PreachersNSneakers

Guest Bios Show Transcript Why do some megachurch pastors wear shoes that cost as much as a mortgage payment? Is that wrong? Or do some pastors deserve to be rich? On this episode of The Roys Report, Julie explores this issue with Ben Kirby, creator of the hugely popular Instagram account PreachersNSneakers. PreachersNSneakers began as an online experiment that showcased photos of famous Christian leaders wearing insanely expensive sneakers and clothing. In just four weeks, PreachersNSneakers grew from zero to 100,000 followers. And today, the Instagram account has attracted a following topping a quarter-million! Clearly, Kirby’s posts have touched a nerve. But they’ve also sparked conversation about important questions like: Should pastors grow wealthy off of 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? Why are Christians making other Christians into celebrities—and what happens to the gospel when we do? In this podcast, Julie explores all these questions. Plus, she and Kirby turn the conversation personal—and consider how each one of us deal with money and vain temptations ourselves. This Weeks Guests Photo credit: Grant Daniels Ben Kirby Ben Kirby is the creator of the viral social media sensation PreachersNSneakers, where he caused an uproar after showing the values of what clothing preachers were wearing on stage across the globe. He extends the conversation  to the deeper questions that lie beneath these trends in his new book, PreachersNSneakers: Authenticity in an Age of For-Profit Faith and (Wannabe) Celebrities. Transcript SPEAKERS JULIE ROYS, BEN KIRBY JULIE ROYS 00:00 Why do some megachurch pastors wear shoes that cost as much as a mortgage payment? Is that wrong? Or do some pastors deserve to be rich? Welcome to The Roys Report, a podcast dedicated to reporting the truth and restoring the church. I’m Julie Roys. And joining me today is Ben Kirby, creator the hugely popular Instagram account Preachers in Sneakers. And today you’ll hear how it started as a simple post, poking fun at the extravagant shoe choices of a worship pastor has turned into an entire phenomenon. Preachers in Sneakers now has hundreds of 1000s of followers. And it’s catapulted Ben Kirby to a bit of fame himself. And as you’ll hear, Ben’s passion is not only to expose the lavish lifestyles of some Christian celebrities, but also to urge all of us to evaluate the deeper questions like, should pastors grow wealthy off of religion? And why do we get so angry when they do? Does God really give monetary blessings for obedience? Or is that just religious wallpaper to help pastors grow rich by stoking other people’s greed? And why is it that Christians are making other Christians into celebrities and what happens to the gospel when we do? These are incredibly relevant and important discussions to have, especially given all of the scandals and crises that we’re experiencing in the church and I’m so looking forward to my time with Ben discussing these issues. But before I do, I want to take a minute to thank the sponsors of this podcast, Judson University and Marquardt of Barrington. Judson is a top ranked Christian university providing a caring community and an excellent college experience. Plus the school offers more than 60 majors, great leadership opportunities and strong financial aid. Judson University is shaping lives that shape the world. For more information, just go to Judsonu.edu. Also, if you’re looking for a quality new or used car, I highly recommend my friends at Marquardt of Barrington. Marquardt is a Buick GMC dealership where you can expect honesty, integrity and transparency. That’s because the owners there, Dan and Kurt Marquardt, are men of integrity. And I’m so proud to partner with them. To