Unashamed With the Robertson Family — Ep 1215

“Jase Debates If Pink Floyd Can Be Worship Music & the Bible’s Strangest Rule”

Date: November 24, 2025
Host: Tread Lively | Guests: Phil, Al, Jase, Zach

Main Theme / Purpose

In this lively and insightful episode, the Robertson family explores the intersection of popular music and spirituality, asking whether songs like Pink Floyd’s can function as worship music. They weave their unique humor and storytelling into a biblically anchored discussion, moving seamlessly from cultural observations to deep theological concepts about Christ’s crucifixion, Old Testament rituals, and how believers can embody faith in a modern, divided world. The episode also touches on impactful listener testimonies, family stories, and biblical fulfillment, ultimately centering on the transformative power of Jesus’ sacrifice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Music, Faith, and Spiritual Application

• Walk-Up Songs as Spiritual Starters
  • Jase shares his experience leading recovery ministry with Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down,” sparking enthusiastic participation (04:19–05:29).
  • The family debates which mainstream songs could have spiritual meaning in worship or ministry.
    • Jase: “One of them probably won’t work. The Pink Floyd song. There’s someone in my head, but it’s not me. And then you could go to the Holy Spirit.” (06:12)
    • Jason warns: “That may trigger the wrong response.” (06:29)
  • Other suggestions: Collective Soul’s “Shine” and U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” as examples of spiritual themes in mainstream music, and the reaction of audiences when such songs are played (06:33–10:36).
• Musicians and Their Messages
  • Discussion on crossover “Christian” bands—Collective Soul, Creed, U2—and the blurred lines between mainstream and spiritual music.
  • Jase reads Collective Soul’s lyrics and comments on their spiritual connotations (08:45–09:11).
  • The group agrees that even secular music can point to deeper spiritual longing: “I remember hearing that song for the first time, and I thought, well, Jesus is what you’re looking for.” (Jay, 10:36)

2. Family Stories & The Power of Testimony

• Phil’s Musical Preferences and Discipline
  • Recalling how Phil disliked country music’s “old timey” sound, preferred southern rock, and critiqued the emotional sameness of country artists (12:21–15:13).
  • Al: “It was my way to rebel against dad—start listening to country music.” (15:13)
• Listener Testimony: Transformation Through Podcast and Music
  • Zach relays a heartfelt message from a truck driver who found Jesus through their show and a country song, underscoring “the power of testimony” (16:06–18:49).
  • Quote: “As a 47 year old man, I should have my life together, but I had to realize I have nothing together and had to start over at the bottom … I had to pull over and cry my eyes out.” (17:34)
  • The Robertsons reflect on the impact of authenticity and ministering through modern cultural lenses.

3. Christ's Fulfillment of Scripture and The Cross

• Pilate and The Crucifixion Narrative (John 19:16ff)
  • Jason summarizes takeaways from John 18–19:16—Pilate’s conflicted neutrality, declaration of Jesus’ kingship, and the tragic “expediency” of political power (20:24–24:57).
  • Jay adds that the fulfillment of the Law (“I didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it”—Luke 24) is central to Christ’s sacrifice.
• The Scapegoat & Passover Lamb Typology
  • Zach and Jay dive into Leviticus 16’s Day of Atonement, highlighting the meaning of the two goats: “He’s both the sacrificial goat and scapegoat” (41:02–49:31).
    • Zach: “Jesus accomplishes what those two goats signified. Jesus actually accomplishes that and makes my body the temple of the Holy Spirit, the holy place of God.” (49:31)
  • Connection to Hebrews 13: Jesus suffered “outside the city gate to make the people holy,” linking scapegoat imagery to the crucifixion (46:41–47:23).
  • Jason notes Jesus is also the unblemished Passover lamb—his bones were not broken to fulfill Old Testament prophecy (49:31).

4. The Ultimate Choice — Two Criminals on the Cross

• Personal Acceptance or Rejection of Christ’s Sacrifice
  • Jason reads Luke 23:39–43, emphasizing the contrasting attitudes of the two criminals crucified alongside Jesus: one mocks, the other seeks mercy (51:03–53:13).
    • “Here’s a guy that’s hanging in the moment… But he sees something coming. He sees the idea of Jesus’ kingdom.” (Jason, 52:32)

5. The “Strangest Rule” In the Bible — War & Trees

• Deuteronomy 20:19–20
  • Jay highlights an obscure Old Testament law: don’t destroy fruit trees during war. He ties this to the garden, spiritual warfare, and the larger biblical arc of “fruitfulness” and life (53:13–56:08).
    • Jay: “Your war is not against the trees. Which is a funny statement… now our war is not against flesh.”

6. Prophecy Fulfillment, The Undivided Robe, and the Church

• Kingdom Imagery: Wholeness vs. Division
  • Zach interprets the soldiers’ refusal to tear Jesus’ robe as significant, a prophetic sign of the unity and undivided nature of Christ’s Church—contrasting David and Saul’s torn kingdom (56:08–58:07).
    • Zach: “This is a picture of Christ and his church. A garment that’s not divided, a kingdom that’s not divided, a kingdom that is whole.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Music and the Spirit
  • Jase: “There’s someone in my head but it’s not me. And then you could go to the Holy Spirit, but I don’t really know what that song is about...” (06:12)
• On Faith in the Mundane
  • Jay: “Our dad...would try to make these practical applications from these songs. A song would play while we were sitting there building duck calls. He’d say, you know, that old boy needs to find Jesus.” (12:21)
• Listener Testimony
  • Zach (reading): “As I sit here at mile marker 36 on I-30 in Arkansas... I had to pull over and cry my eyes out. ...Thank you so much for being a light to the people.” (17:34)
• On the Cross and Fulfillment
  • Jason: “He basically is saying, I just paid for the sin of everyone that’s ever lived. I mean, it happened literally in this moment.” (39:23)
• Personal Application
  • Jay: “In him you are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:22, 50:23)
• On Transformation
  • Jason: “Everything you see around this crucifixion comes back down to the same individual choice that people have every single day, even to this very day.” (52:56)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Walk-Up Songs & Music as Worship – 04:19–07:57
• Rock & Christian Crossover Bands – 08:04–10:36
• Family’s Musical Roots & Rebellion – 12:21–15:50
• Listener Testimony: Truck Driver’s Story – 16:06–18:49
• Christ’s Fulfillment of Law and Prophecy – 20:24–29:45
• Roman Crucifixion & Symbolism – 29:45–33:53
• Scapegoat, Day of Atonement, and Atonement Place – 41:02–49:31
• Passover Lamb & Significance of Unbroken Bones – 49:31–50:23
• Choice of the Two Criminals – 51:03–53:13
• Obscure Law: War Against Trees – 53:13–56:08
• Symbolism of the Undivided Robe – 56:08–58:07
• Closing Thoughts: Tree of Life and Church Unity – 58:07–58:45

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode is relaxed, full of Southern humor, family banter, and a steady undercurrent of spiritual sincerity. Honest reflection, self-deprecating jokes, and practical theology blend seamlessly. The Robertsons openly engage with the struggles of everyday believers, using stories and scripture to bridge cultural gaps and point to the hope they find in Christ.

Final Thoughts

This episode beautifully intertwines pop culture with rich biblical teaching. The Robertsons prove that faith can intersect with every aspect of life— from music to everyday struggles—while never losing sight of the core message of Christ’s universal sacrifice and transformative power. Whether debating whether Pink Floyd could be worship music or expounding on the profound symbolism of the cross, their conversation invites listeners deeper into both scripture and relationship.