A new Instagram account that recently popped up called PreachersNSneakers has already amassed over 100,000 followers. The account was started by a 29-year-old graduate student living in Texas. As a self-described follower of Jesus and a follower of shoe culture, he noticed a worship leader wearing expensive shoes while watching a YouTube video. He decided to dig deeper and discovered that many pastors and worship leaders had expensive tastes in trendy shoes and clothing.
The account’s creator felt justified in creating the account but now has a more nuanced approach to it’s growing content. He had to examine his own purchases and he had to admit that he did not want to be the person who was openly judging people’s hearts due to their clothing purchases.
This account does help to facilitate discussions on how followers of Jesus should spend their money and not simply, “look at all these money hungry pastors.” I believe it can help us all check our hearts and our inconsistencies with relation to money, power, status, and wealth.
The creator of PreachersNSneakers took a deeper look into this subculture of celebrity pastor/worship leader dress. It begs the question, “What is responsible for a Christian to wear?” This may be an illuminating question but it doesn’t go deep enough. What should Christians wear?
According to the Apostle Paul, the full armor of God.
I am going to take a turn away from expensive sneakers and turn our hearts toward what Paul says we should we wear on our feet.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:10-15 (NIV)
A Christian’s identity is to be shaped by truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, and the gospel message.
A Christian who has expensive tastes in cool shoes can weaken their witness in sharing the grace and hope of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
And a Christian who lacks peace is not ready to fight against the devil’s schemes.
Recently, another megachurch pastor fell from grace because of his anger towards others on his staff and board and his propensity to his violent rhetoric.
It was discovered that he would use the faces of his enemies as target practice. Some of these faces that he would shoot at were of current and past staff members at the church he served.
He has also been accused on two separate occasions of suggesting that friends help him to kill someone and dispose of the body.
These are not the peaceful actions of a follower of Jesus. This would not be representative of wearing the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
We may be fooled to believe that buying expensive things brings us happiness and fulfillment (not that these are the motives of preachers who purchase expensive shoes), only to discover that all the money and opulent purchases cannot satisfy our longings for happiness in and of themselves.
In Dr. David Jeremiah’s book, Overcomer, he tells of an entrepreneur named Shawn Baker who creates a business for people to deal with their stress by smashing inanimate objects. Clients pay up to $50 for fifteen minutes to destroy appliances, furniture, dinner wear, pillows, and more. Moms, businessmen, and even therapists flock to participate.
It sounds like good therapy and is probably cathartic, but it doesn’t have a lasting impact against anxiety and stress. The idea that peace can be achieved, and anxiety resolved through violence is not true.
We crave peace in a world full of anxiety and fear. We may be tricked into believing that in order to calm our anxious and fearful hearts we must revert to angry outbursts and fits of rage.
Feet fitted with the gospel of peace are not like Dorothy’s ruby red slippers in the Wizard of Oz; with just three clicks she’s back home in Kansas. The peace of God doesn’t remove us from our world; it gets us ready to live in it.
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:1
We don’t revert to anger and fits of rage to earn our peace because Jesus submitted himself to the anger of his enemies and their fits of rage. Jesus was the object of violence and hate so that we could receive a peace that passes all understanding.
What are you wearing?
What you are wearing is determined by who you are following. Although it may interesting to know what a megachurch pastor might be caught wearing this week. We can choose to integrate our spiritual clothing with our faith in Jesus and put on the armor of God.
Stand firm then… with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
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Jovan preaches for the Littleton Church of Christ near Denver, Colorado. Visit here to listen to sermons preached at the Littleton Church.