During the 16th and 17th centuries, nearly all the monarchs and resulting governments of Scotland, Ireland, and England were defined by either Catholicism or Protestantism.
Wanted a Divorce
Henry VIII was the first monarch to introduce a new state religion to the English. In 1532, he wanted to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon.
The Catholic service, Holy Communion, and the elaborate fixtures and fittings of Catholic churches taken away during Edward’s reign were immediately restored. In 1555,
Parliament passed a set of Heresy laws that made it a crime to be Protestant in England.
Martin Luther nailed his Theses to this door … Starting the Protestant Reformation.
Pulpit depicting Martin Luther and John Calvin. Protestants emphasize preaching.
The Jesuit order (The Society of Jesus) was approved by Pope Paul III to be a apostolic counter-reformation force, a missionary organization to eliminate Protestantism and to convert Muslims.
The purpose of the Jesuit Order, formally established by the Pope in 1540, is to … destroy the Protestant Reformation.
They call it the Counter-Reformation. Nicolini of Rome wrote:
“The Jesuits, by their very calling, by the very essence of their institution, are bound to seek, by every means, right or wrong, the destruction of Protestantism. This is the condition of their existence, the duty they must fulfill, or cease to be Jesuits.” [Footprints of the Jesuits, R. W. Thompson, 1894]
Extract from Jesuit’s Oath
To this end the professed Jesuits have obligated themselves with an oath, part of which was published in 1899, and reads:
“I do now renounce and disown my allegiance as due to any heretical King, Prince or State, named Protestant, or liberals, or obedience to any of their laws or magistrates or officers.
“I do further declare that the doctrine of the churches of England and Scotland, of the Calvinists, Huguenots, and other of the name Protestant or Liberals, to be damnable, and they themselves to be damned who will not forsake the same.
“I do further declare that I will help, assist and advise all or any of His Holiness’ agents, in any place where I shall be, in Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, England, Ireland or America, or in any other kingdom or territory I shall come to, and do my utmost to extirpate the heretical Protestant or liberal doctrines, and to destroy all their pretended powers, legal or otherwise.” [Errors of the Roman Catholic Church, 15 Contributors, 1894]
Jesuit Oath
I,___________, now, in the presence of Almighty God,the Blessed Virgin Mary, the blessed Michael the Archangel, the blessed St. Paul and all the Saints and sacred Hosts of Heaven, and to you, my Ghostly Father, the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, founded by Ignatius Loyola, in the Pontificate of Paul the Third, and continued to the present, do by the Womb of the Virgin, the Matrix of God, and the Rod of Jesus Christ, declare and swear, that His Holiness the Pope is Christ’s Vice-Regent and is the true and only Head of the Catholic and Universal Church throughout the earth; and that by virtue of the keys of binding and loosing, given to His Holiness by my Saviour, Jesus Christ, he hath power to depose heretical kings, princes, states, commonwealths and governments, all being illegal without his sacred confirmation, and that they may safely be destroyed.
Therefore, to the utmost of my power, I shall and will defend this doctrine and His Holiness’ right and custom against all usurpers of the heretical or Protestant authority whatever, especially the Lutheran Church of Germany, Holland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, and the now pretended authority and churches of England and Scotland, and branches of the same now established in Ireland and on the Continent of America and elsewhere; and all adherents in regard that they be usurped and heretical, opposing the sacred Mother Church of Rome.
I do now renounce and disown any allegiance as due to any heretical king, prince, or state named Protestants or Liberals, or obedience to any of their laws, magistrates or officers.
I do further declare that the doctrines of the churches of England and Scotland, of the Calvinists, Huguenots and others of the name Protestants or Liberals to be damnable, and they themselves damned and to be damned who will not forsake the same.
I do further declare that I will help, assist and advise all or any of His Holiness’ agents in any place wherever I shall be, in Switzerland, German, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, England, Ireland, or America, or in any other kingdom or territory I shall come to, and do my uttermost to extirpate the heretical Protestants or Liberals’ doctrines and to destroy all their pretended powers, regal or otherwise.
I do further promise and declare that, notwithstanding I am dispensed with, to assume any religion heretical, for the propagating of the Mother Church’s interest, to keep secret and private all her agents’ counsels from time to time, as they may entrust me, and not to divulge, directly or indirectly, by word, writing, or circumstance whatever; but to execute all that shall be proposed, given in charge or discovered unto me, by you, my Ghostly Father, or any of this sacred convent.
I do further promise and declare that I will have no opinion or will of my own, or any mental reservation whatever, even as a corpse or cadaver, but will unhesitatingly obey each and every command that I may receive from my superiors in the Militia of the Pope and of Jesus Christ.
That I will go to any part of the world whithersoever I may be sent, to the frozen regions of the North, the burning sands of the desert of Africa, or the jungles of India, to the centres of civilization of Europe, or to the wild haunts of the barbarous savages of America, without murmuring or repining, and will be submissive in all things whatsoever communicated to me.
I furthermore promise and declare that I will, when opportunity presents, make and wage relentless war, secretly or openly, against all heretics, Protestants and Liberals, as I am directed to do, to extirpate and exterminate them from the face of the whole earth; and that I will spare neither age, sex, or condition; and that I will hang, burn, waste, boil, flay, strangle and bury alive these infamous heretics, rip up the stomachs and wombs of their women and crush their infants’ heads against the walls, in order to annihilate forever their execrable race. That when the same cannot be done openly, I will secretly use the poisoned cup, the strangulating cord, the steel of the poinard or the leaden bullet, regardless of the honor, rank, dignity, or authority of the person or persons, whatever may be their condition in life, either public or private, as I at any time may be directed so to do by any agent of the Pope or Superior of the Brotherhood of the Holy Faith, of the Society of Jesus. In confirmation of which, I hereby dedicate my life, my soul, and all my corporeal powers, and with this dagger which I now receive, I will subscribe my name written in my own blood, in testimony thereof; and should I prove false or weaken in my determination, may my brethren and fellow soldiers of the Militia of the Pope cut off my hands and my feet, and my throat from ear to ear, my belly opened and sulphur burned therein, with all the punishment that can be inflicted upon me on earth and my soul be tortured by demons in an eternal hell forever! All of which I,___________, do swear by the blessed Trinity and blessed Sacrament, which I am now to receive, to perform and on my part to keep inviolably; and do call all the heavenly and glorious host of heaven to witness these my real intentions to keep this my oath. In testimony hereof I take this most holy and blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist, and witness the same further, with my name written with the point of this dagger dipped in my own blood and sealed in the face of this holy Convent.
He receives the wafer from the Superior and writes his name with the point of his dagger dipped in his own blood taken from over the heart....
“pilgrimage“) is an annual Islamicpilgrimage to Meccaa mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and can support their family during their absenceTime: last month of the Islamic calendar.
A crescent moon can be seen, marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Ramadan
Followers are required to fast in the daylight hours from sunrise to sunset for one lunar month. This commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad . It is regarded as one of the five pillars of Islam.
NO LIQUIDS
The fast is not only for food but included is the drinking of any liquids. There are other prohibitions in addition to fasting; no smoking, and no engaging in sexual relations.
There is a pre-fast meal before sunrise and a meal after sunset to break the fast.
The hadith says
“When Ramadan arrives, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of hell are locked up and devils are put in chains.”
It is a period of increased prayer.
The reward for this fasting is spiritual rewards believed to be multiplied significantly within the month of Ramadan. All good deeds are more handsomely rewarded during Ramadan than in any other month of the year.
THE “HOLIEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR”
During Ramadan there occurs a very special night. The first revelation of the Quran was sent down to Muhammad stating that this night was
“better than one thousand months of proper worship.”
According to a 2012 Pew Research Centre study of 39 countries and territories, there is widespread Ramadan observance, with a median of 93%
CRIMINAL IF YOU DON’T
In some Muslim countries, failing to fast during Ramadan is considered a crime and is prosecuted as such. For instance, in Algeria, in October 2008 the court of Biskra condemned six people to four years in prison and heavy fines.
Kuwait, according to law number 44 of 1968, the penalty is a fine of no more than 100 Kuwaiti dinars, (about US$330, GB£260 in May 2017) or jail for no more than one month, or both penalties, for those seen eating, drinking or smoking during Ramadan daytime.
In some places in the U.A.E., eating or drinking in public during the daytime of Ramadan is considered a minor offence and would be punished by up to 150 hours of community service.[60]
In Saudi Arabia, described by The Economist as taking Ramadan “more seriously than anywhere else”,[61] there are harsher punishments including flogging, imprisonment and, for foreigners, deportation.
“Friday prayer” must be prayed in Jama’ah (congregation).
There must be at least 5 (better 7) persons including the Imam.
According to some Shiite law Only one Friday prayer may be prayed in a radius of 3 miles 720 yards. If two prayers are held within this distance, the later will be null and void.
There must be two sermons delivered by the Imam before the prayer and attentively listened to by at least 4 (or 6) persons”.[18]
ACCORDING TO THE MAJORITY OF SHIITE AND SUNNI DOCTRINE, THE CONTENTS OF FRIDAY SERMON(KHUTBAH) MUST CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING:
The praise and glorification of Allah.
Invocation of blessings on Muhammad and his Progeny
Enjoining the participants Taqwa,admonition and exhorations.
Reciting short surah from Quran
ALSO, IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVED SAID ISSUES, THE FOLLOWINGS WERE ADVICE TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE SECOND SERMON :
What will be useful for all Muslims in this world and hereafter.
The important events allover the world in-favor or dis-favor of Muslims.
Special attention should be paid to issues in the Muslim world.
Political and economical aspect of the society and worldwide.
Riots tend to occur right after Friday Prayers everywhere in Islamdom, especially in Israel.
Muhammad burned down the houses of those who failed to show up for Friday prayers.
MUSLIMS BELIEVE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW TESTAMENT
MUHAMMAD CLAIMED THAT CHRISTIANS AND JEWS SUPPRESSED (K 002:140, 174; 005:014- 015, 061) AND IGNORED (K 005:044) THOSE PARTS OF THE BIBLE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN CORRUPTED BEYOND RECOGNITION (K 004:046).
Or do ye say that Abraham, Isma’il Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: Do ye know better than Allah? Ah! who is more unjust than those who conceal the testimony they have from Allah? but Allah is not unmindful of what ye do! K 002:140
From those, too, who call themselves Christians, We did take a covenant, but they forgot a good part of the message that was sent them: so we estranged them, with enmity and hatred between the one and the other, to the day of judgment. And soon will Allah show them what it is they have done. K 005:014
When they come to thee, they say: “We believe”: but in fact they enter with a mind against Faith, and they go out with the same but Allah knoweth fully all that they hide. K 005:061
It was We who revealed the law (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to Allah’s will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah’s book, and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) Unbelievers. K 005:044
Of the Jews there are those who displace words from their (right) places, and say: “We hear and we disobey”; and “Hear what is not Heard”; and “Ra’ina”; with a twist of their tongues and a slander to Faith. If only they had said: “What hear and we obey”; and “Do hear”; and “Do look at us”; it would have been better for them, and more proper; but Allah hath cursed them for their Unbelief; and but few of them will believe. K 004:046
MUHAMMAD SAID THAT JEWS AND CHRISTIANS ADDED THEIR OWN VERSES AND SOLD THE BIBLE AS THOUGH IT WERE A COMMODITY (K 002:079). MUHAMMAD SAID JEWS AND CHRISTIANS DO THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE CURSED (K 002:088-089, 159; 004:047; 005:064, 078).
Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say:”This is from Allah,” to traffic with it for miserable price!- Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby. K 002:079
They say, “Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah’s Word: we need no more).” Nay, Allah’s curse is on them for their blasphemy: Little is it they believe. And when there comes to them a Book from Allah, confirming what is with them,- although from of old they had prayed for victory against those without Faith,- when there comes to them that which they (should) have recognised, they refuse to believe in it but the curse of Allah is on those without Faith. K 002:088-089
Those who conceal the clear (Signs) We have sent down, and the Guidance, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book,-on them shall be Allah’s curse, and the curse of those entitled to curse, K 002:159
O ye People of the Book! believe in what We have (now) revealed, confirming what was (already) with you, before We change the face and fame of some (of you) beyond all recognition, and turn them hindwards, or curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers, for the decision of Allah Must be carried out. 004:047
The Jews say: “Allah’s hand is tied up.” Be their hands tied up and be they accursed for the (blasphemy) they utter. Nay, both His hands are widely outstretched: He giveth and spendeth (of His bounty) as He pleaseth. But the revelation that cometh to thee from Allah increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy. Amongst them we have placed enmity and hatred till the Day of Judgment. Every time they kindle the fire of war, Allah doth extinguish it; but they (ever) strive to do mischief on earth. And Allah loveth not those who do mischief. 005:064
Curses were pronounced on those among the Children of Israel who rejected Faith, by the tongue of David and of Jesus the son of Mary: because they disobeyed and persisted in excesses. 005:078
MUSLIMS BELIEVE ALL THE PEACEFUL VERSES IN THE KORAN WERE ABROGATED BY THE SWORD VERSE (K 009:005). THE CONTRIVANCE CALLED TAHRIF AND TABDILL, I.E. THE MUSLIM BELIEF THAT THE BIBLE HAS BEEN ALTERED,68 SERVES TO ABROGATE ALL THE PEACEFUL VERSES IN THE BIBLE ALONG WITH ANY OTHER PASSAGE THAT CANNOT BE CONSTRUED TO BE ISLAMIC.
But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. K 009:005
MUSLIMS BELIEVE WHAT MUHAMMAD SAID ABOUT JESUS’ RETURN AT THE END OF THE WORLD… JESUS…HE WILL DESCEND (TO THE EARTH)…[AND] HE WILL FIGHT THE PEOPLE FOR THE CAUSE OF ISLAM. HE WILL BREAK THE CROSS [I.E. END CHRISTIANITY], KILL SWINE [I.E. THE JEWS ] (K 002:065-066; 005:060; 007:166)
And well ye knew those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath: We said to them: “Be ye apes, despised and rejected.” So We made it an example to their own time and to their posterity, and a lesson to those who fear Allah. K 002:065-066
Say: “Shall I point out to you something much worse than this, (as judged) by the treatment it received from Allah? those who incurred the curse of Allah and His wrath, those of whom some He transformed into apes and swine, those who worshipped evil;- these are (many times) worse in rank, and far more astray from the even path!” K 005:060
When in their insolence they transgressed (all) prohibitions, We said to them: “Be ye apes, despised and rejected.” K 007:166
And well ye knew those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath: We said to them: “Be ye apes, despised and rejected.” So We made it an example to their own time and to their posterity, and a lesson to those who fear Allah. K 002:065-066
Say: “Shall I point out to you something much worse than this, (as judged) by the treatment it received from Allah? those who incurred the curse of Allah and His wrath, those of whom some He transformed into apes and swine, those who worshipped evil;- these are (many times) worse in rank, and far more astray from the even path!” 005:060
When in their insolence they transgressed (all) prohibitions, We said to them: “Be ye apes, despised and rejected.” 007:166
KORAN SWORD VERSE
Muslims believe all the peaceful verses in the Koran were abrogated by the Sword Verse (K 009:005). The contrivance called Tahrif and Tabdill, i.e. the Muslim belief that the Bible has been altered, serves to abrogate all the peaceful verses in the Bible along with any other passage that cannot be construed to be Islamic.
But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. K 009:005
CHRISTIANS VIOLATE THE FIRST 3 COMMANDMENTS BY THEIR OWN BELIEFS
1. You shall have no other gods before me
Believing Jesus is God in the flesh is a flagrant violation of this commandment. It is another god. Jesus is an imaginary god who is merely a character in a fable. How about God the Father??? and the Holy Spirit??? They are also Gods according to the Christians. And to say it is the mystery of the Trinity is just being dumb but acting like you are intelligent.
2. You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Having a Cross, if it is a three dimensional object, is a graven image, is a flagrant violation of this commandment.
The Catholics excel with this violation by having statutes of the Saints and Virgin Mary and especially Jesus hanging on the cross.
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
Saying about a character in a fable … “Jesus is Lord” … “Jesus is God in the flesh” … is demeaning the name of God. How about god the Father??? How about god the Holy Ghost??? Vain also means stupid.
Catholics love statutes
JEWISH LISTINGS OF COMMANDMENTS
For some reason the Jewish listing of the first commandment is this;
1. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
I don’t see any commandment in that sentence. Then to make sure there is ten commandments they leave out the commandment concerning graven images. … ???
The commandments are found in two locations of the Old Testament; Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. They don’t line up perfectly, but when reading both locations it is clear that the bringing out of Egypt is not a commandment and the graven images verses are a commandment.
Notice how the Catholics didn’t list the commandment prohibiting graven images. They know people love graven images and will follow those who have them.
PREACHERS AND THEIR $5,000 SNEAKERS: WHY ONE MAN STARTED AN INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT SHOWING CHURCHES’ WEALTH
From his couch in Dallas, Ben Kirby began asking questions about the lifestyles of the rich and famous pastors when he was watching some worship songs on YouTube on a Sunday morning in 2019. While listening to a song by Elevation Worship, a megachurch based in Charlotte, the evangelical churchgoer noticed the lead singer’s Yeezy sneakers were worth nearly the amount of his first rent check.
Kirby posted to his 400 followers on Instagram, “Hey Elevation Worship, how much you paying your musicians that they can afford $800 kicks? Let me get on the payroll!”
Plus, Kirby wondered, how could the church’s pastor, Steven Furtick, one of the most popular preachers in the country, afford a new designer outfit nearly every week?
With a friend’s encouragement, Kirby started a new Instagram account @PreachersNSneakers posting screenshots of pastors next to price tags and the street value of shoes they were wearing. Within a month, the account had attracted 100,000 followers.
“At the beginning, it was easy for me to make jokes about it,” he said. “Some of the outfits are absurd, so it’s easy to laugh at some of the designer pieces. The price tags are outlandish.”
On his feed, Kirby has showcased Seattle pastor Judah Smith’s $3,600 Gucci jacket, Dallas pastor T.D. Jakes’s $1,250 Louboutin fanny pack and Miami pastor Guillermo Maldonado’s $2,541 Ricci crocodile belt. And he considers Paula White, former president Donald Trump’s most trusted pastoral adviser who is often photographed in designer items, a PreachersNSneakers “content goldmine,” posting a photo of her wearing $785 Stella McCartney sneakers.
As the Instagram account grew, Kirby started asking more serious questions about wealth, class and consumerism, including whether it’s appropriate to generate massive revenue from selling the gospel of Jesus.
“I began asking, how much is too much?” Kirby said. “Is it okay to get rich off of preaching about Jesus? Is it okay to be making twice as much as the median income of your congregation?”
The Washington Post tried to contact several pastors featured on the Instagram account for comment, including Carl Lentz, White and Jakes, but none of them replied.
Kirby, 31, who grew up in a Christian home schooling family in Ruston, La., holds a degree in marketing management and an MBA. He attends a nondenominational church and considers himself an evangelical, he said, “not as in, ‘Trump is the chosen one,’ but I believe in sharing my faith.”
When Kirby began showcasing pastors’ high fashion, he was putting dollar signs on designer items for everyone to see just how expensive the clothing items were valued, said Whitney Bauck, a journalist who writes about ethically sourced fashion and first wrote about the Instagram account.
“He is someone who gets Christianity enough and gets fashion enough, but also has a really critical eye,” Bauck said. “He’s not a known professional in either space, so he was willing to say things that people in those spaces weren’t.”
Kirby’s father is a family-practice doctor, so he grew up in what he describes as a “comfortable but modest lifestyle,” where his parents gave generously to their church. He remembers feeling confused when he saw his “Pastor Charles” driving a royal blue Harley Davidson cruiser, worth more than one year of his parent’s tithes. That’s when, he said, he realized that there was a “somewhat fuzzy line” between successful ministry and booming business.
In his new book, Kirby highlights a nationwide trend of pastors wearing oversize glasses, tight jeans and pricey kicks who look like they belong at “your local craft-cocktail watering hole instead of church.”
“Gone are the days of a choir, suited up pastor and random people sitting in velvet chairs onstage. No,” Kirby writes. “Now it’s a U2 incarnate worship band, perfectly placed LED wash lights and a pastor … motivating, edgy and might even let a cuss word slip if you’re lucky.”
From suits to denim, many pastors of all kinds of denominations have shifted in their dress in recent years. The Rev. Melech Thomas, who was born in Baltimore and now pastors an AME church near Raleigh, N.C. said he started attending a Black church in the 1990s, when all the pastors wore black suits. He watched as a generation of young Black male youth pastors began trying to reach a hip-hop generation by wearing jeans and Jordans.
“First it was a theological statement,” Thomas said. “Now it’s a statement of status.”
Thomas, who has been a minister in places with lower-income populations, said he buys most of his clothes from places that set an example to his followers that they don’t have to go into debt to impress people.
“They’re making deliberate choices with the DaVinci, the Prada,” Thomas said. “It seems like they’re choosing to do ministry to people who can afford shoes like that.”
In his book, Kirby writes that these pastors who have enormous social media followings aren’t simply pastors anymore, he writes. Often they are motivational speakers, corporate coaches and leadership consultants. Kirby said he has heard of churches where a volunteer was designated solely for the purpose of carrying the pastor’s Bible. Often, he writes, these pastors have private entrances, reserved parking spaces, security details and a gaggle of personal assistants or handlers. And, often, they promise blessings from God to their followers if their followers bless the church.
“Like Hollywood — a world so often criticized by the pietistic — these institutions and their leaders celebrate and reward the ‘blessing’ of fame, popularity and influence,” he writes. “Pastors function like ‘talent’ performing for an audience or like a spokesman for the church’s ‘brand.’ ”
In recent years, the line between who is a pastor and who is a celebrity has been blurred. Kirby notes how often Hollywood celebrities and preacher celebrities will be seen together in social media posts, such as Lentz playing basketball with Drake, pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr. FaceTimeing with Justin Bieber or pastor Craig Groeschel hanging out with Kanye West at his ranch in Wyoming.
Tim Gloege, a historian who wrote a book called “Guaranteed Pure” about marketing in evangelicalism, said fashion has always been important in religion. In Catholicism, dress was once simple and drawing on ancient Roman dress before liturgical dress became quite regal. The dress was so elaborate that it was the theme of the 2018 Met Gala.High church meets high fashion: How Catholic style took over the Met
During the Protestant Reformation, Gloege said, clergy dress became more academic during a movement toward simplicity.
But in the early 20th century, an evangelist named D.L. Moody made a big splash by dressing in business attire instead of clerical dress. Moody’s business attire made a class statement by associating himself with the respected leaders of his day, according to Gloege, and other pastors began to follow his example.
“Dress often reflects who people currently admire, and how you generate authority in society,” he said. “Do you trust the Koch brothers or George Clooney?”
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the median salary for clergy was $53,180 in 2019, but Kirby’s Instagram feed showcases how a nationwide evangelical market has become lucrative for leaders with celebrity status. Like other social media influencers, sometimes these pastors are gifted the shoes and clothes they wear.
Kirby notes how the fancy-sneaker-wearing preacher trend has taken off while the resale market for sneakers has also boomed. In 2019, Kirby posted a picture of Pastor John Gray wearing the coveted Nike Air Yeezy 2 Red Octobers, selling at the time on the resale market for more than $5,600. If a pastor buys or receives a new pair of shoes as a gift with a lucrative resale value and chooses to wear them, it can demonstrate to followers that he can afford to not resell them.
Across the United States, the biggest-name pastors and worship leaders produce best-selling books and albums, often earning huge salaries and housing allowances from their churches. And many of the biggest churches, which do not have to disclose their revenue publicly, often generate opulent untaxed revenue.
In recent years, West has helped to bring merchandise into churches with his creation of “Sunday Service,” eventually selling $50 socks that said “Jesus Walks” and $225 crewneck sweatshirts with “Holy Spirit” on the front. Many megachurches began follow, developing their own merch with streetwear elements.
Since starting the Instagram account, Kirby has been dipping his own toes into the evangelical marketplace, entering a world that he has so openly critiqued. Like church leaders, his income is partially dependent on his podcast advertising and book sales, and he sells merch based off the brand. The difference, he said in a later clarification, is that he doesn’t leverage his position as a congregation’s spiritual leader, asking people to donate to a ministry that builds his personal brand.
He has had his own brushes with fame, texting with people such as once-major megachurch preacher Lentz, befriending Joel McHale of the TV show “Community” and attending a Super Bowl party thrown by NBA star Carmelo Anthony.
Kirby doesn’t want Christians to abandon fashion or celebrities, but he does want more transparency and accountability.
“I’m getting people to question the status quo within the church and hopefully push for a reevaluation of what we value,” he said. “People aren’t going to reach God without this guy wearing Yeezys? Come on.”
This story has been updated to correct the spellings of Ruston, La. and Joel McHale’s name. An early version of Kirby’s book suggested that Kirby had been to churches where a volunteer was designated for carrying a pastor’s Bible. He later clarified that he has heard of those churches.
© Calla Kessler/The Washington Post Rapper Kanye West sports Yeezy shoes during a meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington D.C. on Oct. 11, 2018.