Unashamed with the Robertson Family

Ep 1253 | The Robertsons Reject “Us vs. Them” in the Wake of Minnesota Protests
Date: January 22, 2026
Hosts: Phil (not present), Al, Jase (Jason), Zach
Location: West Monroe, Louisiana

Episode Overview

This episode centers on how Christians should respond to division, chaos, and entitlement in the world, particularly in light of recent protests in Minnesota. The Robertsons dig into what it means to live out one's faith practically—being a "calm in the storm" and rejecting the "us vs. them" mentality—focusing on peace, responsibility, humility, and real relationships over mere religious claims. Drawing from personal stories, parenting lessons, and biblical references (especially Ephesians and 1 John), the discussion weaves together humor, honesty, and deep spiritual insight.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Being the Calm in the Storm: Faith Amidst Chaos

• The episode opens with lighthearted banter about hunting in dangerous weather and living with chaos—metaphors for meeting life’s storms with faith.
• The group draws parallels between duck hunting in Louisiana storms and spiritual resilience:
  • Jase: “That’s what we’re called to be. Be the eye in the storm." (00:53)
  • Jason recalls the Biblical story of Jesus and Peter on the water: the importance of courage and trust when life is tumultuous. (01:02)
• Al: “We are the calm in the storm.” (00:24)

2. Authentic Christian Living vs. Empty Claims

• The hosts identify a gap between claiming faith and embodying it, especially in relationships:
  • Jason: “You’re fellowshipping with the Lord God through Jesus… but your relationships on earth with other people are not reflecting that.” (13:48)
• The Bible must translate into daily life—especially love, humility, and vulnerability within families and communities.
• Notable Quote:
  • Jason: “We claim to love God but you don’t love your brother, you don’t love your family, you don’t love your kids...that won’t work. That’s darkness, not truth.” (17:22)

3. Vulnerability, Apology, and Humility in Relationships

• Jason shares a personal parenting moment: admitting he was wrong to his son for the first time, breaking generational patterns of pride and silence. (15:44)
• Zach: “That peace of mind… the peace Christ brings by tearing down that dividing wall of hostility.” (18:42)
• Honesty and apology transform relationships and reflect genuine spiritual maturity.

4. Gratitude vs. Entitlement: Responding to a “Me-Focused” World

• The conversation tackles modern entitlement culture, referencing advertising’s role in reinforcing “you deserve this” attitudes. (33:20)
• Jason draws from a sermon: The battle isn’t just with the world but within oneself and one’s kids—from “self to others” and “entitlement to gratitude.” (29:57)
• Al: “Entitlement is the thing…It’s probably one of our default postures.” (30:54)
• Societal and spiritual peace is impossible where entitlement and self-focus are dominant.

5. Self-Control, Responsibility, and Enduring Discomfort

• They discuss the importance of cultivating “impulse to self-control,” “comfort to responsibility,” and “achievements to faithfulness,” particularly in parenting and discipleship. (34:24; 36:59; 39:09)
• Jason: “If you’re out there, out loud and proud that Jesus is your King… there’s just going to be a lot of uncomfortable moments.” (37:46)
• “Pulling back the comfort” and letting young people experience responsibility helps them grow spiritually and practically. (40:25)

6. Family Roles and Reflective Parenting

• The idea of parenting stages (discipline, training, coaching, friendship) and adapting one’s approach for each child’s maturity. (27:01)
• The relationship with God is reflected in every facet of family life, especially how parents embody humility, apology, and love.

7. Rejecting the “Us vs. Them” Mentality

• The Robertsons critique how protests can devolve into “my rights versus your rights,” reinforcing division and entitlement rather than dialogue and coexistence. (31:11; 32:40)
• Al: “We have a responsibility to our fellow citizens, to the people that we don’t agree with, to the people that we live next to…even if they don’t [agree].” (51:15)
• The ultimate tearing down of dividing walls is found in the Gospel’s call to humility, forgiveness, and shared humanity.

8. Scripture Reflections: Ephesians & 1 John

• The team explores how Ephesians and 1 John call believers to bring “heaven to earth” by living new, Spirit-filled lives—tangibly expressed in how we treat family and neighbors.
• Jason: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works…” (Ephesians 2:10, 38:37)
• 1 John Key Claims (summarized at 49:31):
  • If we claim to fellowship with God but live in darkness, we are lying.
  • If we claim to be sinless, we are self-deceived.
  • If we claim to love God but hate a brother, we are in darkness.

9. Faithfulness Over Achievements

• Especially in parenting and marriage, faithfulness—not just staying together or outward success—is what matters. (51:43)
• Zach's story: A couple built a literal wall in the middle of their trailer, staying together but in hostility. "That's not faithfulness." (52:03)
• The real tearing down of walls is through forgiveness and love.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Be the eye in the storm.” – Jase (00:53)
• “You have to be kind of vulnerable ... to be honest.” – Jason (15:21)
• “The peace Christ brings [is] by tearing down that dividing wall of hostility.” – Zach (18:42)
• “If you claim to be in the light but hate your brother, you’re still in darkness.” – Jason (44:16)
• “We do not reward illegal or immoral behavior, especially when you do that. What you’re saying is, I’m pulling back the comfort and I’m going to allow you an opportunity to double up responsibility.” – Jason and Zach (40:25)
• “Faithfulness is the key. …Faithfulness is submitting yourself, sacrificing yourself, working, like living in the reality that Christ has tore down the dividing wall of hostility.” – Zach (52:03)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |:----------|:----------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:24 | “Calm in the storm” metaphor opens the theme | | 13:48 | Disconnect between spiritual claims & relationships | | 15:44 | Admitting mistakes to children; generational humility | | 18:42 | Christ’s peace vs. world’s peace; tearing down divisions | | 29:57 | Five transitions in parenting—from self to others, et al | | 33:20 | Entitlement culture and its influence | | 36:59 | Comfort vs. responsibility; facing discomfort intentionally | | 39:09 | Ephesians 2:10—created for good works | | 49:31 | 1 John’s “claims” and living out faith | | 51:43 | Faithfulness in marriage and beyond; illustration of empty union | | 52:03 | Division within marriage; walls come down through love/forgiveness|

Section Summaries

Hunters, Storms, & the Eye of Faith

The hosts compare dangerous hunting trips to spiritual storms, emphasizing that Christians are "called to be the eye in the storm"—calm, courageous, and anchored in faith, even when the world is volatile.

Family, Humility, and Learning to Apologize

The need for vulnerability and honesty is seen as countercultural, especially in parenting, where humility can break generational patterns and foster reconciliation.

The Danger of Entitlement

Advertising and culture promote self-focus and entitlement, eroding gratitude and responsibility. The need to intentionally train children (and one’s own heart) to move from self-centeredness to gratitude, impulse to self-control, and comfort to accepting responsibility is crucial.

Real Relationships—Rejecting Empty Claims

The conversation explores how authentic relationships must flow from genuine fellowship with God, not just religious routines or recitations. Claims of faith mean nothing if they don’t result in loving, humble, reconciled relationships.

The Gospel as “Wall-Demolisher”

The peace Christ gives is not an award from the world (like the Nobel Peace Prize) but a transformative, wall-demolishing reality that brings together individuals, communities, and even nations—when it’s genuinely lived out.

Faithfulness, Not Just Form

What matters in marriage, parenting, and church life is not rule-keeping or appearances, but spirit-empowered faithfulness, forgiveness, and love.

Tone and Style

• Honest, sometimes raw, with plenty of humor and self-deprecation
• Bible-based, but practical and self-reflective
• Emphasis on action and modeling over talk or religious “claims”
• Southern flavor—with stories about duck hunting, family, and Louisiana life

Conclusion

This episode in “Unashamed” uses storms, scripture, and stories to confront cultural and personal divisions, calling Christians to move beyond the “us vs. them” mindset. The hosts challenge listeners toward vulnerability, humility, responsibility, and—above all—faithfulness, urging all to let their relationship with God transform their real-world relationships and tear down walls of hostility in every context.