Practice what you preach. We expect our leaders—no matter who they are—to maintain certain standards of decency and to uphold the same values they profess to support. Those expectations are very clear when it comes to religious authority figures, whom we hope to be charitable and to focus more on the spiritual rather than the material things in life. Alas!
The ‘Preachers N Sneakers’ Instagram account, run by Dallas-based Ben Kirby, calls out those religious leaders who act like hypocrites by showing how some of them wear extremely expensive designer items. Having amassed a following of 247k followers in two years, Kirby continues to show the dissonance between what preachers, pastors, and priests say and what the details of their clothing reveal about their actual lifestyles.
Listen beautiful relax classics on our Youtube channel.
When you’re done looking through this list, you’ll find Bored Panda’s earlier article about ‘Preachers N Sneakers’ right over here. Just in case you wanted some more hypocrisy before your upcoming Sunday service, that is (we sincerely hope your pastor is more down to earth than the ones featured here).
More info: Instagram | PreachersNSneakers.com | Book
#1 Hillsong Teaching Pastor Nathan Finochio Bringing It At #colourconf 2019 In Some Ferociously Fab Tiger Slides. Gucci Slipper $1,100
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#2 Old Pic, Timeless Style With Pastor John Gray In The Supreme X Louis V Jacquard Denim Parka $9,625
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#3 Mosaic Mexico Pastor Emerson Nowotny Keepin The Tide Pen Handy While Rocking This Super Fresh Supreme X Louis V Tee $1,407
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
Kirby, now 31, first decided to draw attention to how famous pastors live after watching some worship songs on YouTube and noticing how the lead singer was wearing 800-dollar sneakers. He found it suspicious how the Elevation Worship megachurch could afford to pay their musicians that much money. What’s more, he started wondering how the church’s pastor, Steven Furtick, could afford new designer outfits incredibly often.
Curiosity didn’t kill the cat; it started a new Instagram account that posted the price tags of the shoes that well-known pastors were wearing. In a single month, the IG account drew in a whopping 100k followers, hungry for gossip and righteousness.
#4 Pastor Mike Todd Staying Anchored In The Balenciaga Triple S $1,090
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#5 If Retail On The Kicks You’re Wearing Is $2k And The Resale Market Is Paying $8-9k, What Are Your Shoes Worth? Jordan 1 Retro High Dior $8,100
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#6 Here Is A Supreme Beach Ball, $125
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
In an interview with Sarah Pulliam Bailey from The Washington Post, Kirby said that at the very beginning, it was “easy” for him to make jokes about it. “Some of the outfits are absurd, so it’s easy to laugh at some of the designer pieces. The price tags are outlandish.”
As time went by, he began asking some more in-depth questions about the relationship between status and wealth, and whether it was right to earn so much money while preaching about Jesus. “I began asking, how much is too much? Is it okay to get rich off of preaching about Jesus? Is it okay to be making twice as much as the median income of your congregation?” he said.
Listen beautiful relax classics on our Youtube channel.
#7 Pastor Maldonado Stayin Ricci In Good Works While Sporting The Primo Belt Of Truth. Stefano Ricci Belt $2,541
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#8 Pastor Troy Gramling Back At It Again With The Super Breathable Givenchy Hoodie $1,240
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#9 Jordan 1 Retro High $4,005
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
Kirby had kept his true identity a secret, however, he finally shared it with The Washington Post after publishing his new book, ‘PreachersNsneakers: Authenticity in an Age of For-Profit Faith and (Wannabe) Celebrities.’ Having grown up in a Christian home-schooling family, Kirby is an evangelical and believes in sharing his faith with others.
His family generously donated to their church because they lived a “comfortable but modest lifestyle,” however, Kirby began having doubts about how honest some religious authorities were after he saw his pastor driving an expensive car.
#10 Y’all Busting These Out If Your Family Gettin The Inaug? Jordan 1 Retro High Dior $7,210
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#11 Pastor Furtick With The Fully-Realized Adam-And-Yves Saint Laurent Blessings On Feet $1,095
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#12 Pastor John Gray With Relentless Details! Givenchy Sweatshirt $1,145
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
“Gone are the days of a choir, suited up pastor and random people sitting in velvet chairs onstage. No. Now it’s a U2 incarnate worship band, perfectly placed LED wash lights, and a pastor… motivating, edgy and might even let a cuss word slip if you’re lucky,” Kirby writes in his book.
#13 Here’s A Fendi Hoodie $1,290
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#14 Pastor Troy (Gramling) Likes His Tees The Same Way He Likes His Digiorno: Supreme. $1,550
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#15 Pastor Judah (Smith) And The Lion Of All Gucci Jackets. $3,600
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
The author explains that pastors with huge social media followings are now more than just pastors: they’re motivational speakers, corporate coaches, and leadership consultants. Following the Word of God has become a form of business, not a calling, for some.
#16 Flannel But Make It Fashun. Gucci Jacket $2,580
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#17 The Lord Works In Mysterious Color Combinations. Lv Sweatshirt $725, Air Force 1 Sneakers $1,145
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#18 We’re One Week In And Bishop Td Jakes Has Already Secured The Bag To Secure A Bag. Christian Louboutin Belt Bag $1,250
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
“Like Hollywood—a world so often criticized by the pietistic—these institutions and their leaders celebrate and reward the ‘blessing’ of fame, popularity, and influence. Pastors function like ‘talent’ performing for an audience or like a spokesman for the church’s ‘brand,’” Kirby scathingly criticizes the hypocrisy that’s found among the ranks of some of the devout in his book.
#19 Prophet Bryan Maldonado Keepin That King Jesus International 501c3 Status Intact In The Royal Blue Lv Runners $1,020
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#20 Pastor Emerson Nowotny In The Fear Of God Awolnation Colorway. Air Fear Of God 1, $750
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#21 Pastor Keion With Some Classic Burberry Blessings. $690
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
It’s not just what pastors and preachers officially earn. They can get the kicks, clothes, and other things as gifts or donations. Kirby, however, hasn’t lost his faith and doesn’t blame fashion and celebrities as a whole. He encourages other Christians to demand greater transparency and accountability.
“I’m getting people to question the status quo within the church and hopefully push for a reevaluation of what we value. People aren’t going to reach God without this guy wearing Yeezys? Come on,” he told The Washington Post.
#22 Pastor Jimmy Rollins In The Union Air Jordan 1s And The Crease That Surpasses All Understanding, $1,250
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#23 “Your Lv Never Fails”. Lv Belt, $490
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#24 Sad. Dolce & Gabbana Jacket, $543
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#25 Pastor Rich Dub In The Sean Dub’s. Nike Air Max Sneakers, $1,045
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#26 Transformation Church Pastors Mike Todd And Charles Metcalf Rocking Their Conference-Best At Transformation Conference. Nike Air Fear Of God 1, $1500
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#27 In Honor Of Serena Williams Crushing It In The Us Open Right Now, Here Is Pastor Crank In The Nike X Off White Blazer Serena. $1,050
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#28 Prophet Passion Java With Those Subtle Gucci Vibes. $1,850
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#29 Preachers N Sneakers. Versace Sneakers, $995
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#30 This, Right Here, Is My, Multi-Site Swag Ayye. Burberry Hoodie, $770
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#31 2020: Year Of The Bargain. Alexander Mcqueen Sneakers, $960
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#32 Preachers N Sneakers. Amiri Boots, $1,490
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#33 Pastor Td Jakes On The Go With This Max Cap Louis V Messenger. $2,590
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#34 For When You’re In Anticipation Of The Blessings To Rain Down Like The Salmon Of Capistrano. Burberry Jacket, $900
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#35 Pastor Mike Todd Rocking The Ultra Exclusive, European Release Off White Jordan 1. $3,036
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#36 Pastor, Author And Filmmaker Td Jakes Choppin It Up With Pastor Steven Furtick In Some Spike Sock Red Bottoms. $1,295
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#37 One Of The True Ogs, Pastor Jesse Duplantis Stayin Vv Dry In The Ultra-Classic Louis V Damier Bomber Jacket. $1,309
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#38 Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo Straight Supersizing That Louboutin And Louis Vuitton Combo. $1,195 & $2,530
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#39 It’s A Vibe With Preacher Manny Arango In These Cloudy Versace X 2 Chainz Collabs. $1,501
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#40 The Original Bearded Banjo Worship Leader, David Crowder, Rocking “A Collision” Of Off White And Jordan Brand. $3,450
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#41 Preacher Of The Pocket, Questlove, Spotted At The Shaft Movie Premier Red Carpet Reppin It For The Family In The F&f Preachersnsneakers Hood.
for Those Who This Is #whooshing: The Price Is A Joke, Quest Got This 1of1 Exclusive From Us.
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#42 Pastor Rodrigo Palmer Stayin Completely Suede In The Spirit. Fear Of God Sneakers, $595
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#43 2020 Makin Me Ask The Same Thing On The Daily. Neil Barrett Shirt, $540
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#44 Bad And Boujee? More Like God And Gucci With Pastor And “Preachers Of Atlanta” Cast Member, Realtalkkim. Gucci Combo, $1,650 & 1,250
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#45 Preachers N Sneakers. Yeezy Sneakers, $770
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#46 Pastor Todd In Unions With Christ. Jordan Sneakers, $1,800
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#47 Pastor Rich In The Presidential Crocs. Yeezy Sneakers, $500
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#48 Pastor Dharius Daniels With The Classic Yevangelical Vibes. Best Yeezy Ever? Yeezy Sneakers, $1,200
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#49 Pastors Obed Martinez, Toure Roberts, Benny Perez, Marie Silva And Josiah Silva Straight Putting On A Pns Clinic! Yeezy And Nike Sneakers, $268 & $1,750
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#50 Treat Yourself To The Ultimate Bible Belt, Lv Belt, $620
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#51 1. Standard Flex: Wearing Nike Air Fear Of Gods You Got At Retail.2. Advanced Flex: Wearing Nike Air Fear Of Gods That Were Gifted By Your Homie, The Actual Designer.3. Supreme Registered Flex Offense: Wearing Nike Air Fear Of Gods, Gifted From Your Homie The Designer, The Very Next Day After They Sell Out In 15 Seconds On Snkrs. $610
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#52 There Are No Doubts That Pastor Esteban Grasman Likes Those Balenciagas. $975
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#53 Pastor Chad With That Steph Tanner Swag. Rhude Jacket, $693
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#54 Sad. Thom Browne Shirt, $450
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#55 Preacher And Worship Leader, Sean Feucht Uppin That Security Along With His Yeezy Game. $604
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
#56 Bishop Jakes In A Versace Jacket, ~$500
Image credits: preachersnsneakers
Source: boredpanda.com