Latest / Walk Talk: Faith in Motion / 020: Comedian to Christian
Transcript
- Randy: They said that the revolution would not be televised, but they didn't mention anything about the next revival. Why are so many people coming out the closet as Christians? We're going to get into that today and a lot more on the walk talk. Alright, brother. So yeah, there's more more high profile people are coming out as either, you know, outspoken believers, Christians, or at least people who are honestly entertaining, ⁓ you know, the thoughts of, yeah, the idea. Yeah, what do you think about that? Pj: The idea. Man, I think it's awesome. It's beautiful, man. And, you know, you've definitely seen a surge of it lately. And I do believe that, you know, we're we're in a state of revival, man. I do see I mean, the signs are everywhere. And again, it just kind of feels like things are bubbling up, man. And it is cool to see so many people, you know, get to know Jesus and especially on these huge, huge platforms, man. It's wonderful. Randy: So we've both been hearing about it for a little while now. It's nothing new, but I mean, you brought it up, brother. So tell us what started this. Why are we talking about this today? What was it that jumped out at you out of all the various people that have been talking about faith, talking about Christianity, having discussions about the Bible? What was it that made you think, hey, let's get into this? Pj: It was definitely something I've been wanting to talk to and speak towards for a long time because, you see it everywhere. know what mean? And yeah, absolutely. But it's the people that it's happening to that was just intriguing. And I know that it's been very noticeable. But the cool thing, guess, that just kind of sent it over the edge for me as of lately was, Theo Vaughn, well-known comedian, does his own podcast, a huge podcast. Randy: Yeah. Which is awesome, by the way. Right. Pj: I think it's called this past weekend. And and ⁓ so, you know, a couple of days ago, man, I kept seeing these clips of pop up of him basically talking about God and like in a in a very real and genuine way. And and it's like you can almost see the struggle within him, man. And it was beautiful. And I was like, whoa, like this is somebody who is notorious for saying very off the wall, outlandish. Randy: Yeah. Yeah. Pj: things and it's very funny but to see this serious side was just awesome. Randy: Right. Yeah. And this one hit a little bit close to home, literally, right? Cause Theo Vaughan for anyone who doesn't know is also a fellow Louisianian. that how you say it? Louisianian? Yeah. Pj: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, that's right. He's from, yeah, Louisiana. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, from Covington. So yeah, man, that's originally that's cool. And honestly, man, the crazy thing is, is so I saw these these clips of him saying this and I'm like, how did how did we get here? And so I watched I watched the not all of the episode, but the majority of it. And man, I'll be honest, like he kind of shares a testimony that that really resonated with me. Very similar to a lot of thoughts and feelings. that I have had and honestly have been having with trying to deal with some strongholds and some traumas that I feel like I need to let go in order for me to progress in my walk with God today in real time. And so it was cool, So if you don't mind, I know you haven't seen this and I've been kind of telling you. So Randy: Yeah. Yeah, I've been dying. I've been dying to see what you're talking about. So let's let's do it. You ready to pull it up? Pj: All right. Yeah, let me go ahead and share this with you. Randy: Alright, let's take a look and hear what Theovon has to say. Pj: So from what I understand, like he'll get these callers that will call in and kind of share some stuff with him and look for some advice. And I guess that's what kind of initiated this response from him. Randy: Gotcha. Wow. Pj: Alrighty. Randy: All man. Wow. That was, ⁓ that was something. Yeah. Theo von, ⁓ you know, I don't know where he stands. I'm not, you know, I've listened to him a little bit. I've not like heard him really talk about his faith before. ⁓ but you know, I am a person who likes to like listen to people who are like struggling with their faith. mean, I've shared this with you before. It's one of the reasons why I always love DMX's music. Cause I could hear it in his music that he's somebody who messes up a lot, but at the same time, He has, you you could, you could hear it in his music that God's calling him away from all that stuff, but he's still like, you know, he's, in the battle and the struggle. that's something that's very relatable for me. Pj: Absolutely. I think it's relatable to everybody. think that that that that's part of the reason why testimonies are so powerful man, because you know, it's like it's one of these things that that we connect us all right, we've all been like whenever you start walking this thing out, you go through that man and you feel that and and it's just cool to see you know what I mean? Like these other people like you could even kind of tell like his demeanor shifted like whenever it's almost like you like you're witnessing firsthand that that that battle that struggle that's going on on the internal and man yeah it just it really caught me off guard Randy: Yeah. And to hear him just talk about that, like it's so true, man. I know I've been there too. You know, I know I've, I've prayed prayers and asked God to give me the strength to overcome things and like Paul, right? Remove this storm from me and getting God's responses, you know, my grace is sufficient. And it's like, I hear Theo saying that like, God, I know as I'm praying this, that it, you know, part of me is, is lying to you. It's like, Wow, like that is some self-awareness right there. yeah, man, that's like, you know, that's a challenge. I feel a challenge from that, like, you know, like God's challenging me to say, you know, hey, like, yeah, can you be this real? And, know, can you be this honest about, you know, the things that you pray for, especially in regards to like things that you struggle with? Pj: Yeah, yeah. Right. And that's really what struck me, man, because here is somebody who seems like they're in the beginning stages, right? They're just trying to figure out like, this what I want? this whatever? And to have that kind of awareness to like, man, like to be you right. That's the way. And I believe that that's what God expects from us. God, he already knows, but we always feel like we're hiding something from him. Like we have this dirty little secret in the back of our mind that he don't know about. Randy: Yeah. Pj: And I think that he that's what he wants. wants us to be upfront and honest and real and raw like that with him. Randy: We're naked and ashamed and we're hiding in the bushes as if God doesn't know we're there. Pj: Right. Right, right. So, yeah, man. And then look, you know, that so that that kind of caught caught me off guard, man. And like, you know, ⁓ there's there's one more part that I'd like to share with you. But before we get to it, man, like, you know, in between this, he's he's really like you. He just continues like he's telling God, like, I want you to work in like the deepest cores of me. He's like, I don't he's like in the like just dude, it was wild. I was just like not expecting it. But it's beautiful to see. And in the same way, I'm sure, I know we've been in situations where you're sitting there watching somebody share their testimony and it's like this part of you feels connected to them. Like man, I've been there. So yeah. Randy: Yeah. And I just, it just reminds me just hearing him just just hearing him just reminds me of the Psalm, you know, where it says, you know, search me, oh Lord, you know, know my heart, see if there's any offensive ways in me. Right. It's like, wow, it's like that's that's very much what it reminded me of as I was listening to him speak. So, yeah, let's let's hear what else he has to say. Pj: You're my heart. All right, yeah, good deal, man. I love it. it's a god be the glory, man. He's working. He's definitely working, doing some big things. And I'd love to see his handiwork. OK, check this out. Amen. Mmm. Randy: Yeah, yeah. That that that will it makes me wonder like, you know, Pj: That'll preach, bro. That'll preach. Randy: regardless, if he heard that from, you know, a sermon or if those his ⁓ original thoughts, I mean, ⁓ it's great to hear him sharing. I love I hear someone who a platform, you know, sharing about Christ and about their faith and about, you know, prayer and about the Bible and their insights on a story like that. mean, again, whether This was his quiet time with the Lord and he is reading the word or whether he's listening to a sermon on Sunday at church. The fact that he's sharing this, you know, this message and these thoughts, it's just, it's just great to hear. it's what a powerful like question. Like, you know, we, we never really think about that, right? It's like, why would Jesus even ask that question? You know, do you want to be healed? It's like, of course the guy wants to be healed. He's at the pole every day trying to get in to be healed, but he doesn't. Pj: ⁓ yeah. Randy: take that for granted. Jesus doesn't take that fact for granted. just, he still asked the question, do you want to be healed? Pj: 100 % yeah, and and that's the thing man, like I I never Like whenever whenever I heard the Oval and say that was a crazy question I'm like what why and then like he elaborates on it and he does he puts he kind of gives some of his Testimony in the end and I thought that that was beautiful and like I said, I read it resonated with me But but then like that's that's one of those things, you know, like from from the perspective of a believer I would say you're like who of course who wouldn't want to be healed but but for the Randy: Yeah. Yeah. Pj: the person on the other side who finds their identity in the way that they're in their own, in their sickness. You know what mean? It's like, are you ready to be a new creation? And are you ready to ⁓ hold yourself accountable to everything that comes with that healing? You know what I mean? Like it's wild. know, that's something that I feel like I'm, like I said, I'm working through right now. So it's good stuff, man. Randy: Yep. Yeah. Well, thanks for sharing that man. Cause yeah, I mean, I think that's, uh, you know, that's very good food for thought. and, and it's very encouraging to see from, from Theo and, you know, like we, like we've discussed in the past, you know, there's, there's multiple people who are in, you know, positions of influence who honestly it's shocking for some of them to hear, you know, that he's, he was a comedian. Um, and you know, for people who you wouldn't expect. Yeah, we all know Chris Pratt is a Christian, right? We expect to hear him say things about Jesus and talk about his faith, but when you start to hear from other folks, you and I have talked in the past about Jordan Peterson, how he has been wrestling with his faith. There's things that he says and does that you and I probably would say, just embrace it, right? Pj: Right. Randy: But at the same time, it's his own way. It's his own way of wrestling with God. And it's great to hear more more people coming out and being outspoken. think the world needs more of that. So it's very encouraging. Pj: Yeah. Absolutely, man. And I mean, there's a long list, man. Like, you know, I don't know if you've seen, you know, Justin Bieber came out, you know what mean? Like Russell Bray. Randy: Is it beaver or beaver? Pj: I don't know one of those. yeah, so he you know, do another one that was like, well, I don't know a whole lot, but I just saw that you like I mean, he even like was was singing in churches and stuff like actual like gospel music and and you know, it's one of these stories that you see, you know, I guess he's he's been in headlines for wrestling with drug and alcohol abuse and stuff like that and and having the money and the fame and getting to this spot where he's just like, Randy: I have not. And what did he say? I mean, we don't have to get into it too deep, but I mean. Yeah, yeah. Pj: I need something else. None of this stuff is satisfying or fulfilling this desire, this hole that I have in me. Randy: And it's a nice reversal, man, because it's like, you remember when we were coming up, you had like the Destiny Childs of the world who started off in the church singing in the gospel band and things like that, who then went secular for, you know, the fame and the fortune and whatnot. And not that I'm saying there's anything necessarily wrong with that, but to see people who are already, you know, have quote unquote made it and have been successful in their trade and their craft and their art. Pj: Yeah. Randy: to then turn and say, know what, as successful, as great as this is, and as much as I have, there's still something missing and I think I know what it is and I think it's the Lord. That's very good. We know that Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and we know that Solomon gives us that same message, right? But to see like the modern day Solomons, you know, to give us their perspective is awesome. Pj: 100%. Yeah. It is awesome, And I mean, there's countless stories. One of initial ones that caught my attention that kind of sparked me wanting to have this conversation, and it was a while back, I think it's been at least over a year, was Russell Brand. Randy: Yeah. Well, real quick, just to clarify, I'm not saying modern day Solomons as in they're anywhere near as wise as Solomon. I just mean like as successful and as wealthy as he was, ⁓ you know, to, then see that all of that pursuit is just chasing the wind. Like he says it. That's what I meant. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry to cut you off. Yeah. Russell Brand. Pj: Right. Right. No, no, you're good. Yeah. So Russell Brand came out and I mean, he was very famous. Yeah, he was very famous for being very just self self self 100 % Randy: He's another one. Yeah. he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, Pj: I think they both fit. I think they both work. Right. Right. And so, you know, that that happened and just like there's just been multiple, multiple people, man. And it's been beautiful to see just like it's just like waves. And then look, man, you know, it's almost becoming just popular in the culture. You see a bunch of athletes, you know, professing their faith. You see young people coming in droves. You know what mean? Like, I mean, there's there's so many people. Randy: Yeah. And this is going beyond what has always existed, which is people thanking God for their Grammy, right? Or people thanking God for their college championship or their Super Bowl victory. This is like, that is meaningless when the rest of the year, the rest of your life, you don't mention God at all. You don't give glory to God and you don't live in a way that honors Him. And then you get up there and thank Him for your award. Pj: Yeah, no, this is not that. Randy: pretty much meaningless, but when a person is obviously, you know, trying to live it out, it's something totally different. Pj: different. And you can see there's a genuineness there. You can see it. To go hand in hand with that, I saw this sometimes last year, but they said that in 2025 that Bible sales skyrocketed. Skyrocketed. It said that everything. Randy: Right, right. Wow. Even with apps and everything else, the electronic online versions, the actual physical copies of the Bible are, are selling through the roof. Well, you know, I'll I'll be honest as many Bibles as I have around the house, I just bought one just a couple, just a month ago, I bought a new one. Pj: 100%. Right, right, right. But yeah, man, like, so you've seen you've seen this increase in people like just having a hunger and a thirst for knowledge and righteousness, you know, it's it's it's refreshing, Randy: Yeah. Right. Well,