The reality series Preachers Of L.A., may have pulled in a record 1.1 million viewers, but one of the most influential Christian pastors in America, Bishop T.D. Jakes, holds a very low opinion of it.
On Sunday morning, October 13 at the Potter’s House in Dallas, TX, Jakes dissed the reality show, calling it “junk” and distancing himself from the stars’ blinged-out images and flamboyance.
“Now, I know you been watching that junk on TV,” Jakes said, criticizing Preachers Of L.A. amid a plea for congregants and online viewers to sow a financial seed into his local ministry.
“I want to tell you right now, not one dime of what you’re sowing right now will buy my suit. I want you to know my car is paid for. I want you to know I got my house on my own. I want you to know I’m not bling-blinging. I am not shake and bake. I had money when I came to Dallas and I plan to have some when I leave,” Jakes stated emphatically.
“You did not buy what I got,” he continued. “I had it when I came here. You know I had it when I came here. The devil is a lie! I have sold enough books and produced enough movies. I don’t need your offering to pay for this little slimy suit. So I rebuke that spirit in the name of Jesus Christ.”
That spirit Jakes referred to is one of criticism, cynicism and skepticism of mega pastors’ motives following the premiere of Preachers of L.A. that documents the lives of 6 larger-than-life personalities: Bishop Noel Jones, Deitrick Haddon, Bishop Clarence McClendon, Pastor Wayne Chaney, Bishop Ron Gibson, and Pastor Jay Haizlip.
[Bishop Clarence McClendon pictured with his wife Priscilla and the couple’s son inside the McClendon’s home, worth more than $7 million– the most expensive of all the pastors’ homes featured on Preachers Of L.A. (Credit: Tim Brown/Oxygen)]
No doubt, the Preachers of L.A. have built empires for themselves, but Jakes said, “We are going to build the Kingdom of God like we have always built the Kingdom of God.”
Then, Jakes delivered the one-liner that sent the crowd into a frenzy. He said, “I’m not from L.A. I’m from Dallas!”
That verbal jab had Potter’s House attendees cheering loudly, slapping each other high-five and expressing approval of their leader’s strong commentary.
Continuing to stick up for his own credibility, he added, “The people who have been here a while can go through my track record and prove when I said something, I did it. When we went after something, we bought it. When we wanted the land, we paid for it. When we wanted the school, we built it. When we went after this church we burned the mortgage on this church.”
He also interjected, “You don’t do that kind of business being shake and bake and slimy and—shut up,” he abruptly interrupted and censored his own speech.
“Woo! Pull the plug,” Jakes talked to himself openly, then shifted gears a bit, focusing on the accomplishments of the ministry, rather than the shortcomings of the ministers on TV.
“So let the work I’ve done speak for me. You are sowing into good ground. And the 300 families that are employed in this ministry eat from this ministry, work in this ministry, and help us to produce the excellence that we do,” he explained. “The natives all over Kenya drink water because of this ministry. And the hospital in Nairobi survives because of this ministry.”
The leader was set on making it clear that his ministry was focused on missions, not mansions; MegaCare(his humanitarian organization), not mega cars.
“I do not need you to buy my car. I got this,” he said, pausing for an extended period.
Before moving on, Jakes told the congregation, “If you appreciate my straightforwardness, give God some praise.”
Then, moments later, he expressed indignantly, “I’m a grown man, dog.”
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Bishop Jakes made it a point to tell his congregation “he” got his car, home, etc., but gave no glory to God for what God gave him. While dissing the Pastor’s of LA, he forgot that we are to pray for our brothers and sisters who fall. The Bible says if a bother (or sister) fall, we who are spiritual are restore them keeping in mind that we could fall to the same temptation. Where is his love for the brethren? I agree that Haddon made a mistake and should have sought God, not Dominique, to bring him through his crisis. All through the Word are passages about not depending on man. Isaiah even says: “Cursed is the man that maketh flesh his arm to lean on.” But I want to know why Jakes is involved with Oprah Winfrey when she has made it abundantly clear she doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ, but in a “higher Power.” Satan is a wicked one in high places, could this be her God? By association with Oprah and his negative comments about the reality show, his credibility as a man of God is in question. He may have had money and the material things he said when he opened Potter’s House, but it still took money from his congregation to pay off the mortgage. You can bet your bottom dollar no money came out of his pocket for the church. Also, why is he still asking for money? Because he’s not going to pay for the lights or for his staff that has hired. The congregation will, however. I’m glad information has come out of this program to show us not how to live; to trust in the Lord and not in ourselves or what we have. Obviously Jakes feel he has gotten all these things himself instead of God blessing him. The Bible also says speak no evil of anyone, but it does say you shall know them by their fruit. However, it isn’t Jakes responsibility to put them down, no matter how wrong they are. He is to leave them in the hand of God and let Him deal with them, but instead he’s bragging about what he got on his own, really?
Did you, personally, get your mansion, cars, etc., without the help of God? None of us owns anything in this world. The Lord says the world and all the fullness thereof is His. He also states that the Father and the son belong to him, therefore we belong to him. I don’t condone Haddon justifying satisfying his own lusts, nor Gibson stating not to mess up his suit because it’s an Armani and he just bought it. None of these things glorify God and He starts judgment with His own children before He judges the world, so we must be careful what we say, do and think in this world. Jesus says every idle word a man says he will be accountable for it. The pastors knew they were exposing their private lives to the public but chose to do it anyway. God could be using them to show us not to follow their examples, at least I am going to pray that I don’t get entangled in the things of this world. I do thank God for shelter, food, clothing and everything else he’s given me. But we who are mature and on meat should pray for those who have fallen and speak to them of their fall. Perchance they will repent and turn away from their sins. So many people have fallen away from the Lord because Shepherds are to lead, guide & protect the lambs and sheep, but the Shepherds are hirelings who run when they see the wolf coming! Jesus is the good Shepherd who lays down His life for us. He gave up everything for us and didn’t brag about what he gave up. I pray for you too, Jakes for you don’t show love or compassion for those who need it. Pray for them and stop criticizing because the bible says riches fly away like an eagle or a bird in flight.