Tag: morgan olliges

Morgan Olliges ft. Performative Christian Modesty

I’ve blogged about the Morgan and Paul Show before and my opinion of them (that they’re very unbiblical and steeped in secular conservative culture rather than Christ) remains unchanged.

However, Morgan is more palatable for me because she actually possesses self-control when it comes to her tongue i.e. “[a] fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” Morgan doesn’t spew every thought that comes to her mind online, nor does she repost every bit of conservative, secular drivel she sees on Instagram, which is more than I can say for Paul (sidenote: it’s ironic how Morgan, who is suppose to be led by Paul, regularly displays more wisdom and self-control than he does…). Plus, she has a really lovely voice.

That said, a while ago Morgan (probably) posted a picture of her in leggings with a sticker or whatever over her booty, which is probably why I took this screenshot. I likely intended to blog about this topic eons ago but clearly that never happened, and I don’t particularly feel like scouring the web for whatever she posted initially as I attempt to restart my whole “blogging at least once a week” nonsense.

So instead of a.) not posting the picture b.) taking the picture in loose-fitting pants or a dress c.)reading the Bible and realizing the female figure isn’t inherently sexual, or even d.) taking a front picture, Morgan chose to post a picture she views as inherently “immodest” and then draw attention to the fact that she’s immodestly dressed by blocking out her butt.

Performative modesty is at the heart of posting something like this. The doubling down by insisting she wears a jacket or shirt to cover her butt out in public indicates a prideful, rather than humble, heart.

If Morgan really believed leggings or tight-fitting jeans were inappropriate, she just wouldn’t wear them. Like why go through the trouble and discomfort of wearing something you inherently view as immodest when you could literally just wear something modest? The Bible says “[do] nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Posting a picture with her butt covered up (which inadvertently draws more attention to it) is an attempt at appearing modest without actually being modest (to be clear, leggings are not immodest but Morgan clearly things they are). It’s the opposite of humility. Again, someone who truly felt leggings were immodest would just not wear them, or at the very least just not post pictures in them. Like I doubt someone held a gun to her head and forced her to pose in and upload pictures of herself in leggings on Instagram.

There’s nothing wrong with modest clothing, nor is there anything wrong with promoting modesty on a public platform. The Bible says, (1 Timothy 2:9-10) “[l]ikewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.”

However, performative modesty isn’t genuine. It’s attention-seeking and born from a desire to to have “a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof…” True modesty is born out of humility; it’s a desire to let yourself decrease so that others may be focused on God. After all, as Christians we are told to do all for the glory of God, not all for the glory of Instagram. Maybe Morgan should pick up her Bible and realize that true modesty isn’t about what you wear, but it’s a posture of the heart. One that desires to give all glory and attention to God.

Or she could just, ya know, not post pictures of her butt on social media.

The Paul and Morgan Show Are (Biblically) Problematic

Morgan and Paul Olliges of the “That’s Not In the Bible Show” always manage to bring me out of my self-imposed blogging exile somehow. That said, for once I have a reason for temporarily abandoning my blog and it’s not just that I’m playing Jedi Fallen Order (10/10 game), but I’m writing articles for a local newspaper, which takes up a lot of time because, unlike my blog posts, those have to be coherent, grammatically correct, and well-written.

Morgan says sexual sin causes mental health issues from FundieSnarkUncensored

Morgan Olliges posted on Instagram asking why people who have pre-marital sex still go to church. I don’t know, maybe because Jesus said, “[t]hose who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Furthermore, Morgan herself had pre-marital sex and readily accepted the grace God offered her. But doesn’t want to extend that same grace to others, which is typical of conservative, evangelical Christians. Jesus forgives but you heathen liberals are going to hell for doing the exact same thing I’m doing, amiright?

She continues (along with her husband) to use their platform to spew drivel. Specifically that living in sexual sin causes mental health issues and insinuating that Christians having extra-marital sex aren’t really Christians.

There’s only one caveat to being saved and that’s outlined in John 3:16, “if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” That isn’t to discredit works entirely – part of becoming a Christian is accepting Jesus as your Savior and Lord. However, salvation isn’t negated by having sex, or even living in deliberate sin. Of course, evidence that you have a walk with God is choosing to no longer live in sin but that’s not what she’s saying here.

Second, I’m gonna guess she’s probably not talking about pornography in regards to “sexual sin” which is adultery. Nor is she talking about lust of which her husband, Paul, is always going on about women in the gym wearing leggings and how he’s lusting after them. By her logic, why is Paul going to church when he’s still ogling other women and living in sexual sin? Again Biblically speaking, merely looking at a woman with lust is committing adultery, so she really ought to talk to her husband about his salvation first and maybe read the Bible. Specifically the part where Jesus said take the speck out of your own eye before throwing shade, ya hypocrite.

Third, can you imagine Jesus saying to all the people who came to Him for salvation and healing, “I don’t wanna hear from you?” Like it’s actually incredibly sad that she thinks this is acceptable behavior for Christians. What a missed opportunity here to spread the gospel and love on those who are hurting, yet instead she choose to be judgmental.

And she’s wrong. Jesus straight up tells us we will suffer in this world; struggling with mental health as a Christian doesn’t mean you’ve done something wrong, or are living in sin. It’s the product of living in a fallen world in which we’re all more or less promised some level of suffering (which… sounds depressing…). Not that there aren’t consequences for sin, but telling people the reason they struggle with mental health issues is because they’re having sex outside of marriage and you don’t wanna hear from them is cruel and stupid.

As a Christian, I’m obviously not gonna encourage anyone to commit adultery lol even thought it’s low on the list of things I care about, personally. In fact, Morgan might’ve been on to something because 1 Corinthians does say, “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.” That said, Morgan is the pot calling the kettle black here given she was screwing around prior to meeting Paul. Instead of extending grace to those reaching out to her, she questions why they’re going to the one place that will help them live out their Christian faith.

The Bible says, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” My issue with Morgan and Paul, other than the fact that the Bible is always an afterthought to whatever political brownie point they’re trying to score that day, is they’re always speaking from a place of pride, judgment, and condemnation, rather than love. It’s partially why they’re the target of so much criticism online.

From suggesting God (who is neither male nor female, by the way) should strike Ariana Grande down for a music video, to supporting a war, to straight up lying, to admitting to being selfish whilst simultaneously criticizing women who don’t want children as selfish, to joking about consensual sex, to encouraging their fans to bully a company rather than turning the other cheek, and complaining about interracial couples in Rings of Power it’s clear Morgan and Paul are only interested in engaging in culture wars, owning the left, and generally being awful under the guise of “speaking hard truths.” They cherry-pick scripture in an attempt to fit their conservative, far-right ideology into the Bible, which naturally results in a lot of false doctrine and wonky teachings. They’re (sadly) not unique in this but merely a reflection of the American church, which has mistaken the triumph of a political party as a win for the kingdom of God and thus spend most of their time idolizing political leaders, instead of Jesus Christ.

It’s ironic Morgan specifically questions why people having extramarital sex are still going to church, when hot take: going to church doesn’t make one a Christian. Rather, evidence that one is a Christian can be found in fostering the fruits of the spirit. Love, kindness, and gentleness are ways the world knows we’re Christians without us saying so. Looking through their history, I saw no examples of them regularly doing anything generous for their fans who support them (giveaways, gift cards, even randomly gifting someone $5 for coffee which many of the Christian influencers I follow do), nor do they regularly donate to, or encourage their fans to donate to organizations and charities that help the poor, orphans, or pregnant women. But they do brag about getting $1400 strollers from their fans and beg for gifts online.

Take away their YouTube channel, Instagram posts, and all the things they say about being a Christian, and their actions reveal greedy, prideful, and selfish individuals who aren’t very much like Christ at all. Needless to say, if anyone ought to question the sincerity of their faith and salvation, it’s probably Paul and Morgan.

Should Christians Watch Soul?

An alternative title is Rating Morgan and Paul’s Harry Potter Video. However, I’m trying to up my clickbait game. Also, feeling myself because my B.Dawn ramblings got posted to reddit, where I use to post on nosleep haha.

Anyway, gonna go back to trash posting asap but I recently watched Soul, I’ve never watched/read Harry Potter. Fun story: when I was like 7 or 8 my Great Aunt brought me the first book in the Harry Potter series for Christmas; my mom threw it in the trash because witchcraft.

Needless to say, Morgan and Paul approach this topic wrong as it’s not their job to tell Christians what to watch – the proper question is, “does watching Harry Potter or Soul benefit me and my relationship with God or nah?” If you feel the need to even ask this question, your conscience has answered for you. That said – it’s a smart title. +1.

They begin by talking about Soul. Morgan says “as an adult” she liked it, but kids wouldn’t understand it, then says something about it having nothing Biblical in terms of the afterlife. Thematically, Soul isn’t abut the afterlife so w h a t? Also, kids don’t understand most Biblical stuff. Back when I taught Sunday school, I did a lesson on the plagues of Egypt. After watching the video where God kills the Egyptians first born sons, one child about five, said during question time something like, “Why would God kill them just because they didn’t obey?” all big eyed and adorable. Kids do understand quite a bit, but how does one explain to a child, who thinks disobedience is not listening to their parents when they say, “put your toys away”, why God would kill the Egyptians simply because they “didn’t obey”? If Morgan’s logic here is that kids shouldn’t watch Soul because they won’t get it, well they also not teach kids most of the Old Testament.

Morgan’s overall reply is actually reasonable (except for not wanting her kids to have an imagination – w h a t?) Anyway, + 2.5.

Paul brings up Aladdin, which he loved as a youngin so +1. He mentions how Aladdin et. al prayed to Allah (Islam aside, that literally means God) and some other things, so he’s a bit iffy about it. But like Paul is still a Christian as an adult who is not praying to Allah, so like what exactly is he trying to say? Watching Aladdin didn’t greatly change his faith. (Also, my parents wouldn’t let me watch Aladdin as a child either because magic). Again, his answer is actually decent in that he talks about giving room for people that have personal convictions. + 2.5 points.

A little later, they start talking about Harry Potter (which I haven’t seen so can’t really judge).

They day magic and witchcraft is against the Bible; Paul says his spirit was grieved, which ok. Not all of us can handle a little magic without having an existential crisis I guess. But we all have different stumbling blocks for our faith, so this is a fair point. + 0.5

Then, Morgan starts talking about how she struggled with depression, anxiety, etc. as a teen and seemingly blames Harry Potter on it. Weird as I also struggled with depression and anxiety as a teen, yet I never read Harry Potter. I did read Berserk in high school, so maybe that was it.

They start talking about witchcraft, New Age, Narnia, even finding some witch married to a warlock who said the vibes of Harry Potter were off even by her wicked witch-like standards. Narnia = good because the witch = clearly bad. As if somehow her being a witch makes her bad, rather than her just generally being a bad person. I take it they don’t like complex characters and are the main reason Christian fiction is dumb. -0.5 points.

The video could essentially be summed up as, “it’s a personal conviction,” which is the correct, Biblical answer. If it’s not explicitly in the Bible, that means as individuals we have to seek God for ourselves to find out what the individual will of God is for our lives.

This livestream however, and the questions asked during it, highlights my biggest issue with most Christians, which is a lack of ability to think for themselves, hear from the Lord personally and figure out what God wants you to do, and then trust those convictions and decisions without getting defensive or judgmental when others make different choices. The fact that some of M & P’s viewers find Veggie Tales scary and have an issue with fantasy, while they don’t, attests to the fact God has given us various convictions and boundaries, and that doesn’t mean some of us are living in sin, or more holier than others for abstaining from certain things. It just means that what God allows one person to do (because it won’t affect their relationship with Him), He doesn’t allow others to do (because it may).

To me, that’s not a difficult concept to comprehend and accept, yet some Christians will create entire cults based on their personal preferences *coughs in Duggar* and are generally unable to mind their own business.

My second problem (outside the fact Morgan and Paul are overly conservative and thus, everything they say is filtered through that (not Biblical) bias) is why ask Morgan and Paul, who have zero theological training, how you should live when you should be asking God and digging into scripture? Objectively, the people asking have the same qualifications as these two, so it’s not like they can give anyone an answer they won’t be able to glean from the Bible themselves.

Last, Morgan and Paul shouldn’t really be answering these questions at all – they should be encouraging their viewers to dig into scripture. It’s telling nay a Bible verse was quoted in this entire video.

The apostle Paul says, “[e]verything is permissible for me”-but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me-but I will not be mastered by anything.”

Contextually, Paul was probably talking about like disputes among believers who were taking each other to worldly courts over civil matters. He was like ‘yeah sure you can do that, but is that actually beneficial for the church?’ Why go before worldly folks to judge between two Christians rather than the church? But I think the verse can be applied to various issues that aren’t plainly spelled out in the Bible.

As Christians, we can watch Harry Potter and Soul, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be beneficial for our relationship with God. Fortunately, life is going to look different for each of us and one won’t find the answers to some questions unless we seek the Lord ourselves. Christians really ought to take a more proactive stance on their faith and stop relying on Christian influencers and politicians to tell them how to live.

The beauty of having a relationship with Jesus is that we’re now in direct relationship with God. We don’t have to rely on the middle man to discover the Lord’s will for our lives, we can go straight to the Source and ask Him if we can watch Soul (10/10 movie btw). It’s a privilege we shouldn’t neglect.

Video Rating: 6.5/10. 3 Points deducted for lack of scripture backing up what they say and an extra 0.5 points as they generally they could’ve been more succinct, even on a livestream.