Unity In A Divisive Time (Episode 3 - Archive)Unity In A Divisive Time (Episode 3 - Archive)
Relational Recovery
Wes Thompson and Austin Hill talk about how Christian faith, politics, and patriotism can clash, especially around issues like abortion. The conversation focuses on keeping allegiance to Christ above party or country within a recovery-focused life.
6:01•19 Aug 2026
Unity, Faith and Politics: Keeping Christ First in Recovery
Episode Overview
- Christian faith is presented as distinct from any political party or national identity.
- Abortion and the pro-life position are highlighted as a key reason many Christians align with the Republican Party.
- The hosts stress that America is not described or targeted in the Bible, challenging the idea of it being "God's country."
- Allegiance to Christ is said to come before allegiance to country or party, especially when behaviours conflict with Jesus' character.
- Political loyalty that overtakes loyalty to God is described as idolatry, which is warned against in a recovery context.
“"As a Christian my first allegiance is to Christ, even more so than to be a good American."”
Curious about how others handle faith and recovery in a heated political climate? This Relational Recovery episode zooms in on that tension, with Wes Thompson and Austin Hill unpacking why politics can feel so tangled up with Christianity in America. The conversation focuses on how many white Christians link their faith with the Republican Party, largely around the issue of abortion and the pro-life stance.
Wes explains that a Christian worldview starts with Genesis and the belief that "every human being has value" because people are made in God's image. From there, they talk about how that belief can make certain political positions feel more aligned with faith. But the heart of the episode is a gentle warning: confusing allegiance to a political party or country with allegiance to Jesus can become a problem for anyone trying to live out Christian recovery principles.
Wes is clear that neither he nor Austin is backing any party, stressing, "this isn't meant to be a political podcast, this is a recovery podcast," yet they see the need to address the current climate because it affects relationships and behaviours. The pair emphasise that "our faith in Jesus is separate from the country in which we live," reminding listeners that America didn’t exist when the Bible was written.
Love of country or city isn’t painted as bad, but it’s questioned when it leads people to act in ways that clash with the character of Jesus. Wes quotes Ben C on idolatry, describing it as putting anything in God’s place, and suggests that political allegiance can sometimes sit too high on the priority list.
For anyone in recovery who’s feeling torn between faith, politics, and community, this episode offers a calm, thoughtful space to reflect on where their deepest loyalty lies. How might your recovery shift if your primary allegiance was to Christ rather than to a party or passport?
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