Podcast Summary: Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey

Episode 1249 | He Shared the Gospel with Joe Rogan. Here’s What Else He’d Say | Chadd Wright
Air Date: October 3, 2025
Host: Allie Beth Stuckey
Guest: Chadd Wright – Former Navy SEAL, founder of 3 of 7 Project, Christian teacher

Main Theme / Overview

This episode offers an in-depth, biblically earnest discussion with Chadd Wright—former Navy SEAL and founder of the 3 of 7 Project—about sharing the Gospel in high-profile spaces (notably Joe Rogan’s podcast), the doctrine of God’s sovereignty and election (Calvinism vs. Arminianism), salvation assurance, the reality behind faith and evangelism, personal testimony, and the Christian's engagement with politics. The tone is passionate, unfiltered, and designed to both edify and challenge believers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Chadd Wright and His Background

• Wright’s Self-Description and Threefold Mission
  • Chadd introduces himself humorously as a "backwoods Navy SEAL, wizard hermit" from the mountains of northwest Georgia. (02:09)
  • He lives on a remote 700-acre property, emphasizing his reclusive, reflective lifestyle (03:46).
  • 3 of 7 Project exists to train people physically, mentally, and spiritually, stemming from Chadd’s passion for teaching honed as a SEAL instructor. (02:26)
• Role Models
  • Chadd credits his mother’s endurance and strength as foundational to his resilience and drive:

    "The reason I became a Navy SEAL, I watched my mother running marathons and triathlons... she was the first person to ever get me out on the trails and show me what it meant to, like, push past mental barriers." (05:52)

Sharing the Gospel on Joe Rogan’s Podcast

• Nerves and Reliance on the Holy Spirit
  • Chadd openly admits he was "scared as a cat" to share the Gospel on Rogan’s massive platform. (07:13)
  • He attributes the outcome to God:

    "Really Holy Spirit really took over... I submit myself to Holy Spirit in prayer... it’s so important for me to get myself out of the way." (09:13)

• Pushback After the Appearance
  • Chadd notes significant backlash for presenting God's sovereignty in salvation:

    "Anytime you come in with the true message of scripture as it pertains to the sovereignty of God... half the Christian community comes at you like you’re a heretic." (10:45)

  • On the American evangelical message:

    "It has been so man-centered for so long." (09:13)

Sovereignty of God, Calvinism vs. Arminianism, Assurance of Salvation

• Foundations Laid

  • Chadd and Allie agree the biblical message is God-centered, not man-centered. Salvation is grounded in God’s will, not human choice.

  • Chadd describes the "order of salvation" per Romans 8: predestination, calling, justification, glorification, and insists it is a sovereign act by God, not contingent on human will. (10:58)

    "It will be done according to His will." (11:18)

• The Problem of ‘Decision-Based’ Salvation
  • Chadd and Allie express concerns that emphasizing human choice leads to anxiety, lack of assurance, and spiritual ineffectiveness.

    "If you think your salvation is based off a choice that you made one day... you better be wondering whether you’re saved or not..." (12:11)

• Why People Resist Sovereignty Doctrine
  • Chadd:

    "It is the final nail in the coffin of your pride... it leaves you with nothing to cling to other than the sovereign grace of God." (18:31)

  • He also notes intellectual discomfort:

    "On the surface level... it poses all these problems... Search those problems out, you’ll find the answers too." (18:31)

• Classic Objections (e.g. John 3:16, "whoever believes")
  • Chadd argues "whomsoever" in Scripture denotes all kinds of people, not an innate ability to choose God. (23:17)

    "You won’t find one [verse] that affirms the ability of man in his natural state... Every verse speaks specifically to what man can and cannot do is always cannot." (23:17)

  • Emphasizes need for expository preaching over experience-based preaching.
• Faith as a Gift
  • Allie:

    "Even that faith that is required for salvation is not ours... credited to God’s total grace." (38:23)

  • Chadd affirms this is the biblical testimony:

    "That is actually what the scripture says." (38:40)

Chadd’s Personal Testimony

• Life Before Faith
  • Raised in the South, familiar with church, but largely agnostic; self-assessed as "generally a good person." (28:21)
  • Describes a Navy career, violence, and serious sin.
• Supernatural Encounter
  • While deployed, Chadd experienced disturbing demonic phenomena in his barracks in Germany. (32:13)
  • Relief came through a pastor’s prayer "in the name of Jesus" over the phone—prompting Chadd to investigate Christianity further.
• Conversion Experience
  • Reading the Bible, the Holy Spirit opened his eyes to the reality of his sin, Christ’s identity and work, and his need for the Savior.

    "Once my eyes were open, I changed in a lot of ways overnight... that’s the miracle." (35:05)

Evangelism, Predestination, and the Call to Repentance

• General vs. Effectual Calling
  • Chadd distinguishes between the gospel's general call to all and the effectual call that awakens the elect to faith. (38:40)

    "That call could happen when you’re four years old... in the mother’s womb [like John the Baptist]." (40:58)

• Tension & Assurance: “What if I’m not chosen?”
  • Chadd admits parents inevitably feel the weight for their kids’ faith (41:51), but highlights both the necessity and privilege of praying and evangelizing—because God has chosen to work through his people.

    "What a gift it is he’s chosen to use us... Not because he has to, but because that is a blessing upon us that we’ve been made useful." (42:30)

  • He critiques the American obsession with counting "conversions" rather than making disciples (44:48).

Discipleship and True Revival

• Making Disciples, Not Just Converts
  • Both agree:

    "We are called to make disciples. Teaching them all the things that I've taught you... not just your red letters." (45:56, B)

• Revival Defined
  • Chadd:

    "If there is true revival, it's wrought by God... a key component... is repentance... literally hating the sin that exists, turning away from it and turning to the resurrected Christ." (50:00)

• On American Christian Laziness
  • Chadd is blunt about the church’s spiritual laziness and busyness preventing true discipleship:

    "We as the American church are pretty much too lazy to do that for the most part." (49:53)

Politics and the Christian’s Role

• Chadd’s “Retreat” from Politics
  • During COVID-19, Chadd was "all in," even considering running for governor, but found the political focus distracted him from God and fueled rage—so he stepped back for spiritual health. (53:01)

    "I just realized how much it was distracting me... I just don’t see the way that our Lord achieved, brought about victory, was totally outside the realm of our human mind... I have had to step away from it." (54:00)

• Allie’s Response: Why Christians Must Engage
  • Allie respectfully pushes back, saying politics is a form of loving one’s neighbor because policy directly affects people’s lives—including issues of life, gender, justice, and individual rights. (57:18)

    "Politics matter because policy matters because people matter." (57:57)

  • She cites the biblical mandate for governments to restrain evil (Romans 13) and provides concrete examples of injustices Christians can help rectify by engaging politically.
• Chadd’s Humble Concession
  • Chadd admits:

    "Because the Lord hasn't brought me to a place in my faith that I can [engage without stumbling]." (60:17)

  • He acknowledges:

    "You are indeed right... I can only pray... that maybe he will put me in a position one day of influence that has the potential to make an impact." (60:34)

• A Powerful Closing Reflection
  • Both agree Christians must regularly examine whether their hearts are in the right place:

    "We really need to guard our hearts against that kind of idolatry." (62:14, Allie)

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Personal Weakness and God’s Strength:

  "I am not a humble guy. Like, you catch me at an ultramarathon or something; I want to crush you. So I'm thankful Holy Spirit led me..."
  —Chadd Wright (09:13)

• On Assurance:

  "A man or woman who has been pronounced justified by a sovereign God... ought to walk through this life in confidence and in assurance of their salvation."
  —Chadd Wright (12:11)

• On Grace:

  "How do you appreciate grace if you think your decision is why you are saved? That's not grace. That's a me moment."
  —Chadd Wright (21:18)

• On Discipleship vs. Conversion:

  "What is the great commission we've been given? Make disciples. Teaching them all the things that I've taught you."
  —Chadd Wright (45:55)

• On Revival:

  "Revival will come through repentance… literally hating the sin that exists, inwardly and outwardly turning away from it and... turning to the resurrected Christ."
  —Chadd Wright (50:00)

• On Politics and Calling:

  "The Lord hasn't brought me to a place in my faith that I can [engage politics without being distracted]."
  —Chadd Wright (60:17)

• On Loving Your Neighbor Through Policy:

  "Politics matter because policy matters because people matter."
  —Allie Beth Stuckey (57:57)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Chadd describes himself and his work: [02:09–03:26]
• On sharing the Gospel with Joe Rogan: [07:13–11:40]
• The sovereignty of God in salvation & controversy: [11:40–14:39]
• Calvinism, assurance, grace, and tough questions: [18:31–23:17]
• Personal conversion story (including spiritual warfare): [28:21–36:56]
• Distinguishing general and effectual calling: [38:40–40:58]
• Evangelism, discipleship, and American Christianity critique: [42:30–49:53]
• Politics and the Christian life—debate: [53:01–62:51]
• Encouragement for women & final remarks: [63:06–64:12]

Flowing Takeaways

• The episode is a candid, theologically robust conversation offering compassion for doubters, conviction for believers, and challenge for church leaders—rooted in Scripture and experience.
• Chadd’s life and ministry demonstrate both tough-mindedness and humility.
• The discussion delivers a strong call for authentic faith, real discipleship, reliance on God’s grace, and careful examination of the believer’s role in both church and culture.

Learn More

• Chadd Wright’s training/discipleship resources: 3of7project.com
• Follow Allie Beth Stuckey for more episodes and resources.