Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey: Episode 1137 Summary

Podcast Information

• Title: Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey
• Host: Blaze Podcast Network
• Description: Upbeat and in-depth, Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey breaks down the latest in culture, news, theology, and politics from a Christian, conservative perspective. Allie’s fresh analysis of the most important issues provides an entertaining and effective way to stay in the know.
• Episode: Ep 1137 | Paula White & 'He Gets Us' Get Jesus Wrong
• Release Date: February 10, 2025

Introduction and Overview

In Episode 1137 titled "Paula White & 'He Gets Us' Get Jesus Wrong," hosted by Allie Beth Stuckey (referred to as Ali in the transcript), the discussion navigates through a variety of topics centered around the recent Super Bowl, controversial advertisements, and a deep dive into Paula White's appointment to President Trump’s new White House Faith Office.

Super Bowl Highlights

Political Moments: Trump and Taylor Swift

The episode begins with Ali reflecting on the Super Bowl's unique blend of sports and cultural moments. A significant highlight was former President Donald Trump’s appearance, where he was warmly greeted by the audience. In contrast, Taylor Swift, girlfriend of Chiefs player Travis Kelce, faced boos on the Jumbotron. Ali remarked:

"She clearly feels awkward and I feel for her... It just seemed like an odd and unnecessarily rude thing to me."
(00:xx)

This juxtaposition underscores the current cultural and political divides, illustrating how public figures can be perceived differently based on their political affiliations and actions.

Advertisements: Best and Worst Ads

Ali proceeds to critique various Super Bowl advertisements, highlighting both commendable and cringe-worthy examples:

• Rocket: Despite Ali’s unclear recollection of Rocket's ad, she appreciated their positive message set to John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Road," praising its pro-family and pro-American Dream themes.

• Google’s Heartwarming Job Interview Ad: Featuring a father practicing job interview questions with his child, the ad evoked strong emotions:

  "I'm trying not to sob. That was really sweet."
  (16:22)

• Nate Bargasse’s Comedic DashPass Commercial: Ali enjoyed the humor but noted the importance of maintaining one's brand values.

• Snoop Dogg’s Unity Commercial: Expressed confusion over Snoop Dogg being the face of a unity campaign, given his previous satirical portrayal of Donald Trump:

  "It's just silly that Snoop Dogg is the voice for that."
  (22:24)

• NFL and Nike Ads Critique: Ali criticized the NFL’s portrayal of girls outperforming boys in flag football, questioning the realism and underlying message. Similarly, she took issue with Nike's ads promoting girls' sports while simultaneously supporting transgender athletes, viewing it as contradictory and counter to women's rights.

Christian Moments: Athletes Praising God

Ali shifts focus to the compilation by Sports Spectrum, showcasing Christian athletes praising Jesus during the Super Bowl:

"Jesus, my Lord and Savior. It's someone that I look up to every single day..."
(27:37)

She commends the genuine expressions of faith, emphasizing the importance of athletes using their platform to glorify God.

Halftime Show: Kendrick Lamar’s Performance

Discussing the Super Bowl halftime show featuring Kendrick Lamar, Ali offers a nuanced view:

• Performance Analysis: While acknowledging Lamar's lyrical prowess and talent, Ali remains unconvinced by his messages, feeling they sometimes miss the mark on representing Christian values.

• Mixed Reactions: The performance was divisive, with interpretations ranging from patriotic to critical of America's understanding of rap and hip-hop.

"I don't think that we should give Kendrick Lamar the benefit of the doubt in his Super Bowl show that he was actually, like, saying that America is awesome."
(30:53)

He Gets Us Campaign Critique

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to critiquing the "He Gets Us" campaign, an explicitly Christian advertising initiative aiming to redefine Jesus' image in modern culture.

Background and Funding

• Launch and Funding: Launched in 2022 with a substantial $100 million campaign, funded through a donor-advised fund associated with the Signatory, a firm promoting biblically responsible investments.

• Controversial Associations: The campaign faced backlash for its ties to the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a group often labeled by progressives as anti-LGBTQ despite ADF's stance on religious liberty.

Advertising Strategy and Content

• Ad Agency Choice: "He Gets Us" partnered with Lerma Ad Agency, a pro-LGBTQ, secular firm, which Ali finds perplexing given the campaign’s Christian roots.

• Message and Scriptural Accuracy: Ali argues that the campaign misrepresents Jesus, focusing on inclusive love without addressing core Christian doctrines like salvation through Christ alone.

"He Gets Us tells the story of Jesus through a modern lens, but it doesn't even really do that."
(32:41)

• Criticism from Christian Scholars: Referencing Natasha Crane's rebuttal, Ali highlights how the campaign reinforces secular misconceptions of Jesus, making it harder for true evangelism.

  "These ads are actually incredibly harmful to the cause of evangelism because the campaign reinforces what culture wants to believe about Jesus while leaving out what culture doesn't want to believe."
  (General paraphrasing)

Paula White and the White House Faith Office

The latter part of the episode delves into Paula White’s controversial appointment as the head of Trump’s new White House Faith Office.

Background of Paula White

• Prosperity Gospel Preacher: Paula White is criticized for her affiliation with the prosperity gospel, a doctrine suggesting that faith can lead to financial and physical well-being. Ali shares examples from White’s ministry:

  "2025 is a year of fruitfulness, blessing and abundance for you... Your 2024 will be a year of God's power and authority."
  (65:45)

• Controversial Teachings and Actions: White’s sermons and personal conduct, including promoting supernatural experiences and questionable fundraising tactics, are scrutinized.

  "I am sorry, it's just evil that solicit donations and say that God is going to do something if someone continues to pay her money."
  (72:39)

• Connection with Trump: Highlighting White’s long-standing relationship with Trump, Ali questions the alignment between White’s teachings and true Christian doctrine.

Theological Concerns

• False Teachings: Ali emphasizes that White's teachings deviate from biblical principles, particularly her focus on wealth and prosperity as divine rewards.

• Scriptural Misinterpretation: She references scriptures like John 3:16 and 2 Corinthians 9:7 to counter White’s interpretations, advocating for a more biblically accurate portrayal of Jesus and Christian faith.

Call for Repentance and Prayer

Ali expresses a heartfelt desire for Paula White to embrace true Christian teachings and repents her current doctrines:

"I want Paula White to repent and become a Christian. That's what I want. Because if she still believes this, then she doesn't believe in the real Jesus."
(72:39)

She also extends prayers for the success of the White House Faith Office, hoping it champions the true gospel despite her reservations about its leadership.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In wrapping up the episode, Ali reiterates the importance of accurate representation of Christian beliefs in public campaigns and leadership roles. She underscores the potential negative impact of misrepresenting Jesus and the necessity for spiritual discernment in evaluating faith-based initiatives like "He Gets Us" and Paula White's role in the government.

"If you have 30 to 60 seconds of airtime and millions of dollars to share the Gospel, the word of God does not return void."
(Final thoughts section)

Ali encourages listeners to engage critically with media representations of faith and to remain steadfast in upholding authentic Christian doctrine.

Notable Quotes:

• Ali on Jesus Representation:

  "He is never in any of these ads presented as what he also is. What he very importantly is, which is king, Savior, Lord, and God."
  (Approximately 32:41)

• Ali on Prosperity Gospel:

  "I truly believe that that is wicked, that there will be punishment for that."
  (72:39)

• Ali’s Prayer for Faith Office:

  "I pray that there would be solid Christians in it, and I pray that good, righteous things would be accomplished on behalf of the country, on behalf of God's people."
  (53:59)

Conclusion

Episode 1137 of Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey offers a critical perspective on recent cultural events, advertisements, and significant appointments within the Christian community. Through a blend of cultural commentary and theological critique, Ali encourages listeners to seek truth and authenticity in both public representations of faith and leadership roles within the government.