Frequently Asked Questions

In Luke 2, when Simeon encounters baby Jesus, Scripture says he “took Him up in his arms and blessed God.” To bless God is to live in a way that brings glory to Him in every area of life—our work, our relationships, our talents, and our time.

That’s why we emphasize Godly Ambition: using the gifts God has entrusted to us for His glory and the good of others. This channel exists to encourage people to live with that mindset.

I’ve been creating content on YouTube since the mid-2010s. Over the years, the channel has grown into a platform that reaches millions with practical teaching, reactions, and commentary through a Christian lens.

From 2015–2021 I was a full-time independent artist and ran my own music label. Before that, I worked at a church (2013–2015). My background in both music and ministry shaped the way I approach content-creative, practical, and rooted in faith.

First and foremost, I believe the Scriptures are inspired by God, God-breathed, and authoritative for all of life and faith (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

I also like to take what C.S. Lewis called a “Mere Christianity” approach. In his book, Lewis described the Christian faith like a hallway with many rooms. The hallway is the core beliefs all Christians share: Jesus is Lord, He died and rose again, and salvation is found in Him alone. The rooms are the different denominations and traditions. I believe God uses all the major streams of Christianity-even ones I think are in error-for His purposes.

Here are a few distinctives about me:

• Charismatic with a seat belt – I’m a continuist, meaning I believe the gifts of the Spirit in the New Testament are for today. But they must always be in check with Scripture (the “seat belt”).

• Eschatology (end times) – I don’t hold a firm position. I find all the views fascinating, especially postmillennialism, but I don’t plant a flag in any specific camp.

• Soteriology (salvation) – I lean toward eternal security and slightly toward lordship salvation. If someone is truly born again, they receive a new heart, new desires, and the power to obey God. Those desires don’t always align perfectly, which is why sanctification—cooperating with the Spirit—is so crucial. “Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:12–13, NLT).

• Calvinism – I’m not a Calvinist theologically (mainly because I don’t believe regeneration comes before faith—I believe we place our trust in God and then we’re regenerated). But personally, I can’t deny that God clearly elected me without much of my choosing involved. So, in a way, I’m kinda “cheating”—leaning toward Calvinism privately, while still holding to God’s heart for all people to repent and believe in Him (2 Peter 3:9).

Truth deserves context. Before reading this answer, I'd encourage you to watch the full video where I examine each viral clip in its original context, explain exactly who I was speaking to and what question I was answering, and invite you to come to your own conclusions. 👉 [Watch the Full Video]

This is probably the question I get asked most, so let me address it directly.

If you've only seen the short clips circulating online, I completely understand why they can sound concerning.

However, those clips almost always remove the context of who I was speaking to, what question I was answering, and what this channel actually was at the time.

Between roughly 2018–2021, this wasn't primarily a theology or cultural commentary channel. I had recently transitioned from serving at a local church (2013–2015) to making a full-time living as an independent musician (2015–2021), and my audience largely consisted of aspiring Christian rappers, musicians, filmmakers, YouTubers, and other creatives asking practical questions about how to support themselves and their families.

Most of my content during that season answered one question:

"How do I build a sustainable career doing what God has called me to do?"

That's the context these clips came from.

You are completely free to disagree with the financial philosophy or career advice I gave to Christian creatives. Christians have always had healthy disagreements about topics like business, ministry, and money.

What isn't okay is misrepresenting what someone actually said.

Scripture doesn't merely prohibit lying, it also commands us to pursue truth carefully.

"If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame." — Proverbs 18:13

"The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him." — Proverbs 18:17

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." — Exodus 20:16

"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." — John 7:24

Before repeating accusations about another believer, we should make every effort to understand what they actually said—not merely what was clipped into a short compilation.

"How do I monetize these people?"

This is probably the most circulated clip.

It wasn't about exploiting Christians.

I was answering a question from my friend Nic D—before songs like Fine Apple and before becoming widely known for his collaborations with Connor Price, FRDI, and others. We were discussing the questions creators inevitably begin asking after they build an audience online.

The actual point was simple:

"Someone has built an audience. How do they build a sustainable business around that audience so they can continue creating?"

That's very different than saying, "How do I exploit people?"

In fact, I wasn't even talking about my own audience, I was paraphrasing the kinds of questions creators naturally ask once they've built a following.

I still stand by that principle today.

"Stop p***yfooting around..."

This clip is almost always presented as though I was criticizing churches or ministries.

That's not what happened.

I was answering a question from a Christian rapper named Abel who wanted to become more intentional about building a career through his music.

My point was simple:

If you're selling albums...

booking shows...

hiring contractors...

paying taxes...

and supporting your family...

you're operating a business.

Calling something a ministry doesn't remove the need for budgeting, accounting, planning, marketing, or wise stewardship.

I would probably phrase it more gently today.

The principle itself hasn't changed.

"I need seven figures."

This wasn't prosperity theology.

I was talking about living in Southern California, wanting to purchase a home, pay it off, retire with dignity, provide for my family, and eventually employ people generously.

The larger conversation was actually about:

living below your means
avoiding unnecessary debt
developing character
planning for the future
trusting God over decades, not weeks

The point wasn't luxury.

The point was stewardship.

"I want F.U. money."

This is probably the quote I understand people reacting to the most.

The wording is certainly more abrasive than I would use today.

What I meant was financial independence—the freedom to say no to opportunities that compromise your convictions.

In that same conversation I explained that my goal wasn't wealth for its own sake.

It was to:

lower my overhead
become debt free
give generously
help plant churches
avoid being controlled by financial pressure
create the work I genuinely believed God was calling me to create

That's a very different message than "I just want to get rich."

Have my views changed?

My tone has.

My convictions largely haven't.

Over the last several years I've learned to communicate about money with more wisdom, more precision, and more pastoral sensitivity.

But I still believe Christians should:

steward their gifts well
provide for their families
avoid unnecessary debt
build businesses with integrity
pay people fairly
be radically generous
use ambition as stewardship—not selfishness

Those convictions are rooted throughout Proverbs, the teachings of Jesus, and the Apostle Paul.

One final thought

You're completely free to disagree with my financial philosophy.

You're completely free to disagree with my career advice.

You're completely free to disagree with my conclusions.

Healthy disagreement is part of Christian maturity.

Misrepresenting someone's words isn't.

If you've only seen the edited clips, you've only heard one side of the story. Before forming an opinion, I'd simply ask that you hear both sides and decide for yourself.

If, after hearing the full context, you still disagree with me, that's completely okay.

But I hope we can at least agree that Christians should strive to represent one another truthfully, fairly, and in context.

For anyone who wants to watch the original clips, hear the complete explanations, and understand how these clips came to circulate, you can watch my full response here:

👉 [Watch the Full Video]

I get this question a lot. Some people assume that if I interview or work with someone, I automatically endorse everything they believe. That’s not the case.

I take a Mere Christianity approach, inspired by C.S. Lewis: focus on the “hallway” of shared faith in Jesus-His death, resurrection, and lordship-while recognizing that different traditions represent different “rooms.” I believe God uses all the major streams of Christianity, even the ones where I think there’s error.

So, when I have Catholics, Orthodox, or others on the channel, it’s not about saying “I agree with every doctrine here.” It’s about creating space for dialogue, curiosity, and showing how we can disagree without being divisive. Paul wrote, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). That doesn’t mean we erase differences, but it does mean we approach each other with grace.

At the same time, I’m unapologetically Protestant. If you want a clear, thoughtful explanation of what that means and why I’m not Catholic or Orthodox, I highly recommend Gavin Ortlund’s book What It Means to Be Protestant: The Case for an Always-Reforming Church. It lays out Protestant distinctives with both conviction and charity.

At the end of the day, collaboration doesn’t mean endorsement. It means conversation. And I think the body of Christ benefits when we spend more time talking to each other instead of just talking about each other.

No. Gossip is defined as “casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.”

Everything on this channel engages with publicly available facts-released directly by artists, leaders, or organizations themselves. If engaging publicly released content is gossip, then so is every news station, podcast, or reaction channel that comments on notable events.

The definition of news is “newly received or noteworthy information, especially about recent or important events.” That’s what we’re doing here. Gossip (spreading unconfirmed or false information) is a sin. This isn’t that. Suggesting otherwise is unfair.

We cover notable events because they matter to people. But the goal isn’t to tear anyone down—it’s to use what’s happening in culture as a starting point to talk about truth, faith, and what it looks like to follow Jesus today.

A lot of our content is audience-driven. Many topics come directly from requests on Patreon, where our community shares what they want us to cover. From there, we shape conversations that tie into faith, culture, and scripture.

The #1 way to support is through Patreon, where you can join our community and get access to exclusive content and behind-the-scenes perks. After that, you can check out the Bless God Shop, where we design apparel, journals, and devotionals to help equip you in your faith.

Yes, but we try to keep speaking limited so that we can prioritize family and creating consistent content. For speaking, panels, or interviews, visit bookruslan.com for more details.

We get a lot of requests, and the best way to appear is for us to come across your content organically, get connected through a friend, or reach out directly via DM on Instagram.

If you don’t already have momentum, appearing on our channel won’t help you or us. We look for collaborations that flow out of relationships or stories that are compelling and a good fit for our audience.

No. The gospel is free and always will be. Anyone can walk into a church and get a free Bible.

What we do is podcasting, reaction videos, and cultural commentary from a Christian worldview. That’s not “selling the gospel”-it’s media. Like any other podcast, news channel, or creator, we use platforms like YouTube and Patreon to sustain the work. The gospel itself remains the good news freely available to all men everywhere.

Short answer: No. And assuming you know my heart is what’s called an appeal to motive fallacy—judging intent without full context.

Gratitude & humility:
First, I’m thankful people care enough to ask this. Money and ministry are sensitive topics, and I haven’t always communicated perfectly. Over time, I’ve learned to be more careful about tone, but I’ve always tried to be transparent.

Backstory & context:
This channel didn’t start with “Christian news” or cultural commentary. From 2015–2021, I was a full-time musician in Southern California, supporting a family through music. People began asking me how I was doing it. Early videos simply answered their questions—teaching aspiring Christian rappers and creatives how to sustain themselves. That’s always been the DNA of my content: answering questions my audience is already asking.

Calling vs. commerce:
There’s a big difference between monetizing the gospel (which is free for all) and monetizing media that flows out of Christian conviction.

• The gospel itself is free—always has been, always will be (Isaiah 55:1, Romans 10:17).

• But scripture is clear that “the worker deserves his wages” (Luke 10:7; 1 Tim. 5:17–18).

• Paul even wrote: “If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?” (1 Cor. 9:11).

Integrity & sustainability:
I’ve intentionally avoided most brand deals—because I don’t want to push scammy or useless products. Instead, we create resources I believe actually serve people: prayer journals, devotionals, planners, merch, my upcoming Godly Ambitionbook, and events like the Bless God Summit. These aren’t paywalls on the gospel—they’re supplements, meant to equip Christians in their walk. Your “meat and potatoes” is Scripture, the local church, and discipleship.

At the same time, sustainability matters. Running a studio, employing a team with health benefits, and hosting events in one of the most expensive regions in the U.S. costs real money. Without revenue, people on my team lose their jobs. Stewardship means planning wisely so ministry isn’t reckless or destructive (Proverbs 21:5).

Mission clarity:
The heart of this channel is discipleship through culture. We’re trying to help people live with Godly Ambition—stewarding their time, talent, and treasure for God’s glory. That mission drives everything. Money is just the fuel that keeps the engine running.

Final word:
If you’re genuinely curious, I invite you to [watch the full video explanation → (here)]. If you disagree, I respect that—we can agree to disagree. But please don’t assume to know my heart. I love Jesus, I love His church, and I want to see His people thrive.

Most mid- to large-sized channels rely on brand deals to cover expenses—often promoting products that are questionable, not very useful, or even scammy.

We’ve decided to avoid brand deals (with the exception of our friends at Logos Bible Software, who offer a free 60-day trial-our only channel partner). Instead, we create our own products that we believe actually serve our audience-like our prayer journal, 60-day devotional, leadership planner, Godly Ambition book, and Bless God apparel.

Here’s the challenge: if we don’t tell people about our products and sales, many miss them and later complain that they “didn’t know.” So lately, we’ve been erring on the side of over-communicating not to annoy, but to make sure no one misses out.

At the same time, we’re making a greater emphasis on our free resources, which are always linked in the description. 

Events are costly to put on. Venue rentals, production, staffing, travel, and hospitality all add up. Last year, despite the event’s impact, we actually lost money. This year, our goal is simply to break even while creating an excellent experience.

That said, we know not everyone can afford a ticket. That’s why we’ve also provided scholarship opportunities to cover costs for families and individuals who can’t afford to attend.

As Galatians 6:6 reminds us: “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.”Hosting conferences is one way we create a space for discipleship, fellowship, and growth—while still striving to remove barriers for those who need help.

Good question. Titles and thumbnails are simply the “front door” of a video. If nobody clicks, nobody hears the message. So yes, I aim to make them engaging—but not dishonest.

Think about Paul in Acts 17: he didn’t open with a Bible study. He started with the Athenians’ altar to an unknown god and even quoted their poets to get attention, then pointed them to Jesus (Acts 17:22–28). Similarly, in 1 Corinthians, Paul often quoted back the Corinthians’ own sayings (“I have the right to do anything,” 1 Cor. 6:12) as a way to hook them before reframing the truth.

In the same way, a strong thumbnail or title gets people in the door so I can connect culture to Christ. The goal isn’t to sensationalize—it’s to meet people where they are, then lead them to the Word of God.

And to be clear: we do examine our thumbnails and titles. If one ever feels too sensational or doesn’t accurately represent the video, we’ve gone back and changed it. The standard is not just grabbing attention but staying truthful and clear about the message.

Because that’s where people are paying attention. My goal is to bring a biblical worldview into the cultural conversations people already care about.

This isn’t a new idea. In Acts 17, Paul stood in Athens, surrounded by idols, and quoted their own poets back to them: “As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring’” (Acts 17:28). He used their cultural references to point people toward Jesus.

The same theme runs through 1 Corinthians-Paul often quoted popular sayings of the Corinthians back to them (“‘I have the right to do anything’—but not everything is beneficial,” 1 Cor. 6:12; “‘Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food’—and God will destroy them both,” 1 Cor. 6:13). He met people in the middle of their worldview, then reframed it with the truth of the gospel.

That’s what reaction content is about: engaging with public conversations already happening, whether in music, news, or social media-and showing how faith intersects with them.

I still teach scripture directly, but I also believe part of stewarding Godly ambition is, like Paul, knowing the culture well enough to point it back to Christ.

Having someone on the channel does not mean I endorse everything they do or believe. Often, the point is to show a contrast in views and model how to disagree without being nasty.

Scripture calls us to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) and to be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry” (James 1:19). That means being curious, asking good questions, and creating space for meaningful dialogue.

Some conversations hit that goal better than others—and we’ve even had to unlist a few podcasts that didn’t-but generally speaking, I don’t see having a conversation as “platforming” or endorsing. I think the body of Christ needs to spend more time talking to each other, not just about each other.

At the end of the day, I’m doing my best to stay curious, pursue interesting conversations, and point people back to Jesus.

Some people compare what I do to discernment ministries or watchdog channels that mainly focus on exposing false teachers. While I believe discernment is important, that’s not the primary lane of this channel.

My aim is not to constantly call out names or tear others down, but to equip believers to think biblically about culture, faith, and life. Scripture tells us to “test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) and also to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).

That means I try to address ideas more than individuals, show how different perspectives contrast with Scripture, and encourage healthy dialogue. Sometimes that includes critique-but always with the hope of building up, not tearing down.

In short: this channel is about clarity, not controversy. I believe we need more conversations that lead people closer to Jesus, not endless cycles of suspicion and division.