When to Lock Arms and When to Walk Away: A Field Manual for Christian Men in a Chaotic Age
Imagine standing on a battlefield. Smoke rising. Chaos in the air. An enemy charging. Another man jumps into the trench beside you, rifle pointed in the same direction. You don’t start the conversation by asking where he went to seminary. You don’t quiz him on baptism. You don’t demand his entire doctrinal statement. You’re just glad he’s not aiming at you.
That’s the instinct behind the popular idea of “No Enemies on the Right.”
But instincts, if left unchecked, turn into blind spots. And blind spots are where men die.
In the latest episode of The Patriarchy Podcast, Jon Harris and I walked through the real, biblical, manly framework for thinking about alliances—political, cultural, and personal. This wasn’t academic.
This blog post applies those principles directly to your life, your leadership, and your responsibilities as a Christian man.
1. Two Ditches Christian Men Keep Falling Into
There are two errors Christian men make when thinking about alliances.
Error 1: Purity Pharisees
The first ditch is the man so obsessed with ideological purity he can’t partner with anyone.
A Roman Catholic wants to fight abortion? “No thanks.”
A Mormon wants to support a law to protect children? “Hard pass.”
A non-Christian wants to defend the second amendment? “Can’t risk it.”
This man dies alone in a foxhole while his enemies march past him. He confuses prudence with cowardice.
Error 2: The “No Enemies on the Right” Addict
Then there’s the opposite ditch: the man who will partner with absolutely anyone—as long as they point even vaguely “rightward.”
These are the men who platform degenerates, liars, vain racial haters , or outright charlatans because “they’re fighting the left.”
But Scripture is clear:
“Bad company corrupts good morals.”
If you let wolves in because you’re scared to stand alone, don’t be surprised when the flock gets eaten.
2. The Real Biblical Category: Co-Belligerence
Jon Harris made it clear: Christians have always engaged in co-belligerence—fighting alongside non-believers on limited, specific issues.
Biblical examples abound:
Joseph with Pharaoh
Esther with Ahasuerus
Nehemiah with Artaxerxes
Abraham with pagan kings
None of these rulers were righteous men. None shared Israel’s faith. But they shared, even briefly, certain objectives that aligned with God’s purposes.
These were prudent, temporary partnerships, not deep alliances.
You can push back evil without baptizing your partners.
You can work for a good goal without endorsing the worldview of everyone helping.
This is what we called in the episode the difference between formal cooperation with evil (joining the evil) versus material cooperation (doing good while tolerating the involvement of someone who is not good).
Men must know that difference.
3. The Non-Negotiable Rule: Never Compromise Doctrine or Expose Your People to Wolves
You may stand beside an unbeliever for a moment.
But you may never:
Compromise God’s law
Soften biblical doctrine
Expose your congregation, family, or audience to wolves
As Jon said: if a partnership requires you to compromise, or if it gives wicked men spiritual influence over your people, it is off-limits. Full stop.
This is why the car analogy matters:
You can drive alongside another car headed in your direction.
You do not climb into their backseat and let them drive your people.
Ride parallel for a time.
But maintain control over your own direction, message, and moral boundaries.
This is Christian prudence.
4. Anticipating the Common Objections
Objection 1: “But if we don’t unite with everyone fighting the left, we’ll lose!”
The man who says this reveals fear, not faith.
He believes the left’s power is greater than God’s.
He believes that victory comes through numbers, not righteousness.
God destroyed armies with 300 men.
The issue is not firepower—it’s faithfulness.
Of course we can work together with a host of people to achieve cultural and political victories but we do so with wisdom and without moral compromise. We trust the Lord more than we fear the enemy.
Objection 2: “Won’t it be destrimental to call out people on the right?”
This doesn’t mean that we treat our allies like we do enemies. David was rebuked for loving those who hated him while hating those who loved him. We can rightly criticize as iron sharpens iron. We don’t, however, attack our allies like they are enemies. That said, not everyone is is on the right is an friend. Biblical shepherding requires judging false teachers, immoral influences, and dangerous men.
A shepherd who refuses to call out a wolf is not kind.
He is negligent.
Objection 3: “But the guy says some true things—shouldn’t we take the good and ignore the bad?”
Poison mixed with truth is very dangrous.
If a man’s influence includes perversion, vain racial hatred, deceit, or disorder, you cannot pretend it’s harmless because he occasionally hits a target.
Truth doesn’t justify corruption.
Objection 4: “Isn’t this inconsistent? How can you vote for Trump but reject Nick Fuentes?”
Because voting for a president is not the same as platforming a man.
Because politically supporting a flawed leader for limited civic aims is not the same as giving influence to a grifter who brings confusion, immorality, and disorder.
Because co-belligerence has degrees, risks, and boundaries.
Trump is a pragmatic politician whose leadership affects large-scale civic outcomes.
You are not discipling your children with Trump’s theology.
You are not handing him your pulpit.
You are not putting him in your church elder room.
You are not endorsing his life or doctrine.
Your relationship with him is political—nothing more.
Fuentes, by contrast, demands moral, cultural, and ideological influence over men.
He seeks a following, not a vote.
He teaches poisoned doctrine, not merely flawed policies.
His presence shapes the character of young men in destructive ways.
Supporting a political candidate is material cooperation toward a limited objective. Giving your ear to be influenced by an evil man is not.
Daniel worked for Nebuchadnezzar. David had Joab as a commander. Jeremiah called out the false prophets.
These are not the same category.
Not in Scripture.
Not in history.
Not in real life.
5. A Man’s Duty: Prudence and Purity, Held Together
Real men walk a narrow road between two cliffs.
On one side: the cowardice that refuses to partner with anyone.
On the other: the recklessness that partners with anyone.
Biblical masculinity requires prudence with boundaries and courage with convictions.
Your duty is to:
Lock arms when the mission allows.
Keep your doctrine and your people safe.
Measure every partnership by God’s standards.
If the partnership requires compromise, walk away.
A man who cannot say “no” is not strong—he is weak.
6. How This Applies to Your Actual Life
In your home:
Do not let online personalities—especially fringe, immoral ones—disciple your children.
You are the father. Guard the gate.
In your church:
Your elders should protect the flock. They should exhort you not to allow harmful spiritual influences in your life.
In your civil engagement:
Vote, advocate, and labor for the good of your community.
But never forget that temporary political cooperation is not discipleship or friendship.
In your relationships:
Some men belong at your side.
Some belong on the sidewalk.
Some belong far from your life entirely.
Discernment is strength.
Compromise is effeminacy.
7. The Bottom Line
The Christian man does not drift.
He decides.
He discerns.
He protects.
He leads.
You were not put on this earth to be naïve or gullible.
You were put on this earth to build, fight, protect, and lead.
Lock arms when you can.
Stand alone when you must.
Compromise never.
For Christ.
For His Kingdom.
For your household and your future.