The LGBTQ+ Agenda Behind Netflix EXPOSED!! | Live Free with Josh Howerton

Summary

Podcast Summary:

Podcast: Live Free with Josh Howerton
Host: Lakepointe Church
Episode: The LGBTQ+ Agenda Behind Netflix EXPOSED!! | Live Free with Josh Howerton
Date: October 6, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this provocative episode, Pastor Josh Howerton, joined by co-hosts Carlos Araso and Paul Cunningham, delves into recent controversies surrounding LGBTQ+ themes in children’s shows on Netflix. The discussion unpacks the history and strategies behind LGBTQ+ representation in media, particularly as it allegedly targets children. The conversation extends to practical Christian responses—especially for parents—on discipleship, cultural engagement, and fostering discernment in families. The episode is structured around biblical insights, cultural critique, educational anecdotes, and direct engagement with the Netflix controversy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Netflix Controversy and LGBTQ+ Representation in Kids’ Shows

(Starts ~41:28)

• Recent viral outrage over Netflix’s inclusion of LGBTQ+ themes, drag, and transgender content in children’s programs (e.g., Cocomelon, Strawberry Shortcake, Transformers, Monster High).
• Hosts play and analyze clips from these shows, emphasizing what they view as normalization and catechizing of children in opposition to Christian teaching.
• Josh Howerton: “These are not just shows, they're sermons. They're demonic anti-sermons. It's reverse discipling your kids.” (45:14)

Notable Quotes:

• Paul Cunningham: “If you think about most Disney or other kids’ movies, the resounding theme is the parents are the fullest idiots who are oppressing you...for you to be happy, you have to get exactly what you desire.” (76:39)
• Josh Howerton: “Whenever demonic, evil ideas are trying to come for our kids, my job as a dad is to be watchful...you don't get my kids—you gotta go through me to get to them.” (70:42)

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2. The Historical Playbook: "After the Ball" (1987)

(Main segment: 47:00–63:50)

• Josh details the 1987 book After the Ball: How America Will Conquer its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90s by Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen as a blueprint for the LGBTQ+ movement’s media and culture strategies.
• The book, written by a psychologist and an ad executive, allegedly mapped out a covert campaign to:
  • Portray gays as victims in need of protection,
  • Normalize behaviors through relentless media representation,
  • Market homosexuality as “born this way” despite lack of scientific evidence at the time,
  • Paint traditional/conservative churches as “hateful” to stigmatize opposition.
• Josh reads multiple quotes illustrating a step-by-step PR play, culminating in the current cultural moment where LGBTQ+ themes are widespread in media.

Notable Quotes:

• Josh Howerton: “You are about to have the veil pulled back on the exact play that got ran on your culture for the last 50 years without anybody knowing.” (48:09)
• “First, we will get our foot in the door by being as similar as possible to the ‘straights’...then you can start dragging in your other peculiarities one by one.” (59:56)
• “Let’s hide all that stuff. Let’s get the nose under the tent first, then we'll drag the other stuff in.” (59:56)

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3. Forming Children: Media as Discipleship

(Throughout, especially 45:14–50:00, 66:27–74:16)

• The hosts argue that media (especially children's media) serves as a form of spiritual formation or "catechesis," instilling values and beliefs.
• They critique passive parenting and urge fathers in particular to "stand firm" and actively curate children's exposure to cultural messages.
• Josh: “If the church won’t disciple people, the world will.”

Parenting Frameworks:

• Emphasize “calibrating the conscience” of children to align their instincts and values with biblical principles.
• Progression from strictness (the “cop”) to coaching to consultation as kids age (per Paul Cunningham's suggestion).
• Importance of fostering "parent-bonded" (not peer-bonded) relationships, especially in formative years.

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4. Strategies for Christian Families

(66:27–81:59)

• Bless Approach for Evangelism:
  • B: Begin with prayer
  • L: Listen
  • E: Eat (share a meal)
  • S: Serve
  • S: Share (your faith story)
• Parents are encouraged to be vigilant, raise kids in “radically heteronormative homes,” and engage children in active conversations about media content.
• Guidance for “boring testimonies”—affirm these as powerful, especially when sharing with other parents.

Notable Advice:

• Josh: “Your job as a parent is to calibrate the consciences of your kids so that things that are good, right and true feel good, right, and true.”
• Teach kids to approach all media with “lie detectors up”—watch shows together, discuss underlying messaging.

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5. Should Christians Boycott Netflix?

(80:01–81:59)

• No definitive answer—described as a wisdom issue, not a clear-cut sin.
• Josh: “Every time you spend a dollar, you're casting a vote for what kind of world you want to live in.”
• Some, including Josh, have canceled Netflix accounts in light of these revelations.
• Discernment and active involvement are stressed regardless of individual decisions on platforms.

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6. Slippery Slope Concerns: Toward “Minor-Attracted Persons”

(82:20–84:06)

• Josh references a new peer-reviewed article calling for the removal of taboos against childhood sexuality as evidence that the “slippery slope” concerns are not unfounded.
• Warns that the normalization strategy described in After the Ball could continue to more controversial ends, like the acceptance of pedophile identities.

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Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• Carlos Araso: “The truth only sets you free if you’ve been enslaved by a lie.” (67:12)
• Paul Cunningham: “If you have a ‘boring story,’ I would actually say there is no boring story...you are a resurrection story.” (31:11)
• Josh Howerton: “We destroy arguments and every idea that sets itself up against the knowledge of God...It’s actually very unloving not to destroy the ideologies that take people captive.” (67:12)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:37 – Episode Introductions and Banter
• 03:01 – Setting up Netflix/Media and LGBTQ+ topics
• 05:45 – Bible/Acts 22 Discussion: Testimonies, Religion vs. Gospel
• 41:28 – Transition to Netflix and LGBTQ+ content controversy
• 45:14 – Media as catechesis/anti-sermon for children
• 47:00–63:50 – Deconstructing After the Ball strategy and cultural impact
• 66:27–74:16 – Parental roles, response strategies, calibration of kids’ consciences
• 80:01–81:59 – Netflix boycott and wisdom issues for Christians
• 82:20–84:06 – Emergence of online academic support for “minor-attracted persons”

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Conclusion & Closing Prayer

(84:32)

Josh closes with a prayer for grace, wisdom, and spiritual vigilance for parents in this cultural moment, praying for children who will have “boring testimonies” because of the faithfulness of their parents.

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Tone and Language

• Direct, conversational, urgent, and at times, combative toward progressive culture and media.
• Frequent biblical references with an evangelical framing; language assumes agreement with conservative Christian worldview.
• Heavy on strategy, historical context, and practical application for Christians—especially parents.

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For listeners:
This episode provides both a worldview critique of contemporary media with specific regard to LGBTQ+ representation and practical guidelines on how Christians—especially parents—can engage, protect, and disciple their children in today’s culture. The hosts urge vigilance, relational discipleship, and commitment to biblical values, both in personal lives and broader cultural engagement.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to Live Free with Pastor Josh Howerton. We're so glad you're here. Lake Pointe Church is a movement for all people to know Jesus, live free, and make a difference with their lives. And this weekly podcast is all about helping you do just that. Each episode is a deep dive into the word of God, tackling life, culture, and faith with truth and clarity so you can be equipped to live free in Christ. Thanks for tuning in and be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. And follow us on all our social platforms to stay connected to everything happening with Live Free. Now, let's dive into today's episode.

[B]

Well, hey, welcome back to another episode of the Live Free podcast. My name is Carlos Araso, and I'm here with Pastor Josh Howerton and Pastor Paul Cunningham, the prophet.

[A]

Paul the prophet.

[B]

Theologian, bro.

[C]

We're still going for an example. We'll stick on one at some point.

[A]

We'll figure it out. Actually, wait. Listeners on YouTube, please drop your suggestions for Paul's nickname in the comments.

[C]

There we go.

[A]

We will give a free live Free hat to whoever comes up with the best Paul Cunningham nickname. And then if you see a good one in the I'm making this up on the spot card. If you see a good nickname suggestion in the comments, like it. And then, like, we'll see what wins.

[C]

If you know me, please be kind.

[A]

Yeah, don't be a turd.

[B]

That's amazing, man. We're going to have. First of all. You guys doing good?

[A]

Yeah, man. It's been a great week, dude.

[C]

It's been an amazing week.

[B]

Good.

[A]

I'm going. Hey, man, I'm taking Jan on a date tonight as soon as this pot ends.

[B]

That's a good.

[C]

We're going on a date tonight as well.

[A]

Where are you going?

[C]

Yeah, we don't know yet. We literally just. It's been a busy time and so it's like we're only date you're going.

[A]

To where it's called Rise in one. It's a sous French. Yeah, it's. How did you know that? Have we been.

[B]

No, but you. I went because you told me it was good.

[A]

Did you think so?

[B]

I liked it. It's different.

[C]

Is this like on the other side of town? It has like, both savory and like, sweet.

[A]

Like, it's like all souffles. Okay.

[B]

So it felt more dessert place to me. Not so much like an actual meal.

[A]

I'll be super honest. This is where Jana wants to go and. And I.

[B]

There you go.

[A]

So I have decided that's where I want to go too.

[B]

Good.

[A]

Come on. Good.

[C]

Yeah. So date tonight and then I'm going to try to go hunting this weekend. Finally. I was going to go last weekend archery season started and still going to try to go out this weekend. Yeah. Bowse season.

[A]

Okay. Where are you going?

[C]

Kind of the Greenville area. Just up by Greenville and by Lake Tawakani. And so I got some public land up there.

[A]

That's awesome.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Be good, bro. That'd be awesome.

[B]

That's great, man. We're going to have a.

[A]

This is going to be a spicy episode.

[C]

Oh, yeah, that's right.

[A]

We got. First of all, the pod is crushing. It's been really cool. Then we're going to talk about. We're going to talk about at the end of the pod, we may hit the Pope's comments. Here's my question. Paul, is the Pope Catholic? Like, that's actually my question now because the Pope is like saying things that contradicts like 1600 years of Catholic Christian ethics. So we'll talk about that. But then the big one is the Netflix transing the kids stuff, right?

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And I've never talked about this. I've been wanting to get to this message forever. We're gonna. The. The secret that is not now so Secret plot of gay rights activists launched in 1987 to overtake American culture with LGBT doctrine. And they succeeded. And a lot of people know where the strategy came from. We're going to talk about that today.

[B]

That's it, man. Well, good question. Let's see. Well, that and yeah. Abortion, capital punishment, immigration.

[A]

Yeah, it's the stuff.

[B]

Your typical live free podcast episode. It's. It's going to be great, man. Shout out to everybody. By the way, thank you for liking subscribing. You said it. Number four on Apple podcast this week on religion and spirituality. Awesome that by the way, people, if. If you don't know this, this happens because you like it and share it, like, that's literally why this happens. So thank you. Have a screenshot. Trinity, you got that one. There you go. Next, that's religion and spirituality. And then there's another one for all categories right there next to Glenn Beck.

[A]

Us and Glenn.

[C]

Wow.

[A]

And then, man, we just. We gotta beat Rachel. We gotta get Rachel mad. We gotta. We gotta defeat the mad owl thing up there.

[B]

We've had people asking to the. About the live free hats. And so this is a public service announcement. This coming weekend at the Rockwell location at the bookstore, we will actually have live free hats, brand new lift free hats available and for people that maybe are outside of the driving location or we're not within driving location from driving distance from our locations, we will also be working on making these available online. By the way, we online store, we had some comments from people joining from Canada.

[A]

It's awesome.

[B]

Shout out to the Canadians and South Africa as well.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

So let us know where you're joining us from right now. No matter where you are. We'd love to know. And by the way, every episode we also compile all key takeaways, everything, all the wisdom from these two gentlemen over here, all the main highlights, the additional content, and we add discussion questions as well. For you to take this content to your life group after the podcast because we believe that discipleship happens in relationships. And so your next step after this podcast is community. So to get the show notes is what we call the show notes. Text the word notes to 20411 or go to Lakepoint Church Shownotes.

[A]

Now, what did not get mentioned is that.

[B]

That's right, man. First of all, man, what up? Great job.

[C]

Yeah, killer.

[B]

Great job. What a. What a joy. Thank you. Yeah, thank you. What a joy.

[A]

Well, you're a good man. You're a good disciple, you're a great dad, and you're a good friend, and you're a great Bible teacher.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

And so, man, our church is blessed. You did a good job, man.

[B]

And the people of Lake Point are honestly the best.

[A]

They're wonderful.

[B]

I love that. So much. So, man. So. Hey, Carlos, can I ask you, please ask me.

[A]

Hey, man. Acts 22, Paul gets arrested just like he was told that he would in Acts 21. And then in Acts 22, he makes his speech defending himself before a riotous mob. Carlo Serrazo. What?

[B]

Didn't make it into the sermon, man, there's so much. By the way, I know you're like this too, but I love sermon prepping, dude.

[A]

It's the best.

[B]

Like some people are, they like to preach, but they don't like the sermon prep because you learn so much. And so anyways, I, I actually read a lot this week. And so obviously in the sermon we talked about how Jesus Christ is the most life altering person in the history of humanity. And we didn't have time for this. But man, when you start like studying all the different aspects, society and culture, where before Jesus was one thing and then after Jesus it was something else, it's. It's fascinating. So like women, children, science, education, sports, medicine. And so let me just give you two things that I'm like Oh my gosh, this is crazy. And I bet you a lot of people don't know this. So one Jesus changed his history and how most people today view, they, they view children. We're going to talk about this once we start addressing the Netflix situation. So before Jesus, people in the 1st century Roman Empire, they actually had a very low view of children. It was actually not uncommon for children that were not want to be basically just like left outside. It was called exposure. And people would pick them up and they would become slaves, gladiators or child prostitutes obviously.

[A]

Or they would just die.

[B]

Yeah, or they would not.

[A]

It's like an early form of abortion.

[B]

That's right. That's right. So because society did not put a high value on children. But then Jesus comes, here's the Son of God, the eternal God becoming a baby. And just for that would have been already crazy for somebody to hear that the creator God would become a baby. Later in his ministry, Jesus rebukes his disciples when they were stopping children coming to Jesus. And then Jesus literally says this, let the children come to me. And then there's this huge statement for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. He grabs a child and he says, whoever causes one of these little ones to stumble. And again, we're going to talk about this in a little bit. It would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and be drowned in the sea. That is harsh language from Jesus defending children. This is why as Christians we are passionate because we have a high view of children. We want to fight to protect them at all cost.

[A]

That's right.

[B]

That's the first one. I thought it was crazy. A lot of people don't know that. And again, it makes a lot of sense. Second thing, Jesus changed history and how people view education and learning before Jesus. Again, people don't know this. Generally speaking, education and learning was not a normal thing for normal people. But then Jesus comes. He calls himself a rabbi. That means teacher. His ministry was not just about miracles, but also about teaching and learning things, teaching truth, truth matters. That's why we are passionate about that. He opened scripture. He invited his discip disciples to learn from him. Great commission. Go and make disciples teaching them. We like teaching. Christians are called people of the book. And so wherever the gospel spread, historically speaking, literacy literally went up. And so because people wanted to read the Bibles, Christian missionaries have been pioneers of written languages because they're trying to translate this into different languages. So they had to learn. 1455, Johannes Gutenberg, a devout Christian invented the printing press. First major printed book was Bible. The Bible. This led to the Protestant revolution.

[A]

Hey, can I say something cool about that, please? So the. This is one of my favorite little Bible facts. Dang, Paul, help me remember the guy's name. Who was the guy that wrote. He. He mockingly wrote the best of all possible worlds. Oh, dude, it's like. It's like English, AP Literature.

[C]

It'll come.

[A]

Hang on, hang on. I need to pull this up because this is a really cool. Wait. Best of all possible worlds. He was making. No, he was making fun. Voltaire.

[C]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

Okay. Voltaire. So, bro. So on the printing press. This is. Really. So Voltaire was a devout atheist. And you have to. I had to read it in English, AP Literature in high school. His little essay about, quote, unquote, the best of all possible worlds. Because he was surrounded by these Christians who believed in the providence of God. And I don't think they did a very good job if what came across to him was, this is the best of all possible worlds, because this is the most fallen of all possible worlds. Right now. The best of all possible worlds comes when Jesus returns. But anyway, so he writes this essay that many Americans have to read in AP English in high school, mocking Christianity and Christians that believe in the providence of God. So devout atheist, at the end of his life, he makes a prediction that within one generation of his death that no one would. Would be reading the Bible. This is during the Renaissance. No one would be reading the Bible. It's. Everyone would know it's a myth and that it would be laughed at, scorned, and out of print. Literally today. This is not a joke. Literally today, in Voltaire's old house is a Bible printing press. Bro, that's not a joke. Like the providence of God. Yes. That's literally not. That's a thing.

[B]

God has a sense of humor.

[A]

So Carlos is talking about. I interrupt you. I'm going to keep going. This is like. A lot of Christians will get thrown in their face sometimes, like, ah, here's the bad things that Christianity has done. The Spanish Inquisition and the Crusades, by the way, the Crusades were completely a just war. Zoomed out. That's a totally different podcast. Someday we'll do that. The zoomed out. Not everything that happened, but zoomed out. It was defensive. Just war. Anyway, so people like, here's all the bad stuff Christianity has done in history. The first hospital and the first school in virtually every country in the world built by Christians. First, I'm going to say it One more time. The first hospital and the first school built in virtually every country in the world. Christians. Yeah, so you keep going.

[C]

Change the way that education schools.

[A]

Say it again.

[C]

Almost all of our Ivy League schools started as Christian schools. I mean, we go on and on and on.

[B]

Puritans, obviously. Mass literacy, more Bible Puritans come to the US What Paul is saying, out of a hundred colleges and universities in America, almost all were founded by Christians. Harvard, 1636, founded by Reverend John Harvard. This. He literally put this in the founding vision. Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider the main end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life. Yale, Princeton, Brown, Dartmouth, Northwestern, literally, they're all Christian school to train pastors, missionaries and teachers.

[A]

I got another cool thing. All right, so this is another cool thing. So Harvard, I think it's their philosophy building. When they were building their philosophy building, I think it was early 1900s. It was sort of when Harvard was making the shift from being an explicitly Christian education to a secular one. And I guess it was the dean of philosophy. I'm going to get some details wrong, but the outcome of this is true. The dean of philosophy, when they're building the building, suggested, he said, they asked him what should the quote be that we put on the top of the philosophy building at Harvard? And he suggested the secular philosophy quote, man is the measure of all things. But at the time, the president of Harvard was still a Bible believing Christian. And I think without telling the dean of the philosophy school, he decided to put the Bible verse at the top of the philosophy school. What is man that you are mindful of him?

[B]

We could literally do this, you know, ironically, by the way, on that note, many of the institutions that now stand at odds with historic Christianity and Bible teaching were actually birthed by it. Yes, that's the big irony.

[A]

Progressives infiltrate institutions built by conservatives and then wear them as skin suits. Let me just say that progressives never build anything that conservatives build. Progressives infiltrate and then wear them like skin suits. That's a whole different podcast.

[B]

Anyways, we could go on and on.

[A]

Sorry, this. I'm not like.

[B]

You're good. You're good. No, no.

[C]

Getting excited though.

[B]

This is great. Well, honestly, this is super. This is crazy. Like, it's just how Jesus radically, radically changed history. Some people think that Christianity is only like your, your private, you know, religion in your heart. It is. It is your religion in your heart. It also. It'll be what will change. Absol everything from politics Science, sports, medicine, justice, Abraham Kuiper. You know this quote? There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry.

[A]

Mine. That's fire. That's fire.

[B]

I had to include that. They didn't make it to the sermon, unfortunately.

[A]

That's good.

[B]

What do you got? I know you got some nuggets. Acts 22.

[A]

Let's do a couple things from Acts 22, because this is. I had fun studying this. Just because. Just for the pod number one, Paul. This is really interesting. This is one of the few things that is recorded in the New Testament as Paul speaking in Aramaic. Black people know this. A lot of people think the Bible's written in two languages. It's not. It's written in three. Yeah, there are three recorded languages. Greek, Hebrew, and then segments in Aramaic. This is one of the ones that Paul originally spoke in Aramaic, which was the language Jesus almost certainly spoke. That's interesting. Paul says in verse three, this is kind of. You just kind of get to know who Paul is. Paul says in verse three that he was educated in Tarsus. Tarsus was like the Ivy League spot in Rome. It was like Alexandria, Athens, Tarsus were the three. So what he's essentially saying is, hey, bro, I didn't go to juco. Like, I'm serious. I'm serious. Like, he's, hey, bro, this ain't no juco. He's like, I went to. This is Princeton.

[B]

Wait, sorry, I don't know what juco is.

[A]

That's amazing.

[B]

Juco sounds funny, but I don't know what it is.

[A]

Juco's junior college. Hey, no offense to any junior college graduates. That's not what I'm saying. But Paul's gone now. I went to, like, Princeton, Yale. Thanks, Am. Shout out. Shout out is what he's saying. Verse three. This is actually very important. He says he was educated at the feet of Gamaliel. Gamaliel is mentioned one other time in the New Testament. He's mentioned and then he's mentioned by Jewish history. He's mentioned in the Mishnah, an extra biblical Jewish resource. Essentially. Gamaliel was that dude. Like, he was Dumbledore. He was Yoda, you know, whatever. In the Mishnah, it actually. Which is a Jewish extra biblical Jewish history and ethical teachings.

[C]

Yeah. Commentary.

[A]

Yeah. Is they say that when Gamaliel died. This is a. This is a metal quote. They say when Gamaliel died, quote, the glory of the Torah ceased and purity and piety died. So Gamaliel was like that guy. And he personally discipled Paul in Judaism. So that's interesting. Paul says he was a Pharisee of Pharisees. Essentially what he's doing right there is he's going, hey, man, there's the Navy and There's the Navy SEALs, there's the army, there's the Army Rangers. He's like, there's the Pharisees. I was like a Pharisee of Pharisees. A couple other things I think are super interesting. Trinity, will you toss this, the Sorgh inscription up here? So if you go back to Acts 21, the question becomes like, what's going? Why is Paul getting arrested? And in Acts 21, there was like a big riot with the temple. Paul brings a dude in Acts 21 that precipitates the events of Acts 22. He brings a dude into the temple named Trophimus or Trophimus, depending on who you're listening to. Who was Ephesian, he was a Gentile. So this is really interesting. If you ever go with us to Israel, I think we see a replica of that thing you're seeing right there. That is called the Sorig inscription. Here's why this started a riot. So in Second Temple Judaism, this is the time of the New Testament, under the era of Judaism, where the temple Herod built was so the second, like big time temple. There was a. There was like a. It was called the Court of the Gentiles. If you were a Gentile and not a Jew, you couldn't go farther than the Court of the Gentiles. And that was like a big deal. So much so that literally that stone right there went like, that's not a replica. That actual stone still exists. That's the stone that Paul would have walked underneath every time he walked into the temple. In the book of Acts, they recovered that thing. It's called the Soreg inscription. Now they know what it says. I'm going to read it to you. Every time somebody walked in the temple, they walked under this stone that read, no stranger is to enter within the balustrade round the temple and enclosure. Whoever is caught will himself be responsible for his ensuing death. So now Paul did not. It was a false accusation that he brought Trophimus up on there. But that kind of gives you insight into how big a deal it was for the Jews to think Paul dragged a Gentile dude up there. So. And then you can see it again at the very end. It's in verse 22 of Acts 21. Everybody's tracking all the Jews are tracking with Paul and they're like, oh, we kind of like this guy. Like, oh, he's Gamaliel. He's Pharisee of Pharisees. This guy's kind of cool. We like this guy. But then he says that Jesus told him, go, because I'm going to send you to the Gentiles. And then the very next verse says, up to this word, they listen to him, and then they start screaming and say he should not be allowed to live. So it ties into that sorghum scription.

[C]

And so when he's sharing about. Yeah, persecuted them into the death, they're cool. And then he says, the Gentiles are like, whoa, he's got to die.

[B]

Yeah, they're out.

[C]

They're out.

[A]

And then that's it. So it's a big deal that precipitates these events. Why is Paul having to give his defense because of these events? Last thing I'll say, because I guess it was four weeks ago now when the. It was the Charlie Kirk sermon. The weekend after his death. I preached that message about the stoning of Stephen. Stephen being a potential turning point in the book of Acts. And there were people who listened that were like, hey, Josh, it never says that. It's actually in Acts 21. That is the reason that many Bible scholars think that the stoning of Stephen was the turning point in Paul's life. You're going to see it if you check out verse 16 of Acts 22 he's describing. I think it's 16. Nah, dang, I can't find it. But it's in this chapter, I think, where Paul says that when Jesus appears to him on the Damascus road, Jesus says it is hard for you to kick against the goads. And what a lot of Bible scholars think is happening is Jesus is using. Goads are like spurs that they would use to pray, you know, prompt an animal or whatever. A lot of Bible scholars think that what. What Jesus was saying was like, hey, Paul, like, your conscience is. Has been torturing you ever since you helped murder that man whose innocence you saw. And you saw how he died. You know, that he was a holy and innocent man. A lot of people think Jesus is saying it's hard for you to kick against the goats. In other words, it's hard for you to go against your conscience has been convicting you since you saw the death of Stephen. So if four weeks ago, you were like, josh made that up. No, I didn't. That's where a lot of Bible scholars point.

[C]

Well, and I would even. Yeah, that actually goes with the little Easter egg I was going to bring. There's another allusion, actually to Stephen, I believe in Acts 22. It's in the first verse, it says, Paul is beginning his defense. He says, brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you. That phrase is used another place in Acts and is in Acts 7 where Stephen says, brothers and fathers, hear me.

[A]

Really?

[C]

And so. Which even like, gives me chills because even with your sermon before and after Christ, like Paul, there is alluding, in a sense, hey, before Christ, I was this person who persecuted, this person who was actually trying to share the gospel with you. And now here I am trying to share the gospel with you because of what Christ has done in me.

[A]

I have never caught that before.

[B]

It's almost as if Paul was ready to. Man, I bet you whatever happened to Stephen, it's gonna happen to me.

[C]

Oh, yeah. It seems like he's like, okay, this is what's going to.

[B]

I'm ready. Yeah.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Dude, that's really interesting because as, as we know from the last few weeks, it was prophetically revealed to Paul when he got to Jerusalem. You know, you know what was going to hit the fan? It was going to go down. So actually, to your point, Paul, bro, I, I bet you, you're right. I bet Paul's inner monologue was like, man, this is it. I want to go out like Stephen. For real. I want to go out like Stephen. Yeah, that guy, that guy did it right. Wow, that's amazing stuff. I love the Bible.

[B]

So Pastor Josh, in the, obviously in the sermon, we.

[A]

Wait, you got any other stuff here? That was.

[C]

No, that was, no, that was wrong. That was a big thing in the.

[B]

In the sermon you know, we addressed. One of the points was, you know, Jesus saves you from your rebellion, but also from your religion, you know, and we kind of went into it a little bit. But I want to hear from you on that note. You know, if somebody's asking, man, why are you talking about religion? Like, I know it makes a lot of sense for Jesus to save me from my rebellion, but why would he want to save me from my religion?

[A]

Yeah, this is really, really important because, like, let's just all acknowledge something really quick. Some of the meanest, most manipulative people I've ever met are super religious people. And they'll call themselves Christians and they're mean and they're self righteous, they're angry, they're manipulative and what the Bible's pointing out. So, like, this is really good. What Paul essentially does in his speech is he looks at a bunch of religious people and he goes, I was more religious than you, and Jesus had to save me. And, you know, we know this, that Christianity is not trying. It's trusting what saves somebody. Faith in the accomplished work of Jesus Christ not works. That's like the whole New Testament faith not works. So if somebody is the type of person and Paul's saying that he was that dude, if somebody's the type of person who's like, you know why I'm going to heaven? Because I try really hard to be really good, then actually you need saving from your religion, because your religious obedience is actually the thing that's keeping you from casting the weight of your trust onto Jesus. So this is. We can riff on this just for a second, because, you know, the Puritans especially would talk about how spiritual pride is actually the most dangerous. They would call it the chief, like, the chief of all sins, spiritual pride. And a lot of Christians do not have a watchfulness for that in their hearts like they have for, like, lust or adultery or, you know, whatever it is. This is a big deal. So I'll just point one thing out. And this is like vintage, repackaged Keller. So the best example of this, there's two in Jesus teaching. When Jesus does the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. Obviously, when we, through the lens of 2000 years church history, when we hear Pharisee, in our minds, we're like, well, those are the bad guys. Boo, hiss. But you got to remember in Jesus time, and he's talking a bunch of Jews, when they heard Pharisee, they were like, well, those are the good guys.

[C]

Yeah, they're the heroes. They know the Bible. They put it applied to their lives and they got it going on. Yeah.

[A]

So they would have been going, pharisees, yay, good guy. So when Jesus tells his parable of the Pharisee, this is one of my favorites that walks in and he's like, lord, thank you that I'm not like these tax collectors. And then he lists his little spiritual curriculum vitae about all the good stuff he does. And then the tax collector won't. Kind of won't come anywhere close to the temple, stands far off. He won't even look up because he's so full of condemnation, guilt, shame, conviction. And then he beats his breast and he just says, God, have mercy on me, a sinner. And Jesus says, I tell you, this man, not the other one, went home justified. And his. His, why because the way that we are justified, which means when God looks at us, it's just as if I'd never sinned, is not by any of our own human effort. It's by placing our trust in Jesus and being clothed with what theologians have historically called the alien righteousness of Christ. It's called the imputed righteousness of Christ. In other words. So that's one. The other one is, you know, we'll talk about the Jesus tells in Luke 15, the parable of the prodigal son. And Keller very, this was very wise. Keller said, man, your Bible should not say parable. The prodigal son. It should say parable of the prodigal sons. Yeah, because if you, if you go back and read that the context of parable Jesus is talking to Pharisees. They're like, why is this dude eating with tax collectors and sinners? And if you go back and read that parable, both of the sons are estranged from the father. A lot of people read it and think, well, there was a good son and a bad son. Well, if you go back and read it, the parable ends with the quote unquote, good, religiously obedient son. He's mad at dad and he's standing outside mad, like, how could you forgive this wicked son who wasted all your money on prostitutes and drinking? And you're going to accept him. And then it's actually the religious and obedient son that finishes the parable outside of the father's home, angry, going, where's my goat? And so and Jesus point is that there's two ways. There's two ways to miss the father, through rebellion and through religion. Because in both of them you're refusing just to trust Jesus. So let's riff on it. What do you got, Paul?

[C]

Yeah, if you go through the gospels, I mean the people who most readily came to Jesus were people like tax collectors, prostitutes, those we would think, oh, those are the people far from God. And yet they were the ones that were most apt and quick to come to Jesus. And yet it was the people who had everybody would thought they were the closest to God that actually stiff armed Jesus the most and were like, drove them away. And even like bringing this into our day, it's almost like with that, you know, whenever we hear these incredible life changing stories, and by the way, they are incredible, you know, we usually always privilege like the really insane ones. Like, you know, I was a coke snorting person who killed dogs for fun and was a witch and all that kind of stuff. And then I Came to know Jesus well. Yeah, puppies. I almost said cats, but then I thought that Josh might actually think that was a good thing. So I had to edit. And that's why I said, don, I.

[A]

Don'T think anybody's noticed our cat picture.

[C]

There's a hidden cat on.

[A]

Some of the people that built this set trolled me by putting a cat picture up on the. I don't know if any of you.

[B]

Honestly, I'm a little surprised he's still here.

[C]

There's Pete Rosebaugh over there, Kat over here, you know.

[A]

All right, nyc, you're good. Oh, yeah.

[C]

So when we tell these stories about it, we should applaud. And we go crazy when we hear those stories and there's tears and there's clapping. But actually, if you think about it, it's actually harder for the person who doesn't think they need Jesus to come to Jesus. So when we hear stories, be like, yeah, I grew up in church and was a pretty good person. And now all of a sudden, you know, like, faith came alive and got saved. We should give those people standing ovations because it's like, man, it actually, in a sense, was harder for them to actually come to true faith.

[A]

Amen. So, amen.

[B]

Yeah. Jesus literally said, unless your righteousness surpasses the righteousness of the Pharisees, you will not be saved. I mean, that's Matthew, chapter five.

[A]

And his point was, newsflash. Nobody's righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and the Pharisees except his.

[C]

That's right.

[A]

That was his point.

[B]

That's right. Yeah, man. So on that note, Paul, like, if somebody here says, obviously, you know, as we. Paul shares his story, there's a before, there's an after. Something significant, significant happened in his life. He met Jesus, changed everything. Somebody's like, well, yeah, but, you know, Paul told his story because he did all those things before. He was terrible. But I have a quote, a boring testimony. Like, I was kind of, you know, grew up in a church, and so I don't know that I have a story for me to tell. What do I do?

[C]

I'm going to defer to Pastor Josh here in just a minute because I know that this is a big thing for you because that's part of your story, by the way. It's part of my story. But a few things I'll say. Initially, we should prize the Apostle Paul story. It shows us that no one is too far from God, that God is able to save anyone, including. Including in this case, like, we've said, the most religious and rebellious person that we see and yet we also have to remember is that for the Apostle Paul, you also had other disciples, other apostles who were with Jesus for three years and their life changed. Story happened more gradually, and not all of them were crazy, rebellious people. And yet Jesus also changed their lives. We also have other people, like I resonate with the story of Jacob in the Old Testament who had encounters with God when he was young, but it was actually when he was older that he wrestled with God. And it's not that he came to salvation then, but there was just something about a faith defining that was just as significant. So people have different stories. And so, man, we should prize the Apostle Paul story, but also not think it's the only paradigm, the only example of a story we have. The other thing I'd say is this is. You know, it's interesting that usually for ourselves, a lot of people wish we would have a more dramatic story, and yet for our kids, we hope they have a really boring story.

[A]

Yeah, you're going where I'm going.

[C]

Is that just being frank? I hope my kids change the world without first having the world change them.

[A]

That's right. I say that one more time. That's great.

[C]

I want my kids to change the world without having to first have the world change them.

[A]

Amen.

[C]

And so just know, like, man, if you have a quote unquote boring story, I would actually say there is no boring story. Because scripture says in Ephesians 2 that you. Each of us were dead in our sins. So every single person, when they look in the mirror, if they are a believer in Jesus, they're a resurrection story. You were once dead and now you are alive. You're a walking miracle.

[A]

That's right.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

So, man, he kind of went where I was going, honestly. That's great. It goes over the verbal highlighter.

[B]

You want to pray for us? And we're done here after that?

[C]

Oh, no, no, no.

[A]

Then we'll talk about gay rights strategies from 1987. Well, yeah, we'll get there in a second. So one thing I say, because I love where you took this, the message, Carlos, because somebody being able to share their. You know, Christians, the big Christian word is testimony. You know, and I've heard, heard it said like, hey, man, what's the difference between a biography and a testimony? A biography is where you tell your story with you at the center, and a testimony is where you tell your story with Jesus at the center. That's what a testimony is. Learning how to share a Testimony, like is a big deal because what you're going to find when you're sharing with your one more, by the way, at Lake Point, everybody at Lake Point has this thing that we're not about reaching tens of thousands of people, huge crowds. We just want every Christian to be used to reach one more, just one more person who's the person that's closest to you but farthest from God. And I've got one more right now. When you're sharing with your one more, there comes a moment with 90% of the time it's like your story becomes like the linchpin. So let me just say something real quick because I got a relatively boring testimony and then, and then let's move on. So this Jan and I have used this evangelism paradigm. A lot of people are like, they want to be evangelists. They don't know how. This little thing that I got years and years ago, it just dummies it down for an idiot like me. And it's like, okay, I can do that. So here's what I would say to every Christian. It's like, how do I share my faith with somebody? What I would say is remember the acronym Bless B L E S S. When God speaks to Abraham by saving the world in Genesis, he says, through you the nations will be bless. Blessed. That's what. So that's our. So just remember bless. Okay, so here's acronym. This is like super helpful, man. Begin with prayer. It's a spiritual condition. First, the God of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. So you gotta, you gotta begin with prayer. That's why we have those little one more cards where like every day, twice a day when I'm brushing my teeth, I'm praying for one, one more because it's on my mirror. Begin with prayer. L. Listen. So, so it's like connect before you Correct. Listen. So I want to hear your story before I share mine. So let me listen. Oh, dude. What do you have a faith? I got that from Pakluda. That's such a good question, dude.

[B]

He's amazing at that, by the way.

[A]

Such a good question. Hey, do you have a faith? It's real non threatening. Yeah man. What's your, what's your background with, what's your background with faith? What's your background? Church. So listen, eat. And this is a whole thing in a lot of the gospels, I think it's is it Mark. There's one of the gospels where I've heard that there's literally not a verse where Jesus is not going to a meal at a meal or leaving a meal until the crucifixion account, and even that he's leaving the last supper. So eat. There's just something about, hey, man, come on, why don't y' all come over? So B L E S serve. So this is a little hack. Jan and I started this years ago. We still do it. We have a little pocket in our budget that we call it our blessed budget. And whoever's our one more, we're not allowed to spend that money on anything except blessing our one more. So we'll just come up with, I did it two weeks ago. We'll just come up with little things like, oh, man, we should send them a gift card. Oh, man, she likes Amazon. Let's give her a. I bet she needs some book money. There was a single mom one time that was our one more. And we were like, hey, she lived out of town. Jana was like, hey, we got your childcare. Why don't. You're tired. Why don't you go out? We're going to pay your baby, you know, so then serve B L E. And then the last one gets to what you're talking about. B L E S S share. Yeah, so share your story. So begin with prayer. Listen, eat, serve, share. So the last thing I'll say on this, because go back to your original question. What if you got a boring testimony? First thing I want to say is, praise God.

[B]

Praise the Lord.

[A]

Bless God. And here's where this becomes really powerful. To Paul's point, if you're trying to share Christ with somebody that's a parent, your boring testimony is a lot more powerful than you think it is. Because God very often reaches the parent through the kid. And it's not necessarily the kid gets saved first, but the Lord will use your father's or mother's heart for your kid to prick your conscience, for your need for the power of God in your life and their life. So I've just so you know, when I'm sharing, I literally did this with a one more. It was my hunting guide with I don't know how long ago. And dude, he was awesome. I could tell like the Lord was hand was on this guy after this hunt we went on, and he's asking me questions, and I literally. I was like, hey, man, I got a boring testimony. I always start my testimony with my parents, man. Honestly, I've had an Incredible. Here's how I do it. I've had an incredibly blessed life because my dad got saved in college when he was struggling with some alcohol abuse. My mom, my mom's dad died when she was 7 and her mom had a mental breakdown and she got shipped off as an orphan. And she got saved when she was, you know, 8, 9, 10. And the Lord radically saved them out of these things. And because he redeemed them, he protected me. And I'll tell that story now. I always get to like where I had a head on collision with my depravity, you know, and I'll get there, but I would just encourage that person. Your boring testimony is probably more powerful than you think, especially when you're sharing Christ with another parent. That.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

And even if you're a Christian, if you became a Christian at a young age, you know, obviously, and you want to share your story, but you think it's boring, well, your story is not over. Like God is still doing stuff in you today. Like if you, if you're a Christian, you are called, every Christian is called to grow and mature to be more like Christ. That's Romans, chapter eight. Everybody's called to be conformed to the image of his Son. Which means that if you're a Christian, you should look back five years ago, compare yourself with today. There should be a significant change of God working in you. Character, maturity, you know, discipline, all the things. And that's a story for you to tell as well.

[A]

That's the last thing I was gonna say. You pick your area, pick your bcad area. Yeah, you got that.

[C]

But I think that's tied to that. It really goes with what you said, even of listening, is that, you know, even as I've talked to people before about how to share their stories, I don't know that I've even had an opportunity like, hey, can I share you my whole story with you? Maybe occasionally, but a lot of times it's just snippets. And so I actually got this coaching from a guy who was a missionary in the Middle east of what he would do with people is listen to them and listen to what they're going through right now and listen to their stories. And he would be looking for pain points or tension points and then he'd be like, well, hey, I've experienced the same thing. So for almost all of us, if you're a parent, you have common parent problems that every parent has or troubles in marriage or just whatever troubles with anxiety. And so he would just say, hey, Listen to what that is, and then do something along these lines. Put in your own words. Basically, well, hey, I've gone and gone through the same thing. You mind if I share what I've gone through? You share that, and then you say, can I tell you what helped me and what got me through it? And that's where you bring Christ into the story. So even if you have a quote unquote boring testimony, although I think we've established you don't, is just know also, you can just be looking for things like that, find those common pain points and then talk about how Christ, to your point, Carlos, has made a difference and is changing your life still. And then at that point, that can kind of be a bridge to sharing the gospel with them.

[B]

I love that because this is so practical. So this is amazing. Thank you. Hey, we have some hats coming. Literally, they just come in.

[C]

Arthur, off the truck.

[A]

There you go, man. There we go. Let's go. Oh, dang, my coffee. Oh, no, no, no. I got it.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

Gotta go for the sun. So we got so online merch shop coming, right?

[B]

That's right. Coming soon. So let us know in the comment.

[A]

Section that's you guys can walk around and you can help us defeat the Rachel Maddow Show. That's gonna help us get up there.

[B]

Well, hey, guys. One of the reasons we are intentional in creating these kind of podcast episodes is because we believe that this discipleship happens in relationships. Having said that, what we want to do through the live free podcast is we want to model what it looks like to be in a discipleship group where we come together and open up the word of God together and honestly just grow together as followers of Jesus to live free in Christ. For this reason, we love that you're tuning in, but honestly, we don't just want you to be a passive listener. We want you to be an active participant. And so if you have not yet joined a group, whether that's in person or online, I want to challenge you to test drive one. To do that, just text the word group to 20411. Or you can also go to Lakepoint Church groups, because, listen, you're not one podcast away, one habit away, one decision away, one book away, one sermon away. You are one relationship away to experience freedom in Christ in community. And now let's get back to the podcast. So I used to be very picky about, like, my hair. I would never do this.

[A]

I got a tiny head. So I gotta break this in.

[C]

I don't have to be picky about My hair. Carlos.

[A]

Carlos has amazing hair.

[C]

Totally unfair. I may or may not break the tenth commandment of coveting.

[B]

Every time I see him, people ask me, and. And, bro, I haven't. I've had the same haircut since, like, I'm. I was 13.

[A]

Yeah. So you're one of those.

[B]

I guess. I guess.

[A]

All right, there we go. There we go. We can do it for the rest.

[B]

All right, man, now that we have our hats on, I'm ready to talk about the Pope. You.

[A]

You want to go Pope or you want to go Netflix? Let's go Netflix first, because I want to make sure we got time on this.

[B]

There you go. That's right.

[A]

Okay, so we'll set. This is going to take a second. We'll set this up. So I guess. Wait, you want to set it up? Sure.

[B]

Yeah. I mean. I mean, if you're. If you're ever on social media, you will probably know. If you're ever on X, actually, you'll probably know. This whole Netflix showing shows with transgenderism and sexualized episodes for kids went viral because slowly but surely, people started sharing it, and then Elon Musk basically, like, made it blow up. And so far, I actually had the notes here. Hold on, dude.

[A]

It was, like, internationally trending last night. I think Netflix stock, I think they lost, like, Jason, you know how much?

[B]

15 billion.

[A]

15 billion?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Market value.

[A]

15 billion in market cap. Yeah.

[B]

Is someone, like, lost 50 million in market value since, like, it all feels like a day.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

So a bunch of episodes. Sexualizing children again, packaging explicit sex topics as children, entertainment for seven year olds, gay marriage, transgenderism. Pronouns. We got some videos that we want to see. Anything you want to say before we jump in those videos?

[A]

Well, so here's. Here's what I want people to understand. So first of all, I want to talk about, like, how do, as a Christian parent, how do you parent in the midst of stuff like this? That's where we're going to land. But before that, man, like, people do not realize this is the fruition of a very cleverly devised strategy that was hatched in 1987. I'm going to talk about it and show it real quick. And they have successfully run the exact covert strategy they outlined 50 years ago. So, like, you today are sitting in the outcome of a successful covert activism strategy. And everything you're seeing on the Netflix stuff, they are literally running the play that was outlined in 1987. So let's show a couple examples of this trinity. I don't. Whichever one you want to start with. So like, here's what we're talking about and it's kind of gross. Is this Coco Melon? Who? Is this it? Welcome to your crash course strawberry shortcake self expression. You look amazing. But what does this have to do with frightful hello for Right? Fall costumes, dressing up. Wait, is that a dude? Yeah, that's a dude. Okay to be scary. See, honey, be lightly stressed for my fave movie, Breakfast at Mulberry's. It's perfect. Yeah, that's enough. Yeah. So I mean, that's it. You say you got a dude, dude. It's a dude dressed up as a woman, obviously. And then it's, it's. It's glorified and normalized. So. And that, that, that shows like very obviously targeting young kids. And by the way, the creators of the show know mom and dad aren't around. Like, they know that this like somebody put an iPad in their kids hands. All right, do the cocomelon one because Jan and I. Wait, pause real quick. So Hudson used to be like super that he was into cocomelon. This is a huge show if you didn't know this. So then this is slipped into a Cocomelon episode on Netflix. Couple of dads. How about you break out those moves for your two biggest fans? So that's a boy, by the way.

[C]

Yep.

[B]

And he just added that like to his wardrobe. Like he wasn't wearing that before.

[A]

Sure. What to choose?

[C]

And then listen to the lyrics.

[A]

Think about all the things you like to do. Just be you. Okay, there it is. Okay, so one thing I need people to understand before we go to the next one. These, like, these are not just shows, they're sermons.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

They're demonic anti sermons. Like it's reverse discipling your kids. So that's what people need to understand. So through the. The old puritans, they would say it's catechizing your kids. This is catechizing your kids around what is true. Right. Good and normal. So 2 dads, very normalized. And then a young boy walking in, dressing up as a girl. And then the lyrics are. What do you like? Just be you. All right, go to the. Go to the. What's that? What's that other one? We were doing the Transformers one. Yes, this Transformers. And by the way, the reason. Pause it real quick. The reason that. Can you not pause it? Do you have to take it all the way down? Down? You gotta take a lady. Oh, you do. Sorry. The. The reason I'm showing, these are like shows that Hudson has watched.

[B]

Transformers for voice.

[A]

Yeah. And then I'm like, ah.

[C]

And then if you're a parent, you see Transformers.

[A]

Oh, yeah. Let them watch it. It's good.

[C]

It's good.

[A]

All right. Toss that Transformers one up. Of course. Morgan, can you switch? This is ridiculous. Night Shades pronouns are they, them doesn't fit who I am. My apologies. Please switch their piece. Stop. All right. It's like, it's evil, but it's like, also comical. Yeah, we're like in a. We're in a Transformers episode and Optimus prime is apologizing for misgendering a robot.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Like when people talk about Clown world. Yeah, this is what we're talking about.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And then there was one more. What was that? What's that? Hang on, hang on.

[C]

Monster High.

[A]

Monster High. All right, so this is more like a teenager tween age show. Super popular. Do that one real quick if you got it. Trinity. Wow. This is for me. I know, right? This school totally customizes a room. Wait, pause real quick. Can you. Okay, good. First of all, I just want to point this out. This is a totally different discussion. So one thing that I would encourage Christian parents towards is when you're evaluating what your kids watch and how you process it with them, What a lot of well meaning Christians will do is they'll just look for content. So they go to something like common sense media. Are there cuss words? Is there sex in it? Was there violence? Oh, if not, then we're good. So I just want to point this out. Really? What you're looking. What Satan does is he. The Bible says he calls good things evil and evil things good. He's a master deceiver. So what you want to watch out for as a Christian parent is, is this a show that depicts good things as good and evil things as evil? When I'm with my kids, I drive my daughters crazy. Before we watch something together, I always say, hey, man, y' all have your lie detectors up. And when we're done, I want to see what your lie detectors picked up. Like, we went to see the movie Wicked one time and I was like, lie detectors. And we get it on the truck. We're like, let's talk about it. Okay. So I just want to point this out before we even talk about the trans stuff. Stuff. You have a show right here where witches, witchcraft, warlocks, and overtly demonic evil spirituality are the good guys. So what you got to watch out for as a parent are my. Are my kids constantly watching things where people and things the Bible says are evil are portrayed as good and good guys. Because that as parents, what we're doing is we're calibrating the consciences of our kids. All right? So anyway, let's keep you on. On. So cozy. I'm Frankie. Pronouns. They, them. I'm only 15 days old, so Weirdine. She. Her. Nice to meet you. My full name is Frankie St. Did she say furry? Created by my parents, but not in the way that others are created by their parents. Like werewolves. I was actually made in the lab using some of the. All right, I got no words. Yeah, I got no words. Okay, now we could keep going. Like, what? So the reason this became internationally trending is people started digging up, like, oh, this is, like, in tons of Netflix kid shows. So again, here's our big thing. Christians and parents. If the church won't disciple people, the world will. These are not TV shows. They're sermons is what they are. Now, this is where like, dude, you want to get. You want to get a little crazy? What I want to do real quick, this is going to take me two or three minutes. And this. Listen, bro, this is going to blow your mind. What you are seeing is the outcome of a covert strategy that was hatched in 1987 by two gay rights activists. And they set out to decide way back in 87 how do we turn LGBT ideology into the official doctrine of America. So, all right, here, let me. Let's do some show and tell real quick. This is a book. Which camera am I at? All right, this is a book right here. It's called after the Ball subtitle How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of gays in the 90s, written by two dudes, Marshall Kirk and Hunter Mazdin. In. This was either written in 87 or 89. All right, now, this book, by the way, one of them was a neuropsychologist. The other guy was an advertising exec, I think, in Manhattan. Now, what they did is this is pre Internet, so they were like, we can write this book, and this will stay among, like, our little crew. They didn't know what was coming. This was what they wrote in the late 80s about. They developed a strategy, a covert activist strategy. How are we going to turn all of America into, like, pro lgbt? Like, the official doctrine of America? And, bro, I'm going to read you some quotes from this thing. You are about to have the veil pulled back on the exact play that got ran on your culture for the last 50 years without anybody knowing. Now, here's what's crazy about this book, bro. Once people Figured out what was going on and that, like, the little covert strategy was in this thing. They tried to memory hold this book. So, like, they. From what I understand, they started purchasing up all these things so that nobody would be able to find it. So this paperback book cost me. I think it was like, 200 bucks. Because I was like, I'm gonna get one before they're gone. So this is. I got this. This is one of them. Okay, bro, now this is gonna take me a second, but this is really gonna freak you out. I'm going to read you some quotes from their strategy starting in 1987. Some of this should sound familiar. Okay, some quotes. Here we go. This was during the AIDS epidemic of the 80s. AIDS gives us a chance, however brief, to establish ourselves as a victimized minority, legitimately deserving of America's special protection and care. Gays must be portrayed. Remember, these are marketers that are setting the marketing strategy. How are we going to market ourselves towards our end goals? Gays must be portrayed as victims in need of protection so that straights will be inclined by reflex to adopt the role of protector. And I'm gonna say something like, super, super duper, un PC. I'll just point this out that right now, especially like in the progressive, more progressive segment of America, what you have is this really dominated by predominantly white, single, childless women. Okay? Now I just want to point this out. If you look at that segment of the populace, progressive, white, childless, single women, what you have is you can't turn off your instincts that are hardwired into you toward a husband and your maternal instincts towards children. So what that segment of the population a lot of times does is they start looking to the government to step in the role of their husband. I need you to provide for me. I need you to protect me. I need you to lead and that kind of thing. And then here's what you got to watch out for. This is exactly what this book is playing on. Right here, is what that segment of the populace does is they aim their mama bear maternal instincts. A lot of times it's the LGBT community. And what you'll notice is that white, single, childless women, they get real protective for LGBT people. What that is is this maternal instincts because they don't have kids aimed somewhere that they weren't designed to be aimed. So this is what it's talking about. Let me keep going, bro. This is nuts. Wait, I'm gonna save that, because that one's nuts. Okay. By the way, this book and these strategists are where the entire what's interesting, Carlos, I'm curious if your generation still says this because now this, the research is in the opposite direction. So people say this less. When me and Paul were in high school, what people said about same sex attracted people is they would say, hey man, we were born this way. Yes. That was like the line, born this way. Is that still?

[B]

Yeah, that was a debate like 10 years ago. I don't know that I hear that anymore.

[A]

The reason you don't hear that anymore is because now like mountains of research are in the opposite direction.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, honestly too. And because of the transition gender movement too, which is literally like which.

[C]

And they have war with each other.

[B]

A little bit, which is literally says the complete opposite. Well, it doesn't matter what you were born because you can just be with transition.

[A]

Okay, well, even though there has, to my understanding never been evidence of genetic predisposition towards same sex attraction, the concept of born this way came from these dudes. That was the strategy. They didn't have the research. They were just like, from a branding perspective. I'm going to read you the quote. We argue that for all practical purposes, gays should considered to have been born gay. And they even acknowledge this, even though sexual orientation for most humans seems to be the product of a complex interaction between innate predispositions and environmental factors during childhood and early adolescence. So you have these marketers, these covert activist strategists in 87 going, we know the research doesn't say it, but we need to figure out a way to brand in American culture that this is a born this way thing. Why? Here's what they say. So that we can suggest in public. To suggest in public that homosexuality might be chosen is to open the can of worms labeled moral choices and sin. So they knew, in order for us to get away from the historic Christian understanding that actually there is morality to this, we have to rebrand it as a genetic disposition. And born this way. That came from these activists in 1987. Now let's talk about churches. They had a strategy. What do we do with the churches? Quote, conservative churches, defined by the authors need. They need to be defined by the authors as homo hating. So do you know where the. The word homophobic was popularized? Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. Wow. This, this movement, we need them portrayed as antiquated backwaters, badly out of step with the times with the latest findings of psychology. Now again, I want to point this out. They're not saying we have new findings of psychology. They're deciding what the outcome needs to be for Branding and activist purposes. And then going, now then we'll go find it. Now I'm going to keep reading quotes, but if you're like older than 30, as I read these quotes, you should be thinking back through your life and you're going to notice, holy Moses, this is exactly what happened. All came from this. Okay, let me keep going. So they're still talking about churches. Quote from the book. So again, these are marketers and advertisers. They're coming up with the type of advertising that they want people to run to stigmatize churches as homophobic. For example, marketer dude writes in this book, he's describing a commercial or an ad for several seconds. An unctuous beady eyed southern preacher is shown pounding the pulpit in rage against those perverted, abominable creatures. While his tirade continues over the soundtrack, the picture switches to heart rending photos of badly beaten persons or of gays who look decent, harmless and likable. And then we cut back to the poisonous face of the preacher. The contrast will speak for itself and the effect will be devastating. Now bro, like this is what you've been seeing for like 50 years. Yep. Okay, let me keep going. Now what we're talking about is, man, you may be going, man, why is it, dude, why is it they're like every, it's in every TV show, it's in every commercial. Why is Netflix got to stick this in like every kid's show? Well, let me help you. You. Alright, let's keep going. So these guys start talking about what's going to be our media strategy. The authors boldly state early on in the book, quote, the campaign we outline in this book, though complex, depends centrally upon. Listen to this. A program of unabashed propaganda firmly grounded in long established principles of psychology and advertising. Advertising. I'm going to keep going. They sought to build on people's primal instincts whereby, quote, we need a flood of gay related advertising presented in the least offensive fashion possible. This will get the job done. Listen, if straights can't cut off the shower, they may at least eventually get used to being wet. So they're laying this out in 87 heaven. We're going to shower them with a bombardment of constant propaganda in every TV show and every commercial they watch so that it will desensitize them to the fact that this is not right, true, good or normal. Okay, so that's what they're saying now. Dude, again, the quotes keep getting freakier. Okay, we mean conversion of the average American's emotions, mind and will Through a. This is their language. Planned psychological attack in the form of propaganda fed to the nation via the media. Now, dude, okay, what's going to be the strategy? Remember, this is 87, Paul. And I remember 87. This was not like, bro, Carlos, you don't even understand. This was like not a thing in 87. This was not a thing.

[B]

I believe you.

[A]

It was not a thing. Our culture was very heteronormative in 87, which is a good, true and righteous thing. Okay, so, bro, this is nuts. So then they go, okay, what are we going to do with the media bombardment propaganda strategy? Listen to this quote. First, we will get our foot in the door by being as similar as possible to the Straits. In other words, we're going to put people. If you remember, we were talking about Will and Grace earlier. The first thing we're going to do is we're going to put that same sex couples in TV shows that look exactly like heterosexual couples, okay? So they say we need by being as similar as possible. Listen then and only then, when your one little difference orientation is finally accepted, can you start dragging in your other peculiarities one by one. You hammer in the wedge. Narrow end first. As the saying goes, allow the camel's nose beneath the tent and his whole body will soon follow. So if you're asking the question, oh, man, why is it that in the last 10 years, 20 years, it went from just like, you know, normal same sex couple on Will and Grace, and now we're doing like, furries. Yeah, and like we got trans people in kids cartoons and like, we got pride parades in Portland where, like, they're getting city permits to walk around naked in BDSM paraphernalia in front of children. 1 1987, somebody outlined a strategy. Get the camel's nose beneath the tent first and then his whole body will soon follow. Keep going. They write this in practical terms, this means that cocky, mustachioed leatherman drag queens and bulldikes will not appear in gay commercials and other presentations. In other words, let's hide all that stuff. Stuff. Let's just get the nose under the tent first and then we'll drag the other stuff in. Conventional young people, middle aged women and older folks of all races are to be featured. Not to mention the parents and straight friends of gays. This is what they're outlining in 87. Now, last one. This is my last quote, I think at a later stage of the media campaign. Now, before I read this, this is. They're on. They're playing defense right now. Like that this whole team is playing defense right now, and that's a good thing. But if you remember even just eight years ago, bro, you would have a situation where like I remember CEOs getting found out they had donated $1500 to an organization that defended a biblical definition of marriage. And huge public pressure being so big they get fired from their position. Like that was hap. That. That's a thing. Okay, well, I wonder where that came from. Let me tell you straight from this book. 1987, at a later stage of the media campaign for gay rights, long after other gay ads have been commonplace, then it will be time to get tough with remaining opponents. To be blunt, they must be vilified. Our goal here will be twofold. First, we seek to replace the mainstream self righteous pride about its homophobia with shame and guilt. Second, we intend to make the anti gays look so nasty that average Americans will want to disassociate themselves from such types. And ladies and gentlemen, you have just had the history of American culture since 1987 prescribed to you in advance from that book. Wow, that's crazy.

[B]

Yes, that's wild thoughts.

[C]

And it was executed well. Even if it's terrible and tragic, I'm saying they executed it. And even what we were talking about before the show was even if you see gradually what was in media, even at first some of the stuff that was same sex was at least okay. Aha. Can laugh at that joke. But part of that was intentional that they're trying to get you so familiar with it, you're laughing at it, and then eventually it's normal.

[A]

It's normal.

[B]

This is also obviously pre social media. So these guys had no idea the power and the influence of social media around again 2007, when YouTube kind of became a thing, then 2011 when like smartphones became a thing, which has obviously advanced their costs like significantly.

[A]

Oh, metastasized.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah, man. There's a couple things, you know, there's. Man, there's a few things I'd say about this because the question then is like, all that stuff's going on, on, man. What do I do? I'm a. I'm a Christian dad.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. Before you go there, can I ask something so somebody might be asking? There's. There's two questions. I think you're about to answer the second one. But before somebody might be asking, hey, but we've seen a bunch of LGBTQ content out there, so. And you know, people are like you said, we kind of culture has accepted it in some, in some Sense. But why is this? I, I've heard people say this is evil. Why is this in particular evil?

[A]

Because it's intentionally preying on and stealing the innocence of children.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

So, like, let me just. So let me ask you this question, all right? So why are they so adamant about getting it in shows that are marketed towards 6 year olds? Why is it that drag queen story hours that were a thing, why is it always in libraries and they want to read to the kids? Why do they never want to go to nursing homes and read their books to the elderly? Okay, what you have to understand, man, is that in one sense, the LGBTQ movement is a religion. And you need to think of all the letters in the LGBTQ thing. Those are different denominations within the religion. And if you're asking the question like, man, why are they always going after the kids? Because eventually every religion has to get into kids ministry. Ministry. They know that. They also know, just speaking very bluntly, same sex couples cannot create kids, so they, they got to convert yours. They know that the success of the movement in the future depends on converting your children to their religion.

[B]

Literally depends on it.

[A]

Literally depends on it. Wow.

[B]

Okay, so second question. So what should Christians do? But people are boycotting Netflix.

[A]

You know, first of all, before you, Paul, were you, did you have something you were going to say there or you, you.

[C]

Oh, no, I think that's exactly what I was going to say is. I think it's because it's targeted towards kids. And I think there's just something about that that's like, oh, okay, like it's one thing if you come to have that view when you're older, but don't try to put that into their minds. But to your point, it's very intentional that you do that. And I think even, like, it's been interesting. I've heard all these stories and seen this research where they'll take kids and they'll try to introduce these concepts to them and the kids naturally reject because it just doesn't seem normal to them. But the more that they can keep it push at them as normal, the more then they'll grow up and then they're trying to basically change about going after a new generation. So that's exactly what I was going to say.

[A]

That's it. Dude, man. There's a couple things I'd say here. First of all, if you are somebody that experiences same sex attraction. Let me just talk about this real quick. Christians get really confused on this because it's emotionally confusing. You've got. Let's say you got a friend, you got a family member who is in a same sex relationship or struggling with gender identity and you love that person. And like, dude, this is like a very emotional, very personal thing for them. What Christians have to remember is the Bible tells us to love people. Jesus said, love your neighbor as yourself. Love people. But then the book of. I think it's First Corinthians. Is it First Corinthians or Colossians? We destroy arguments. Colossians, Colossians 3, 1, 2, 3. Somewhere around there. The book of Colossians says we destroy arguments and every idea that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. So what Christians are called to do is. This is really important. Important. Love people, but destroy arguments. Why do we want to destroy arguments? Well, Jesus said, then you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. How's the truth set you free? The truth only sets you free if you've been enslaved by a lie. So why do we destroy lies and evil ideologies? Because they take people captive. It's actually very unloving not to destroy the ideologies that takes people captive. So if, first of all, if somebody experiences same sex attraction, we love that person because we are Christians and Christ Jesus died for that person and wants them to be in heaven with him forever. Yes. So one to that person, I would say, hey man, the condemnation of that idea is not the condemnation of you. So you are not your orientation. I know you got a million people in your ear telling you what you should and shouldn't do with that. You are not your orientation. You are who Jesus says you are. So do not build your identity upon a sexual proclivity. Don't do that. That's one thing. Two, let me just talk about as parents and as Christians, you know what we do, what we do as parents is we want to. We need to view every show they watch reel they watch. Especially when they're young. The younger they are, the more true this is. Those are not shows, they're sermons. If the church won't disciple people, the world will. So what we want to do first Corinthians 16 says to men, specifically men and especially fathers, it says, be watchful, stand firm in the faith, be strong, act like men, let all you do be done in love. Well, one thing that we do as dads being watchful is we're watching. How is the enemy trying to devour my family? And what I'm not going to do is stand passively by and just let the serpent get my family without Me doing something about it. So that's what Adam did. Adam's got a serpent talking to his wife. And he should have inserted himself between his wife and the serpent and been like, you want to get to her, you got to get through me. So what we need to do with our kids when demonic, evil ideas are trying to come for our kids. My job as a dad is to be watchful, Know how the enemy's coming and go, no, no, man. Nuh. You don't get my kids. You gotta, you gotta go through them to get. You gotta go through me to get to them. So we need to be watchful and be aware. Your job as a parent, very frankly, is like super not politically correct, but it is biblically correct. Your job as a parent is to calibrate the consciences of your kids so that things that are good, right and true feel good, right and true. And so that things that are perverse, wicked, evil and destructive feel perverse, wicked, weird, evil and destructive. So Jan and I, very aggressively, very aggressively, we have sought to raise our kids in a radically heteronormative home where they do not, especially when they're very young. They don't see commercials with same sex couples in them, especially when they're very young. Like if we're watching Survivor together and they go into the little story montage and it's somebody, this same sex relationship, we're skipping it. If there's too much in it, we don't do it. Now as they get older and they develop discernment and they know how to think and feel, that's different. But at a young age, the concrete is still wet, wet. And my job is to make sure that it dries in the right shapes. So I don't want you seeing any of that stuff. So when our kids see that stuff, like literally now, when our kids see that stuff, their first response is gag reflex. And dad, that's weird. Hey, listen, that's good. Yes, it's good. When people feel that weird and perverse things feel weird and perverse to them. So one is parents with young kids, you know, that's what we want to be doing that aggressively. Number two, obviously as kids get older, we want to help them develop discernment. We got to talk about those things. And what I don't want is for them to talk about it first with all their little idiot 11 year old friends. And by the way, that's not even mean the book of Proverbs literally says foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child. So that's another little parenting thing. You need to have the mental framework that all your kids friends are fools because that's literally what the Bible says. All your kids friends are fools. So guess what? We don't need, we don't need our kids getting all of their views about the world from a bunch of fools. So what we want to do is we're supposed to be people who are full of biblical wisdom. We need to be having. We want you processing that with wise people. People talk about that with mom and dad.

[C]

Okay?

[A]

So one thing you do want to watch out for as your kids get a little older, in my opinion, and then I want you guys to chime in here is we're, we're really especially at like the younger ages and then when they get into like middle school area, what Jan and I really try to keep an eye on and listen, you have influence but not control. We all know that you're going to do your best. We're really watching like there's a difference. There's kids who are parent bonded versus kids who are peer bonded. I think what you really want to keep an eye on is like man is their deepest relationship and highest emotional commitment with their friends who are still foolish or with their parents who are wise.

[B]

That's good.

[A]

And whenever Janet and I will start to notice like, oh man, we're going through a little phase. We got a little wobbly wheel on a grocery cart over there. Then usually our first instinct is aha, we need to make sure we're real parent bonded right now. So we're going to really lean in on time, fun, attention, conversation. Because I need you bonded to wisdom. I do not need you bonded to foolishness right now. And that creates this emotional pathway where now I've got the relationship to train to calibrate that sort of thing so that we align with God's word. Now I just talked for a long time.

[B]

That's great.

[A]

What do you guys got? Additional thoughts? Comments?

[B]

Yeah, I have a three year old so I'm learning from both of you. So Paul?

[C]

No, I think just to add and then I'll give maybe a paradigm that I've thought about recently in a different context, but I think it'd be applied here. But first, just off what you said, I think one thing I was taught in terms of the stages of parenting that very much apply here is that really from when your kid is born to about 10 or 11ish, you're a cop and not in the sense that you're mean. But say you set the Rules, if you break them, there's a punishment with that, but then also just a lot more strictures, but really starting around 10 or 11 to about when they're 18, graduated from high school, you're more of a coach, by the way. That doesn't mean that there's no punishment, doesn't mean there's no dis, because the coach can make you run laps, he can put you on the bench and all that kind of stuff. The idea is that you're training them to be able to go out on the field by themselves. So even, like what you're saying is there does come a stage where I can't simply say, you can't watch anything, you can't do this, you can't do that. Because at some point they're going to do those things. And if I haven't coached them to be able to do it themselves, the world's going to get them and they're going to fall hard. And then once you're 18 and beyond, basically you're a consultant. And even like what you talked about is really, as you get older, it's way more about influence and less about control. So that's just a simple kind of idea and concept that I think helps people even as you're thinking about, okay, how old are my kids, how am I, how am I filtering the content, how am I having conversations? It, it gets wrong whenever you flip the stages. So if you try to go coach or consultant mode when your kids are young, that's foolish. But conversely, if you're still trying to be a cop with a 16 or 17 year old, frankly, you're not preparing your teenager for life.

[A]

Amen.

[C]

So I'll come back to another kind of paradigm to how to maybe sift through content. But, Carlos, what do you got?

[B]

Yeah, man, I think, you know, I speak to a lot of parents that actually listen to this podcast best with their children, you know, teenagers. And here, here's what I would say. I think what you said, Josh, makes a lot of sense. Like, hey, you're, if you're a teenager or if you're a younger listener, just be aware that in a sense it is true. Your, your friends are foolish. And so if your parents love Jesus, if you're, if you're here listening this with your dad or, or your mom is speaking truth to you and they both love Jesus and you see Christ in them. Love, like it's smart. Listen to your parents more than you listen to your friends. You do not want to be taking advice from your foolish friends. You want to be listening to your godly parents and it'll bless your life. Like you're going to be ahead like 10, 15, 20 years and God's going to bless you even more. And so just, you know, again, just another side over there that I think makes lot a lot of sense.

[C]

Well even off that and this connects something you said earlier about the kinds of content we're bringing in, which is if you think about most Disney or other kids movies out there, the resounding theme is the parents are the fullest idiots who are oppressing you. And by repressing it means even to that clip that we showed earlier, you be you, you do you. And if your parents are keeping that, that's because they don't want you to be happy. For you to be happy, you have to get what exactly you desire. And so that's a good example of even like I thought when you were talking earlier, like I almost would rather have my kids watch Braveheart or Same Private Ryan a little too young than to watch kids oriented content that is actually discipling them them and they're on. See he's, he's getting it.

[B]

Private Ryan, he's getting it.

[A]

Hey, that's a throwback to an old episode. Good job, Carlos.

[C]

But because the in those shows are showing I'm like man values of laying down your life and curse. Anyways, that was the thought on that a paradigm that it's interesting. I actually taught our staff recently on our student staff on for how to evaluate and discern really theological and biblical teachers whether that's pastors or books they're reading, things they're listening to. But I think applies here is I like to think of it three ways. There's some, there's some people in this case you can kind of substitute in shows or even networks because like this even started with man, should you cancel Netflix? But also you got to think of things like man, I've got YouTube TV, you've got even like social media networks like X. You got to really think not just through an individual show, but basically platforms as well. Some are like a road man on a road. For the most part I don't have to think about too much. I can go running on a road. There's an occasional crack, occasional pottle, but hey for the most part pretty safe. Don't have to worry about too much. And then there's a trail. Trails have a lot more roots and rocks. You got to watch out for. You got to go a little slower and really actually be a little Bit more skilled. I can send my kids out to run or play on the road. Still have to watch out for cars and watch out for some things to be safe. But when I fasten them on a trail, there's a lot more bad that can happen. And so if anything, I need to go out there first with them, make sure they can handle it. And even using that analogy, there's easy trails and there's really hard, dangerous ones. And then there are minefields.

[A]

That's great, dude.

[C]

And there's minefields where, man, you really gotta be careful because, I mean, you can sip on a mine and get really hurt. And with that analogy, I would be an awful, foolish, even borderline evil parent if I sent my kids out into a minefield without me walking through it with them. And so I think as you're looking at. Go.

[A]

I'll just say one thing that you finish. Like, so if something is a minefield, you're really dumb if you walk through it.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

So, like, there are some platforms that it's like, honestly, man, there ain't no good reason. There is literally no good reason for you. Like, I'll be honest, man. Like, I've literally never even. I've never had Snapchat. But, like, what I've heard, read about Snapchat, I'm like, I don't. I don't see any redeeming quality. Yeah, so there's some of those things, like, there's no reason to walk through minefields. No. So.

[C]

No, that's actually, that's what I joked with our team as, man, whatever's on the other side of that minefield, it better be really worth it because if you just need to go get some toothpaste, well, guess what, you can go to a different place and get that. Not worth going on. Anyways, my point is, as you're evaluating your kids shows, also the platforms exposed to, you really got to stop and think and do your research. Hey, is this more like a road, is this more like a trail, or is this like a minefield? And then act accordingly. Act according.

[B]

So should Christians boycott Netflix?

[A]

I mean, honestly, man, I don't know that I got a strong opinion. Yeah, I'll be honest.

[B]

Here's what I hear you saying, Josh, if that's okay. I hear you say it's. It's not a bad idea. If somebody wants to. Would you say, I do not think.

[A]

It'S a bad idea? Honestly, my. My first instinct, what I had. I haven't thought through this extensively. My first instinct is that in a Free market economy, which is what we live in as of now. In a capitalistic free market economy. Every time you spend a dollar, you're casting a vote Every time you spend a dollar, you're casting a vote for what kind of world you want to live in. Now, dude, you can get real like, you can get to where it's like literally impossible to buy anything.

[B]

Oh, man, YouTube has a lot of content as well. That's probably questionable. I mean, there's a lot of things.

[A]

Well, that shirt was outsourced to and that company in 1994 one time employed people in Somalia. And those people one time. It can get silly. But I mean, in one sense, you just need to know when you spend dollars, you're casting votes for what kind of world you want to live in here. So I don't think it's a bad idea. And let me just. I didn't plan. I canceled ours last night. I did. I was like, nah, we're out.

[B]

So there you go.

[C]

I think on that is this might be one of the situations is like it's a wisdom issue. And what I mean by that is like, if you're not going to do it, then you better be w. Because to your point, we're all not just our kids, but we're all being discipled all day. And what simple discipleship means is the idea of you are being formed by someone or something into someone or something. And so at the end of the day, these shows are forming you and they're forming your kids. And so you better be really wise. If you keep Netflix, you better know you've got to is going back to my road trail and mindful analogy, hey, that's probably more like now an advanced trail. And so if you're not willing to walk through like with it with your kids and be really mindful, then maybe you do need to camp cancel it. But if you are, maybe you don't have to. I think this is probably one of those things where it's maybe not a, hey, if you don't do it, you're sinning. But if you do do it, you better be wise.

[A]

That's why I was hesitant to answer. I don't want to bind somebody's conscience. I don't think it's a sin righteousness issue. It's more like a wisdom strategy issue. Can I say one last thing here, Carlos? So on this point, I hopped on. It was last week I had a little 10 minute deal where I hopped on Jason Whitlock's podcast, which is that a Podcast or a TV show?

[B]

It's a TV show in the Blaze.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Fearless.

[A]

I don't know what it was. Jason Whitlock's sports commentator for those people who he used to be ESPN guy. And we talked a little bit and he said on the show that when we were talking, he was like, they will eventually try to legalize pedophilia. And he's been saying that for years and people laugh at him. Trendy. You got that thing I just dropped in there? Can you pull that up? All right, let me. Hang on. It's tough to read, so let me. I'm gonna pull this up so people laugh at people laughing. Oh, dude, that'll never happen. People won't do that. So what you're seeing right here, this is. By the way, this is. She's a really good follow. Yes. Katie McCoy is a good follow on both IG and X. She's a good, solid Christian cultural thinker. So here's what you got. I'm gonna read it. Alert. A new peer reviewed paper in the American Sociological Association's official journal of Sex and Sexualities calls calls for the elimination of the idea of childhood sexual intervention, innocence and the social ethical taboos against children engaging in sex acts. And then it has a screenshot of the peer reviewed, scientifically published paper. The title of it is Childhood Sexualities on Pleasure and Meaning from the Margins. And basically it's, hey, we should have a strategy to rebrand away from pedophilia because that's a. A morally charged state statement towards things like minor attracted person. Yeah.

[B]

So, dude, like, it's probably in the book, right? The strategy. The. The one.

[A]

I don't know. I don't know. It could very well could be. But that's exact. I mean, let me just say that's exactly what we said earlier. Let's get the nose of the camel under the tent with the things that look and feel more normal and then we can bring in. I think it literally called the more the oddities and things like that. That's what that is. Evil.

[B]

Well, yes, we're gonna have to save the Pope conversation on that.

[A]

We were Pope.

[B]

Because I want to let you go.

[A]

We're going to hit Pope. Pete Hegseth speech to the generals and Stephen Miller speech. It's all related.

[C]

You know, October is the. Is the time we celebrate the Reformation. So we've got a few more weeks that maybe we can bring them up another.

[A]

There you go.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Well, that way.

[B]

Come back. Well, on that note, Pastor Josh, would you please pray for us.

[A]

Yeah. Well, Jesus, first of all, thank you for your great grace. And thank you that not one person who has dabbled in or been captive to any of the ideas that we have talked about in the last however many minutes is not deeply loved by their heavenly. By the. By you, by the heavenly Father, and that your arms are outstretched to welcome them home in the love and grace of Jesus Christ. So, Father, yes, we love truth. Yes, we want to protect our kids kids, but also, yes, we know that you are Jesus Christ, friend of sinners, and that you have bleeding heart and hands for their salvation. And so, Father, I pray for that, for mass salvation, for a sweeping wave of the love of the Father over these things. Father, I pray for the parents that you would give us because we're all in this thing together right now, that you would give us spirit, empowered wisdom and that you would fill our children with a spirit, spirit of wisdom and of love, of righteousness and of Jesus from a very young age. We're praying for thousands and millions of quote unquote boring testimonies because of mommies and daddies who were watchful, stood firm, they were strong, they acted like men and women, and they let all that they do be done in love. So, Father, we love you. We pray those things in the name of a risen Christian Christ. Amen.

[B]

Amen.

[A]

Thanks for tuning in to Live Free with Pastor Josh Howerton. We pray today's episode helped you take a step forward in life, culture and faith as you live free in Christ. If it encouraged you, be sure to rate, review and share the podcast. And don't forget to subscribe so you'll never miss an episode. Join us for Lake Point Church Online every weekend and find more resources at Lake Lakepoint Church Live Free. We'll see you next time.