh Howerton (A), with Carlos Arazo (B), Pastor Paul Cunningham (C), plus Guest Pastors Darren Tyler (D) and Nolan Jaden (E)
Release Date: November 10, 2025

Overview

This episode dives into recent political and cultural shifts in the United States, focusing on the election of a Muslim communist as mayor in New York City and the normalization of radical rhetoric in politics. The hosts and guests discuss the implications of these shifts from a Christian worldview—covering the influence of Marxist ideology, the rise of Islamism, the gender divide in voting, the biblical view on immigration, and the calling for the church to respond with the gospel and truth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter & Podcast Updates (00:38–11:22)

• Lighthearted family stories and church news open the episode, creating rapport and energy.
• Discussion of Lakepointe’s “Christmas at the Movies” outreach and how Jesus used culturally relevant storytelling to teach spiritual truths (04:19–07:27).
• Importance of passing the spiritual baton to the next generation; reflection on recent student ministry weekend (09:11–11:13).
• Emphasis on community and discipleship, especially leveraging new cultural “Gen Z” language (09:41–11:22).

2. Theological Deep Dive: The Return of Christ and the Rapture (11:22–20:28)

• Pastor Josh’s Theory (11:54–18:56):
  • Explores Greek word harpazo (“caught up,” source of rapture doctrine) in NT and Paul’s possible personal rapture experience as a source for his teaching (14:00–17:37).
  • Quote:

    "I honestly wonder if God did to Paul when he gave him that vision, what will happen to the rest of us at the end of time?" — Josh Howerton (16:36)

• Discussion of rapture views: pre-tribulational dispensationalism vs. historic premillennialism, referencing NT Wright and historical theology (18:56–20:28).

3. Hebrews 12, the Current Work of Jesus, and Who Wrote Hebrews (20:49–36:28)

• What is Jesus Doing Right Now? (23:25–29:24):
  • Jesus is currently embodied, seated at God's right hand, and acts as our legal advocate (“defense attorney”—parakletos) in heaven, interceding for believers.
  • Notable explanation:

    "Jesus, every second of every day, is before the Father as a defense attorney for Christians." — Josh Howerton (24:12) "I do not ask for mercy for Paul Cunningham. I demand justice for my blood. You must forgive Paul Cunningham." — Josh Howerton (27:00)

• Debate on the authorship of Hebrews: Paul, Apollos, Barnabas, or others (30:12–36:28).
  • Both Josh and Paul favor Apollos as a likely author, citing rhetorical style and ancient context.

4. The Unexpected Youthfulness of Biblical and Revival Leaders (38:16–45:00)

• Detailed survey of major revival movements (First/Second Great Awakenings, Azusa, Jesus Movement) emphasizing that most were led by people in their teens or twenties.
  • Quote:

    "Virtually every major revival in American history... were led by, like, young adults." — Josh Howerton (38:18)

• In Scripture, most of the disciples were likely teens; significant leaders like Timothy and Mary also referenced as young (41:44–45:00).

5. Wisdom for the Young and the Elderly (45:01–59:07)

• For those under 30:
  • The greatest threat isn’t self-destruction but wasting your life in distraction (esp. digital).
  • Find a God-glorifying vision; be discipled by older believers.
  • Watch your life and doctrine closely (1 Tim. 4:16).
  • Quotes:

    "Attention is... the new battlefield of discipleship and calling." — Paul Cunningham (49:15)
    "Most Christians are not in danger of ruining their lives. They're in danger of wasting them." — Paul Cunningham (50:24)

• For those over 30:
  • Your greatest contribution may be who you disciple, not what you accomplish.
  • Pass the baton, invest in younger believers, and lead by example.
  • Quote:

    "The most significant thing you do with your life may not be something you accomplish. It may be someone that you raise or develop." — Josh Howerton (54:38)

Main Feature: American Political Upheaval, Islamism & Marxism

1. Political Violence Justified by Marxist Ideology (62:36–75:15)

• Incident Overview:

  • Recent elections saw victory for:
    • A self-identified Muslim communist (“Momdani”) as NYC mayor.
    • A Virginia progressive (Jay Jones) who openly advocated violence against political opponents via text.
  • Concern over normalization of violent language/politics.

• Marxist Underpinnings (69:31–73:27):

  • Culture is shifting from persuasion (Christian worldview) to seeing opponents as evil oppressors (critical theory lens).
  • Quote:

    "Political violence is a feature, not a bug of secular progressivism... it's built on top of a critical theory lens rather than a Christian theology lens." — Josh Howerton (70:59)

• Campus Culture Stats (73:27–75:15):

  • Shockingly high proportions of US college students see words as violence, support for hate speech laws (and violence to prevent "hate speech").
  • 33% support physical violence to prevent “hate speech.” 66% define it as anything “hurtful.”

2. Gender Divide in American Voting (77:15–89:10)

• Overwhelming shift:
  • Young women (18–29) voted up to 84% for progressive/Islamic-leaning candidates.
  • Men under 30 overwhelmingly vote the other direction.
• Root Causes:

  • Absence of traditional family roles and the resulting “marriage” of women to the government for provision/protection (78:44–81:13).

  • Quote:

    "They now are... married to the state. So if the state becomes their protector and not their [husbands], then they would vote for that." — Darren Tyler (78:45)

  • The empathy divide in the sexes:

    “Women, we are empathetic. We care about people... what that can sometimes lead us to do is to sacrifice truth and convictions for the sake of [making] somebody feel comfortable.” — Jana Howerton via Josh (83:01)

  • Parties imitate “father” (Republican: protection, law) and “mother” (Democrat: care, empathy) values (83:31–87:10).

3. The Rise and Strategy of Islamism in the West (95:42–112:22)

• Triumphalism after the Election:
  • Times Square video features post-election Muslim rally chanting for all NYC to become Islamic (95:42–96:27).
• Islamic Strategy—Three Phases (104:21–108:54):
  • Phase 1: Oppressed minority, play victim for tolerance.
  • Phase 2: Large minority, shift to indignant/triumphalist tone.
  • Phase 3: Majority—enforce dominance, Sharia, and militant tactics.
  • Repeated historical pattern of oppressive dominance—cited by former Muslims.
• Contrast with Christianity (111:32–112:22):
  • When Christians use violence, it's rebellion against Jesus; when Muslims do, it's often direct obedience to their scriptures.
  • Quote:

    "Anybody that has done anything like that in the name of Christ cannot use the words of Jesus to justify their actions... Anyone who does that in Islam justifies [it] by obedience to Muhammad." — Darren Tyler (111:47)
    "There’s not a moral equivalence." — Josh Howerton (112:22)

4. Immigration, Assimilation, and Christian Political Theology (112:22–129:57)

• New immigrants overwhelmingly elect Islam-leaning candidates; American-born citizens far less so.
• Biblical pattern for immigrants:
  • Welcome and love the sojourner, provided they leave behind false gods, assimilate to the nation’s laws and customs—conditional inclusion (115:22–117:39).
  • Europe as a cautionary tale: Muslim baby names dominate in Western cities; cultural replacement and “outbreeding/outvoting” feared (120:38–122:48).
• Distinction—Christian Individual Ethics vs. State Responsibilities:
  • Individuals: called to radical hospitality and care.
  • Governments: called to defend, define borders, and steward resources for their nation’s people.
  • Quote:

    "The role of governmental leaders... is to prioritize the nation over which God has put them in authority." — Josh Howerton (126:10)

• Reality that unlimited love (without wisdom/order) leads to failure and society collapse.

5. The Idol of Government vs. Worship of God (130:56–135:19)

• Alarm over Mamdani’s inaugural statement:

  "We will prove that there is no problem too large for government to solve and no concern too small for it to care about." (130:56)

• Parallels drawn to Christian teaching about God’s sovereignty—a theologically disastrous confusion of government as God (132:34).
  • Quote:

    "Socialism and communism are inherently atheistic... when you subtract God, there is no authority higher than government. So the government becomes god." — Josh Howerton (133:31)

• Caution from experience: government charity rarely brings hope or lasting transformation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Attention is... the new battlefield of discipleship and of calling.” — Paul Cunningham (49:15)
• “Public passion without private holiness will always end in burnout or demise.” — Paul Cunningham (50:17)
• “Empathy towards the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.” — (Discussion on “toxic empathy”) (84:00)
• “May the best God win.” — Darren Tyler (135:19)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------| | 00:38–11:22 | Opening, church news, Gen Z discipleship | | 11:54–18:56 | Harpazo, Rapture, Paul's “caught up” theory | | 20:49–36:28 | Hebrews 12, Jesus’ current work, who wrote Hebrews debate | | 38:16–45:00 | Youthful revival leaders in history/Bible | | 45:01–59:07 | Advice for under/over 30s on life & leadership | | 62:36–75:15 | Political violence, Marxism in campus culture | | 77:15–89:10 | Gender divide in voting, root causes | | 95:42–112:22 | Islamism’s Western strategy; Christian-Muslim comparison | | 112:22–129:57 | Biblical immigration policy, Europe as warning | | 130:56–135:19 | Government as God vs. God as God—theology & idolatry |

Final Thoughts

The episode delivers a bracing, convictional Christian analysis of political, cultural, and ideological developments, urging listeners to clarity in doctrine, seriousness in discipleship, prayerful engagement in public life, and hope in the gospel of Christ—all while warning of the dangers of cultural drift, idolizing the state, and ceding ground to secular (or Islamic) ideologies.

Episode Tone:
Bold, unapologetic, deeply biblical, at moments satirical—often urgent and concerned, occasionally lighthearted.

For Listeners:
Whether you’re capturing up on US politics, thinking through Christian social responsibility, or longing for spiritual revival, this episode offers challenge, wisdom, and gospel hope amidst the chaos.