Do you ever feel like church has become a performance? Ben Kirby, founder of the viral social media sensation PreachersNSneakers, tackles the growing problem of pastoral wealth, consumerism, and (wannabe) celebrity, helping struggling believers who want to live a more genuine faith find a way forward.
What started as a joke account on Instagram has turned into a movement. Through this provocative project, the founder of PreachersNSneakers is helping thousands of Jesus followers wrestle with the inevitable dilemmas created by a culture obsessed with image and entertainment: pastors wearing Gucci sneakers and carrying Louis Vuitton bags while their churches grow more and more obsessed with celebrity and fame.
In PreachersNSneakers: Authenticity in an Age of For-Profit Faith and (Wannabe) Celebrities, the author boldly confronts many of the difficult questions plaguing countless Christians’ minds, such as:
- Should pastors grow wealthy from religion, and why do we get so angry when they do?
- Is it okay to stoke envy among others with curated “lifestyle” images on social media?
- Do we really believe that divine blessings are monetary, or is that just religious wallpaper to hide our own greed?
- Is there space in Christendom for celebrities like Kanye and Bieber to exist without distorting the good news?
- Is it wrong for someone like this author to call out faith leaders online and leverage “cancel culture” to affect change?
PreachersNSneakers will navigate these challenging questions and many more with humor, wit, candor, and a few never-before-published hijinks. Each chapter will explore the various sides of the debate, holding space for readers to make up their own minds. The book will doubtlessly become a staple for church small groups, college ministries, and book clubs, emboldening struggling believers who want to live a more genuine faith.
After all, the Lord works in mysterious colorways.
- Includes an audiobook-exclusive conversation with Judah Smith
Download and start listening now!