When the State Comes for a Midwife: Home Birth, Christian Anarchy & Obeying God with Brenda 'Granny' Smith

The State of Arkansas told Brenda “Granny” Smith to stop attending births. She wadded up the cease-and-desist letter and threw it away. Brenda had already spent years helping mothers when she found herself facing state scrutiny, an arrest warrant, legal bills, and what she says were eight years of Facebook screenshots collected as evidence. Why keep going? Because Brenda believed God had called her to stand beside women who needed help, and she was not willing to let fear of the state become more important than obedience to Christ. That lived experience eventually helped her recognize something about herself: the Christian faith she already practiced fit naturally with anarchy built on consent and non-aggression. Her challenge is simple: “If your faith doesn’t require something difficult of you, why are you even doing it?” In this episode, Craig and Brenda dig into: 👶 Home birth, midwifery, and informed choice ⚖️ State regulation and voluntary relationships 📱 Arrest warrants, surveillance, and Facebook screenshots ✝️ Obeying God rather than men 🕊️ Consent, non-aggression, and Christian anarchy 👑 “Who is your master?” 🏛️ Government as a “perpetual parent” ❤️ Loving enemies instead of simply rejecting rulers 🌅 Becoming an “apocaloptimist” when the world looks like it is falling apart   📖 For Full Show Notes: https://thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-169   🤝 Connect with Brenda 'Granny' Smith 🤝 Facebook: Catching Freedom   💕 3 Ways You Can Support the Project 💕 💸DONATE 💸 100% of donations above production costs go to local Memphis charities: https://thebadroman.com/donate 🌶️ SALSA THE LOVE 🌶️ Grab a jar of Bad Roman Salsa: https://badromansalsa.com  👀 Share an Episode with a Friend, Start a Conversation 👀 Send this episode to someone and ask: When does obedience become compliance? What should a Christian do when the state commands something that conflicts with conscience? If faith never costs us anything, how much does it actually shape us?   🔗 Get Involved with the Project 🔗 Blog submissions: thebadroman.com/contribute-to-the-blog Connect with us on social: thebadroman.com/social-links Want to dig deeper? Request to join the private discussion group on Facebook (Bad Romans Only!!) Explore the No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com