Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey - Ep 1226 ｜ I Went Down the Labubu Rabbit Hole So You Don't Have To

00:00:00.760 Our La Boo Boo's Demonic also is gentle parenting on its way out.

00:00:06.200 We've got all of this and more on today's episode of Relatable.

00:00:09.580 And also, if you love this show, please make sure that you are subscribed across all platforms,

00:00:15.540 including YouTube.

00:00:16.420 It helps us out a lot.

00:00:17.500 It keeps the lights on for us and allows us to give you free content that you love.

00:00:23.420 Today's episode is brought to you by our friends at Good Ranchers.

00:00:26.400 Go to GoodRanchers.com.

00:00:27.560 Use code ALIA at checkout for a discount.

00:00:29.280 That's GoodRanchers.com, code ALIA.

00:00:40.540 Hey guys, welcome to Relatable.

00:00:42.300 Happy Monday.

00:00:43.040 Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and that you're having a great start to your week.

00:00:48.100 Do I look a little brighter for those of you who are watching on Spotify and YouTube?

00:00:52.680 We've seen some feedback over the past couple of years that it looks dark to you on your screen.

00:00:57.860 And I started to notice that myself, that I always felt like I had to turn up my screen

00:01:02.400 brightness to be able to see this show more clearly.

00:01:06.920 And so I hope this helps.

00:01:08.220 We're going to kind of play around with the lighting over the next couple of weeks to make

00:01:12.160 sure that it looks top notch, maybe add some depth behind me.

00:01:16.120 I love my set and the lighting and all that good stuff.

00:01:18.600 I think it looks great, but we're always trying to make it look even better and easier and

00:01:24.880 more enjoyable for you to watch.

00:01:28.220 Also, if you notice what I'm wearing, if you're watching on Spotify or YouTube, I'm wearing

00:01:33.480 my new merchandise.

00:01:35.080 This is a little embroidered R that matches the R of the relatable brand that you can see

00:01:40.300 over there on the wall.

00:01:41.280 And on the back, it says, plant seeds that bloom in eternity.

00:01:46.940 That was something that we talked about on an episode not too long ago.

00:01:50.740 And you guys said that it meant a lot to you, the monologue that we had about that, that

00:01:56.000 that is how we can discern how best to use our time, the things that we should actually

00:02:01.680 focus on and the things that we should forget about.

00:02:04.720 Is this a seed that we're planting in this moment that will bloom in eternity?

00:02:09.280 Anything that you do in raising your kids, discipling your kids, anything you do for the glory of

00:02:15.460 God will be a seed that blooms in eternity.

00:02:19.120 The time that we waste, that we all waste just scrolling or consuming things that don't

00:02:26.300 matter.

00:02:26.980 Those are not seeds that will bloom in eternity.

00:02:30.140 And so we need to think about how we are spending our time, the words we are saying, the energy

00:02:36.440 that we are expending through that lens.

00:02:39.140 And this shirt, which I love, we'll put up a picture of the back of it.

00:02:42.340 It's just a good reminder of that.

00:02:43.680 We've got all different kinds of merch available to you, brand new through Carly Jean Los Angeles.

00:02:49.140 We combined forces with them to make these awesome shirts and totes and hats.

00:02:54.240 You can go to AllieMerch.com and you can check them out.

00:02:57.780 All right, let's go ahead and get into it.

00:02:59.380 We got to talk about labubus.

00:03:02.620 Labubus.

00:03:03.180 Do you know what a labubu is?

00:03:04.740 If you don't know what a labubu is, that's okay.

00:03:07.740 You are probably like me and you have no real reason to know what it is, aside from the

00:03:12.480 fact that everyone else seems to be talking about it.

00:03:15.640 I would not be bringing this information to you, however, if it were not relevant to you,

00:03:21.560 especially as a parent.

00:03:23.680 And maybe you've got little kids like me and so they are totally unaware of what's going

00:03:27.780 on on TikTok and cultural trends.

00:03:29.880 But it does say something about where our culture is, what we actually value, and the

00:03:34.980 kinds of forces that are influencing the young people who are going to be our future

00:03:39.800 neighbors and teachers and voters.

00:03:42.680 And I do think that this is a significant cultural moment that we should analyze.

00:03:50.480 And it's also just good to know about the things that are really popular and whether they are

00:03:56.340 things we should promote and be okay with, whether they're neutral or whether they're bad.

00:04:01.360 So I will give you my analysis after just explaining what the heck a labubu is.

00:04:06.780 So it's a plush monster doll character.

00:04:09.960 Okay, a plush monster doll character.

00:04:12.080 We'll put up a picture.

00:04:13.420 You've maybe seen it before.

00:04:15.220 It was inspired by a Hong Kong author and artist, K-Sing Lung's book series called The Monsters.

00:04:24.340 It's a trilogy.

00:04:25.980 And the labubu doll is based on one of the characters in that book series.

00:04:31.740 But now the labubu has become this global collectible craze.

00:04:37.500 And that is because it is sold by a Chinese company called Potmart.

00:04:42.680 It started being sold by them in 2019.

00:04:46.760 They are very good at making their products go viral.

00:04:50.400 One of their strategies is selling collectibles in what's called a blind box format.

00:04:56.740 So where buyers discover the specific color or design of the product only after opening it.

00:05:03.980 And that just creates this excitement.

00:05:06.160 People like to make social media content out of that.

00:05:09.380 And that has been a big precipitant of labubu's rise since the character turned into this plush doll.

00:05:19.560 This is not only happening all across Asia.

00:05:22.820 It was a craze there first, but of course, this is now coming to the U.S.

00:05:27.600 It's become a fashion statement.

00:05:29.800 People attach them as keychains to their purses, to their strollers, to their belt loops.

00:05:36.060 It really gained momentum after celebrities like Dua Lipa and Rihanna started wearing them in public.

00:05:43.640 And then, of course, TikTok has boosted this trend.

00:05:46.900 But you've got a lot of people wondering, okay, what is behind this craze?

00:05:51.620 Why is it so popular?

00:05:53.800 Why are people so obsessed with it?

00:05:56.320 I'm talking next level obsessed with it.

00:05:58.960 And some people have drawn a connection between labubu and a Mesopotamian demon that in its

00:06:09.500 depictions has a very similar face to labubu.

00:06:13.500 And some people are even just saying, I think that this movement, this trend, and maybe the

00:06:18.600 dolls themselves are demon possessed because the people that own these dolls seem to not

00:06:25.660 be okay.

00:06:27.080 So I will give you a biblical take on that as well as just some facts about what labubu

00:06:33.920 actually is and stands for.

00:06:35.640 But first, let me show you the level of obsession that I'm talking about here.

00:06:41.160 If you haven't seen it, here's salt one.

00:06:42.960 I'm gagging.

00:07:00.020 Oh my gosh, this is a secret.

00:07:15.160 Oh my gosh.

00:07:17.640 All right.

00:07:19.080 So just as a note, these are not kids in these compilations.

00:07:24.320 These are grown adults.

00:07:26.160 One was a grown man, I believe, and the others were grown women unboxing this genuine excitement

00:07:35.380 about opening this little toy and whatever color it was, I guess, is really amazing to

00:07:43.300 them.

00:07:43.900 This is according to the Times.

00:07:45.840 There are 2.2 million TikToks using the hashtag labubu.

00:07:49.980 And Popmart, that company from China that's selling it, raked in $423 million last year

00:07:58.180 from these dolls alone, up 729% from 2023.

00:08:03.680 Last month, a mint green four-foot version of labubu fetched $150,000 at an auction in Beijing.

00:08:13.220 Already this summer, New York has been subjected to a labubu fashion show, a labubu rave, labubu 0.95

00:08:21.260 pride, and a labubu ice cream social.

00:08:25.340 Okay, here's what a labubu fashion show is.

00:08:28.500 Sorry.

00:08:30.720 This was the labubu link up in New York City.

00:08:33.780 They actually had a professional tattoo artist tattooing labubus.

00:08:37.380 It was in Washington Square Park and actually a lot of people showed up.

00:08:40.720 There was a competition for the best labubu accessorized outfit.

00:08:44.320 It pretty much turned into a runway, a labubu runway.

00:08:49.320 Okay, once again, these are adults.

00:08:52.220 We've got this advertisement for a labubu rave in Edmonton.

00:08:58.240 Sorry, but it already happened.

00:09:00.080 And then we've got labubu pride, a pride event and a drag show that was happening in Brooklyn,

00:09:07.880 New York.

00:09:08.300 That was labubu themed again, all grown adults doing this.

00:09:12.560 There's definitely a conversation to be had here about the links between this and the real

00:09:18.580 life baby doll phenomenon that we talked about last week with just perpetual adolescence of 0.70

00:09:26.860 adults and how absolutely disordered and damaging that is for a society when you have grownups 0.95

00:09:33.560 that refuse to grow up.

00:09:36.080 So a little bit more about labubu until I get into some theological and cultural analysis.

00:09:42.240 We'll tell you what the character is that it's inspired from and why people are asking this

00:09:48.100 question, is this demon possessed?

00:09:50.400 But let me go ahead and pause, tell you about our first sponsor for the day.

00:09:54.840 And that is EveryLife.

00:09:57.420 Y'all, I love our EveryLife diapers.

00:10:00.000 They're the only diapers that we use in our home.

00:10:02.540 Since I started working with EveryLife and they started sending diapers, it is literally

00:10:08.080 the only brand of diapers that we use.

00:10:11.280 I've tried everything else.

00:10:12.860 All of those clean brands, those high-end brands, the regular brands that you can get in the

00:10:19.060 grocery store because I want them to be clean material, but I also want them to really work.

00:10:24.300 It's not great if you have a diaper that doesn't work.

00:10:27.120 So I've tested EveryLife against the competitors and I am telling you that EveryLife diapers are

00:10:33.260 the best.

00:10:35.080 They have a great capacity.

00:10:36.560 They have great materials.

00:10:37.800 And the best part is EveryLife is a pro-life diaper company.

00:10:41.720 Unfortunately, that's not true of most diaper companies.

00:10:45.580 They take your money.

00:10:46.480 They donated to pro-abortion politicians and even Planned Parenthood.

00:10:50.640 You don't have to worry about that with EveryLife.

00:10:53.040 They are using the dollars that you send them to not only make amazing products, but to support

00:10:58.860 their pregnant and adopting employees and to create these buy-for-a-cause bundles that 0.98

00:11:04.320 sends material resources to pregnancy centers that help pregnant moms in need.

00:11:09.440 So it's just a win all around.

00:11:10.620 You can even subscribe, get your box of diapers and wipes to your front door every month.

00:11:16.340 You can use my code Allie10.

00:11:18.240 You'll get 10% off your first order.

00:11:20.360 That's EveryLife.com, code Allie10.

00:11:28.060 Okay, let's talk a little bit more about where La Boo Boo came from.

00:11:32.140 So as I said, La Boo Boo is a character in a trilogy, the Monsters trilogy, by a Hong Kong 0.95

00:11:40.540 author and artist.

00:11:42.840 And in this trilogy, La Boo Boo is a little mischievous but kind-hearted elf.

00:11:50.380 So you can see what the keychain itself looks like.

00:11:55.980 It's got these big kind of saucer-shaped eyes, and it's kind of got a furrow in its brow,

00:12:03.800 but this big, wide grin.

00:12:05.820 Like, I would call it ugly cute.

00:12:08.180 And this is one of the keychains, but of course, it comes in all different kinds of colors.

00:12:12.920 Some are more scarce than others.

00:12:15.020 This Monsters trilogy that was launched in 2015 by K-Sing Lung, it's a fantasy picture

00:12:22.860 book series using minimal text and black and white illustrations.

00:12:28.200 It's also very scarce.

00:12:30.160 It has an extremely limited print.

00:12:32.820 They're seen as collector's items, and that kind of scarcity, of course, always promotes

00:12:38.860 interest and intrigue and demand.

00:12:44.120 And one storyline involves La Boo Boo's playful relationship with Taikoko, a shy skeleton 0.81

00:12:52.040 character who is her boyfriend, often the target of good-natured pranks, just to kind of give

00:12:56.820 you an idea of, like, what this character is.

00:12:59.760 She is the main character of the series, and she is described as, you know, she's this mischievous 0.97

00:13:06.100 monster, but she causes chaos. 1.00

00:13:08.620 And she has good intentions, however, but she is this person that, or this elf, this monster 0.97

00:13:16.400 that's always causing problems.

00:13:19.580 K-Sing Lung moved to the Netherlands when he was seven, and that is where he developed what

00:13:25.360 he calls this kind of fascination with Nordic fairy tales and folklore.

00:13:29.400 And so his traditional, or his stories that he wrote and the depictions that he drew were

00:13:37.620 kind of based on these Scandinavian and Germanic pagan culture stories.

00:13:44.460 This includes gods like Odin and Thor, creatures like trolls and elves and tales about bravery,

00:13:51.180 fate, magic.

00:13:52.320 And so that's where he got his inspiration for this trilogy that includes the phenomenon

00:13:58.860 of LeBouBou.

00:14:00.760 He started creating, or maybe he didn't start creating, but he partnered with a company that

00:14:05.860 started creating these LeBouBou dolls back in 2015, but then PopMart took over in 2019,

00:14:12.720 and that is when they became this global trend of these collectible figures.

00:14:18.980 Online, LeBouBou dolls sell out in minutes.

00:14:23.600 Whenever PopMart announces, okay, we've got a new LeBouBou doll, it kind of reminds me of 0.99

00:14:27.660 the Stanley phenomenon when everyone was trying to buy a Stanley and they would sell out and

00:14:33.240 you did, you had people like collecting, you probably still do all these Stanleys and these

00:14:37.380 Stanley accessories and these Stanley charms.

00:14:40.740 I mean, Brie and I even fell prey to that just a little bit.

00:14:44.600 I mean, we weren't collecting them, but we were trying to get our Stanley.

00:14:49.540 These kinds of things just work, like the feeling of scarcity and that there's something

00:14:53.720 unique and something collectible about it.

00:14:55.920 It just works on people psychologically.

00:14:58.480 It's the same kind of psychology that plays into someone's mind when they're gambling and

00:15:04.700 not knowing what you are going to get and knowing that there's only so many prizes or

00:15:10.540 like winning chances to be able to get or to give out.

00:15:16.000 It's the same kind of psychology at work here.

00:15:19.520 At physical stores, like there's a LeBouBou store in Los Angeles, fans line up for hours,

00:15:24.420 sometimes overnight for new releases with stores limiting purchases to prevent scalping.

00:15:30.600 Let me just show you a video again of adults in a Pop Mart line.

00:15:37.500 So it's a Pop Mart line, not a Pop Mart store, not a LeBouBou specific store, but this is in

00:15:42.900 Los Angeles.

00:15:43.660 They put it on Instagram already, but no one is budging.

00:15:48.840 No one wants to go home.

00:15:51.220 They posted everything and no one's trying to take off anywhere.

00:15:56.020 They're like, that we're going to bombard this place or something.

00:15:58.240 Okay, there was a rare LeBouBou doll that was sold on eBay just last week for $10,500.

00:16:06.340 It's a LeBouBou on a skateboard. 1.00

00:16:09.940 And there are also fake LeBouBous dubbed LeFouFous that are, you know, being sold.

00:16:17.520 And I guess people are being tricked by this or people are okay with the knockoff.

00:16:22.480 LeBouBou sales in North America surged 900% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the

00:16:28.040 previous year, reflecting the trends hold on U.S. consumers.

00:16:32.040 You've got a few celebrities, like I said, who have been showing their LeBouBous. 1.00

00:16:36.620 We've got a K-pop singer here. 1.00

00:16:40.060 We've got Dua Lipa.

00:16:41.920 She's got her LeBouBou hooked on her purse. 1.00

00:16:44.720 She's, and we've got Rihanna who also has her LeBouBou on her, what it looks like, a Louis

00:16:52.460 Vuitton.

00:16:53.020 Now, is this here to stay?

00:16:55.720 Probably not.

00:16:56.740 Just like everything else, there's going to be a peak.

00:16:59.440 It's going to crest.

00:17:00.380 And then that wave is going to die down.

00:17:02.480 But also, the Chinese government seems to be wanting to intervene here.

00:17:07.820 According to CNBC, I just thought this was interesting.

00:17:10.440 On June 20, 2025, China's state-run People's Daily, that's an outlet, published an editorial

00:17:16.380 urging stricter regulations on blind box toys and trading cards, specifically targeting sales

00:17:22.660 to children under eight, proposing measures like age verification, app payment, and mandatory

00:17:27.220 parental approval for online purchases.

00:17:29.720 Although PopMart was not named, the editorial criticized businesses for encouraging young

00:17:34.660 children to spend heavily on blind cards and mystery boxes, a model central to PopMart's

00:17:40.620 business as well as companies like Pokemon.

00:17:43.400 Following the editorial, PopMart's share price dropped 12.1% in the week ending in June 20,

00:17:50.960 2025, despite the initial drop, PopMart's stock has recovered, reaching levels close to its

00:17:57.740 mid-June 2025 all-time high.

00:18:00.760 So China says that they want to shield its own children from addiction to blind box toys. 0.51

00:18:05.640 But PopMart has grown so much here, and obviously those regulations wouldn't have a huge effect

00:18:12.200 on America, and so they can probably recover any loss that they endure in China by just becoming 0.71

00:18:22.980 more popular here and elsewhere.

00:18:26.000 And I think it's interesting.

00:18:28.360 China, obviously, tyrannical government.

00:18:30.900 We shouldn't trust what they say.

00:18:32.580 They don't typically have good motivations behind what they're doing.

00:18:36.200 So I'm certainly the last person to give the CCP credit.

00:18:39.680 But they are pointing out a real problem, that this is kind of a predatory business strategy,

00:18:47.680 especially if you are targeting children.

00:18:50.620 Now, you could argue that they're targeting adults, and as misguided as it may be, adults

00:18:55.220 can do what they want to do.

00:18:56.940 I don't know if it's true if PopMart is targeting adults or not, but they are toys.

00:19:02.740 And you could see how there are probably a lot of children who obsess over these things,

00:19:07.060 especially when you've got the collectible aspect of it, especially when you have this

00:19:12.780 blind box strategy.

00:19:15.580 So it's true that these companies should not be preying upon the naivete, the impressionability

00:19:23.060 of children in this way, but also it's a parent's job.

00:19:27.320 It's a parent's job to say, no, we're not going to do that.

00:19:29.920 And we'll get into more of that in just a second.

00:19:32.780 All right.

00:19:33.060 Here's the big question.

00:19:34.880 Is it actually a demon?

00:19:36.760 Is it, is Labubu an iteration of a Mesopotamian demon called Pazuzu?

00:19:45.960 Is there something actually satanic, intentionally satanic behind this?

00:19:51.840 But first, let me pause and tell you about two things.

00:19:54.400 Number one, share the arrows brought to you by our friends at EveryLife.

00:19:58.360 Y'all, you are not alone.

00:19:59.640 It might feel like you're alone in discipling your kids.

00:20:03.200 It might feel like you are the only one who cares about pushing back against darkness.

00:20:07.700 It might feel like you're the only one that takes cultural, political, theological issues

00:20:12.600 seriously.

00:20:13.620 And you're tired of feeling like you're just making these things a big deal.

00:20:18.400 And people are telling you to just calm down, to not take everything so seriously.

00:20:23.580 Look, there are thousands of women like you who, yes, are joyful and fun and love to enjoy

00:20:30.820 the blessings that God has given them.

00:20:32.620 But they also realize that darkness and evil exist and that it is our job as moms, as women

00:20:38.780 to protect the vulnerable against that.

00:20:41.620 If you want to be recharged, if you want to be challenged, if you want to be equipped,

00:20:45.440 if you want to find like-minded women to be friends with forever, you've got to come 1.00

00:20:50.780 to Share the Arrows.

00:20:51.820 We have surpassed the number of tickets that we sold last year.

00:20:57.040 And so 4,000 of you are already coming to Share the Arrows.

00:21:00.740 I'm so excited.

00:21:01.640 But y'all, let's get to 5,000.

00:21:03.440 Let's see if we can do it.

00:21:04.640 Share the Arrows is October 11th.

00:21:06.400 We don't have that much time left.

00:21:08.800 But let's see if we can get 5,000 women gathered together, being led in worship by Francesca

00:21:14.520 Battistelli, being filled with the Word of God and challenged by the Holy Spirit.

00:21:20.500 Go to sharethearrows.com.

00:21:22.040 Get your tickets today.

00:21:23.380 Bring your mom, bring your mother-in-law, your sisters, your friends, your small group,

00:21:26.640 or come by yourself.

00:21:28.120 That's sharethearrows.com.

00:21:30.260 All right, before we get into this question about the demonic aspects of La Boo Boo, let

00:21:36.060 me also tell you about Good Ranchers.

00:21:38.340 Love Good Ranchers so much.

00:21:39.980 We rely on it every night in the Stuckey home when we're eating at home, which is almost

00:21:45.000 every single night.

00:21:46.100 We love their Better Than Organic Chicken.

00:21:48.380 We love their fillets.

00:21:49.780 We love their ground beef.

00:21:51.160 It's all so good.

00:21:52.200 I love that it's all from American farms and ranches.

00:21:56.020 So you can support this American industry, which is not what you're doing when you are buying

00:22:00.240 most meat from the grocery store, which mostly is actually imported from abroad, even when

00:22:06.120 it's got a sticker on there that says Made in the USA.

00:22:08.300 You're also supporting a Christian family-owned company.

00:22:12.960 They want to glorify God.

00:22:14.300 They want to help this American industry of farmers and of ranchers.

00:22:21.120 And so it's just a win all around.

00:22:23.020 Get that all-American meat delivered to your front door on dry ice every month.

00:22:27.380 Go to goodranchers.com.

00:22:29.360 Use code Allie at checkout. 1.00

00:22:31.060 You'll get $40 off, plus you will also get free meat for the life of your subscription.

00:22:39.180 And so they'll do a free add-on of meat for the life of your subscription.

00:22:42.740 That's goodranchers.com, code Allie.

00:22:45.000 Okay, so for the past few months, critics online, critics of Labubu, have connected the Labubu

00:22:57.260 character to a Mesopotamian demon, Pazuzu, noting the similar appearance, specifically

00:23:04.900 the mischievous grin.

00:23:06.760 You've got the big eyes right there.

00:23:08.720 This also reminds me of that one kid's book.

00:23:11.000 I can't remember.

00:23:11.820 Oh, what is it?

00:23:15.080 Where the Wild...

00:23:15.560 No, it reminds me of Where the Wild Things Are.

00:23:18.080 Yeah, it reminds me of that.

00:23:19.400 And I don't think that's demonic.

00:23:20.920 I don't know.

00:23:21.260 I haven't looked into it.

00:23:23.300 But okay, so people are saying also the name is similar.

00:23:26.620 You've got the same number of letters.

00:23:28.800 They almost rhyme.

00:23:30.800 Pazuzu was known as the king of the demons of the wind and controlled the west and southwest

00:23:36.280 winds that could bring plagues and famine.

00:23:38.340 So people are saying there's also some similarities there.

00:23:41.320 Because Labubu, even though she's this kind of innocent elf, she is also creating chaos 1.00

00:23:47.080 in the books.

00:23:48.220 Though he was considered an evil underworld demon, people would pray that instead of bringing

00:23:52.400 destruction, he would use his power to protect them.

00:23:55.460 And so again, we kind of see a similar theme.

00:23:58.920 We see this troublemaker in Labubu, who is actually depicted as kind-hearted and good and innocent.

00:24:05.620 And then you've got Pazuzu, this demon over here, who is a dark kind of lord of the winds

00:24:12.560 who creates chaos that people are hoping underneath it all has a kind heart that he will use to

00:24:18.140 protect them.

00:24:18.760 They would keep charms of Pazuzu, this is according to World History Encyclopedia, they would also

00:24:25.460 keep charms of Pazuzu in their homes and pregnant women would wear them around their necks, according

00:24:31.140 to God's demons and symbols of ancient Mesopotamia, an illustrated dictionary by Jeremy Black.

00:24:37.180 So, also similar there, keeping kind of icons and depictions of a particular mischievous person

00:24:46.560 that they hope bring some kind of good fortune.

00:24:50.320 Now, I'm not saying everyone who owns Labubu is doing it because they think it's some kind

00:24:54.860 of talisman, but there does seem to be an obsession that would lead me to believe that there is a

00:25:02.180 deeper belief here about the power and value of Labubu and what this character can add to their

00:25:09.580 lives.

00:25:10.720 However, Pazuzu is not, there's not a direct correlation here, it's not a direct comparison.

00:25:16.920 Like, there are some stark differences.

00:25:19.820 For example, he's male, Labubu is supposed to be a little girl, Pazuzu has wings, the talons

00:25:25.940 of a bird, also some weird descriptions of genitalia.

00:25:30.260 Um, but people are still saying, even if it's not supposed to be Pazuzu, like, I would also

00:25:36.720 say it's also just possible that in Nordic mythology, there are some similarities with

00:25:43.560 Mesopotamian mythology and probably Roman and Greek mythology, too.

00:25:48.320 Like, paganism and mythology, they're really not all that different across cultures.

00:25:55.000 And so I don't know if it is a purposeful reiteration of Pazuzu, the demon, the way some

00:26:01.780 people are saying, although I do think Pazuzu and Labubu sound so similar that it's not the

00:26:07.260 craziest thing to surmise.

00:26:10.020 But even if this comparison is not legit, there are people on TikTok who are claiming that their

00:26:16.880 Labubu is possessed.

00:26:18.440 One TikTok video shows a little girl claiming her doll's eye color is changing and that its

00:26:24.260 smile seems to be growing bigger.

00:26:26.360 This TikTok has over 7 million plays.

00:26:28.940 I'm not going to show it because it is a child who should not be on TikTok, by the way.

00:26:34.200 Where are your parents?

00:26:36.180 So we're not going to show that.

00:26:37.680 But that exists.

00:26:38.620 People making those kinds of claims.

00:26:40.160 There's also a TikTok user named Tori Halford that threw two Labubu dolls away after she said

00:26:46.140 she almost died the day after she purchased them.

00:26:49.140 Here's top three.

00:26:59.340 I mean, who knows if this is even real?

00:27:01.680 That looked a little dramatic.

00:27:03.280 But she believes that there was some kind of misfortune that was brought upon her.

00:27:09.420 She doesn't even say what exactly her near-death experience was because she purchased this Labubu

00:27:14.020 doll.

00:27:14.260 And then you've got another TikTok user named Jessica who burned her Labubu for, quote, 0.98

00:27:20.580 ruining her life.

00:27:21.680 Stop five.

00:27:24.140 I am burning this thing.

00:27:26.620 This thing has been ruining my life and it is cursed.

00:27:31.160 I am not kidding.

00:27:32.620 Do not buy these things.

00:27:38.820 Okay.

00:27:39.600 Again, are they being serious?

00:27:41.540 Are they just trying to make content that they know will get a lot of views?

00:27:44.800 I don't know.

00:27:46.320 Some Christians, however, have said that they, so, well, I don't know.

00:27:52.700 This person is Catholic and she said that she's taken her Labubu to church and that she is

00:27:59.440 showing her doll at mass and that she asked her priest to give the doll a blessing.

00:28:04.880 Here's something for me, Father, please bless this plushie so that it will be a source of

00:28:11.320 evangelization and outreach, especially to those who are most persecuted.

00:28:15.880 We ask this through Christ our Lord.

00:28:17.600 Amen.

00:28:18.980 Okay.

00:28:20.060 And for my Catholic listeners out there, I am not showing that to say that this is what

00:28:25.020 all Catholics are doing at all. 1.00

00:28:26.900 Okay.

00:28:27.380 That's not the point of showing that.

00:28:28.880 I'm sure there are a lot of people in all different kinds of churches doing weird stuff.

00:28:32.220 Just showing you an example of a very popular TikTok video that we saw that shows something

00:28:37.720 very strange happening there.

00:28:41.400 Here's the thing.

00:28:42.860 Is this doll demonic?

00:28:46.100 I don't know.

00:28:47.360 I don't think it is possible for something to be demon possessed, for an object to be demon

00:28:56.740 possessed.

00:28:57.120 I think of 1 Corinthians 8, when Paul tells Christians that they are free to eat meat sacrificed 0.98

00:29:03.240 to idols because there is only one true God.

00:29:06.100 And let me just be clear.

00:29:06.920 I'm not saying that this is justification for buying the boo-boos. 0.98

00:29:09.940 I'll tell you why you shouldn't do that in a second.

00:29:12.280 But when we're talking specifically about this idea that these TikTokers are purporting that 1.00

00:29:17.800 these objects are demon possessed, I think that is superstition and not a biblical understanding

00:29:24.920 of the powers that exist.

00:29:26.140 There's only satanic power.

00:29:28.680 That is absolutely true.

00:29:30.260 That's Ephesians 2.

00:29:31.860 He's the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience,

00:29:37.700 among whom we all once walked.

00:29:39.580 Okay?

00:29:40.060 That's Ephesians 2.

00:29:41.640 Satan works through people.

00:29:43.100 He absolutely does.

00:29:44.220 But then on the other side, we have the power of God.

00:29:49.080 And the power of God will once and for all defeat Satan.

00:29:53.360 He is stronger than the power of Satan.

00:29:55.480 But those are the only two powers that exist.

00:29:58.060 Nothing is actually neutral.

00:30:00.280 However, do these powers infuse inanimate objects?

00:30:04.460 I do not believe that is something that happens or that we should be worried about.

00:30:11.140 So the reason why I'm bringing up this passage of Paul, 1 Corinthians 8, 4 through 6, he's

00:30:17.500 talking about meat sacrifice to idols.

00:30:19.500 Should we eat it?

00:30:20.540 He says,

00:30:21.260 We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one.

00:30:27.400 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many

00:30:31.780 gods and many lords, he says, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things

00:30:39.040 came and for whom we live.

00:30:41.980 And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

00:30:49.520 He does emphasize, though, the reason you wouldn't eat food sacrificed to idols is because it

00:30:56.120 could cause your weaker brother to stumble.

00:30:58.700 But the point he's making here is there is no inherent power in those icons or in those

00:31:05.560 idols.

00:31:06.420 They can't hear.

00:31:07.580 They can't see.

00:31:08.940 They don't have power in and of themselves.

00:31:11.460 We don't need to be scared of them.

00:31:14.400 They are just objects.

00:31:16.900 And we worship the Creator rather than the creature.

00:31:21.180 And the Creator is blessed forever.

00:31:23.180 Amen.

00:31:23.860 That is Romans 1.

00:31:26.140 However, we are warned against idolatry.

00:31:31.000 And this, of course, is an Old Testament command against idolatry.

00:31:36.660 The Lord your God is one.

00:31:38.700 That is what we read in the Old and the New Testament reiterated by Jesus himself.

00:31:45.120 But also, we are commanded to have no other gods before God.

00:31:51.180 We read in Exodus 23 through 5, you shall have no other gods before me.

00:31:55.780 You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven

00:31:59.620 above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under earth.

00:32:03.660 You shall not bow down to them or serve them.

00:32:06.040 A lot of people need to understand that this is a big commandment that still applies to

00:32:10.940 us today.

00:32:11.820 For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the

00:32:16.800 children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.

00:32:21.020 Wow, that's really serious.

00:32:22.720 In 1 Corinthians 10, 14, we read,

00:32:24.460 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

00:32:27.580 Galatians 5, 19 through 21.

00:32:29.940 Now the works of the flesh are evident.

00:32:32.000 Sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, 0.62

00:32:37.760 fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.

00:32:42.460 I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom

00:32:46.780 of God.

00:32:47.920 Colossians 3, 5.

00:32:49.340 Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you, sexual immorality, impurity, passion,

00:32:54.780 evil desire, covetousness, which is idolatry.

00:32:58.760 1 John 5, 21, little children, keep yourselves from idols.

00:33:05.760 So that is my problem with one of my problems with labubus, is that it encourages idolatry,

00:33:13.240 that this fixation on materialism and collecting that which is here today and gone tomorrow is

00:33:20.180 unhealthy.

00:33:21.600 So from a biblical perspective, this is absolutely idolatrous.

00:33:25.720 Now, is it possible for you to buy a labubu and not worship your labubu, not be a part of

00:33:32.140 the craze?

00:33:32.740 Maybe you bought it before all this craziness.

00:33:34.700 You just thought it was cute.

00:33:36.320 Of course it is possible.

00:33:37.640 Again, that object in itself does not possess power.

00:33:41.600 But I would say it is part of a greater trend.

00:33:45.760 This kind of scary, creepy toy that is kind of marketed as a child's toy, but also targeting

00:33:55.000 adults.

00:33:55.880 It's a trend that I find very culturally disturbing.

00:34:00.680 So for example, there are these different dolls that fit this category, Monster High dolls.

00:34:07.200 This is created by Mattel, where you have these witches, these very scary looking dolls that

00:34:13.640 again, are for children technically, but they are also being purchased by adults.

00:34:19.540 You will remember in 2022, Balenciaga faced a lot of backlash.

00:34:25.060 We had this whole episode on it.

00:34:26.640 We'll link it in the description for featuring children holding teddy bear bags in bondage gear.

00:34:33.960 Of course, this sparked accusations, I think well-founded accusations of promoting child

00:34:40.080 exploitation.

00:34:41.260 Even Kim Kardashian, who has worked with Balenciaga for a long time, had something to say about

00:34:46.700 it.

00:34:46.920 I'm sure that was just a PR statement, but she did actually say something, which, you know,

00:34:52.140 it's because it was a result of such, you know, bipartisan outrage about this.

00:34:57.740 Because understandably, if you don't know what BDSM gear is, I won't explain it to you, but

00:35:03.180 just know it has to do with sexual violence.

00:35:05.900 And the children in these advertisements were carrying around these little plushy bears that

00:35:10.780 again, looked kind of cute, but kind of scary in BDSM gear.

00:35:16.380 And then there also, if you remember, there were all kinds of things.

00:35:19.940 There was a Supreme Court case, if I'm remembering correctly, that was in one of these advertisements

00:35:26.120 and like papers strewn across a desk in one of these pictures that had to do with child

00:35:32.880 pornography, like of all of the papers in all of the court cases to put in an advertisement.

00:35:40.500 You put that Balenciaga in your advertisement along with children that were holding these

00:35:46.360 little plushy bears in BDSM gear.

00:35:49.180 I'm telling you, this is a really strange trend.

00:35:53.040 It's a really strange trend.

00:35:54.640 And then also, there is the trend of straight-up idolatry.

00:35:58.920 In Thailand, the Labubu character has been incorporated into Buddhist amulets, sacred

00:36:03.900 tattoos, due to its perceived ability to bring wealth and good fortune.

00:36:10.260 Labubus were also featured in a Taoist ritual at a temple in Singapore during the Nine Emperor

00:36:15.420 Gods Festival in October.

00:36:17.660 The Nine Emperor Gods Festival is an 11-day Taoist festival honoring the nine emperor gods who

00:36:23.260 they believe or did believe at some point were celestial deities.

00:36:26.920 And you can see this picture here incorporated in that.

00:36:30.520 And so there is, whether it's in the West or the East, this is casting some sort of spell

00:36:39.480 on people.

00:36:40.140 Whether it is the kind of outright idolatry, idol worship, pagan worship that we are seeing

00:36:47.080 through Labubus in a place like Thailand, or whether it's just part of this worship of

00:36:53.540 materialism and worthless items, or whether it is part of this very strange and disturbing

00:37:02.900 trend of infantilizing the scary.

00:37:07.200 Or maybe it is scarifying the childlike.

00:37:12.160 Either way, the combination of childlikeness and innocence and demonic characteristics like

00:37:21.360 chaos making, I think is a very dangerous influence on the people who are purchasing these items,

00:37:30.620 and especially on the culture that our children are growing into.

00:37:35.240 So how should we think about this as parents?

00:37:38.680 On the one hand, by itself, this is just a plushie doll.

00:37:42.500 Is it really that big of a deal?

00:37:44.060 Should we really be thinking about it this hard?

00:37:47.440 On the other hand, the things we give our children, the things we promote to our children,

00:37:53.340 really matter, especially if it sends them down a particular pipeline of interests.

00:37:59.940 So I will tell you exactly how I think we should think about this as moms and dads in just a second.

00:38:05.240 Let me go ahead and pause, tell you about our next sponsor, and that is Field of Greens.

00:38:11.340 Field of Greens is the only organic greens powder on the market.

00:38:17.540 It is all GMO-free, the cleanest possible ingredients that you can possibly find.

00:38:24.600 All your daily vegetables, all your fruits put into a really good tasting powder.

00:38:30.640 I don't know about you.

00:38:31.780 I don't really love eating vegetables.

00:38:33.620 I find it difficult to do throughout my day.

00:38:37.080 I'll have some at dinner.

00:38:38.820 I might try to get a juice every now and then.

00:38:41.700 But I know that I am not intaking enough fiber, enough of the nutrients that come from fruits and vegetables.

00:38:47.940 I need it to be really easy, good tasting, and convenient.

00:38:52.660 And that's what I get from Field of Greens.

00:38:55.180 If you're about to take some blood work, or maybe you just got your blood work back, you're low in iron, you're low in the things that you need,

00:39:02.540 then why don't you try Field of Greens?

00:39:04.780 Try it for three months.

00:39:05.980 Yes, I guarantee you it will help how you feel, and it will also probably improve your blood work drastically just because you are actually getting the vitamins, the nutrients that you need through your nutrition.

00:39:21.120 If you go to fieldofgreens.com, use my code Allie, you'll get 20% off and free shipping.

00:39:27.460 That's fieldofgreens.com, code Allie.

00:39:30.180 Labubus may not be demon-possessed, but they are dark, and the obsession is idolatry that we should keep our kids far from.

00:39:45.960 I also think Labubu obsession is a rabbit hole into more sinister fixations.

00:39:52.480 And Ephesians 4, 8-10 says,

00:39:55.140 Walk as children of light, for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true.

00:40:00.480 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness.

00:40:04.100 We should keep our kids as far away from all forms of darkness and lead them toward what is beautiful and what is true.

00:40:11.840 And I think it's really easy as parents to encourage anything that makes our kids happy, especially for parents who maybe you have a child who is left out at school, has a hard time fitting in.

00:40:25.760 Maybe they don't feel like they're good at anything, and they finally find something that makes them feel good.

00:40:31.220 Maybe it's an online community.

00:40:32.700 Maybe it's Reddit.

00:40:33.500 Maybe it's a phone game.

00:40:34.480 Maybe it's an app.

00:40:35.240 Maybe it's anime.

00:40:36.300 Maybe it's some kind of plushy doll.

00:40:38.120 It starts out innocent enough.

00:40:40.840 They've found something that makes them happy.

00:40:42.680 They've found friends.

00:40:43.420 They've found a hobby.

00:40:44.860 Maybe they've found something that fosters creativity.

00:40:48.220 But then that interest becomes an obsession.

00:40:52.320 And then you as a parent start to wonder, huh, is this healthy?

00:40:57.800 They're spending so much time watching this, playing this, talking to those people.

00:41:02.680 But every time you bring it up, it's a fight.

00:41:05.240 And you feel for them.

00:41:06.800 They have so few things that bring them happiness in life, this kid who might feel different.

00:41:13.520 And you would feel cruel taking that thing away that they are obsessed with.

00:41:18.520 But while I totally understand that, while I think that is a natural tug that you have in your heart to want your child to feel included and accepted and a part of something and liked and normal, here's the truth.

00:41:34.160 You are the parent.

00:41:35.960 You are the parent.

00:41:37.680 Whether your kid is 7 or 17.

00:41:40.340 And your responsibility to God is not to always make them happy, but to help them be holy.

00:41:48.560 Do everything you can to cultivate a fixation on Jesus and a distaste for evil.

00:41:55.300 That is our job as parents.

00:41:58.820 And I think that this labubu craze leads kids into a really bad and obsessive place, into things that are dark, things that are not of God.

00:42:13.540 That does not mean that I think that it's inherently demon-possessed.

00:42:17.260 I'm not a superstitious person.

00:42:18.920 But I do also know that nothing is neutral.

00:42:22.140 That something is either of God or it is of Satan.

00:42:25.620 And we should do everything we can in stewarding this gift of children that God has given us to steer them in the direction of what is good and right and true.

00:42:36.120 And labubu is not leading to anything that is good or right or true.

00:42:43.500 All right.

00:42:44.040 So that's my take on labubu.

00:42:46.560 Hopefully you have a good understanding of that now.

00:42:49.740 And by the way, I also think this about most anime.

00:42:54.640 And I also think this about Roblox.

00:42:57.480 And I also think this about much of Minecraft.

00:43:00.220 And I also think this about most video games.

00:43:03.480 Not that it's all inherently demon-possessed.

00:43:06.260 Not that you have a bad kid if they have, like, any interest in any of these things.

00:43:13.320 But from what I know, these companies are predatory.

00:43:18.320 And I think when we ask the question, does this lead our child into good things, in a good direction, in interest, in that which God calls holy and good and beautiful or not, it's pretty obvious.

00:43:35.800 And so I think as parents, it's so hard.

00:43:38.500 It is so hard to rein in our child's interest when things make them happy but aren't of the Lord.

00:43:44.400 But that is our primary obligation as parents.

00:43:49.420 All right.

00:43:49.940 Speaking of parenting, the Wall Street Journal published this really interesting article about gentle parenting.

00:43:56.340 That's something that we've been talking about for a while that has been a trend.

00:44:00.820 And I would say not just gentle parenting because gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit.

00:44:05.140 And so we should be gentle parents.

00:44:06.660 We should be gentle people, love.

00:44:09.320 We should be loving, joyful, kind, faithful.

00:44:12.480 All of the things that God calls us to be, both just as—whether it's a professional person, you should be like that at work, and you should be like that with your kids in parenting.

00:44:22.860 You should be like that as a friend.

00:44:24.580 And so there's nothing wrong with being gentle as a parent.

00:44:28.060 But gentle parenting, this trend, has turned into permissive parenting, where you will see these parenting experts will say, oh, I'm not for permissive parenting.

00:44:36.880 I'm just for gentle parenting.

00:44:38.380 But then when you ask them how do you enforce boundaries, not just how do you state your boundaries, because all of us are really good nowadays of stating our boundaries, but how do you actually enforce boundaries with your children?

00:44:51.540 It comes down to, it seems to me, and I'm not saying every gentle parenting expert says this, it comes down to distracting your kids, manipulating your kids, bribing your kids, or just permitting your kids to walk all over you.

00:45:06.580 There has to be some kind of enforcement with their kids.

00:45:10.880 I am not saying that it has to be draconian at all.

00:45:14.900 I'm not saying that it has to be harsh, but there has to be rules.

00:45:19.320 There has to be discipline.

00:45:20.640 There have to be boundaries.

00:45:22.060 And there has to be some way to enforce those boundaries.

00:45:25.980 Again, talking about our responsibility as parents.

00:45:30.580 When we read in Proverbs that if you spare the rod, you will spoil the child.

00:45:34.720 Well, that's not, by the way, specifically talking about spanking.

00:45:38.480 We could get into a debate about spanking. 1.00

00:45:40.400 That's not actually what that verse means.

00:45:43.300 A rod of discipline, especially if you are looking in the context of a shepherd, that is used to train and to guide, not to beat.

00:45:53.240 And so you could make a justification if you wanted to for spanking, but that's not what that verse is about. 0.94

00:45:59.740 The truth is, if you don't discipline your kids, if you don't have rules, if you can't say no to your kids, if you don't have parameters, if you don't have regulations, discipline, direction for their life, you are spoiling them.

00:46:11.120 We also read in the book of Hebrews that the Lord disciplines the ones he loves.

00:46:16.320 That if you don't discipline your child, it's not because you love them, it's because you hate them.

00:46:20.780 And so these permissive parenting experts are not showing us how to love our children.

00:46:25.800 We can gently discipline and guide our children and point them in the right direction.

00:46:32.340 I think that's what Christians are called to do.

00:46:35.140 And when we go outside of those bounds, when we yell, when we get too angry, when we lose self-control ourselves because of whatever frustration we have in the moment, we should be seeking forgiveness and repenting of that.

00:46:47.420 I think that is just in general, big picture, biblical model of parenting, not the secular permissive parenting, because the secular world believes that all rules are wrong and that any standard of behavior or like standard of attire is some form of oppression.

00:47:04.820 And that, of course, is not true.

00:47:06.700 God is a God of order.

00:47:08.260 We are made in his image.

00:47:09.360 We are to be stewards of order both in and outside of our home.

00:47:12.620 So now we have a reaction to this permissive parenting.

00:47:18.440 The Wall Street Journal says gentle parenting is out.

00:47:21.480 I would say permissive parenting is out, but it is, you know, euphemistically called gentle parenting sometimes.

00:47:27.820 And they say that the new parenting craze is F around and find out.

00:47:33.580 Fafo parenting.

00:47:34.960 If you don't know what that is, that is a phrase that's used very often online.

00:47:40.060 Some people pronounce it Fafo, I guess.

00:47:42.000 So this parenting approach, the Wall Street Journal says, prioritizes direct consequences for a child's actions, diverging from the emotionally nurturing, gentle parenting trend.

00:47:53.140 This kind of parenting prioritizes teaching children accountability through tangible repercussions.

00:47:58.580 Oh, my gosh.

00:47:59.520 That's so crazy.

00:48:01.300 Who has ever parented like that before?

00:48:03.280 Tangible repercussions for bad actions, for disobedience.

00:48:07.140 Wow, that's insane.

00:48:08.760 It's also called tough love or authoritative parenting.

00:48:11.300 Yes, we should all be authoritative parents.

00:48:14.640 And some people say, oh, authoritarian parents.

00:48:17.780 Yes, you are the authority in your home.

00:48:20.100 Someone's going to be an authority.

00:48:21.200 If you're not the authority in your home, your three-year-old is going to be the authority in your home. 0.62

00:48:24.820 That is disordered.

00:48:26.000 And you are setting them up for failure if your three-year-old is the authority in your home.

00:48:31.460 I am not saying any of this is a perfect parent, by the way.

00:48:34.320 I've got six years of parenting under my belt.

00:48:36.180 You should listen to people who have 16 and 60 years of parenting under their belt.

00:48:43.480 But I can tell you from experience that if you as the grown-up are not the authority in your home, someone is going to be the authority.

00:48:50.100 And your kids should not have to carry that burden.

00:48:52.460 They don't have the emotional regulation, the maturity to be able to do that and make their own decisions every hour of every day.

00:49:01.000 This kind of parenting, says Wall Street Journal, involves letting children face the natural outcomes of their actions.

00:49:07.420 It's based on the idea that parents can ask and warn.

00:49:09.900 But if the child breaks the rules, mom and dad aren't standing in the way of the repercussions.

00:49:14.280 Won't bring your raincoat?

00:49:15.740 Walk home in the downpour.

00:49:17.220 Don't feel like having lasagna for dinner?

00:49:18.960 Survive until breakfast.

00:49:20.820 Left your toy on the floor again?

00:49:22.900 Go find it in the trash under the lasagna you didn't eat.

00:49:26.640 Parenting that's light on discipline has dominated the culture in recent decades.

00:49:30.340 But critics blame the approach for some of Gen Z's problems in adulthood.

00:49:33.280 Yes, like not being able to look in people's eyes, like looking at you like you are a crazy idiot for asking for coffee when you're literally at a coffee shop.

00:49:44.980 And just like the overemphasis on, I'm sorry, like that's outside of my realm of comfort.

00:49:52.720 I'm not comfortable doing that.

00:49:53.800 I don't want to do that.

00:49:54.880 That's outside of my boundary.

00:49:56.280 Boundaries are good.

00:49:57.180 But the overemphasis on this is what I am entitled to makes some Gen Z, not all Gen Z, some Gen Z really bad employees, really bad friends, and just really difficult to be around. 0.64

00:50:11.140 I have been around stellar Gen Z people, stellar teenagers and young adults.

00:50:16.640 And the difference is, the difference in these young people is that they had good parents.

00:50:21.400 They had parents who told them no.

00:50:23.040 They had parents who said, no, you're not going to get a phone.

00:50:25.240 I'm sorry, you're not going to get a phone when you're 11.

00:50:27.500 You're not going to have social media when you're 13.

00:50:29.720 I know all your friends are doing it.

00:50:31.380 I know it's difficult to be different.

00:50:33.220 But as Christians, we're called to be different.

00:50:35.340 So get used to being weird because as Christians, you're going to be seen weird everywhere you go for the rest of your life. 0.72

00:50:40.380 The parents that were okay with that, the parents who knew that their role was to steward and to be an authority and to love their children in that way,

00:50:48.860 while still being as kind and as gentle and as supportive as possible, those are the kids I've seen that can look you in the eye,

00:50:58.300 that can sit through dinner and they're not looking at their phone.

00:51:01.420 They're not obsessed with social media.

00:51:03.080 They're not obsessed with themselves.

00:51:05.400 They're willing to work hard even when it's not fun.

00:51:08.840 We all want to raise kids who turn into those kinds of young adults.

00:51:15.220 But so many parents, I think especially Gen X parents, were just convinced that disciplining your kids is mean,

00:51:21.720 that it's brutal, that it's unkind, and that you're supposed to be your kid's friend.

00:51:26.340 That is not your primary role.

00:51:28.260 There are times when you can act like your kid's friends, but not all the time.

00:51:33.160 That is not your primary job, and that's not the way to love our kids.

00:51:37.600 Now, I'm not endorsing every form of punishment that is listed here, but yes, having tangible repercussions for our kids' actions is loving.

00:51:49.240 Now, here's what I would not say, okay?

00:51:52.080 Here's an example of this that I would not do because it's lack of self-control and immature.

00:51:57.680 Maybe some of you disagree with me out here, but there are also, again,

00:52:01.060 this is a secular response to secular, you know, psycho takeover, psychology takeover of parenting.

00:52:09.320 So there's a Fafo parent, Fafo parent, that's included in this article,

00:52:13.340 who says that she bit her child back to stop the behavior of biting.

00:52:19.020 I bit mine back, and she never did it again.

00:52:22.000 Yikes! 1.00

00:52:22.820 I don't think, I would not advocate for something like that.

00:52:26.260 Um, but I do think that there should be tangible consequences that make sense that are directly related to what your child does,

00:52:34.800 because not only are you loving them, but you're also loving your neighbors by disciplining your child in a healthy way.

00:52:39.980 So I would say the response to the gentle parenting, we're moving better in the right direction.

00:52:47.020 Um, the reaction to permissive parenting.

00:52:50.400 All right.

00:52:50.980 I've just got one more thing to say, and it's a very happy clip to react to.

00:52:56.140 But first, let me pause and tell you about our next sponsor, and that is Fellowship Home Loans.

00:53:01.440 Navigating mortgages right now is a lot.

00:53:04.460 Rising prices, so many options.

00:53:06.320 It's really difficult to know what to do.

00:53:08.860 What is really the smartest thing to do financially?

00:53:11.740 And yet, it's really important to own a home if you can.

00:53:14.380 Mike and Brian from Fellowship Home Loans are believers who built this company on biblical values.

00:53:21.320 They treat you the way that you want to be treated, with honesty, with patience, with respect,

00:53:27.040 whether you are looking to refinance or consolidate debt, or tap into your equity with an H-E-L-O-C,

00:53:34.360 or you just want to know your options.

00:53:36.420 They are going to tailor their services to exactly what you need, your unique situation.

00:53:42.760 They're a direct lender.

00:53:43.720 They're not a broker, so you skip the middleman.

00:53:46.720 You save time, money, and stress.

00:53:50.140 I know they're already helping so many of you out there.

00:53:53.600 I'm so glad that so many of you have reached out to Mike and Brian at Fellowship Home Loans,

00:53:58.820 and they have helped you with exactly what you need.

00:54:02.060 Join the people who have been helped by Fellowship Home Loans.

00:54:05.420 You will not regret it.

00:54:06.480 Their customer service is amazing.

00:54:09.000 They are also giving you a $500 credit at closing when you go to my link, fellowshiphomeloans.com

00:54:16.580 slash Allie. 1.00

00:54:18.780 Fellowship Home Loans Mortgage Lending by the Book.

00:54:21.560 Nationwide Mortgage Bankers, DBA Fellowship Home Loans, Equal Housing Lender, NMLS number 819382.

00:54:27.820 I just wanted to play this clip from Joe Rogan's podcast.

00:54:37.240 This is Chad Wright.

00:54:39.000 He's a former Navy SEAL.

00:54:40.580 He is a Christian.

00:54:42.380 He is the founder of the Three of Seven Project, and that is a ministry fostering physical,

00:54:47.500 mental, and spiritual growth through wilderness training and faith.

00:54:51.200 He reminds me so much of the Robertsons.

00:54:53.740 He reminds me a ton of Phil Robertson, a lot of Jace Robertson, but he did such a masterful

00:54:59.180 job of sharing the gospel to Joe Rogan, and you could tell that Joe was affected by what

00:55:04.620 he said and that he really respects Chad.

00:55:08.100 And the whole podcast is interesting.

00:55:10.120 If you're going to go watch it, I encourage you to start at like 15 minutes in because that's

00:55:14.860 when they really get into it.

00:55:16.320 And I just thought that Chad was very effective and very humble, and there were lots of different

00:55:22.040 parts I wanted to play, but I thought this clip was a really good summation of the gospel.

00:55:27.380 Sot7.

00:55:28.180 You know, I'm wondering, Joe, if the Almighty ain't calling you.

00:55:31.860 Calling me how?

00:55:33.000 On the phone?

00:55:34.080 Calling you, man.

00:55:35.100 What do you mean?

00:55:35.680 In what way?

00:55:36.720 I'm just wondering.

00:55:38.360 I think a lot of people are wondering what the Almighty is doing, what he's working.

00:55:46.320 In you.

00:55:50.640 See, Scripture is dripping with something that's called election.

00:56:00.680 A lot of people get mad about me talking about this, but this truth that we will never

00:56:14.620 choose God, the Almighty, we will never choose to believe.

00:56:20.780 As a matter of fact, Scripture actually says over and over again, the whole message of the

00:56:25.520 cross is foolishness.

00:56:27.720 It's foolishness.

00:56:29.440 I mean, seriously?

00:56:31.700 Some dude died on a cross?

00:56:34.220 What does that represent to man?

00:56:36.040 That represents weakness.

00:56:37.520 That represents defeat.

00:56:40.200 That represents death.

00:56:41.900 You're gone.

00:56:42.500 The message of the cross is foolishness to man.

00:56:49.620 We will never choose to believe in the message of what we call the gospel.

00:56:58.760 That is, that Jesus Christ died on the cross according to the Scriptures.

00:57:03.720 He was buried and that he rose again by his own power according to the Scriptures.

00:57:09.760 That's foolishness.

00:57:12.920 And the only way that we can or will ever believe that, like truly place our faith in

00:57:20.460 that and everything that's contained in that statement right there, because there's a lot

00:57:25.460 there, you could literally spend the rest of your life meditating on that right there,

00:57:31.940 the gospel, the what was done on the cross and by way of the resurrection of Christ.

00:57:37.400 You would never get to the end of it.

00:57:38.920 You would never comprehend everything.

00:57:41.140 You would never search it to its bottom.

00:57:45.620 You will never believe that.

00:57:47.440 And the only way that you can believe that is if the Almighty in his grace

00:57:53.500 basically makes you alive spiritually.

00:57:59.100 Love it.

00:58:01.500 There are so many other good parts of that, but it's absolutely true.

00:58:04.680 Just when you look at the fact that we are spiritually dead, as Ephesians 2 says, a dead

00:58:09.380 person can't lift themselves up.

00:58:11.100 A dead person can't take themselves to the hospital.

00:58:13.240 A dead person can't clean themselves up and make themselves acceptable before God.

00:58:17.680 A dead person can absolutely do nothing.

00:58:20.220 It is only by grace through faith that God makes us spiritually alive and saves us.

00:58:24.820 He articulated that really well.

00:58:26.320 Also, shout out Calvinists.

00:58:28.660 The past two people that have done a great job of sharing the gospel to Joe Rogan on his

00:58:33.680 podcast are Calvinists.

00:58:35.620 We get a lot of hate.

00:58:36.960 A lot of people say, you don't care about evangelism if you're a Calvinist because you

00:58:40.660 believe in predestination.

00:58:42.660 That's not true.

00:58:43.720 We are compelled by the power of the Holy Spirit and obedience to God to evangelize, share

00:58:49.900 the gospel with others because it is the preordained means by which God has chosen to accomplish

00:58:57.060 seeking and saving the lost.

00:58:59.200 Just like the mystery of prayer, although God is omnipotent, he uses prayer to work and

00:59:05.660 to do what he wants to do.

00:59:07.720 And so because we are commanded to do it, we share the gospel even on a podcast like Joe

00:59:11.780 Rogan.

00:59:12.280 So great job, Chad Wright.

00:59:14.400 Go check out that episode.

00:59:15.880 That was really good.

00:59:16.700 All right, last sponsor for the day before we head out of here, and that is Concerned

00:59:22.040 Women for America.

00:59:23.040 If you're looking for a way to get involved, if you're looking for a way to make sure that

00:59:28.920 you are informed about the policies that are being put in place in Washington, D.C., and

00:59:33.860 you want your voice heard, check out Concerned Women for America. 0.97

00:59:37.200 They have been around for 45 years leading the charge as your voice in all levels of public

00:59:42.040 policy.

00:59:42.480 They focus on things like family, sanctity of life, parental choice, in education.

00:59:47.820 They are a grassroots organization that will help you get involved.

00:59:52.080 Check out the CEO, Penny Nance's, A Woman's Guide, Seven Rules for Success in Business and

00:59:58.100 Life.

00:59:58.400 They're so gracious to give that as a gift to you when you go to ConcernedWomen.org.

01:00:03.820 That's ConcernedWomen.org.

01:00:06.340 All right.

01:00:07.740 Thank you guys so much for listening and watching.

01:00:11.560 We will be back here on Wednesday.

01:00:13.660 We'll be back here on Wednesday.

Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey - August 04, 2025

Ep 1226 ｜ I Went Down the Labubu Rabbit Hole So You Don't Have To

Episode Stats

Summary

Transcript