Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Hey, hey, guys, listen.
[00:00:01] Speaker B: Hey, hey.
[00:00:02] Speaker A: It's not rocket science, okay?
[00:00:03] Speaker B: We're.
[00:00:04] Speaker A: We're Talking about America, 1776. I was there at the Continental Union,
[00:00:10] Speaker B: the Congress or wherever.
[00:00:12] Speaker A: They signed the document. They.
[00:00:15] Speaker B: They found it.
[00:00:15] Speaker A: They said, joe, come over.
Not come over, but, you know, sign the document there.
[00:00:22] Speaker C: Right.
[00:00:22] Speaker A: Right on the dotted line next to the Hancock man.
[00:00:36] Speaker B: Thanks for being here.
[00:00:36] Speaker A: We're all about it, man. No, thank you for having me. It's a pleasure.
[00:00:39] Speaker B: Wow. Okay, guys, we're on. Asking for a neighbor. And welcome to the show.
We have Taylor Locke with us today in for. Subbing in for Sean, and as always, Brad Holcomb and your host, Sky. That's me.
So let's get into it, guys. The first question I have for you is, do you guys have, like, a mental line or threshold, if you will, for saying yes or no, depending on if you can. This is not going well.
If you have what someone else needs.
Do you always say yes
[00:01:23] Speaker C: if you have what someone else.
[00:01:24] Speaker B: Let's say.
[00:01:25] Speaker C: Yeah, let's say food.
[00:01:28] Speaker B: Could be food. Yeah. Could be an rv, could be anything. You have that. You're like, let's loan this guy something. Let's help him.
[00:01:34] Speaker C: You're asking for a neighbor right now?
[00:01:36] Speaker B: I'm asking for a neighbor, man. I'm 100 asking for a neighbor. I'm asking if there's a line where you're like, you know what? I'm good. Because, you know, it'll happen, right? So, like, if they're trustworthy, I guess we're good. If you don't think they're necessarily, I don't know, stand up, people. Stand up citizens.
How do you wrestle with that?
[00:01:59] Speaker C: Taylor, you're the guest.
[00:02:01] Speaker A: So if I have something that I know somebody's in need. Yeah, I suppose it depends. If somebody asking me directly is somebody, like, coming to, or is this a general, like, I'm raising. I'm raising the flag up and seeing if anybody out there can help out kind of thing.
[00:02:19] Speaker B: Yes. Right. It's like you see a need that. That should be filled and. But you may not, because.
[00:02:25] Speaker A: Well, yeah, I guess. I guess. I guess what I would contemplate is, like, if it's something that I know I have that will, like, help that person and I'm, like, enthusiastic about it, you know, like, if it's a. If it's an item or material that I'm like, ooh, I have that, and I think it'll really, like, benefit this person, then I'm more likely to, like, step up and say, like, yeah, here it is. You know, or if it's like, if somebody needs, like, a drill bit, like, I probably can't really help you out
[00:03:02] Speaker B: because, like, you don't have that.
[00:03:03] Speaker A: I'm not.
I do, but, like, I don't. I don't even know.
[00:03:07] Speaker B: Oh, I see what you're saying.
[00:03:09] Speaker A: What to area. It's not my thing, I guess.
[00:03:11] Speaker B: Yeah, I guess. Yeah, man. I think. What if. I mean, what if you just know the outcome? Like, they're. What if they're going to destroy it or whatever? You're never going to get it back.
[00:03:20] Speaker A: Oh, I see.
[00:03:21] Speaker B: Like, what if. You know that, like.
[00:03:22] Speaker A: Like, you literally know that this is probably going to.
[00:03:25] Speaker B: Is it judgmental on my part? Is that a judgment that I shouldn't pass?
[00:03:28] Speaker C: Or is this. Is this person. Air quotes. Going to listen to the podcast?
Can we get. Okay. All right.
[00:03:36] Speaker B: I mean, is that bad?
[00:03:37] Speaker C: No, it's not bad. I was just wondering if we get a little bit more, like, specificity on what you're talking about.
[00:03:42] Speaker A: Like, you know, like I'm somebody. Somebody wants to borrow a microphone and I know they're going to tear this thing up.
[00:03:48] Speaker B: This is more like. This is more like homeless people needed a place to stay and an RV was given.
Loaned.
[00:03:54] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:03:55] Speaker B: And destroyed, obviously. And so repairs need to happen.
But I. But it was. It was knowing ahead of time that this will happen.
[00:04:02] Speaker C: And.
[00:04:02] Speaker B: And so it's literally a financially checked off thing that it would have to be restored and all these things would have to happen. But what do you do when you're making that decision? Because I probably would have said no just straight up.
Right.
[00:04:16] Speaker C: That's interesting.
[00:04:17] Speaker B: Isn't that weird? I'm asking. Because it's like, I asked. I talked to them about it. I'm like, how do you wrestle with that? How do you gauge what to do? Because I would have totally not done that.
[00:04:31] Speaker C: I feel like I'm just gonna say stuff and I could be off on what's actually happening in real life. I'm just gonna kind of paint a hypothetical scenario in my own brain of what I might do in some. In a situation.
[00:04:40] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:04:40] Speaker C: Like, what do you.
[00:04:40] Speaker B: Yeah. If someone. That's not.
[00:04:41] Speaker C: So somebody comes up and they want. They want to. They want to borrow something or they need something that I have. And in the back of my mind, I'm like, I don't really know if they're going to take good care of this thing.
Right, Right. Like, somebody needs to borrow my car.
[00:04:54] Speaker B: Sure. Yeah.
[00:04:55] Speaker C: Okay. Something like that, man. I. Yeah, I think If I knew, if I felt like I knew, especially with something like that, like a car, it's different. If it's a drill bit, like if somebody wants to borrow my drill bit and I'm like, man, I think they might lose it, I'm probably going to give them the drill bit and have a conversation about it. I'm just like, hey, I'd really like this back, you know?
[00:05:17] Speaker B: Sure.
[00:05:17] Speaker C: How long do you think you'll have it? Like maybe some of those front end conversations just to.
I think what I'm trying to say, I do think from like a Christian perspective, I think that, that our disposition ought to be one of giving and generosity with everything that we have. Because everything that we have comes from the Lord and is intended not just for our enjoyment, which it is, but to bless other people too.
[00:05:40] Speaker A: Yeah, it's that give and expect nothing in return.
[00:05:42] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:05:43] Speaker A: So I think posture from Jesus.
[00:05:44] Speaker C: Yeah, man, like an open handedness ought to be. I think the general disposition.
[00:05:48] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:05:49] Speaker C: From a Christian.
[00:05:50] Speaker B: So to me, someone that would usually go against that when it comes to big things.
[00:05:55] Speaker A: How.
[00:05:55] Speaker B: What would you say to me?
[00:05:57] Speaker C: I think just discernment and wisdom is good with that. So I think that if you find that maybe if you find that within your heart you are more close fisted with your things for whatever reason, then that's a good growth area to just be reminded, like Taylor said, that Jesus has given us everything.
Nothing that we have at the end of the day doesn't like. Everything good that we have comes from Him.
And so, you know, if we have an opportunity to be open handed with our stuff, I think we ought to do it, but we ought to do it with wisdom and discernment. So like if, if, yeah, if somebody wants to borrow my car, and I know for certain, because there's a track record of them destroying things, that I'm not going to get it back in the condition that I sent it out. I'm probably not going to do it. I'm, I'm being generous. I would not do it, but I would have a really hopefully gracious and loving conversation with that person on the front end as to why. Yeah, I'm not just gonna be like, no, I can't do it this time.
[00:06:54] Speaker B: What's your only car probably? And you're like, man, I can't.
[00:06:56] Speaker C: Well, even if it wasn't, even if it wasn't, I think that for the benefit of that person, Right. If they have a, if there's consistency in their life of destroying things that don't belong to Them, then that's a good conversation to have with them anyways.
[00:07:08] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:07:09] Speaker C: Stewarding things.
[00:07:10] Speaker A: Yeah, I think it's an issue of stewardship. Like, it would not be beneficial to. If you were like a multimillionaire, say. And it would not be good stewardship to go and write a homeless person a check for a million dollars. Why?
Because you know that it's likely that that person is not going to steward that gift. Well, you know what I'm saying? So it's not just this. When Jesus says that, it's not this blanket principle of, well, you know, if anybody asks you for anything, you must give it and expect nothing in return.
[00:07:46] Speaker C: Right.
[00:07:47] Speaker A: What would you do?
[00:07:48] Speaker C: You agree? Totally. I agree with what you said earlier, man, just about the, you know, I think we can both have a disposition of generosity and open handedness and wisdom and in, you know, boundaries. Boundaries are a good thing.
[00:08:03] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
It surprised me because, like, I just, I don't think I would have done the same thing. And that's why I asked the question, maybe, maybe I should be in a position where I would do the same thing. Does it make sense?
[00:08:14] Speaker C: Yeah. And what's the most loving thing to do for that person? Okay, so like, even with a homeless scenario, which is a really complicated one.
[00:08:22] Speaker A: Right.
[00:08:23] Speaker C: You know, like, is the most loving thing to give that person cash.
Maybe, but maybe it isn't.
[00:08:31] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:08:31] Speaker C: That's what's so like, even us going through the proverbs, man, it's been such a personal challenge for me because the proverbs, many of them, not all of them, some of them are very black and white, but a lot of them are not. Yeah. They'll say, you know, alcohol is a blessing on one hand and alcohol is a curse on the other hand. So it's like you. That means that alcohol in and of itself is not a black and white issue. It requires wisdom to know how to use it in a way that's going to glorify God.
[00:08:53] Speaker B: Yeah. Kind of wild that it's even in the Bible, the way it says that.
[00:08:56] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:08:56] Speaker B: You know?
[00:08:56] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:08:57] Speaker B: Like, whoa.
[00:08:57] Speaker C: Same with answering a man according to his folly.
[00:08:59] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:09:00] Speaker C: He's like, answer man according to his father, don't answer man according to his folly. Like, that's not a contradiction. It just requires wisdom to know when it's appropriate to do that and how. So I think the same thing is true for giving people stuff.
[00:09:11] Speaker B: You said that in the sermon. I was like, turn up. You know, let's get it. I'm just God.
[00:09:15] Speaker C: Okay, you need to start saying that, dude, sometimes I feel like everybody's asleep in it. I'm just like, I need to pray and walk off the stage, dude.
[00:09:21] Speaker B: It was going to be on the
[00:09:22] Speaker A: alcohol saying turn up instead of amen, wild man.
[00:09:28] Speaker B: And it would have been on the alcohol thing you said. So it wouldn't have been good. It wouldn't have been like edifying, you know, turn up. Everybody, you know, they're saying we can drink.
[00:09:36] Speaker A: Obviously I'm not gonna use wisdom there.
[00:09:39] Speaker B: Yeah, you know, man, that's great, dude. The topic today, guys, just to kind of get into it a little bit more, is it's a little bit heavy, I think. And Brad brought it to us and wants us to kind of go over it, hopefully in a, in a graceful and just, you know, edifying way.
So without further ado, we can kind of get into it. And this will be from a question or do we want to say the question, Brad, or talk about how we got it from one of our neighbors? Give the context a little bit.
[00:10:19] Speaker C: Yeah, you want me to do that?
[00:10:20] Speaker B: If you can, that'd be great. Yeah, yeah, I think.
[00:10:24] Speaker C: And then we're going to kick it off to our esteemed theologian Taylor here to get us started on the conversation.
So the. Yeah, the context is. Well, the question was what do we do with conspiracy theories? As like the general question. Okay, so like we were talking about before the podcast that that could mean a million things, right? Like what, what, what do we mean by conspiracy theories? What specifically are we talking about? All that stuff. We'll get into that. But the more specific context was this particular person has had interactions with a variety of women whose husbands are like, neck deep in some of the.
What I would say, and I think you guys would agree with this. Some of the darker conspiratorial stuff, specifically as it pertains to Israel and how Christians ought to think about Israel and even like flirting with some neo Nazi stuff. If not like, I don't know if it's full blown endorsement, but the way that she was describing it, this, this stuff, like these guys, these men are so deep into this stuff or getting so deep into this stuff that it's actually causing friction in their marriage.
And so that, that is super concerning.
And I just, yeah, I feel like it'd be a good thing for us to, as best as we can and as specifically as we can, try to maybe shine some, like, biblical light into how should Christians. And like, we'll probably be a little bit specific today toward Christian men, but this applies to everybody. Like, how should Christians, we, as Christians think about truth? How should we think about conspiratorial things as they're becoming more and more prevalent in our culture? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[00:12:07] Speaker B: That's awesome. That's good. I think, to give some context to the Israel part of it in case everyone else out there is not really familiar or wondering where it came from. Kind of.
It's just like this idea that kind of got brought about. Well, it's been brought about for a while, but online recently has been. Has grown exponentially in following. And it's the idea that maybe Hitler wasn't as bad as we think he was, or things like that that go down the direction of. Finally you're saying that everything bad that happens politically and probably economically is caused by the Jews, and that's not obviously correct or it's just not right. That doesn't really work that way anyway, because one person, that can't happen. But beyond that, that's why it's so it's such a difficult thing to talk about. One, and also two, important and heavy and can be dark in some ways. Now I can just hand it off to our boy tdog over here.
[00:13:13] Speaker A: Well, I don't think that it's a stretch to say that since 2020, since COVID we're living in a conspiracy culture, right? So what I mean by that is like, I listened to a comedian who very funnily gave some insight into this where he's like, you know, I'm skeptical of somebody that doesn't believe in like any conspiracy theories. He's like, so you just think the government is batting a thousand on everything that they're telling us? Who said that?
Oh, man, I'm gonna.
[00:13:47] Speaker C: I feel like I heard that recently too, and it was funny.
[00:13:49] Speaker A: He's like, he's like, you don't believe. He's like, you just think that there's no such thing. So like with COVID with the rise of QAnon, which is this kind of like alt right conspiracy group that, you know, sort of started this belief that the nation state of Israel and Jews are in control of world powers, this has just been, this has been bubbling for quite some time. And with October 7th and 2023, like, and the, the war in Iran and Israel's involvement in that, like, now we are in a position where culturally and politically the topic of Israel, Jews and their, their place in American culture and American life and even in the church is very, very prevalent. And there's all kinds of branching theories and ideas that even get into Theology, like dispensationalism is being talked about on some of the biggest podcasts, on Joe Rogan, on Tucker Carlson. Like, they're, they're, they're talking about this, these frameworks. And so I think it's, I think it's helpful for us to just set the stage a little bit and talk about, like. Yeah, we are living in a time where if you don't believe in any kind of conspiracy, then, then you're considered a sheeple or somebody who's like, not awake to the corruption of world governments. Right.
[00:15:26] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:15:27] Speaker A: So, like, sky, what would you say to, as, you know, somebody who you, you've looked at some of these things, you've, you've followed this movement for a while, like, about this idea of just conspiracies in general, just like, and, and the relationship that you have to conspiracies as a whole. What, what would you say is your point of view?
[00:15:54] Speaker B: Yeah, I would say, like, I think, I mean, it can get kind of hairy fast, I guess, but I would say, like, it's just like a, I think it's kind of a biological thing in some ways where we have this desire to like, find answers. Right. And like, get to the bottom of something and have to have something closed.
[00:16:13] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:16:13] Speaker B: A closed conclusion to something. Right. And, and when we don't have that, the first instinct or desire is to find it somewhere.
[00:16:22] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:16:22] Speaker B: And just like a non believer might be looking for that gaping hole. Where is it coming from? Let me find it in all these other things. The same thing happens with conspiracy theories where you're like, we don't have the right answers. No one's giving us this answer. Where am I going to find it? Right. And that starts your, your road to figuring it out doesn't always go wrong. Sometimes you get to the bottom and you're like, man, this is, this is nefarious and not great. And this conspiracy theory turned out to not be really a conspiracy anymore, but no one really looked at it or thinks critically in that way. And I would say that's a good thing.
So that part of it where you're like, oh, we need to think critically and think for ourselves and be independent in that way from the government in that way is a good thing.
It means that maybe we can hone in on the closer circle around us and, and focus on that instead.
Now the, the problem is that people don't, people don't stop there a lot of times, and I didn't really either. I would just go further and to say, like, it wouldn't. My mindset wouldn't be, okay, cool, so now I won't focus on the government as much and rely on them. I'll rely on my own circle, my family, my, you know, whatever close knit community I have at church. I'll rely on that instead of.
I didn't have that mindset until later, like now. But what happens is you just keep going and keep going and keep going. And then it's like everything is a conspiracy theory, right? Because it's to some extent you're feeding this need you have. That's why I said I think it's kind of biological some way, like human nature. You're feeding this need. You have to find the answer. And you just keep doing that. It's almost like a dopamine hit every time. Like. Like scrolling, like doom scrolling, you know? So that's where I think people fall into that trap. It's just like watching the news every day. You want to watch the news every day because it's a new thing and you're getting this dopamine spike from doing it. Same thing as scrolling Instagram, dude. It's not great.
No matter if it's true or false or.
Yeah. No matter what they're saying. Pretty much, yeah. It's almost like whenever you gamble, losing is more of a dopamine hit and more for your addiction than the winning is.
Right. Isn't it? So it's in the same. Same instance here.
This is where we're at. And you asked that. Yeah, I'm super into it still. I would say that. Thinking I'm super into thinking critically still.
I wouldn't necessarily say that. I'm all in on all the theories that get tossed about. Like the one where, what was it? M. M.J. or M.A. three seven set flight. Flight 377 or whatever.
[00:18:56] Speaker A: It was one that like 317.
[00:18:58] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:18:58] Speaker A: 2014.
[00:18:59] Speaker B: Right. There was a conspiracy theory being thrown around where there was satellite footage and there was three orbs circling the plane and the plane disappeared. Right. And this went deep, y'. All, like really deep. And I like, followed it. I followed it from beginning when it started to end, dude. And it happened to be some random dude on the Internet that decided that he wanted this attention and did it anyway. And so. And that wasn't real. None of that stuff's real.
It did disappear. We don't know where it is. That's true.
[00:19:24] Speaker A: Right.
[00:19:24] Speaker B: The other stuff is all attacked on because people crave the answers, dude.
[00:19:28] Speaker C: And.
[00:19:29] Speaker B: And people come in, in the middle of it and like, yeah, let's make this big. And they do. It sucks that it disappeared and it sucks that the government hasn't really given us its straight answer. That's real.
But are we gonna just like, really go all the way there or say, well, it just proves we can't rely on the government and these people and let's go back to our small circle.
Sorry, that was a long monologue, guys. Okay, Brad, take it out.
[00:19:52] Speaker A: Brad, I'm curious to know, like, what do you think, like, as men in particular, like, what draws us to these ideas and conspiracies? Maybe even from like a, like an image of God standpoint, the way, like, God designed us as men. Like, why. Why do we want to get to the bottom and like, like, unravel these, I don't know, power.
These powers and principalities that we think are at work here?
[00:20:27] Speaker B: That's a good question.
[00:20:27] Speaker C: Taylor, you're on fire with the questions, dude. Good question.
[00:20:30] Speaker B: Yeah,
[00:20:33] Speaker C: well, I think.
[00:20:33] Speaker B: Miss the podcast.
[00:20:35] Speaker C: I have a couple of thoughts about something you said, sky, just in regards to.
I do. I do feel. I don't feel like there just seems to be objectively this theme of.
And people just are living. They're not living in the real world. Like, we're by and large not living in the real world. We're living in a virtual world.
You mentioned sky, at some point you kind of graduated into this reality that you're like, okay, the people in front of me, my family, my church, my local church, that's where I'm going to derive. I'm always going to be critically thinking and thinking biblically and all of that, which we'll get to that.
But I'm grounded in reality, in community.
And that community is real. Like real flesh and blood community. And I don't think that's. That's such a.
We don't do that a whole lot anymore. And so I think a lot of this is a byproduct. I don't think it's the main thing, but I think it's a byproduct of. Of living in a non real world that it's just really easy to get sucked into something that isn't real.
[00:21:43] Speaker B: Wow. So can you hold your question real quick? You remember it?
[00:21:46] Speaker A: Yeah, I got.
[00:21:47] Speaker B: I will.
[00:21:47] Speaker A: Okay, great.
[00:21:48] Speaker B: Do you. So you think that. When do you think that started? Like the Internet age?
[00:21:52] Speaker C: Like, I have no idea.
[00:21:52] Speaker B: Late 90s?
[00:21:53] Speaker C: I don't know.
[00:21:54] Speaker B: I don't know.
[00:21:55] Speaker C: I mean, I. There was a really interesting monologue. I think this is a Matt Walsh monologue. About how we don't, like, culture doesn't exist today in the same way that it did even, like 15 years ago. And he used. You guys remember TRL? Remember total request live on MTV? How.
[00:22:13] Speaker B: I mean, dog are not old enough for that.
[00:22:17] Speaker C: And, dude, I am.
[00:22:18] Speaker A: I wasn't allowed to watch mtv.
[00:22:20] Speaker C: I am old growing up.
[00:22:21] Speaker B: Oh, yeah.
[00:22:21] Speaker C: I watch music videos, but that's a good thing. My kids would not be allowed to watch mtv. I was allowed to watch anything, which is not good. But so Total Request Live played every week, one night of the week, the 10 most popular videos in the country that by and large, the entirety of the culture agreed upon.
And so he was just making the point to highlight, like, that doesn't exist anymore because everything that we have now is specifically tailored to you. Your algorithm fits you, your needs, your wants, your desires, your interests. And so culture, in the way that we've always understood it, doesn't really exist.
Celebrities don't even really exist in the same way. Like, there are personal celebrities, so there are people that you follow that I don't follow. It's just really interesting.
So I can't remember when and how he said that started. So I, you know, and I don't want to misquote it like I did CS Lewis last week with the aliens.
[00:23:12] Speaker B: Oh, dude.
[00:23:13] Speaker C: But sorry about that. But I. Yeah, so I don't. I don't know, man. I don't know when it started. I would say this, Taylor, maybe to your question about, like, why do men get wrapped into this in an attempt to, like, reach across the aisle? Maybe to some of the brothers that are walking down this path, maybe.
[00:23:35] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah.
[00:23:36] Speaker C: And that the government has done a really bad job in giving us reason to trust them.
[00:23:41] Speaker A: Right.
[00:23:41] Speaker C: Recently.
So I think that just needs to be, like, acknowledged.
[00:23:45] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:23:45] Speaker C: We shouldn't argue that that's true.
They've done a really bad job of that. And so, you know, it's unfortunate. It's like what we talked about with pastors, you know, and just the conversation around, like, how untrusted pastors are. It's like, I'm a pastor vocationally, and I hate that.
But I'm not going to deny that by and large, pastors we have. Have not done a great job in garnering the trust of the community.
[00:24:10] Speaker B: Right.
[00:24:11] Speaker C: Need to do better, you know, So I think the. The same is true for the government. So I get it on one hand. I just personally, I get how easy it is to get caught up in some of these things and the people propagating These ideas are super good at what they do. Very good. That's why they have millions of followers like Candace Owens and Tucker. They're really good at what they do.
And so I think that acknowledging that, but then taking a step back into, okay, how do I understand what reality is? I think the answer to your question, Taylor, is in part.
I think it's in part that I think it's. The government hasn't given us reason to trust them.
I think we've talked about this at the church. I think that the culture, by and large, has villainized manhood and masculinity a lot. And I think guys are really ticked off about it. And I think that there's this kind of, like, uprising in maybe younger millennials.
I'm an older millennial. But, like, younger millennials and Gen Z guys that are getting wrapped up into this manosphere thing with guys like Andrew Tate and guys like that. Because these people, though, I think in many ways are wrong in what they're saying and how they're living are giving them some red meat to chew on in the midst of a culture that says, your manhood is bad.
[00:25:33] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:25:35] Speaker C: So God gave us manhood. It's a good thing. It's a good thing to do masculine things and to be masculine and all of these things. And so I think that a lot of it makes sense.
[00:25:46] Speaker A: There's one Christian blogger that actually attributes some of this to a lack of fatherhood.
[00:25:51] Speaker C: Oh, totally, dude.
[00:25:52] Speaker A: You know, and I mean, you speaking as a father can speak into this, but just the Internet age that we grew up in, especially millennials and Gen Z. Right. Like, the. That had a complicated relationship with their father. Maybe their father was absent or something like that. Are going to these online communities, like 4chan or Reddit or wherever.
[00:26:14] Speaker B: And I would just say Twitter, because it's there too.
[00:26:18] Speaker A: Yeah, of course.
[00:26:18] Speaker B: 4chan is even further than some of these people.
[00:26:20] Speaker A: 4chan is the fringe.
[00:26:21] Speaker B: You can find all the same stuff on Twitter. That's why I'm saying I don't even
[00:26:24] Speaker C: know what 4chan is.
[00:26:27] Speaker A: It is like a fringe website for the crazy conspiracies you can possibly dream up.
[00:26:33] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:26:35] Speaker A: And so. And a lot of I drop 4chan not to plug it at all, but it's because a lot of these ideas disseminate out of 4chan without us knowing it.
But people. People go here because these online communities are giving them something that are giving these men something that their father was supposed to give them, which is a sense of purpose, a sense of direction, a sense of this is what wisdom looks like.
This is pure knowledge, except it's doing it in the opposite direction. Right?
[00:27:11] Speaker C: Yeah, dude. I totally agree. And I think the podcast you sent Taylor, one of the guys, mentioned Andrew Peterson as kind of being this unofficial.
[00:27:20] Speaker A: Jordan Peterson.
[00:27:21] Speaker C: I'm sorry, Andrew Peterson was the Christian artist. Right. The poet, author guy. Not that guy. He's great. But. But no, Jordan Peterson. Yes.
[00:27:28] Speaker B: Who.
[00:27:29] Speaker C: You know, guys. And I'll speak as one, not as a father, but as somebody who grew up without a father.
Man. Yeah, it is. It's super enticing when you see a strong, confident man asserting ideas in this kind of way. Like, you do just naturally. I think as men, we naturally want to gravitate to that. Yeah. Because God created us to be fathered, and he ultimately is our father. But when that earthly father connection hasn't or isn't there, it's easy to gravitate toward these kinds of things. And, yeah, I think that there's a desire in men to protect their families. I think that, you know, and we need to know truth to do that, you know, and to provide and to plan for the future. And so I think that there's a whole bunch wrapped into it that is that I don't want to just overtly villainize as if, like, everybody that gets wrapped up into these things just has this intent to become a neo Nazi. Right, right. Like, and that's why I think it's so important for us to talk about. Because of how subtle the slip is, that if you're not careful and you do, you know, you're just going to keep going and you're going to end up in a place that you really never thought you would be in.
[00:28:39] Speaker B: It's almost like, like an ignorant.
What do you call that? Like, not sympathy. What do you call that? Whatever you become, like, an ignorant supporter of this idea, Neo Nazism or whatever you want to call it without knowing it.
[00:28:53] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:28:53] Speaker B: Because you're. Yeah.
[00:28:54] Speaker C: And there is. There is. There are certainly some, like, just overtly bad actors out there that. That love this stuff because there's violence in their heart.
[00:29:01] Speaker A: Right.
[00:29:02] Speaker C: Yeah. And it's bad.
[00:29:03] Speaker B: I mean. Yeah. Like I was saying before the podcast started, we were talking a little bit about this, but I was saying it's interesting how, you know, you people will do this consistently throughout history. But we've done this with the Founding Fathers, too, where, like, oh, they weren't so good. You know, they had this, this, and this. Like, we, like, basically say that because of these things they did, they're not what we were taught. They're bad. Yeah, same thing with Winston Churchill. Oh, he wasn't so good. He had these things. So he must not be as good as we thought he was in World War II or whatever. And then it leads to, here we are in Hitler and it's like, oh, well, he wasn't so bad because of these things he did.
[00:29:39] Speaker A: There is something enticing to the human heart and the human mind when you hear somebody that seems to have authority or knowledge about something that says, hey, everything's not what you think it is.
[00:29:52] Speaker B: Right?
[00:29:52] Speaker A: Everything's not what it seems.
[00:29:54] Speaker B: Sure.
[00:29:54] Speaker A: That's. That's the heart of conspiracy.
[00:29:56] Speaker B: Then all of a sudden that's like the hook. And it gets you thinking.
[00:29:58] Speaker A: That's like, wait, because, because it's not like, it's not like it's there.
There are conspiracies that are not based in reality. Like Flat Earth, I think is not based in any kind of reality. Right. But most conspiracies, simulation theory.
[00:30:11] Speaker B: Right?
[00:30:12] Speaker A: Any simulation. The dude gotta have Elon on to talk about that.
Tesla is in the simulation too.
[00:30:19] Speaker B: I mean, if God is the controller.
[00:30:21] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, like, but a lot of conspiracy theories stem from some sort of like, like truth that's out there. And so when you have that hook, like you said of like, oh, let's start with this proposition that, hey, you know, Hitler wasn't all bad because he, he made this great highway system for Germany. So everything's not what it seems with Hitler, you know, or take. Who take whatever historical figure you want.
And, and that's how these ideas start taking their root.
[00:31:00] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. He put all of his soldiers on meth. I just want to throw that out there.
Just. Yeah, it's true. 100% true. So. And a lot of it. So like, I mean, whatever, dude, you can do. Exactly. My point is you can do this all day, right? You're like, what are we doing here?
[00:31:14] Speaker C: And then this is where like I crazy like, okay, how do we, how do we help people and how do we ourselves get grounded into reality? Flesh and blood reality. Like obviously that starts with the Bible, right? Like, so Jesus, the person of Jesus. I am the way and the truth and the life. So all truth is found in his person and his word. The Bible testifies to him, to his person. So that's reality. Like what the Bible has to say is reality. And as a Christian, I'm like, that's wonderful news, man. We don't have to go grasping for truth because we have it.
And so we can which, again, this is a rabbit hole. But I'm like, that's part of what is concerning and frustrating to me is like, how much time, if we compare the number of hours we're spending online listening to this stuff compared to how much time we're spending in the Bible, what would that look like?
[00:32:03] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:32:03] Speaker B: Where is our attention? Yeah, it's a good question.
[00:32:05] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:32:06] Speaker B: That's what I was going to ask next is like, what do you do from here? Then? If you have someone that is embedded in this stuff, obviously, and, like, it's not necessarily bad in a way that they're like, figuring things out or whatever, how do you point that out to them? How would you tell them, like, hey, man, maybe your attention isn't spent well right now. Right. Because like you said earlier, I think we've all said this.
We don't want to villainize, completely villainize. Like, just the idea of even believing any of these conspiracy theories because some of them happen to be real or true or whatever.
But I think what we're really talking about is attention.
[00:32:43] Speaker C: Like, you just brought up when I think. Let's. Can we clarify that a little bit?
[00:32:47] Speaker B: Sure.
[00:32:47] Speaker C: Okay. So we don't have to go into detail on every single quote, unquote conspiracy theory that you or us think is true or not true.
[00:32:55] Speaker A: Sure.
[00:32:56] Speaker C: What are some of the things that are being propagated now that should be villainized, that we should.
That we should tell our guys, tell our ladies.
You should stay away from that.
[00:33:06] Speaker B: Like. Like this is one of those list of things that you can't. What is it called?
[00:33:11] Speaker C: And we're not saying you can't. What we're saying. I mean, some of it. Yeah. And I guess this is where, like, objective truth is a thing, right? It is. Truth is an actual thing.
[00:33:20] Speaker B: Like, there's biblical ideas that are gray, and then there's biblical ideas that are like this. You cannot be in this.
[00:33:25] Speaker C: They're just. They're saying they're.
There are ideologies that should be rejected by Christians.
[00:33:31] Speaker B: Okay, there we go.
[00:33:32] Speaker C: And there are ideologies that can be redeemed and talked about and discussed and all of that. There are million things in that. But there are some things that are being popularized today that. That we are saying you should not dabble your toes in those things.
[00:33:46] Speaker B: Well, I'm going to pass this on to you then, to give us the first one or talk more deeply about this. I think it's rightfully not my place. It's probably yours. For the people listening to this, what is the what is the thing we're talking about? What is the, the big, I guess, theory, prevalent theory that we're saying we probably shouldn't go down that road.
[00:34:05] Speaker C: I'll say a few things and then I'll bump it to you, Taylor, because I feel like you, you're more educated in this than I am. Hitler was not a good man.
Okay? Like that should be a full stop statement. It is really fascinating that we're having to say that he killed many, many, many, many women, children and men.
Not a good man.
And the Holocaust was not a good thing. I don't care what you think about the Jews.
[00:34:29] Speaker B: And it was real, by the way.
[00:34:30] Speaker C: And it was real.
It actually happened.
[00:34:33] Speaker A: We have to say that.
[00:34:35] Speaker C: I'll say that, like I shared with you guys, I had a conversation with a friend of mine who is not a believer and he's been, you know, dabbling in this stuff and he's, he's questioning a lot of things and you know, a lot of things pertaining to the Jews. And just for the, for the record, it's an inside joke.
For the record, I, I am not a dispensationalist.
I'm not a person who believes that Christians ought to in any way unequivocally support the nation state of Israel. I don't believe any of those things. I think that the nation state of Israel has done bad things and sometimes probably still is doing not good things.
[00:35:20] Speaker A: Right?
[00:35:20] Speaker C: So I don't think a person is a child of God because they're a part of the nation state of Israel. You have to believe upon Jesus. That's how you become a child of God, period. That's Jew and gentile. So we can get more into that maybe later. But all of that to say.
And is it true that the Jews have been behind some sketchy and, or even nefarious things throughout the history of our country? Probably, but that doesn't discount the reality of the Holocaust. And what he was asking me is, you know, might it have actually been a good thing because in his mind the Jews are behind all of these nefarious things. That Hitler was actually an agent of God doing what he was doing in order to obliterate the world from this wicked, evil, demonic people group.
And I just flat was like, no, it is never, it is never okay to kill women and children.
And you know, I mean, it's, it's men for that matter. But specifically, you know, I'm just like, no, it wasn't a good thing. And you know, the fact that, that now is Confusing people as to whether or not this thing that historically forever since it happened, has been agreed upon, this happened and it was bad, is now being put into question is really concerning.
So I would start there. I would say that we need to be really clear.
We need to be really clear on the realities of good and evil and knowing what those categories mean and what they look like when we see them in front of our eyes.
[00:36:49] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm glad you brought that up like a real life example because I think people might, like me, mistakenly think this is only online starts there. Like you said, we're all virtual, but there's real people struggling with this right now, like that you've talked to and.
[00:37:05] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah.
[00:37:06] Speaker C: So you should want to pray for the Jews. If you're a Christian, you shouldn't be spending so much time.
And I'm not, again, I'm not, you know, bashing any of our guys. But like, you shouldn't be spending so much time listening to Candace Owens. You should be spending more time.
[00:37:20] Speaker B: Why would you. Yeah. Choose her out of everybody?
[00:37:21] Speaker C: Well, I'm just giving it. It's just the first thing that pops into my mind, whoever. But like you, you should be spending more time in your word. And, and if you're super concerned about the state of Israel, if you find yourself developing even like the slightest bit of hatred in your heart, you should pray for them. Because Jesus says pray for your enemies. I mean, it's like our desire as Christians ought to be the evangelism, the evangelization of the world. That should be our desire. Every single people group, every person coming to faith in Jesus and being saved. And if it isn't your desire for any particular people group, then you have a heart issue.
[00:37:52] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah.
Taylor, you have something to add here?
[00:37:54] Speaker A: Well, maybe to give like a grounded biblical illustration of like how Christians should relate to conspiracy theories. I think the book of First Timothy is really, really helpful, again, like, as kind of an analogous illustration. So just sort of some background on First Timothy. Very, very quickly.
Paul is writing to Timothy and specifically a group of Christians at the church of Ephesus.
And it's one of the first things that Paul says to Timothy. And Timothy is like his mentee, Paul's mentor, pastoral mentor.
One of the first things he says, he says, as I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. That's the first thing he tells Timothy, a man who is pastoring in Ephesus. Right. And so just to give you some background of what these myths and genealogies were, these are Jewish Christian teachers who are beginning to rise to prominence that are taking genealogies in the Old Testament, likely from Genesis, and saying, hey, these genealogies aren't exactly what you think they are. There's actually in the way that these, this is ordered. There's some mysticism and numerology here and there's a secret narrative being painted, a secret mythological narrative that has to do with like Nephilim.
And this is, this is where like the Book of Enoch comes into play and things like that. I don't think Paul's specifically talking about Enoch here, but there, it's very, very clear in second in the Second Temple Jewish world that these ideas were disseminating. And so Paul's telling Timothy, hey, don't let people like, like don't have anything to do with these mythologies or genealogies.
And the reason why is because he says, the aim of our charge is what? Love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers, the law, without understanding either what they are saying or, or the things about which they make confident assertions.
So these are. This, this is not coming from outside the church, this is coming from within the church, people that are rising up and saying, hey, these genealogies aren't what you think they are. And let me tell you actually what they're saying. And what's interesting is that Paul doesn't really go line by line and give an apologetic of how to combat these conspiracies, these ideas. Instead, he's going to give a better vision of what Christians are supposed to embody and be. And so he goes on in First Timothy three and he talks about qualifications for elders and qualifications for deacons and is saying, we don't just need.
I saw a quote, someone that's like, the only way to combat bad ideas is with better ideas or good ideas.
[00:41:24] Speaker B: Yeah, for sure.
[00:41:24] Speaker A: And that's true, right? Like, we need, we need better ideas, we need better arguments, we need sound teaching and sound doctrine.
[00:41:30] Speaker B: That's why free speech is so important.
[00:41:32] Speaker A: Let's go libertarians, shout out.
But we also need better Christians, right? We don't just need better ideas. We need Christians of sound moral character who love their families, who love their communities, who are about, who want to pursue Jesus with a sincere and pure conscience and, and want that for the rest of the world. Right.
So he's. He's. I think it's a helpful parallel because Paul is going to say, yes, there are these. There are these nefarious conspiracies going on, but that's vain discussion. That's not what I want you as the church to be spending your time being consumed with.
Because the more you dive into these things, it's like you were talking about earlier, Scott. You can be consumed by this.
[00:42:27] Speaker C: Yeah, totally.
[00:42:28] Speaker A: This can. Like, and, And. And I think that it's a form of deconstruction in the other direction. Right. It's a. It's a kind of deconstruction that. That says, man, the.
[00:42:42] Speaker C: The.
[00:42:43] Speaker A: For taking our example. The. The. The Jews are just behind everything that's evil. And suddenly it warps your heart in such a way that there is hate there now instead of like a desire to pray for your enemies or pray for those who don't know Christ.
[00:43:02] Speaker B: Yeah. Historically, it's happened with other races, too.
So it's not like just Jews all of a sudden are the ones. Right. Like, we happen to be in a time where Israel is at war with another country. So obviously it gets brought up and, you know, you may or may not agree with what we're doing in that case, obviously, as America. But other races have had the same thing where we're like, let's pick a race and let's demonize them, which is crazy. Obviously racism. So, like, it's just wild to me that we're like, the people that, you know, are supposed to be the exact opposite of that. Like, we're supposed to be sharing and spreading the love of Jesus to everybody, no matter what they look like or act like or their personality or color or any of that. And we're picking the Jews, which. It's just. It's just crazy.
[00:43:56] Speaker A: We. We don't want to become the kind of Christians where people know us by what we're against instead of what we're for.
[00:44:03] Speaker C: Like.
[00:44:04] Speaker A: Like Christians are about the person of Jesus.
[00:44:07] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:44:07] Speaker A: And the gospel and the. The truth of his word spreading so that all men and women and children might inherit eternal life. That's what we're about. I don't want to. I don't want us to be known for, you know, these.
These vain discussions and vain ideas. And unfortunately, online, that's what's getting the most clicks. That's what's getting the most. That's what's driving the most Revenue is, man. I want to hear what this person said about Israel or this particular political event. Like, like. And it just, it consumes us and it. And we have to be like, none of us are sitting up on a high horse here right now because we've. I have gone down the rabbit hole. I have. I have listened to these voices and these figures, espouse these ideas, and it's very, very addicting even to just hear it. Even though I don't agree with it, there's something in me that wants to listen to that over listening to the word of God.
[00:45:10] Speaker C: What did, what did Jeremy Boring call it? He had. It was like, like content pornography or something like that. What did he.
[00:45:16] Speaker A: Yeah, I. I mean, that's a good word for it.
[00:45:18] Speaker C: But he was. I mean, I was like, yeah, dude, that is what it's. I mean, that's. That's. It.
[00:45:22] Speaker B: It's another addiction, right?
[00:45:24] Speaker C: It's another addiction.
[00:45:24] Speaker A: It's a kind of addiction.
[00:45:26] Speaker C: And it is. It is a dopamine hit. It is. There is something very enticing that feels good temporarily about it until you feel like trash afterward.
[00:45:33] Speaker B: But, you know, yeah, I'm definitely not on a highway. I had public. I have public podcasts that are still out that you can go.
And I'm talking about stuff that's opposite of this stuff. So I don't think, like anyone's immune to it.
[00:45:45] Speaker A: It's junk food at all.
[00:45:46] Speaker B: And. Yeah, but how would you.
So we've talked a little bit about. Brad said there's like a no go zone. Essentially, as Christians, we should not go down this road.
[00:45:55] Speaker C: Could I refine my statement a little bit just because I think you brought up a really good point, Taylor, that what we need are better arguments and better Christians. That's a wonderful point, man. So just saying Hitler's bad, I don't think is going to persuade anybody who maybe is flirting with the idea that maybe he wasn't as bad as a history book. Say he was kind of a thing. That kind of statement from me is not going to work.
So I think the clarifying piece for me again is what. What does the word of God say we are to be and think and do when it comes to people and people groups that we don't agree with. And, and I think that's where the clarity comes in. Like Jesus says, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. So if, even if you find yourself, which I don't agree with it, I don't agree with the, the belief that's Driving a lot of this stuff. But man, at the end of the day, at least some of the stuff that I've read and listened to it is Jew hatred.
[00:46:54] Speaker A: Right.
[00:46:54] Speaker C: It's not Jew skepticism, it's Jew hatred. And any hatred of any person or people group is unacceptable in the life of a Christian.
And you know, so I think your clarity comes there and I just. Yeah, I mean, the Bible paints a much more beautiful picture of what we're called into as Christians. Like you mentioned Taylor, pray for them, find ways to get to work and do more evangelism. When was the last time you shared the gospel with anybody? If you're spending hours on end every day listening to stuff but you haven't shared the gospel with anybody in a month, that's a problem.
I mean, if you're married, you got a lot of work to do in your marriage. If you're a parent, you got a lot of work to do with your kids. And I say this for myself, it's a lot of work and you just don't have the time to waste on this stuff. Yeah, right.
[00:47:42] Speaker A: Yeah, we're not. And that's not. You saying that is not being dismissive either.
[00:47:47] Speaker C: Right.
[00:47:48] Speaker A: Because I don't want somebody to listen to this. Well, well, you just don't understand, you don't understand the arguments or the, the research or anything like that. Yeah, no, it's not being dismissive. It's. It's literally looking at the whole corpus of the word of God and saying what, what is it calling us to devote our lives, lives to and our attention to?
Is it, is, is it really these ideas like, like you, you can't make an argument that consuming your mind with conspiracies or, or, or Internet research on, on, on a particular group or a particular time period is actually enriching you and helping you love and worship Jesus Christ more than.
I just don't think you can make that argument.
[00:48:36] Speaker B: It's true.
[00:48:36] Speaker C: Nor I think can you say that, that this would include seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, which is what Jesus says, this is what your life should be about.
[00:48:46] Speaker B: So what do we tell, what do we say to somebody like an is there action step or is there a way to know? Like I'm too far on the attention span for these other things. Obviously this is self reflection and you might have a, you might have your own gauge or whatever. It was easy for me only because I'm used to being hyper focused on things. Like I get obsessive and so I can tell already When I'm obsessive about something, conspiracy theories just happen to be that thing. And so years in, I'm like, oh, this obviously is the new thing for me. I need to turn that off. Right.
It takes a while to balance those things out. Some people don't have that meter or that radar. And so how do you.
What would you say to them potentially? Is there anything you can tell them that they would even do or believe or. You know what I mean? Because when you're in it, you're like, nah, dude, I'm good. This is real. This is true. Why wouldn't I want to know what's real out there and true out there?
[00:49:42] Speaker A: Yeah, maybe just a couple of diagnostic questions of, like, so you're saying, like, somebody that just doesn't have a good maybe gauge on whether. On how far into the stuff they are or all that.
[00:49:58] Speaker C: What.
[00:49:59] Speaker A: What angers you the most right now?
[00:50:02] Speaker C: What.
[00:50:03] Speaker A: What. What is it in life that that really makes you. Makes you angry?
What is it. What. What is it in life that that is making you the most happy?
What are you the most passionate about?
Like, those.
[00:50:19] Speaker C: Just.
[00:50:19] Speaker A: Just those kinds of, like, hard questions. And, and if you find yourself just. Just being really, really angered and upset with a particular race of people or ethnic group, then you are too far. Yeah, you like.
[00:50:40] Speaker B: Or even the government.
[00:50:41] Speaker A: Or even the government.
[00:50:43] Speaker C: Even the government.
[00:50:44] Speaker A: Even the government. Because again, like Brad said earlier, like, we are called to pray for these people. We're called to pray for the institution of the government, no matter how corrupt or evil it is. Paul lived under an extremely oppressive Roman regime and called people to pray for the government.
Right. So what are those things that.
What is making you the most angry right now? What did. What. What is making you.
What are you really passionate about?
What's. What's. What's on the. What's on the cusp of your mind?
[00:51:22] Speaker B: Yeah, I think for anyone listening, that's a good.
And for me too. I mean, that's a good thing to walk through.
[00:51:28] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:51:28] Speaker B: You know, whenever someone else might point out your attention span or your attention on something else, go back to these questions. You know, Those are really good questions.
[00:51:36] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:51:37] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:51:38] Speaker C: I think the first thing that comes to mind. Taylor, that was rich, dude. That's really good. I think the first thing that comes to mind for me is just prioritizing community. Like, don't stop doing that. You know, just be around other Christians who won't just tell you what you want to hear. So don't. Don't allow yourself to fall into the echo chamber again of like the virtual world. Because that's what it is you find in the ver. We find in the virtual world. I say we. We find in the virtual world, you know, everybody who's going to agree with everything that we believe in.
[00:52:04] Speaker A: Yeah, true.
[00:52:05] Speaker C: And that's the beauty of the church, man, is like, you know, we're all imperfect people, but we're gathering together in flesh and blood to sharpen one another to be more like Jesus. And that requires unity, but not uniformity. Like, it requires us to disagree about ideas and things and, and, and bring those disagreements to one another and challenge one another and all of those kinds of things. So prioritizing community, I think, would be a big thing. And then this is, this is something I heard from, from somebody else recently, kind of talking about some of this stuff among Christian men who are propagating some of these ideas, like some of the big podcasters. But, you know, his concern was, he said, man, there's just a whole lot of horizontal focus. So if we think about, like, vertical focus on God, horizontal focus on people, he's like, I don't hear anything about the fear of the Lord in these conversations.
Like, that's not even in the equation of conversations. There's nothing about it. It's all horizontal stuff, man. If you find that.
And this goes in with, I think your diagnostic questions, Taylor, which are great. Like, if you find that in answering those diagnostic questions, what's making you angry, what's making you worried would be another one. Yeah, that's good that they all have to do with horizontal affairs or like Paul would say, civilian affairs. And there's really no thought in your mind or very little thought in your mind of the holiness of God, you know, the, the coming judgment of God, you know, and the, the fatherhood of God, like delight in the Lord and, and how, you know, delight in the Lord produces the fruit of the spirit and all of these kinds of things. Like, if that's not in our thought process throughout the day, then, then we're off balance.
[00:53:50] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:53:50] Speaker C: And I think community is a, Is a great context to work those things out with other brothers who will love you and walk with you.
[00:53:57] Speaker A: Yeah, it's really helpful.
[00:53:58] Speaker B: That is helpful. Other thing I would say, only thing I want to add right quick is if you think you're going to be behind by not being involved in the news or conspiracy theories or any. What's next, you will not be.
Because for years. Yeah, there's a cycle. It's obvious, right. It's clear and you get out of it for a couple years and you ask somebody about it, you're like, oh, it's the same thing that I was happening years ago.
[00:54:24] Speaker A: Right.
[00:54:25] Speaker B: It's always the same guys. Doesn't change. That's okay. It's worldly. That's how that works.
[00:54:29] Speaker A: So, yeah, there's truly nothing new under the sun.
[00:54:32] Speaker B: It is okay to move on. It is okay to miss some of that stuff.
[00:54:36] Speaker C: Yeah. I don't know. Probably better not to be. Not to be totally uninformed, but.
[00:54:41] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:54:42] Speaker C: Right. Again, you.
[00:54:42] Speaker B: It is better, but yeah, that's.
[00:54:44] Speaker C: We have responsibilities in front of us.
[00:54:45] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:54:46] Speaker C: Flesh and blood responsibilities. What are those?
Are we doing those to the very best of our ability by the grace of God, for the glory of God and the flourishing of these people.
[00:54:54] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:54:54] Speaker C: If you're not married, your neighbors, your co workers, your, you know, whatever, if you, you know, on and on it goes. But those, Those flesh and blood relationships which, you know, people have existed within and functioned within for thousands and thousands of years.
[00:55:09] Speaker B: Right.
[00:55:09] Speaker C: It's a brand new thing to live in a virtual world.
[00:55:11] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:55:12] Speaker C: And so, you know, and. And I would argue we talked ever.
[00:55:15] Speaker A: You ever look at the Amish and you're like, man, dude, y' all might
[00:55:18] Speaker C: be Amish, you know. You know, I do.
[00:55:19] Speaker B: You know, I.
[00:55:21] Speaker C: They're on.
[00:55:21] Speaker A: Like, I. I love electricity. I love a good microwave. But you guys microwave, y' all crush
[00:55:27] Speaker C: your own coffee beans.
[00:55:28] Speaker A: Crush your doing coffee beans. You know, agrarian living.
[00:55:31] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:55:32] Speaker C: Yeah, for sure.
[00:55:32] Speaker B: 100. Yes, man. Really good talk, guys. Are you guys. You guys have anything else you kind of want to add or what are we thinking?
[00:55:39] Speaker C: Closing thoughts. T. What. What is. You got a question? A closing question. Sky. To kind of. I feel like. I feel like it would be good concisely.
[00:55:47] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:55:47] Speaker C: To tie this in. As much of a bow as we can for people.
[00:55:51] Speaker B: You're really good at that.
[00:55:52] Speaker C: Well, I don't have one at the moment.
[00:55:53] Speaker B: Okay. But yeah, like bullet pointed list or whatever. I think the diagnostic questions are definitely an ending. Like, you need to go back to these all the time.
[00:55:59] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:56:00] Speaker A: Yeah. And I think just to your point again, Brad, like, as. As Christian men, specifically, the. The Lord has. Has given us. Has given all of us purpose and calling, no matter what it is that we do. Like, our identity is to be found in him. That's something the Lord is teaching me lately that your identity is what is foundational and your calling stems from that, not the other way around.
Right.
[00:56:31] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:56:32] Speaker A: And so I think just continually returning to fellowship With Jesus, fellowship with your family, fellowship with one another in, in the covenant community, learning about what animates your heart. When you hear about these conspiracy theories, are you like, like, does the cortisol levels spike or like, where, where is your head and your heart at when it comes to some of these things?
[00:57:03] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:57:03] Speaker A: And, and checking that, and then checking that against your calling. And it's just kind of like reverse engineering at work backwards. Checking against your calling, checking against all the way back to your identity as a believer in Christ.
[00:57:18] Speaker C: It's a good word.
[00:57:18] Speaker B: I think it's. That's the bow. What do you think? What do you want to add?
[00:57:22] Speaker C: So many things.
[00:57:24] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:57:24] Speaker A: I mean, we didn't, we didn't even, like, hit on a theology of Israel or dispensationalism and those kinds of things.
[00:57:32] Speaker C: Maybe, maybe people have.
[00:57:33] Speaker A: If people have questions about that.
[00:57:35] Speaker B: Yeah, send them in. We have a question, a way to put questions in. If you want. Maybe we'll do a part two and talk a little bit more about it.
[00:57:40] Speaker C: Should probably do a part two. I would just say this sky, if I, if I can.
[00:57:44] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:57:45] Speaker C: In regards to the question asker who is interacting with, with, with women, with wives whose husbands are struggling with this man, if, if I, if I had the opportunity to sit down and have a conversation with that brother, if he's a Christian, just to urge and plead with him lovingly to prioritize his wife over all this nonsense.
Like, I mean, just it, this, this kind of thing leading to strife and division within our marriage is totally a work of Satan. Yeah, he, he would totally do something like that. So just maybe taking a step back from all of the what's true, what's not true, et cetera, and just be reminded of the reality of Satan and spiritual warfare and what he wants to do. He wants to destroy your marriage. And, and if he can, he doesn't care what he uses to do that. And so if you find that there's friction in your marriage over this, then man, like, heed the invitation to repent, to confess your sin, turn from your sin, do it to the Lord. He's already forgiven you through the cross. You're already, you're in Christ. If you're a believer, you're clothed with the righteousness of Jesus. It's already been forgiven and cleansed and all of that.
So do that with the Lord, but do it in community with other people who can help, you know, lovingly hold you accountable, confess to your wife and turn from that and prioritize your wife over all of this stuff. None of this stuff is worth it. You're not going to change anything anyways.
So even just the whole idea that if I gain more knowledge, somehow I'm going to play an effect, I'm going to have a part and you're not. You're absolutely not going to have any effect on any of this stuff. God's given you responsibility over wife.
[00:59:24] Speaker B: And there's better ways to. If you are looking for knowledge, there's better ways.
[00:59:27] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:59:28] Speaker B: Get on audible, dude. That's literally the. I mean, read a book like it doesn't even matter. Books are always going to be more well thought out than a tweet.
[00:59:35] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:59:36] Speaker B: And they're. No matter what. And usually they'll lead down a more knowledgeable path, I guess. There's obviously bad books out there. I can't say all of them are good, but that helped me out. I mean, that's helped me get out of the whole sphere, political sphere and everything. I've started reading books and I was like, wait a second, you know. Yeah. Anyway, it's good, man.
[00:59:53] Speaker A: Good word.
[00:59:54] Speaker B: Okay, guys. Yeah. Maybe we'll do a part two.
[00:59:56] Speaker C: We should have Taylor back.
[00:59:57] Speaker B: Yeah, right. All right. Love, everybody. We will talk to y' all later.
