What Should Christians Do With Joe Rogan?

He currently has the largest podcast in history, raking in over 11 million subscribers on YouTube with some of his episodes garnering more viewers and listeners than primetime shows on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News.

Joe Rogan is dominating the news right now, mostly because of Leftists’ attempts to pressure Spotify, the platform that has a $100 million-plus deal with him, to censor his show, the Joe Rogan Experience (JRE).

While we could get into the laughable stories of celebrities and politicians calling for Rogan’s cancellation, I want to consider another group of people who might tend to cancel Rogan as well: Christians.

More specifically, I want to consider how Christians should approach the God-hating, cuss-ridden podcast host. Is there a reason to listen to him? Or should we just tune him out? 

First, a little background on his show.

Rogan will interview anyone—from right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to socialist Senator Bernie Sanders. And he actually interviews them. JRE is a platform for discussion, not a place for argument like so many primetime shows on Fox and CNN have become. Rogan serves as a prodder in a good way. He gets people to talk about what they know best and asks them questions everyday people are interested in. 

JRE is also famous for its relaxed setting. Rogan and his guests will often smoke and drink as they have a relaxed conversation. The podcast feels more like you’re overhearing a conversation between two friends in a bar than watching an interview on national TV. 

The topics of the podcast are anything (and I mean anything)—from politics and philosophy to aliens and weed. You never know what you’re in for. 

So is any of this beneficial to Christians? 

Scripture tells us to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy (Phil. 4:8). The first question we should consider with Rogan, as with any other form of entertainment or education, is what is this putting on my mind? Are those things in line with what God tells me I should be thinking of?

And this is where Rogan gets complicated. Because often his discussions are profane, ugly, and worthless. But sometimes he addresses issues we should consider. Take his latest episode with Canadian psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson for example. Throughout the podcast, Rogan and Peterson discussed deeply religious issues such as the truth of the Bible and the cross. Many of the things Dr. Peterson said are beneficial for Christians to hear, and I highly suggest listening to this episode. 

In another episode, Rogan interviews Dr. Robert Malone, who helped develop the mRNA vaccine technology that is now being used in COVID-19 vaccines. Malone talks about scientific facts that everyone, not just Christians, should know. Of course, this is the episode that landed Rogan in big trouble with Leftists and our government elite, since it brought up negative side-effects of the COVID-19 shots, which according to many on the Left is equivalent to blasphemy. 

My reason for listening to Rogan is this: if I refuse to listen to Rogan talk to experts on important issues because some of his episodes aren’t “pure and lovely,” I’m failing to consider that Scripture also tells me to think on things that are “true and right,” and sometimes what is true and right isn’t pure or lovely.

But I understand if you can’t listen to him at all.

Rogan and his podcast are more complex than merely saying it’s always right or always wrong to give him your attention. This requires wisdom. As Christians, we have consciences that are to be used for decisions like this according to how they are informed by God’s Word. And not all of our consciences will come to the same conclusion regarding Rogan. That’s important. 

So, use your biblically informed conscience to make a decision that’s right for you regarding Joe Rogan. For those of you who cannot in good conscience listen to him, don’t let Christians who do listen to him pressure you into disobeying what you see as right. For those of us who are fine with listening to a profanity-laced podcast, remember to always consider why you are listening and if listening is leading you toward what Scripture tells us to think about or away from it.