← In Totality with Megan Ashley
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- [00:01]
Megan Ashley
Day or night, VRBoCare is here 24. 7 to help make every part of your stay seamless. If anything comes up or you simply need a little guidance, support is ready whenever you reach out.
- [00:15]
Jordan
From the moment you book to the
- [00:17]
Megan Ashley
moment you head home, we're here to
- [00:19]
Jordan
help things run smoothly because a great
- [00:22]
Megan Ashley
trip starts with the right support.
- [00:24]
Jordan
And hey, a good playlist doesn't hurt either.
- [00:30]
Megan Ashley
What's up family? Before we jump into today's episode, I want to share something close to my heart, our In Totality Patreon community the Village. If you ever listen to the podcast and you thought, wow, I really wish there was more. This is exactly why I created this space. You'll receive early access to every episode, so while others are hearing it for the first time, you'll already be watching it and soaking it in. But it's not just that. You'll also get access to the In Totality Docu series, which is like my vlo, which shows what I do when I'm not on the podcast. And that's not it. You'll also be the first to know about merch drops, events and opportunities to connect in real life. One of my favorite parts is our Bible study and book clubs where we're walking through scripture together and encouraging one another in the faith. On Patreon, we are building a community that truly desires a relationship with the Lord, pursues truth and supports one another and I would love for you to be a part of that. So if you want more, come join the Village on Patreon. The link is in the description and I can't wait to see you there. Lately I just been feeling really grieved when I look at the body of Christ objectively like online. Honestly, I believe that if you're a believer and you are at all online, you are too seeing a bunch of discord when I hit submit to that comment. Will it be known that I'm a disciple of Christ? I'm not arguing politics. I what I'm arguing is are you being a Christian? Stop and way look both way like just wait. Wait for the Lord to give you the okay. People will know that we are his disciples by the way we love one another. This is Christ telling us to love one another. Be angry but what sin not? That's what he said.
- [02:30]
Jordan
Foreign.
- [02:36]
Megan Ashley
What's up you guys? Welcome back to another episode of In Totality. I'm your host Megan Ashley. I'm so excited to be back with you guys for another week of just honest dialogue. We just chatting it up. I got the team here with me, and let me just say, shout out to them. I'm so grateful because, you know, you gotta have people who are discerning and love the Lord. Because I had felt this is a good thing and a bad thing or not, it's always a good thing, but it could be bad for your flesh. But I had felt like the first batch of recordings that we were supposed to do for this season, the Lord wanted me to do solo episodes. And everybody knows it's not my thing. I just rather have people that I can talk to. I'd rather interview guests. Like, I'd rather get wisdom from other people. Like, I love that. But I have felt kind of challenged, like, sensing that the Lord was like. And I even told Nicole, I was like, I don't have. Like, I have guests. But it kind of came very last minute. The list of people that I wanted that I gave her to talk to. And we had to have the recording done by mid February. Um, so anyway, I just had sensed and kept sensing that the Lord wanted me to do some solo episodes. And we had a team meeting, a team call, and I had expressed that to the team and Nicole was like, you know, I had sensed that the Lord was really like, I really was hoping you would say that because I had been praying and I think the Lord wants you to do so. So it just really, it's really just. I. I'm just really thankful for the team that the Lord has blessed me with because they are discerning and, and God fearing people, which, which matters. But then this week I was like, great, we gonna do solo episodes and y' all are gonna be my guests. So it's like, I still do a solo episode, but you're gonna help me out. And so they're here, they're sitting there at the production table. You guys will see them. And I was talking to them last night and I was telling them how just lately I just been feeling really grieved. Like, when I look at the body of Christ objectively, right. Like online, right. Just looking at Christian content and the Christian context of people who say that they're Christians and the stuff that they post, I had been feeling, yeah, just kind of like grieved and sad that there's so much disunity when it comes to the body right now. And I, and I honestly, I believe that if you're a believer and you're following Christ and you are at all online, I think that you are too seeing a bunch of discord. Like, I think that there is a Bunch of arguing and quarreling and, you know, dishonoring of one another. And I felt like the Lord led me to Ephesians 4, and I wanna read it because I think it's important. But Ephesians 4, Paul says here, therefore, I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit. That scripture kept coming up and, you know, been a little bit more active on threads than I. Than I normally am and giving commentary to situations and things that have been happening in the world and especially in our nation. And it's just been a lot of. It's been a lot of. A lot of feedback. Not all great feedback, but it's just been a lot of. A lot of stuff. I think I was just. Yeah, I think I was just really grieved watching how easy it is for us to dishonor one another because we don't agree. And when the Lord brought me to this Scripture, I felt challenged, number one. Because I think that when. When we see things that. That are. That are happening, that grieve us or cause us to be frustrated, I think the first thing for the Christian to do is evaluate their own heart first. So it's like, before I go and try to point my finger at everybody else and we. Y' all need to do this, y' all need to do that. It's like, first, what am I doing? Like, first, let me interrogate my own heart. Let me interrogate what's happening with me first. Let. Like. And so when the Lord brought me to Ephesians 4, I had to pause and say, okay, Lord, am I walking with humility? Am I being gentle? Am I being patient? Am I bearing with others? Am I. Am I doing my part to maintain unity? And so that was the first evaluation that I felt like I had to have. I need to evaluate and check myself before I am, you know, wagging my finger at everybody else. Like, y' all need to do this, y' all need to do that. Stop doing this. Stop doing that. As far as it's like, okay, what am I doing? Like, am I contributing to the unity or am I contributing to the disunity of the body? And there's so much that's going on right now that I feel is causing believers to be divided. You know what I mean? It's like, you're either, you know, we have the Hyper conservatives over here, we have the liberals over here, we have the this over there, we have the whites over here, we have the blacks over here, we have the charismatics over here, we have the sensationalists over here. There's just so much division and. And it's causing us to argue. And I just am wondering, you know, I'm just pausing and taking inventory and being like, okay, God, what is your heart on all of this? You know what I'm saying? Not so much God, who do you agree with? But, like, how does the Lord feel about all of this? Because I want my feelings to align with the Lord's feelings. I want how I feel about a thing to be what God feels about the thing. And so, yeah, as I was talking to the team yesterday, I was like, yeah, y', all, I feel like we just need to talk about unity. Like, we need to be unified as a body. And I just feel like there's so much language in scripture that talks about unity, and there's. There's a few things we're just going to talk through, because I know we. Jordan and. And Nicole and I were talking last night, and we were just, like, throwing out scripture. We were like, and another thing and another thing. And on top of that, you're supposed to da, da, da, da, da. So there was just so much scripture that I just kind of want to, you know, just have a raw, honest conversation about what our observ have been when it comes to the unity of the body. You know, I feel like. And I put this on threads not too long ago, but I was like, I feel like if the church was more unified, that Christianity would be seen as a community and not as an industry. And I feel like because there's so much disunity in the body of Christ, it's more of an industry than it is a community. We're supposed to be a community of. Of believers, not an industry of believers. You know what I'm saying? And I understand, yes, like, it is an industry, because. Yeah, I get that, but it shouldn't. It should feel more like a community than it should feel like an industry. We should be set apart. You know what I'm saying? That we're supposed to live holy as God is holy. Right? We're supposed to be. Be holy as God is holy. God is holy. What does holy mean? He's set apart. You know what I'm saying? And so he causes church to be set apart. But we can't be set apart looking like the world we're supposed to be in the world, not of the world, which means that we're not supposed to do as the world does, let them argue and dishonor each other and all this stuff. We're not supposed to do that as Christians. We're supposed to honor and love one another. But as soon as something comes up, we are immediately in our feelings and in our flesh and thinking that it's licensed. Because I don't agree with you to dishonor you. And it's like we have to take a pause. And Dr. Sarita, like, really laid some stuff on me in my conversation with her recently, but she was encouraging me and instructing me to kind of pray more specifically. And I believe that it applies here because I'm a very sensitive person. Like, if you guys don't know by now, I'm extremely sensitive. And I've actually have prayed that the Lord would, like, take some of that sensitivity away because it feels like it's been a hindrance to my joy. It's been a hindrance to ministry. It's just been a hindrance. Like, lord, I don't want to be sensitive, right? I see stuff that happens online, and I am immediately sensitive to it, right? When it comes to children, when it comes to other nations being persecuted, when it comes to, you know, hypocrites in the church, when it comes to people who are dishonoring other people, like, I am. I am extremely sensitive to stuff like that. And when I say sensitive, I don't just mean, like, sad, but, like, my emotions are sensitive. They're. They're heightened. I can be angry, I can be sad, all the things. And so in getting wise counsel from Dr. Sarita, she was like, yeah, just pray that you're sensitive to the things that the Lord is sensitive about. So not necessarily like, lord, take my sensitivity away, but let me be sensitive to what's sensitive to you. Let me love what you love and hate what you hate, right? Me be grieved by what grieves your Holy Spirit. There's a few steps that I feel like we were talking through last night that I feel like would be helpful as we are engaging with one another online regarding topics that we might disagree with. And let's just keep it real, y'.
- [12:22]
Jordan
All.
- [12:22]
Megan Ashley
We're just living in a time where it's hard to disagree. It just is. But I just believe that the Lord is calling us to unity. He's been calling us to be unified. But we have to remember that unity doesn't mean uniformity. We're not all going to think the Same. We're not always all going to like the same things or dislike the same things or be sensitive to the same things, but we must unify over what God has called us to unify over. Right? And so I think that it would be helpful that as we are engaging with things online, that we take a moment to pause and say, lord, first let me see this other person the way that you see them. Number one, they are an image bearer. They are an image bearer. Let me see them as you see them. Let me show them dignity because they are an image bearer. Like they deserve dignity. Every person deserves dignity, regardless if you like them or not, regardless if they voted right or left or independent or whatever. They deserve dignity because they're an image bearer. So we have to first pause and, and lord, help me see them as an image bearer. And then two. Then say, lord, how do you feel about this? Here's how I feel, but that really doesn't matter. When it comes to how you feel about it. Your feelings towards a thing, your word about a thing trumps anything that I feel or anything that I say. His word is the ultimate authority. So I think pausing and doing that. But, but that brings up a good point when it comes to Ephesians 4, even when it comes to First Corinthians 13. Actually, let's go back. Let's go back to what Christ said. Where's that scripture at? Where it says, they will know you are my disciples?
- [14:18]
Nicole
John 13:34.
- [14:20]
Megan Ashley
Yeah, so this is John 13:34. I think this is a good place to start. Christ said, I give you a new command. Love one. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this, everyone will know you are my disciples if you love one another. Okay, I understand you want to be a theologian. I understand you want to correct someone's doctrine and theology on a scripture. And I understand. I get that. But we have to first pause and say, am I. Am I doing what God command commanded? Am I doing what Christ commanded? Before, it's my job to correct before, it's my job to whatever. Comment on whatever somebody is doing and correct them in what they're doing. My first job is to what? Love. If I want to be seen as and known and represent Christ and be his disciples, then what do I first have to do? I have to love some. I have to love my neighbor. I have to love people the way that Christ has loved me. That is what we're commanded to do. This isn't Paul saying this. This isn't anybody. This is Christ telling us to love one another and that people will know that we are his disciples. By the way, we love one another. So my question to you is based off of what you are posting, based off how you're responding in comments, are you being known as a disciple?
- [16:02]
Jordan
No.
- [16:04]
Megan Ashley
Jordan said absolutely not. I'll answer for everybody. No, but I think that that's a question worth asking yourself. When I hit, when I hit. Submit to that comment. Will it be known that I'm a disciple of Christ by how I dignify the person on the other side of that comment, by the way, that I love that person on the other side of that comment. And please don't come over here talking about tough love, please. I don't. No.
- [16:31]
Jordan
Yeah, that's not an attribute of love
- [16:33]
Megan Ashley
in the Bible harshness, is not it? So let's go. Let's go to what the Bible says. Okay, Megan, well, what is love? Let's go to First Corinthians 13. Now I know that one because it's tattooed on my wrist. So if I don't know that address, something is wrong. So let's go to First Corinthians 13, starting at verse four. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love does not envy. It is not boastful. It is not arrogant. It is not rude. Let me just pause there. My version says rude. I don't know what the ESV says. CSB says rude. Love is not rude. It's not self seeking. It is not irritable. It does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things and hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. Let's just pause and selah over that for a second. I love that. Scripture tells us a lot of what love is not okay. It tells us what it is, but there's more knots than it is is okay. My job is if I am supposed to love, if we're called to love one another, right? And that is the example of us being. That's the, that's the fruit of us being in a discip is because we are loving one another, then if I love you, then what? I am patient. Not only am I patient with you, but I'm patient with me. I'm patient in what is coming up in me because of what you did. I am patient in how I'm responding to you based off of what you said. I am patient in slowing down my thoughts about what you did or what you said. I'M patient in that. I'm patient in my thoughts. I'm patient in my response. I'm patient in my reactions. I'm patient in my judgment. We cannot assume that we are so holy and righteous that we can just sanctify every feeling and thought that comes when we see a thing. We're still human. You know what I'm saying? I don't care how long you've been walking with the Lord, patience is still required. So pause. Somebody posts something online that you don't agree with, what is your first reaction? The way it's looking now, it's like a good 8.9. Nine times out of ten it's like, oh, bet nope. Immediately you are going in. Instead of pausing. At bare minimum, pause and pray. If somebody is just dead wrong, pause and pray like I'm not even, I'm not even discouraging you from saying something like, maybe the Lord is calling you to say something. But at least pause and pray and consider the Lord in that response. Lord, I just read this. First of all, I can't interpret tone through text, so I can't interpret tone through an actual written out text. So Lord, let me see this the way that you see it. This is a person who you've created in your image and likeness. I want to honor them, I want to dignify them. You know, I want to say something, but Lord, I want to lean on your wisdom. I don't want to lean on my own understanding, but I want to acknowledge you. Should I say something? Should I not? Do you understand what I'm saying? Like, there should be a process in the patience. There should be some consideration in the patience. We are not patient enough. We're not patient with ourselves, in our own thoughts and our own feelings. And we're not patient with other people. What's up you guys? Listen, have you ever had one of those weeks where life starts moving way faster than your money does? Maybe it's groceries for the house, gas before a long workday, or a last minute gift for someone you love. Those moments are real and they never seem to wait for your next paycheck. Life doesn't happen bi weekly, so why should Payday? The money you've already earned should be within reach. And with Earn in, it can be. Earn in is an app that lets you access your pay as you earn it up to $150 a day with a max of a thousand dollars between paydays. Just download the Earn an app, add your info, and you can start tapping into your pay as you work. 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And earning helps put it back in your hands, make it a part of your financial routine and join over 4 million customers who have made any day payday. Download Earning today. It's spelled E A R N I N in the Google Play or Apple App Store. When you download the earning app, type in in totality under the podcast. When you sign up, it really helps to show out. That's in totality under podcast. Earnin is a financial technology company, not a bank. Access limits are based on your earnings and risk factors. Standard cash out takes one to two business days with no mandatory fees. Expedited transfers available for a fee. Tips are voluntary and don't affect the service available in selected states. Terms and restrictions apply. Visit Earnin.com for full details. Download Earn in now and take control of your pay. I don't ever just feel the need to just say something I usually consider, you know, I'll hit up my mom. I'll hit up Dr. Mason, I'll hit up Phil, I'll hit up Jackie. I'll call Jordan. I'm like this. I'm about to say something. Nine times out of ten, Jordan's gonna say, post it. But no, I'm just playing. Jordan's gonna be like, yeah, like. But I'm saying I talk through it with people. I don't just respond. I talk through it with people. But I think that we, we there. There needs to be some level of. Yeah, just some level of patience. Like, if I'm going to love people, then I need to activate a level of patience in how I respond online. And even in person. Not even just online. I'm talking about online because I'm I'm seeing a lot of stuff online, even in person, just in relationships with people in general. I think there, there needs to be a level of pausing and pondering and praying before responding. Does that make sense?
- [24:21]
Jordan
But even like as a Christian in this walk it's I feel like feel it's more grace given to the in person responses because it's like if I do respond too quick, I can repent quicker. And usually as you're walking in Christ and as you're coming closer to him, when you're in those in person reaction or conversations or whatever and something does come up because you filled with the Holy Spirit, you do like you automatically take time. However, online, if you get to the point of posting what I said, that is you have lost it. You have disregarded any patience, any kindness. If you got to the post where I'm gonna type this out and not
- [25:08]
Megan Ashley
only because that's a pause in and of itself, typing something out, backspacing, correcting
- [25:15]
Jordan
another word, oh no, this like you have gone too far. And then for in Ephesians for it to say like, you know, don't let the sun go down like on your angle or whatever, people post that and go to sleep. So it's just like you're just all out of whack. And then to consider yourself. It's like social media has, it really has tainted what being a Christian truly is. Because the fact that's so normalized, like to even say something about somebody specifically online is crazy. Instead of just going to them, if you going to do it online, DM them, then you. Your motive is to blast you.
- [25:53]
Megan Ashley
Yeah, like, yeah, it's a lack of dignity. Like I want to humiliate you. I want to publicly call you out. And I understand there are certain things that deserve a public response. I'm not going to say that that's never a thing. Like, okay, listen, you guys want to know what I've been thinking a lot about lately? Rest. Because when you're tired, everything feels louder. Your emotions feel closer to the surface. Your prayer life can even feel distracted. And I realized I am starting my days already depleted because I wasn't resting well. And a big part of that for me was my mattress. Listen, I had to switch over. I switched over to Brooklyn Bedding and I got the Sedona Elite mattress and I've experienced the kind of rest I didn't realize I was missing. Now I wake up with less tension, mentally clear and feeling peaceful. If you sleep hot like I do, Brooklyn Bedding mattresses feature A cooling technology like Glaciotech covers and copper flex foam, which I deeply appreciate and are constructed 100 fiberglass free. They're also one of the few mattress brands endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association. What I love about Brooklyn Bedding is that they handcraft every mattress in their Arizona factory. No middleman, no gimmick, just top tier quality, honest pricing and real craftsmanship that's built to last for a better night's sleep. Brooklyn Bedding understands that sleep isn't one size fits all with all mattresses for different sleep styles, body types and even hard to find sizes. And if you're not sure what you need, their sleep quiz takes like two minutes to help guide you towards the right fit. And they stand behind their products. You get 120 nights comfort trial. No pressure, just space to see if it's right for you. So listen, go to BrooklynBetting.com and use the promo code totality at checkout and get 30% off site wide. Listen guys, that's 30%. That's major. This offer isn't available anywhere else. That's BrooklynBetting.com promo code totality 30 off site wide. Support our show and let them know that we sent you after checkout. Listen guys, that's brooklynbetting.com promo code totality30 off. You don't want to miss this offer. Let's get back to the show. There are certain things that deserve a public response, you know what I'm saying? We see that in scripture. You do something publicly, that's foolish. Some stuff needs to be corrected publicly. But I look at like I, and I think a lot of people use Paul and Peter as an example. When Peter was acting all crazy with gentiles and being all weird, Paul called him out, you know what I'm saying? It was done publicly. I understand that. But there was also a level of relationship there. You, you know what I'm saying? Like I have a relationship with you to. You know what I mean? To an extent. And I, and I believe that relationships, I think relationships matter. I think that before I would be amped to publicly blast somebody, I would at least offer them the opportunity privately to give more clarity to what they did or what they said. Do you know what I'm saying Now? I think there are certain things that are different, you know what I'm saying? Like I'm gonna just be honest, like if our president did something crazy, you know what I'm saying, that deserve like that level of craziness, deserves a level of accountability publicly But I'm talking about things that feel kind of minor, that we just feel like we gotta. You know what I'm saying? Like, you dissecting every single sermon somebody does and feel like you gotta call them out every single time they do, like, you know what I'm saying? Like, how people just be bashing Mike Todd. It's like, how long are we gonna be doing this with Mike Todd?
- [29:41]
Nicole
Yeah.
- [29:42]
Megan Ashley
Do you know what I mean? Like, at what point do you just slide in that man's dm, pray for him? Like, I guess this is my thing. How much are we praying for people than we are persecuting them publicly or correcting them publicly? Like, are you spending the same amount of time and energy praying sincerely praying for them? Do you know what I'm saying? Like, are we really praying for people or are we just sanctifying whatever feeling that we have towards that person and being like, oh, yeah, well, they were wrong, so I'mma call them out and da, da, da, da, da.
- [30:17]
Jordan
Yeah.
- [30:17]
Megan Ashley
You know what I'm saying? I just feel like that's. I feel like that's not right.
- [30:21]
Nicole
What's coming up is, like, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it was Stephen talking to David.
- [30:26]
Jordan
Right.
- [30:27]
Nicole
I can't tell you where in the Bible this is, but it's when David was kind of, like, going off the deep end.
- [30:32]
Megan Ashley
Oh, you mean Nathan.
- [30:33]
Jordan
Nathan.
- [30:34]
Megan Ashley
Yep.
- [30:34]
Nicole
Thank you.
- [30:35]
Megan Ashley
Yep. Nathan.
- [30:35]
Nicole
Yes. So Nathan was like his mirror in that moment where it's like, he's going off the deep end but in a safe space. You know, he found a way to give him a parable, and then he was like, this is you, you know, so, like, not publicly, not in a way that's gonna, like you said, dishonor, you know, David. But he found that opportunity to just have that conversation instead of, like, making it something that's gonna, like, tear him down.
- [31:06]
Megan Ashley
Yeah. Yeah. I think that that's really important. I think that's a great example is knowing praying. Like, pausing and praying and asking the Lord for insight, wisdom, and discernment to know how to correct this person.
- [31:19]
Nicole
Yeah. And if it's even up to you.
- [31:22]
Megan Ashley
Or that too, like, Lord, if. Because sometimes I feel like there are. There are those moments where you will feel like a burden. Like, Lord, I really feel like I need to talk to this person. So if I still feel that burden. And. And I really like, when it comes to big emotions, I have a. I have kind of a rule for myself where I give myself 24 hours if I have a Big emotion about something or a big reaction to stuff because I know my flesh. So I give myself time to process and pray with the Lord first. Pro. Process and pray with the Lord first. If that feeling is still there, then I move on to wise counsel. And then I'm like, okay, with wise counsel. I've sat with this feeling for 24 or 48 hours and it's still there. What do you think about this? I really feel like I need to talk to this person or I really feel like I need to publicly respond to this. You know what I'm saying? Like, when it came to the situation that's going on in our country with ice, like, I sat with that for a while and prayed about it for a while and, and, and talked to wise counsel for a while. And when that feeling did not leave and I kept feeling that there was a, a burden, like a Holy Spirit led burden, I made a, I made a post about it. But I did that through prayerful, like I considered that through prayer and wise counsel. So I think that there, that's part of the patience piece is like, I'm going to be patient with this big feeling that I have. If it's still there, right then, okay, maybe it's the Lord that's placing this burden on me. Then I'm gonna pray some more, I'm gonna take it to wise counsel, and then I'm gonna ask the Lord, Lord, especially when it's like a person to person, not when it's like a general thing, you know, like the ICE situation or whatever, Even like the Charlie Kirk situation and the Trump situation, like all of that stuff. Not when it's more broad, but when it's like person to person. It's like, okay, Lord, you know this person, you created this person. You know the inner working of their hearts, you know what's happening in their minds. Give me wisdom and insight to, to speak to them in a way where it will land in a way that will honor you in a way that it will land that I can show them love. Even in correction. Do you like. Love still has to be the main thing. We still have to love regardless if we agree with them or not. We're still required to love. And at the end of the day, didn't create that person. You didn't create them. You have no, no matter what you feel like you are observing or even discerning online, you don't know the inner working of their hearts or their mind. Only Christ does. Only like God is the only one that knows. So we have to pause and consider, Lord, okay, give. I'm going to give myself space. Everything doesn't need an immediate reaction. We need to pause, be patient with ourselves. You may.
- [34:15]
Jordan
You.
- [34:15]
Megan Ashley
You don't even know. Even if in 24 hours the Lord might deal with them and they might take that whole thing down. And here you are exactly condemning them. I mean, rah, rah, you tussling and you haven't even given. You ain't even given the Lord space to correct them.
- [34:34]
Nicole
One thing that I feel like I've learned just from being around you all is, like, how broad pride can be, you know, because it's like, for you to even think that it's your job.
- [34:45]
Megan Ashley
Yes.
- [34:45]
Nicole
Or like, up to you. And it's like, it's not.
- [34:49]
Megan Ashley
Yeah. It's not your job.
- [34:51]
Nicole
There's a whole body. The Lord does not need you to do you know what I mean? Just like you said, it's like to center yourself in it and say, I must do something about this is, I think, where a lot of people kind of like make that mistake.
- [35:06]
Megan Ashley
Yeah.
- [35:07]
Jordan
Now, you know, this has been burning my heart.
- [35:09]
Megan Ashley
But Jordan said, what's really been burning my grits, really.
- [35:13]
Jordan
It's like, okay, you are quick to respond to whatever you choose to respond to. You be quick. And I'm used to just talking to Megan and them, so I have to think, like, really slowly before I talk. But if you are quick to respond in one way, be quick to respond in another way in the sense of if you feel like it was justified or godly in one sense, don't be hypocritical. Also respond with quickness when it's flipped in a sense of. I was just reading Romans and he
- [35:55]
Megan Ashley
said, jordan gonna be in the text now. She said, I got the scripture to back up what I'm saying.
- [36:01]
Jordan
Give careful thought to do what but is honorable in everyone's eyes. In everyone's. Not just yours, not just your side, not just your preference, but in everyone. So if whatever you're choosing to quickly respond to, if you just think about what's honorable in everybody's sight, then, okay, you might have said this in one. One context, but in another.
- [36:24]
Megan Ashley
Girl, go ahead and say what you gonna say. Now I'm picking up what you're putting down. It took me a minute, but now I understand what you're saying. Yeah, that's good. No, I think that that's good that, like, for example, you can't say that you're pro life only for the unborn. But then don't say that you're pro life for people who don't look like you. Let's just keep it a buck. Like, let's just be honest. We cannot. We have to be fair. Don't be hypocritical, especially if you're gonna be public with your hypocrisy.
- [36:51]
Jordan
Let love be without hypocrisy is literally the first sentence in that verse that I read later on down. So if you think our president was God sent and God chosen, cool. But if we're. Because God isn't hypocritical and he's not changing. So if that is the case, then when something opposes our leader or he does something that's contradictory to what the Lord will want, I feel like you should have to be biblical on both sides, too. And if you're quick to post thank God Almighty for sending this leader, then be quick to hold him accountable, because there's nothing wrong with that. The Lord actually wants you to do that. So if he put leadership in place, he also put that leadership in place in a place to be held accountable. So all the quietness, in a sense, as if what our leader just did wasn't disrespectful and degrading to the Lord's people, is crazy. Like, and it's slowly making me feel. Or. And it's making me feel. I'm not putting a stamp on this, but how. Ephesians 4, it says, don't become like the Gentiles, like, with callous hearts. I'm starting to see some of these Christians slowly turn into. Y' all are being the Gentiles who. Paul is encouraged. He's. He wrote Ephesians, right?
- [38:10]
Megan Ashley
Yeah.
- [38:11]
Jordan
He's encouraging me not to become like you because you are a Christian. And he said they've become callous. Like, they. They've. So they were once Christian, but because they detest. They don't detest what's evil. They do whatever they want to do. And it's all about their feelings now. Yeah. You are veering off of the Christianity standpoint. And it's like, I'm looking at a lot of y' all like, oh, you're not a Christian.
- [38:35]
Megan Ashley
Yeah.
- [38:35]
Jordan
You're just not. You're a Christian for what you feel looks right and what you feel the Lord has in mind for Christianity. But you're not a true Christian at all. If you can approve one thing. If. Yeah, you can be pro life for abortion, but not pro life or police brutality. That's just crazy to me.
- [38:51]
Megan Ashley
Correct. Or other people who are being Persecuted in other countries. You know what I'm saying? Any of that. Like, at the end of the day, a life is a life and we should be. We should. God calls us to care for life. He says in his word that we need to care for the shedding of innocent blood. Innocent blood isn't just the unborn. Innocent blood is innocent blood. Like, you know what I mean? And so I think that we should care and we shouldn't have to add a bunch of but this, but that. What the, the like. No. Like, are you. Before we become the experts in all the other things, have we, we, have we become the experts in love?
- [39:29]
Jordan
No.
- [39:30]
Megan Ashley
Do you know what I'm saying? Like, have we become the experts in loving one another? Have we become the experts in humility and, and patience and gentleness and all of that? Before you be, try, try to become a political expert or before you try to become a theologian expert or whatever, have you been an expert when it comes to what Christ called us to do, love him and love somebody else, we can't. And like, that's the thing that frustrates me is that we're not, we're not making the main thing the main thing, hundred percent. We're making all the other things the main things. It doesn't mean that you may not have a valid point. I'm not even arguing politics. That's not my thing. I'm not a poly. I'm not arguing politics. What I'm arguing is, are you being a Christian?
- [40:15]
Nicole
It's like, what's God's word?
- [40:16]
Megan Ashley
What does, what does God's word say about how you treat people?
- [40:19]
Jordan
It doesn't matter the circumstance.
- [40:21]
Megan Ashley
And that's the thing. It doesn't matter like, oh, I'm only going to be a Christian to people who agree with me. You. That's not, that's not what God called us to do. Christ was who he was. He was kind, meek, gentle, loving to
- [40:34]
Jordan
everybody, no matter what, no matter the circumstance.
- [40:37]
Megan Ashley
When they reviled him, he did not revile in return. Do you understand what I'm saying? So, like, if we're not doing that, then that's a problem. That. And I think that is the thing that really burns me up. It really, that really, really frustrates me when I see people like, yeah, you might have a valid. Sure, you might have a valid point, sure. But that doesn't mean that you get to dehumanize other people. That doesn't mean that their life isn't worth something to the Lord. That is their child. He made them and created them and his image and likeness. And you don't get to degrade them because you don't like them. I don't like you, but I still have to love you. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, I may not like you.
- [41:26]
Jordan
It's like, who, who cares, you guys? Like that's like, come on now, like. Cause we're talking about being Christians and that is the Christian foundation in a sense. But even like the moral people that just go based off of morals and you know what the world and what feel like, all the feelings and stuff like that you don't treat. Treat people that way like you it no matter what it comes to. So like even with the, with Charlie Kirk, like to say that he deserved to die is crazy.
- [41:58]
Megan Ashley
That's crazy.
- [41:59]
Jordan
To say that, that is so crazy.
- [42:00]
Megan Ashley
Regardless if you agree. I didn't agree with everything that Charlie Kirk said. I didn't. But I would never fix my mouth to applaud his. I would never do. I. To me, I'm just like, how could you even say that you're a Christian? How can you say that?
- [42:17]
Jordan
Because I'm not trying to. And neither is Megan. But she spoke on this. But I really don't care about what y' all be saying in a sense if y' all mad at me. But like that doesn't mean that like I'm kissing up to the white man's religion or no. Cause I also don't think he was a martyr either. But it's like what I do find and what I have been finding in my walk with Christ is that he is the only one that will bring balance correct. So I feel like anybody that handles situations, especially online and platforms to extremes, showing evidence that you're not as near
- [42:49]
Megan Ashley
as centered as you are. That's correct.
- [42:52]
Jordan
You're saying you're Christian and oh, I have Christian values. But you're going so hard on left and right. And it's like to me, as a Christian, you shouldn't have voted left or right. I think you should have voted. I don't know. That's exactly what I think you should have did. But those that have such hard, oh, I'm voting this because this is God. Oh, I'm voting. It's like you're not.
- [43:14]
Megan Ashley
And my whole thing with that is like, that's your business. Vote your convictions. Right. Like I'm not not vote your convictions. But I think it's the publicity of it all of like trying to hard stamp align yourself with one side or another that feels Very weird to me. Like, that feels very off to me. Like, Jesus wasn't. He wasn't a Pharisee and he wasn't a sinner. Like, he wasn't on the right and he wasn't on the left. He wasn't in either of those categories. So to me, I'm just like, I just don't feel like the Lord is pleased when we are so aligned with one side that it contradicts what we should be aligned with, which is his word and Him.
- [43:55]
Jordan
And we stamp Christianity on it to make it seem like this is the right side. Oh, I'm picking this because I'm Christian. And it's like, that's not how that works.
- [44:02]
Megan Ashley
Yeah. It's like we. Because at the end of the day, our citizenship ultimately is in heaven. Our citizenship is ultimately to the kingdom. That is who we should ultimately. Like that is how we should ultimately align. Align ourselves with is kingdom. Kingdom and kingdom has never aligned with one side explicitly or the other. It just hasn't. And what I am grateful for, and my mom says this all the time, like, we have people who, who believe. Like, you know, I believe that it's the Lord who places people in positions. At the end of the day, he allows it. I'm not saying that he sent this person specifically. I'm not saying that that ain't none of my business. All I just know is that the Lord allowed me it. And so because of the. I have to trust in the Lord and His sovereignty and his wisdom. He knows more than us. But what I will say is, is that in the current political climate that we're living in, it's really exposing everybody's hearts. It's really exposing. If you really love the Lord and you really love people, it's exposing if we're actually following the commands, the two greatest ones, loving God and loving people.
- [45:11]
Nicole
People.
- [45:12]
Megan Ashley
And just because, again, and I'm going to keep saying this just because I don't agree with how you voted, I don't agree with your policies, I don't agree with your whatever, does not mean that I am licensed to not love you. And I already know people will watch this right now, and y' all can't wait to say something I already know, right? You're. You're. You. You ain't even finished the episode. Paused, pondered, prayed about, not. And you already got your think piece readied and queued up. This is an opportunity to pause, pray, Lord, show me the error of my ways. I think there's errors in all of us. So let Me just say that I think everybody has errors because we're flawed and human. But Lord, show me how I can show up better. That that is in the spirit of unity. Like, how can I be a participant in the unity of the body? We cannot. The hand can't say to the foot, I have no need of you. We cannot say, oh, because you're a lefty and I'm a right. I'm a right pinky toe. You're a left pinky toe. We don't need you. No. How can I. How. How can I participate in loving you and in the spirit of unity, like, bonding us to get. Like, how do. How can I do that? That maybe instead of, you know, writing a comment, maybe I do slide in your DMs and say, I just. Can you provide more clarity what you mean by that? Can you show me in Scripture where you found that so that I can under. Be curious before you're critical. We've talked about this before. Lord, give me a heart and humility to be more curious than I am critical because I am not all knowing. I'm not omniscient. I'm not. We're not omniscient, y'.
- [47:05]
Jordan
All.
- [47:06]
Megan Ashley
We're not. That is an attribute that only the Lord has. He is the only omniscient one. We are not. He is only the one that is omnipresent. I am not. I am not in that person's mind, nor their heart. Maybe that person posted that out of a place of pain. Maybe they need intercession. Maybe they actually needed somebody to reach out and say, you know what? I don't agree with that, but I love you.
- [47:31]
Nicole
Yeah.
- [47:32]
Megan Ashley
And I'm praying for you.
- [47:33]
Jordan
Which is why you don't repent. Pay evil for evil.
- [47:35]
Megan Ashley
Correct.
- [47:35]
Jordan
Because it's like, even as a Christian, if you do feel like what whoever did wrong, whatever somebody did was wrong or evil, it's still not your job to come back at them. Nasty. And that's the whole point, because you don't know the motive behind anybody's. It could be pure evil. But what if it's not? You're putting evil out there for no reason then.
- [47:53]
Nicole
And what is the resolve? What is the goal? Is the goal to help them or is the goal to just be right?
- [48:02]
Megan Ashley
And that's again, in First Corinthians 13. It says it's not self seeking. Did I respond to that comment? Did I post that to make myself look good? Did I do that to get my lick back or because I wanted a good clap back? Did I say that in a way where it makes me look good, or did I say that in a way that shows that I'm a disciple of Christ? Did I make Christ look good in that? That. Who is your like, what's your. What's your aim? What's your goal? Is it for you to look good? Or is it for God to be glorified? If for God to be magnified, he's worthy of all praise, all glory, all honor? Not you.
- [48:40]
Nicole
Yeah. And it goes right back to John 13 at that point.
- [48:44]
Megan Ashley
Correct?
- [48:45]
Nicole
Yeah.
- [48:46]
Megan Ashley
We have to be disciples of Christ. And that means loving one another, bearing with one another in all humility. You need. We need to. We need the biggest slice of humble pop. I mean, the biggest.
- [49:03]
Dr. Sarita
And it also reminds me of what he says in the Beatitudes, where it's like, you don't just love the people that love you, you don't just love the people that.
- [49:11]
Megan Ashley
Yes.
- [49:11]
Dr. Sarita
I think it literally says, for if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same. And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others do? Even not the Gentiles do the same. The same. And I love the way the Message version puts it. It says, you're familiar with the old written law, Love your friend and its unwritten companion. Hate your enemy. I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer.
- [49:39]
Megan Ashley
Yeah.
- [49:39]
Dr. Sarita
For then you are working out your true selves, your God created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best. The sun to warm and the rain to nourish to everyone, regardless. The good and the bad. Bad, the nice and the nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that.
- [49:53]
Megan Ashley
Yeah.
- [49:54]
Dr. Sarita
If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run of the mill center does that.
- [49:59]
Megan Ashley
Yeah. That's good. It's easy to say that you love when you only surround yourself with people who think and agree with things that you think and agree with. That's easy. If I only surround myself with people who look just like me, me think just like me, you know what I'm saying? Then that's easy. It's it. It takes the dependency of the Holy Spirit and the workings of the Holy Spirit. Right. The fruit of the Spirit to be around people who may not agree with. You know what? I'm saying, if I, if I only surround myself with Republicans and I'm a Republican, am I really giving myself the opportunity to truly love people? You know what I'm saying?
- [50:38]
Dr. Sarita
You're in an echo chamber.
- [50:39]
Megan Ashley
Yeah. Like, literally, you're just. We're saying the same thing. There's no one there to challenge you.
- [50:45]
Nicole
I mean, even just yesterday we were
- [50:47]
Jordan
talking about how, like, I don't really
- [50:48]
Nicole
care for Neo soul. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, yeah, there are differences everywhere.
- [50:54]
Megan Ashley
Yes. Again, unity doesn't mean uniformity. We. I should be around people who think different. Me and Jordan disagree on so much stuff sometimes we do. We don't think the same about. Jordan will be quick to be. Be. No, the. Like, she will, she will be quick to have an opposite opinion. And I, and I, and I, I, I'm welcome that because I don't want people to disagree with me. You know what I'm saying? I want people around me that challenge that. Well, I don't know. What, why wouldn't you do it?
- [51:26]
Jordan
Like, you know, part of that is the age difference.
- [51:30]
Megan Ashley
Yeah. Gen Z or Millennial, we, we will think differently. But even with her, though, like, she might think a certain way and maybe be, Be dead solid on. And I'm like, jordan, no, like, that's not it. That's. No, that's not it. You know what I'm saying? But you need, even as an adult in, in political, like, you need people who think differently. That's okay. I think that that's beautiful. I think that's a blessing. Beautiful. And when we get glorified, we'll all be the same and everything will be fine, and we ain't got to worry about all that. But on Earth, I think that that's okay. The Lord is not asking for sameness. He's asking for oneness. Oneness in the spirit, bonded by one body, one spirit. Right. We're supposed oneness, not sameness. And I think people need to be able to look at Christian content. I want to make sure that I'm reiterating this. A lot of this conversation has come because I, I wanted to see what it looked like objectively. Like, if I'm objectively looking at Christian content. Content, what am I seeing? If I'm objectively looking at how Christians interact with one another, what am I seeing from the outside? Not from the inside, but from the outside. And I think that we, we should be known for those who love God, love one another. Like, man, those Christians really don't be going at it with each other in the con. I don't see other religions doing this. I don't see it. And maybe because my. My algorithm ain't showing it to me, me. And I'm happy to, like, be corrected lovingly, like, send me articles, send me posts, whatever, that's fine. But, like, I just don't see other religions going at it with one another. And the way that Christians just go at. It's like, we think it is like the literal 11th Commandment to argue with one another, like, thou shall be.
- [53:23]
Dr. Sarita
Be at ought.
- [53:24]
Megan Ashley
Be at ought, like good God.
- [53:26]
Jordan
And I think part of that is because. And this goes back to the whole sovereign and free will conversation, because I think the Lord, he is so sovereign that we have free will, that being a Christian, it really does challenge you. And then just the society that we're in with having free will, like, as a part of. That's our part of our nation. But it's like, it really does challenge you. And it is kind of confusing, but it only makes sense if you are in Christ, what to do with your free will. So even like, when the whole election, when election was happening and stuff like that, and like, asking like, well, Lord, like, why would you allow this to happen? Or, like, what are we gonna do in a sense like that? It's like, he's sovereign, so whatever happens is happening. But this is also an opportunity for Christians, like, how will you exercise your free will? And instead, we have chosen. Well, not we. Y' all have chosen.
- [54:17]
Megan Ashley
Yeah. She said, don't put me in that mess.
- [54:20]
Jordan
To attack one another and to degrade one another. And it's like, I just feel like the Lord is sitting back, like, and that's what you chose to do with your free will. And that's what you'll be judging. Judged on.
- [54:29]
Megan Ashley
Yeah. I think everybody needs to take a pause and, like, really read Ephesians, because even before you get to Ephesians 4, he says, therefore. So anytime you see Paul say therefore. What does that mean? That means you got to go back and read what he said before. So you got to go back and read Ephesians 1, 2, and 3 to understand what he's saying in 4, right? So in same thing in. In Romans, right, where he says, therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercy. So therefore, what we got to go back and read Romans 1:11 and the. In Ephesians 1:3, we're talking about how Christ gave us a new life, how we went from death to life. Look in view again in Romans, in view of the mercies, in view of all the mercies of God, do this. Ephesians, in view of going from death to life, love one another with humility, maintain unity. Like, you know what I'm saying? Think about what. What. What Christ has done for us, and let that motivate us to. To love one another and honor the Lord in doing so. Like that, therefore, is important. We. And. And the other thing that I find in this scripture that is really encouraging to me is that it says to maintain. Make every effort to keep the unity. Or some versions say maintain the unity. What does that mean? That means that we don't have to create a unity. That means that we are required to maintain what God has already established. That is. That's a big responsibility that I just don't think that we're taking serious. Do you know what I'm saying? Like, we're supposed. We're called to maintain unity, maintain man. It is our responsibility and our duty to maintain it. And you have to ask yourself, if I am a part of the body of Christ, no matter what part of the body I am, no matter what measure of gifts God has given me in this collective body, what am. What am I doing to be a participant in the unity? If I take. If. Because Jordan and I and Nicole, we were talking about this last night. We were like, you think that if Mark Zuckerberg. I can go right now to Past Stories and pull up 2021, 2022, 2023. You don't think the Lord has. That is going to have that same ability? What. What scripture were we reading where I was talking about for every account. What was that, Matthew? How you're going to give an account for every word.
- [57:12]
Nicole
Yes. 1236.
- [57:14]
Megan Ashley
Huh? This is Jesus. I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will have to take an account for every. Careless.
- [57:26]
Jordan
Careless.
- [57:27]
Megan Ashley
You hear me circling it? Y' all hear that in the mic? I'm circling it.
- [57:31]
Dr. Sarita
The thing you thought didn't matter, it mattered.
- [57:34]
Megan Ashley
Careless word, they speak for. By your words, you will be acquitted, and by your words, you will be condemned. Condemned. Hello. If you think that it's only the things that come out of your mouth and not the things that your thumbs have communicated, you're wrong. It's those things, too. Everything that you said, you're going to have to take an account for. And even if. If that doesn't convict you to pause and be patient on what to say and what not to say, because that puts. It. Puts a demand on you to be obedient, to say what God tells you to say and to not say what God didn't tell to say because you're going to take an account for every word.
- [58:17]
Jordan
Every word, every thought, just to encourage you. What should make you more hesitant to putting things out there. We know that we're going to deal with struggles in our heart alone because we're human, and we're going to deal with that until we're glorified. So it's like, why do you want to be held account for something that you actually could have control over? And you can have control over what your heart actually feels, but the thoughts that you didn't say, the attitudes that you didn't act on, but it's still in your heart. You already have to take an account for them.
- [58:46]
Megan Ashley
Correct.
- [58:46]
Jordan
Have to repent for them, but they were still there. Why add on. Oh, I follow the wrath. That doesn't make sense. Correct.
- [58:53]
Megan Ashley
Why add more wrath? Why add more stuff to your plate?
- [58:58]
Jordan
Why just hush.
- [58:59]
Nicole
Add in more wrath.
- [59:00]
Jordan
Cause it's already there. So if you follow the what she
- [59:03]
Megan Ashley
says stop and wait. Look both way. Like, just wait.
- [59:11]
Jordan
Stop and for sure wait for a grownup to give you the okay. Wait for the Lord.
- [59:17]
Megan Ashley
Wait for the Lord to give you the okay.
- [59:22]
Dr. Sarita
But you know what? I think that exposes some unbelief in people's hearts, too, though. You know what I mean? I don't believe that you're just so. I need to get my justice now in this comment section.
- [59:31]
Megan Ashley
Hello. Hello. Hello.
- [59:34]
Jordan
Hello.
- [59:35]
Megan Ashley
Now we've moved on to something else, Jaylin, because that's exactly right. If you really believe that the Lord is just, then you know he's not going to let any unjustice go with you without some type of punishment, which
- [59:47]
Jordan
is why you can take that up with him. Because he's not saying, don't be mad. Don't be angry.
- [59:53]
Megan Ashley
Be angry, but what.
- [59:55]
Jordan
Yes. Huh?
- [59:57]
Megan Ashley
Be angry, but what sin not. That's what he said. That's. That's what it says, y'. All. Now you can argue. It's what it. It's in the book. We haven't said anything. That's not in the book. It's in the book. Look, you could be mad. I could be mad at what Trump said all day. I. He doesn't give me license to sin. I could be mad all day about what? What somebody on the left said. I don't know. I could be mad all day. It doesn't give me the license to sin. Sure, be angry. It's a human emotion. God gave us those Emotions be angry, because the Lord wants us to be angry about the stuff that he's angry about. So, yeah, the emotion isn't the same sin. It's what we do with the emotion that's the sin. And so again, stop and wait. Huh? Look both ways in the word. Look both ways. Wait for the Lord to give you the okay. It's as simple as that message.
- [61:02]
Jordan
But that's. And that's why, as a kid, that's why I said, who's raising you guys? Because that's. That applies. You can tell that to sage, and it will apply to Sage at 25.
- [61:13]
Megan Ashley
Correct. Stop and wait. Be patient.
- [61:15]
Dr. Sarita
And he can handle your anger, even if you feel like you have to express yourself. He is gracious and kind enough to give us. He gave us access to him.
- [61:23]
Jordan
Have you read He Already Know before you express it to him?
- [61:27]
Megan Ashley
And I. And I just want to point this out. Somebody reminded me of this today, and I think this is. This is important. People always talk about. About Jonah, right? And they. They use Jonah in the wrong context. They talk about how Jonah was running from his calling, right? Jonah wasn't running from his calling. Jonah didn't want those people to be saved. He had beef with Nineveh. He had beef with those people. He didn't like those people. And God was calling him to go give a message to the people that he didn't like. Like, And. And Jonah was running away from the. From the. Not the calling, but from the assignment. Jonah was mad that these people were getting redeemed or saved or whatever. Like, he was mad at these people. And I think some of us have this Jonah complex where it's like, I don't want to. I don't want to give the good news to them. I just. I don't want those people to. I don't want to love them.
- [62:27]
Jordan
Them.
- [62:28]
Megan Ashley
I don't want to show compassion.
- [62:29]
Nicole
Look what they did.
- [62:30]
Megan Ashley
Yeah.
- [62:31]
Jordan
Look what they did.
- [62:31]
Megan Ashley
Look. Look at their p. I don't. And this goes on both sides, y'. All. This ain't just a right or left thing.
- [62:36]
Jordan
100.
- [62:37]
Megan Ashley
This is any Christian that falls on any side, right?
- [62:39]
Jordan
Because it's for the Christian.
- [62:40]
Megan Ashley
It's for the Christian. It. Whatever side you fall on, right or left, I pray that this is conviction on both sides, on all sides. Whatever spectrum you fall in. Be a Christian. And Jonah didn't want to go talk to people who he disagreed with, Right? He didn't want to go share a message with people he disagreed with. And we need to learn from that. Like, don't harden your heart, don't allow your heart to be hardened. Cuz the Lord might call you to go minister to the very people that you don't like, then what you going to do? And you know what I'm saying? And then, and then if you get too caught up in your flesh, they may not even receive you or receive your your word because you didn't beat them up for last you, you know what I'm saying? You weren't, you weren't loving to them, them. I rather all like, I, I rather just side with the Lord. If the Lord is calling us for unity, then that means Satan is working for what disunity? Who am I siding with? Who, who am I partnering with? In the comment that I left on that person's threads, Facebook, Instagram, X account, Tik tok, whatever. Who did I align myself with? Did I align myself with the Lord or did I allow my align myself with Satan? Because that's really at the end of the day, those are the sides. It ain't even right or left at this point. It's who you aligning yourself with. Am I, am I doing the work of the Lord or am I participating in the work of Satan? What am I doing? What am I doing? And if it's not clear, if what I'm saying isn't clear, then I should probably shoot. Shut up.
- [64:19]
Nicole
Wow.
- [64:19]
Jordan
Shut up.
- [64:21]
Megan Ashley
Just be quiet. Yeah, just be, literally just be quiet. Just be quiet. Do you know how much stuff I see online? I see stuff all the time that I have. I have opinions about everything. I have an opinion about everything. Truly. I can say something about everything, but I'm not required to say something about everything.
- [64:44]
Dr. Sarita
No. Everything that you feel invited event is not supposed to go on record.
- [64:47]
Nicole
No.
- [64:48]
Megan Ashley
And we have to also be mindful. I said this too on threads the other day. Stop demanding for your favorite Christian influencer to speak on every single thing that's happening. That's not their job. Stop requiring and demanding.
- [65:03]
Jordan
Well, what about.
- [65:03]
Megan Ashley
Well, because I said something about this, I got to say something about that.
- [65:07]
Dr. Sarita
I'm not your megaphone.
- [65:08]
Megan Ashley
I'm not. I'm required to say what the Lord tells me to say, Period.
- [65:13]
Nicole
It's like the influencer is not Christ.
- [65:15]
Megan Ashley
Correct.
- [65:16]
Nicole
You know, it's like you're curious about what this person, you're following this person, you're not following the Lord at that point. Correct?
- [65:24]
Megan Ashley
Correct. We gotta be mindful and we said a whole lot. But go ahead, Jordan. Oh, she said in another thing, this
- [65:31]
Jordan
is really just the last Little point, because I do think social media in itself, it has very. It has a lot of prose, beneficial, blah, blah, blah, blah. I'm not saying the whole thing because it can be used for the good and the glory of the Lord, but I do think it is more so a trap from the enemy. Because I think the fact that we have social media and we're so quick to post and to say, and it's such readily available. Yeah. It's like, I think we have to remember as Christians, that's making. We're making our case a little bit more harder because we have way more. So the people in like the 60s and the 50s judging, they will come for them, but the things that they'll be held accountable.
- [66:11]
Megan Ashley
The list probably gonna be shorter than ours, that's for sure.
- [66:13]
Jordan
We gonna be up there from Facebook to Instagram to TikTok to MySpace to the iPad, to what you did on your phone, to the stuff that's on your iPod TV.
- [66:22]
Megan Ashley
Yeah, all of it.
- [66:23]
Jordan
Be like, we're in a very sensitive time right now where the enemy is so easy. He don't even have to do anything Right now.
- [66:30]
Megan Ashley
We're doing the work for him. And we have to understand, y', all, that time is coming to it. The curtains is closed, posing. If you think that you got the time, you don't like. The Lord is coming back.
- [66:44]
Nicole
They said he's in Uber.
- [66:45]
Jordan
He.
- [66:45]
Megan Ashley
Huh. He's accepted the ride. He's on his way. It would behoove us all to just be more mindful that the Lord is coming back. Back. And so the. The urgency needs to be on doing the Lord's work, loving one another, maintaining unity, huh? Being patient like that should be the urgency. Crucifying our own flesh, interrogating our own hearts, wringing out our own hearts of sin. I can't ring your heart out and mine. I'm too busy ringing my heart out. And I just pray that as I ring my heart out, the fruit of that would provoke you to wring your own heart out. Let me just. Let me just be an example first.
- [67:32]
Dr. Sarita
Spurring you on to good deeds and in love, huh?
- [67:35]
Megan Ashley
That. That's what we should be doing. I'm going to ring my heart out and I'm going to allow the Lord to put that on display and pray that it. That it encourage you, encourages you to do the same thing. That's all I want to do. I'm not trying to wring your heart out for you. We have to, like, let the Lord do that work. It is the Lord who sanctifies. You're not the sanctifier he is. So worry about how he's sanctifying you. Encourage one another, exhort one another, pray for one. If somebody is idle, warn them in love. If a brother falls and he comes back, receive him in love. Show people grace. Master those things. Before you try to master being somebody's sanctifier, because you're not.
- [68:19]
Nicole
Look God's part and our part.
- [68:21]
Megan Ashley
Correct. Know your role. So, yeah, I don't know. Get in the book. Read Ephesians 4. I pray that I. We said a lot, and I don't know, some of y' all might be mad. It's not. It wasn't intended to make anybody mad, but it is intended to encourage us to interrogate our own hearts and focus on the two greatest commandments. Loving God, loving one another, and maintaining unity. Like, I just think that that is. We gotta protect our witness, y'.
- [68:49]
Jordan
All.
- [68:49]
Megan Ashley
And we're not doing a good job as the body with our witness. We can't just be doing conferences and putting on podcasts and doing Christian content, but then in the comments, being nasty to one another, that just exit out everything. You just did that. That's silly. We got to do better. So I pray that this is. This is an encouragement. And I'm sure we'll probably have more conversations like these in. In the future, but I just pray that you just take the time to. Yeah, I don't know. I'm gonna pray for us. I don't really have a journal prompt. Maybe the journal prop is like, interrogate. Interrogating my heart and my comment section. Like, what have. Like, the things that I've been posting, the things that I've been commenting on. Does it show that I'm a disciple?
- [69:36]
Jordan
And the things that you repost and the Ooh.
- [69:38]
Megan Ashley
And the things that you repost and repent.
- [69:41]
Jordan
How often do you repent for everything that you are saying and reposting?
- [69:45]
Megan Ashley
Yeah. Maybe it is a good opportunity after this. Once you interrogate that, take it to the Lord. Maybe he'll reveal some areas where repentance is required. So, Lord, I thank you for this episode. I thank you, Father, for who you are. I thank you, Lord, for gracing us to have this conversation. Father, I pray, pray that it encourages where it needs to encourage. And I pray, Lord, it convicts where it needs to convict. Lord, if there is any of us that are posting things that don't honor you and that don't honor your image bearers, I pray, Lord, that we would be convicted. I pray Lord, that we would confess. And I pray, Lord, that we would repent. I pray, Lord, that we would align ourselves with your word and your truth. And that is where our allegiance belongs to, not anywhere else. I pray, Lord, that we would be disciples of you. I pray, Lord, that we would be known for loving other people, because that's how the world knows that we are your disciples. I pray, Lord, that you would help us protect our witness. I pray, Lord, that we wouldn't be stumbling blocks. I pray, Lord, that we would just, yeah, we would encourage one another and we would. We would love one another the way that you called us to. And so, God, I pray, Lord, that this helps everybody that's listening and watching. I pray that you would be magnified. You would be glorified. We are expecting your return. We cannot wait. But in the meantime, help us steward our witness in our lives in a way that helps draw people closer to you. In your name, we pray. Pray, Lord. Amen. All right, y', all, see y' all next week. Hey y', all, thank you so much for being here with me on In Totality this week. If this episode bless you or challenge you or even stirred up something in your spirit, go ahead and like this video. Drop a comment below and share with us what part of the conversation really stuck out the most. Share with someone who you think might benefit from watching this. It really helps the show. And listen, if you want more of Into Totality on a weekly basis, then join my Patreon community. You get early access to watch In Totality episodes, exclusive behind the scenes content and In Totality docu series which is like my vlog, first access to merch drops events, Bible studies where we're walking through the word together, book clubs and so much more. We're growing in our faith together and I would love for you to be a part of it. If you haven't already subscribed, subscribe and tap the notification bell so that you never miss an episode. Thursdays you'll find me right here on YouTube in the live chat when the episode premieres. I hope this message encouraged you. Today I pray that you find a good godly community and a Bible based church where you're rooted in love and growing. Keep stepping into God's truth In Totality. I'll see you next time. Welcome to Big Savings this week at Grocery Outlet, your extreme value headquarters right now, Sanderson Farms boneless skinless chicken breasts are only 1.99 per pound and get one dozen large cage free eggs for only 99 cents. However you cook them up. You're saving big on fresh quality. Stock up on these family favorites today. These deals are only available until March 17, while supplies last. Selection varies by store. Seek weekly ad or in store for grade and size details. Grocery outlet bargain market.