The new reality show ‘Preachers of L.A.‘ has sparked a ton of debate amongst the religious community online and off.
[READ: Materialism vs. Religion? WWJD? Watch the 1st Episode of Preachers of L.A. (VIDEO)]
Bishop T.D. Jakes addressed the show in a recent sermon and basically condemned the show, adding that his own displays of wealth did NOT come from the congregation, but from his own hard work.
Now, I know you been watching that junk on TV. 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.
You did not buy what I got. 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.
But wait… there’s more!
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.
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.
One of the Preachers of L.A., Bishop Noel Jones, the senior pastor of the City of Refuge Church in Gardena, California, also happens to be good friends with Jakes.
Jones spoke with TheJasmineBrand during a ‘Preachers of Atlanta’ press conference in Atlanta, and revealed a conversation he had Jakes after his good friend found out he was joining the cast of the show.
My best friend (Bishop T.D. Jakes) said when he heard I was doing this ? because I didn’t call him ? but when he heard I was doing this, he said that he swallowed his tongue.
So when he said he swallowed his tongue when he heard I was doing it ? and rightfully so ? because from his perspective, we’re two different people.
I’m more open and more gregarious than he is, and less protected. And so, and he’s very protective.
Jones also admitted to receiving mixed reactions from many other of his friends, stating:
…I called a couple of my friends and I got different opinions ? some said ‘Yes’, some said ‘No.'”
The reason why I’m doing this show is because I want to deflate the iconoclastic dispositions that we have towards men and women who are in ministry or who are in any position where we want to look up to them.
Because at the end of the day, everybody’s flawed.
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Jones appears on the ‘Preachers of L.A. alongside minister and gospel singer Deitrick Haddon, Bishop Clarence McClendon of Full Harvest International Church, Pastor Wayne Chaney of Antioch Church of Long Beach, Bishop Ron M. Gibson of Life Church of God In Christ and Pastor Jay Haizlip of The Sanctuary Church.
‘Preachers of L.A.’ airs Wednesday nights on Oxygen Network at 10 p.m. ET.