Nathan joins an Iron Tavern men's community call to discuss martial skills, the theology of violence, church security, and building a tactical household — grounded in Westminster Larger Catechism Q135 and the two swords of Christ.
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About This Episode
Nathan joins an Iron Tavern men's community call for a deep conversation on martial skills — the physical disciplines every Christian man should cultivate alongside his spiritual ones. Drawing from 14 years in Army Special Operations and his church security ministry, Nathan lays out a balanced framework: spiritual readiness first, physical capability second, and the wisdom to know when each applies.
The conversation covers the theology of violence through the lens of Westminster Larger Catechism Question 135 (duties required by the sixth commandment), Raymond Ibrahim's historical work on Christian-Islamic conflict, the definition of biblical meekness ("having a sword, knowing how to use it, and leaving it sheathed"), practical training for families, and how to structure church security teams with honest skill assessments. Nathan's core message: master the basics, start small, include your family, and never let the pursuit of tactical perfection keep you from starting.
Resources Mentioned
- Two Swords of Christ by Raymond Ibrahim
- Finish by Jon Acuff
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis
- Westminster Larger Catechism Q135 — Duties required in the sixth commandment
- Tactical Household — Community and resources for building a tactical household
- Reformed Evangelical Seminary — Church security course (10 weeks)
- Three Guns Every Dad Should Own — Free PDF download at tacticalhousehold.com
Outline with Timestamps
- 00:00:00 — Introduction: What are martial skills and why they matter
- 00:03:00 — The two swords of Christ — theology of when to use force
- 00:05:00 — Nathan's framework: spiritual protection, situational awareness, "best defense is no be there"
- 00:09:00 — Finding a church community with trained men (Genesis 14:14)
- 00:11:00 — The biggest threat to your family is sin, not external violence
- 00:14:00 — Balancing training investment with your wife as a sounding board
- 00:17:00 — Westminster Larger Catechism Q135 — the spiritual undergirding
- 00:19:00 — Courteous words or hard knocks — meekness vs. weakness
- 00:22:00 — Practical training: habit stacking, dry fire reps, James Clear principles
- 00:25:00 — Nathan's background: Rangers, Special Forces, 12 combat deployments
- 00:29:00 — Historical context: Islam, the early church, and defending physical space
- 00:33:00 — Covenantal responsibility: protection as a man's duty, not outsourced to government
- 00:40:00 — Raising sons and daughters with grit and understanding of the fight
- 00:44:00 — Questions: When is martyrdom the right response vs. armed defense?
- 00:52:00 — Turning the other cheek — insults vs. physical violence
- 00:54:00 — Church carry posture: round in chamber debate, layered security teams
- 01:00:00 — Deterrence, humility, and the danger of arrogance in tactical circles
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