WEBVTT
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Has church culture crossed the line?
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We're gonna be discussing today some of our thoughts on some viral clips that have been taking over social media to the point where pastors at churches are having to come and speak out.
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Gotta come explain it, so explain it.
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Is did Drewski go too far?
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Did Drewski go too far?
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Or is he right on the nose?
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They do say when it comes to comedy, right?
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Comedy pokes at things that are true that nobody really wants to like talk about, right?
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Or it's a little bit like, ooh, do you do you say anything?
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But we all kind of saw that, or we all saw it.
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And so has anybody else seen what's been happening?
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Just the viral trends of one, these pastors with going up, I mean, being either carried in.
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Yes.
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Come on, do you want to explain a little bit more about the viral clip for the viewers that haven't seen it?
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And if you don't know who Drewski is as well.
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So Drewski is a comedian who does a lot of different skits and things on social media.
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Um, and he's done quite a bit.
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He's gotten some backlash over some, like being, and he's he one thing that I do appreciate as a comedian is that it doesn't matter the race.
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So he did uh, you know, I think a hillbilly or something like that, and it was at NASCAR.
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He so he did one of like a pastor, and it was at church.
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I think it was supposed to be like a Christian church or a mega church, and it was giving black mega church, but also there were similarities from all different churches and religions of these kind of extravagant experiences, facilities, right?
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It's on this huge campus, huge stage.
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He's you know hanging from the rafters, he's got on Christian, he's you know, he's saying because I'm Christian, I got on Christian Lubitants and Christian Dior, but the thing is, it's so expensive, right?
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Debark in the blood of Jesus.
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So he's there's things that he's saying that are trying to be funny, but there's also the correlation to the fact of you know, walking in the blood of Jesus, but these are$1,2,$1,300 shoes that the pastor has on.
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And it's like, well, wait a minute.
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You're asking for an offering.
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And and there's things that he's saying that he got from actual videos that went viral, i.e., a pastor that said, close the doors to the church, lock the doors.
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Lock the doors to the church.
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I've never been locked in after the church.
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Because you're ready to get it, because you need to get an offering and don't want anybody to leave before it's time to give an offering?
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It sounded like he might have had a gambling problem, to be honest, the way that he was talking about.
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I need what did I need$10,000?
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I need 10 people.
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What do you say?
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There's a pastor that said, I need 10, basically, someone that wants to be blessed right now.
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I need 10 people to give to give$10,000.
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And you'll be a millionaire.
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And you'll be a millionaire.
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That's what he was saying.
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And the thing that I think is being called out from social media that people are seeing is God is not calling you to tell somebody they need to give$10,000 today.
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And trying to take and manipulate the math of, well, you're, you know, you're gonna get tenfold.
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You're gonna get 10 times what you gave.
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Yes.
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There was one pastor that was married to Shawnee O'Neill that came out and said, Giving to the homeless person just doesn't get you a blessing back the way that giving to the church will give you a blessing back.
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And he was trying to justify, like, basically, that's just gonna.
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I was like, wait a minute.
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No, no, no.
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No, no, no.
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Giving Are you in the word of Jesus?
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Are you in the Bible?
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And what people are calling out is the manipulation that you're seeing because you're using the scripture to manipulate and say, oh, well, no, you're supposed to give, and it needs to be 10%.
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And and well, where is your giving?
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But then there's that disconnect because there's so many people that are giving their last, which you can't outgive God.
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Period.
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But at the same time, is the church, the institution of that church, giving back to the members and to the community?
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And let me say we're gonna talk about our firsthand experiences as well, because we've seen some things that was like, ooh, why is it that the pastor and the pastor's family, everybody's in foreign cars?
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And this is more than one church, this is multiple churches we've attended.
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Everybody's in foreign S550, bends up, but yet there's members of the church that are at the bus stop on the way to the church.
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Can we not pick them up or can we not, like you said, you got a van, how can the van?
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Where's the bus passes?
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I just think that there's a eating spot.
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You know what I mean?
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I think there's a disconnect there because the question becomes if you got the S550 Mercedes Benz from your business before you became a man of the cloth and you were a successful business person and then became a pastor, nobody's tripping.
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But if you're asking for donations and saying this is for the building fund and you turn around and got a new Benz, something's not adding up here.
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And there's a lack of transparency.
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Right, like a new car, a new house, a new, you seem like you're living you're the beneficiary of the tithes and offerings.
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Correct, correct.
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So it's interesting because what I'm hearing too is there's almost this spiritual warfare that is happening with the pastors and the congregation, where you are feeling like when you go to church, pastor, priest, right, whatever your religion is, there's usually somebody that's supposed to be that the quote unquote kind of middle person between you and God.
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That's what a pastor, because they're feeling called.
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This is what I'm supposed to be doing.
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They are then supposed to be taking the word of the Bible, simplifying it in a way that their congregation can understand, but not using the Bible and using the scripture as a way to maybe push their personal agenda or to uh have uh what do we use?
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Uh guilt-driven ties and offerings.
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Um, that's 10,000, the doors are locked.
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That's where the confusion um comes in.
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And it's interesting because there is now a shift that we're seeing in religion, and we're gonna speak Christianity because that's what we're familiar with.
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Of people that are leaving church, they're feeling wounded, they're feeling confused, they maybe feel as if uh the the pastor is out for him or herself.
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And now it's just okay, well, maybe you know, people are starting to rethink.
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You know, is am I still a Christian?
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Do I maybe want to try a different religion?
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People are just now starting to, I feel like, not have um almost that safety that comes with being in a congregation and being in a church and having a pastor that you know is speaking from scripture.
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Uh, and then are we also moving into a realm with social media pastors where we are, are we, is it clickbait?
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Right?
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Because you do get paid off of views and metal, you know, when we talk about Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, there are creator programs, right?
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Which is awesome if you're creating the content.
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You do want to be reimbursed in some ways, but is that now the full focus of, okay, well, I need to make sure I'm doing this extravagant thing on coming from the ceiling.
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Coming from the ceiling, or Michael Todd, you know, Michael Todd, for example.
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This is a pastor where I know a lot of people were really behind him when he first started, a young pastor.
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You know, he's wearing clothes that are gonna be more from, you know, this century.
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He allows you to be somebody that comes as you are, yeah, and I think it's really turned into something that is like a social media pastor.
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So I think it's interesting that you say that on a social media pastoring.
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And I think one of the first times that I really like saw social media pastoring like pop out at me was when the guy came out that he was the cussing pastor.
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And I've and I've got a great aunt that like watches every week, loves the cussing pastor.
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But it just was like crazy to me, like, wait a minute, he's cursing and he's reading the Bible and talking like that's wild.
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But again, he's like a social media pastor, and maybe as a place where he's doing it.
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I think he made a great call up because I think there is this fine line where people do want to connect.
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Correct.
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Right?
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So I think there's a fine line between the days of everybody's got the full robes on, right?
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Almost giving, you know, but Catholic church is very much that way.
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You don't have to worry about what people are wearing.
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And I went to a Catholic high school for two years, went to mass faithfully, went to Catholic, and all of those things.
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Although I grew up and was raised Christian, I got a chance to see, like, okay, but one thing I did like about the robe is you're not worried about does he have a chain on or is he wearing, you know, Christian Dior suit?
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No, because it's about it's a robe of the cloth, and he's coming here presenting the word of the day.
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I think it went from that to, oh, well, more people can appeal to a pastor that's got on, you know, that's dressed with the suit and has a three-piece, and that's fine too.
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But then it goes beyond the social media appearance.
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The social media appearance, and now it's like, well, I got the chain over the suit, and now I've got, now I'm not even wearing a suit at all.
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It's more casual.
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I'm pulling up like I'm going to the mall or to the movies, and it's like, okay, I understand that you're bringing out maybe a more youthful audience and they're being drawn in, which is great, but then it comes back to the financial and the monetary aspect of what's your salary for you to be able to afford all the diamonds and the Christian and all of these things.
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And then the question is, what is the the transparency is what we're missing.
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That's the disconnect.
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The disconnect is the trans, the financial transparency.
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Transparency.
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Sure, you're gonna give me, you know, what I need at the end of the year uh for my taxes, right?
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Usually you're gonna get some sort of piece of paper that shows how much you your tithes and offerings were, but we are really seeing that, especially when we talk about social media and the pastors on social media, because we go to social media for the appearance, especially Instagram is for the appearance.
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And a lot of pastors we've been hearing too that maybe are a little bit younger, because we're gonna get into TD Jakes as well, because that's a whole the scandal.
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I mean, I did hear the cases getting dropped and just all of the scandals.
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Yeah, it's you don't want people accusing you of of those types of things.
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That's never good.
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That's never good.
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Um, and if you don't know, you can't do it.
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And as a man, and as a man of the cloth, right?
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It you should be so far away from and again, if it's not true.
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Why is TD Jakes going to a ditty party?
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Shouldn't be there.
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Why are you there?
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Shouldn't be there.
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You shouldn't even be there to bless the food at all.
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Shouldn't be there.
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Come on, TD Jakes.
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Can't do it.
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Can't do it.
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But also to your point of the appearance and the representation, I think there is such a, and again, we're not pastors, right?
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First lady.
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We're not in that seat, right?
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And it comes with a serious responsibility because you're leading a congregation.
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You're leading people.
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Oh, but we know a few not only a few pastors, but a few first lady.
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That's what I'm saying.
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We're you're leading the people.
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So you use you know, Pastor Jamal Bryant as an example, and I appreciate what everyone is doing as it relates to trying to make an impact, but then we look at what's going viral or what's some of the topics where your people are divided.
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And so recently, Pastor Jamal Bryant, he went, you know, there was a gala, I think it was a fundraiser.
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You know, he mentioned they raised four million dollars.
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Incredible, but the topic wasn't the four million dollars raised or the fundraiser or the cause, it was the attire that his wife wore.
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And I'm only bringing it up because he addressed it to the congregation by saying, Y'all are worried about the wrong things, you're worried about my wife being in a flesh-colored dress.
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I bought her the dress.
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He went, I mean, addressing the entire topic.
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And I think what people had, and I think that's where that fine line is, right?
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You can be on the side of, hey, my wife doesn't need to be in the full, like covered robe, you know, or you can't see what she's wearing.
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But a flesh-colored dress and it's see-through and it's tight and very revealing, again, you're not, she didn't wear that to church, she wore that to the gala.
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But again, if you're the first lady and you're representing the cloth, there are responsibilities, there's a responsibility, because then if that's the barometer for the first lady and the person of the cloth, what's the congregation looking like?
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And you would hear it's like, hey, we want to make sure that people can stay focused on the Lord and not distracted in here because there should be a difference of are you going to the club after this or are you going to the church after this, right?
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Like, and I just think there's that balance of we there we used to be very clear on like we know that like that's of the cloth and that's not, but now when you have Pastor, you know, uh TD Jakes at the Diddy party, it's like, oh, well, is that he's fine with the city?
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Yeah, well, he's going.
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But again, right?
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That's why even going back to what I said before, your your pastor or priest is almost that liaison.
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It's supposed to be that liaison between you as a congregation.
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They are supposed to be the ones that are speaking the word of God.
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They've made a commitment to not only you know sticking to what the word of God says and living by the Bible, but then also you have a responsibility to your congregation that you are going to responsibly let them know this is what the word of the Bible says.
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This is worldly, right?
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That's a lot of what we hear in in church, is worldly, right?
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Because like attire, that attire is worldly.
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TD Jakes at a ditty party is worldly, potentially the Jamal Bryant with the his wife in the flesh colored that people say that's worldly.
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So it's giving more worldly than it is.
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This is from Jesus, this is from the Bible, this is the scripture that backs that up.
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Correct.
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And something else that I've been seeing too, because I know Michael Todd, he's been getting into quite a bit of trouble because he's outright saying multiple times.
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You know, people can't wait to do the compilations and put together, and it starts looking really suspect when there's been five or more times where you're you're pointing to the Bible and and saying, Well, we're not going to use scriptures from the Bible.
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We're you're he was he was using it more so as I'm speaking, that God is speaking through me.
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So listen to me, but not speaking through the Bible, which we know it's the opposite.
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God is speaking through the Bible, which then speaks to the pastor who speaks to the congregation.
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And so it's just it's really interesting.
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We're seeing major shifts that are happening, but I quickly want to take this to uh what's happening with men specifically when it comes to church.
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And it's interesting.
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So Robert Reeves, he talks a lot about the crisis that men are going through right now, where men are losing their main points of connection with people.
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Number what church.
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Uh, they said in school it was like woodworking or shop, you know, automotive shop.
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Working with your hands, working with your hands.
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Uh, and then also kind of that that, I guess, guys time, right?
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Whatever that kind of looks like for you.
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But because more men are leaving the church, as we know, if we go back to the Bible, who is the head of the household?
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Correct.
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Right?
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Who is the leader of the household?
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And if that person is not going to church and not getting that word and they're supposed to be leading the household, they could lead us astray, right?
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It goes back to even the Bible, which is also a part of why we created the two-can-do method.
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God never sent any of his disciples out by themselves because he knew that they could wander and stray and get worldly, as we might say, always sent them out in twos because you're more the accountability, the responsibility, and you're more likely to get to your destination if you have somebody with you and holding you accountable.
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So I think it's really interesting now with the we're seeing the power of social media and how it can work again in a positive light, or we're seeing a lot more negativity being pushed.
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And I think that this is not all pastors, this is not all priests, right?
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We're just talking about what we've seen over the past couple of years and actually our personal experiences where we've had some church hurt, right?
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And so if you want to go a little bit more into whether it's your experiences or what you've seen being in multiple churches, mega churches, also in different states and those things.
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I just kind of want you to give your experience to the listeners or viewers.
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Yeah, well, you know, having attended, you know, mega churches, but also having been somebody that, you know, every New Year's, you're a church from three or you know, four or five o'clock until the ball drops, multiple days, you know, you're in the youth service.
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So like I've had that experience where like I and I appreciate the fact that I had those experiences and it really built up my faith, but also you can experience that church hurt because you're seeing things from a different lens when you're there and you're you know, you're you're getting a chance to see it.
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Correct.
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Something I want to call out too is that when we talk about church hurt and we talk about the mega churches or just churches in general, this isn't about race.
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So something that the Drewski, although Drewski is the comedian, is black, yes, and he leaned in on more this is the you know mega or black church experience, these are also it has nothing to do with race, whether it's white, black, blue, green, doesn't matter the the race of the individual pastor, Joel Osteen.
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I remember I remember during COVID, right?
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And and was it COVID or was there a flood?
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A flood.
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It was a flood.
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So it was speak of there was a flood, something happened and hit the area surrounding his church.
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People were struggling.
00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:34.720
People were literally like, hey, we like we need food, we need water, we need shelter.
00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:40.240
And I believe he locked the doors to the church because he said he didn't like basically all dirty.
00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:42.319
We don't want y'all coming in here messing up my carpet.
00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:45.039
And it's like, wait, this is the place of God.
00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:46.160
It's the place of God.
00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:47.599
If anything, and you're supposed to be the man.
00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:52.799
And if anything, that money that you're getting from the tithes and offerings should be to clean the carpet after you've helped the people.
00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:53.599
Come on now.
00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:56.319
Like that needs to be what the what the money's going towards, right?
00:17:56.480 --> 00:18:04.640
Or you're versus no, we're keeping you out, but yet we're doing more tithes and offering so that we can give and help build up the church, which is supposed to build the community.
00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:06.319
And so I just I just wanted to call that out.
00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.039
What were you gonna say?
00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:12.319
I was gonna say this is all going back to financial transparency.
00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:16.240
But it still ran like a business on the back end, right?
00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:23.200
So on the front end, we're having this is uh front facing is going to be your church or congregation, your pastor, deacons, right?
00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:24.240
That's your your front end.
00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:25.839
But the back end, this is still running like a business.
00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:31.680
There's air, there's AC on, there's heat, we need a we might need a new roof, right?
00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:31.839
Right.
00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:35.359
So how are we preparing for those 10 years, right?
00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:38.799
What's the strategic plan for three, five, 10 years?
00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:45.680
How are we then, whether it's fundraising for that or knowing that our ties and offerings are going towards that?
00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:58.400
But then also on, you know, whether it's a quarterly check-in or an annual check-in, your congregation, in my opinion, should know exactly how much money the congregation has.
00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:12.799
Really, if we break it down, because in my opinion, the the way that church is set up is so different with your ties and offerings that in its giving, very similar to you know, nonprofits.
00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:14.400
We work with a lot of nonprofits.
00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:16.160
I'm now on a board of a nonprofit.
00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:30.160
I now understand the back end work of oh, they're they're not only they're making money, like don't get confused that nonprofits don't make money, but they're they're making money, but then they're also transparent.
00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:31.680
There's an impact report.
00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:32.400
That's key.
00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:33.599
What is the impact report?
00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:34.640
How much money was spent?
00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:36.480
Where who are the top donors?
00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:38.079
Where is the money going?
00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:40.960
Um, how much money are you actually taking in?
00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:44.480
All of those things are transparent at the end of each year.
00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:46.880
Why are churches not doing that same thing?
00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:47.279
Yeah.
00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:49.200
You're you're absolutely spot on.
00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:54.160
And I and I love that you drew that correlation to nonprofit because that's a fair example.
00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:54.640
Right.
00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:58.960
Even though it's a different classification, it's a different classification, but fair example where you're here for the community.
00:19:59.200 --> 00:19:59.759
You're here for the community.
00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:01.440
That's your number one priority.
00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:02.720
You're raising funds.
00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:02.960
Right.
00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:05.039
And people are you're raising funds.
00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:09.519
Those funds are supposed to be distributed to the areas that you said that they were going to.
00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:10.400
Exactly.
00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:18.480
Also, when it comes to nonprofits, nonprofits have a baseline of what the average salary is for a CEO of a nonprofit.
00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:20.400
The average salary for each role.
00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:27.039
I know for churches, if there's not that transparency, I saw uh some stats and some data came out.
00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:32.079
They were talking about the average pastor makes, I think, between$70,000,$75,000 a year.
00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:35.359
Like, is their salary as being the pastor all in?
00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:37.200
Is the median nationwide?
00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:38.319
I was like, wow.
00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:43.119
Because just that alone, Christian Dior on a$70,000 shower, like, that's not something you can afford.
00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:45.119
Some of these you can buy it, right?
00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:45.839
But not saying that.
00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:47.680
But you get my point.
00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:55.599
If you now, if the median salary is$70,000, but you're seeing especially a lot of these pastors are in foreign cars and living.
00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:57.039
It's a private jazz.
00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:57.680
Private jazz.
00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:03.920
Being in Michigan, Southfield, Michigan, Word of Faith Church, was a uh member.
00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:07.920
I went to I went to middle school, sixth and seventh grade, at the church on the grounds.
00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:13.039
And so I had a really immersive experience of seeing like what is it like here at the church?
00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:18.000
And I mean, there were a lot of different elements, but to your point, it runs like a business.
00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:22.559
But is there the transparency of this is where everything is going?
00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:22.960
Right.
00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:26.559
Pastor did have, you know, I don't know if he had a plane, but I think he did.
00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:30.960
I mean, the campus was acres and acres, multiple buildings.
00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:45.359
You've got the main um uh uh the main sanctuary, you've got the youth like wing, they got basketball court, like there were all of these things, and it was incredible to see, but then you go back to where's the transparency around that?
00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:53.519
And it's unfortunate, but even in that scenario, the pastor that was like the head pastor when I was there ended up being under scrutiny.
00:21:53.599 --> 00:22:08.079
There was some drama, there were things that happened that were worldly things that are happening, and it's like, well, hold on, you're supposed to be the man of the cloth representing the right way to do it as that representation uh of Christianity or representation of the church.
00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:10.400
So let me ask you a question.
00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:36.400
Do you think that in 2026, not only the amount of access that we have with social media and the fact that you are one piece of content away from going viral, do you think that church has changed to kind of accommodate this social media culture?
00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:42.319
Do you think that it's just maybe now being on display more because of social media?
00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:43.519
So I think it's both.
00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:45.359
I think there's a I think it's a twofold.
00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:48.559
So I think yes, it is on display more because of social media.
00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:52.160
You're getting access, because again, you couldn't see into all churches before.
00:22:52.400 --> 00:23:02.160
So, you know, you get an idea of what it's like at a Baptist church or at a Jehovah's Witness uh, you know, being at the hall, being at different like you can get an idea or what it's like at a mosque.
00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:09.759
But now, like people on social, you're actually like getting a view in of what the clergy, what the pastor is saying.
00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:16.400
So I think that has changed significantly and has opened people's eyes to more of what's going on, not just in the US but worldwide.
00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:19.680
I also think it's it has opened up access in a good way.
00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:25.680
I think about something that's been positive out of social media and technology is like the UVersion Bible lab, right?
00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:35.119
Where now millions of people in different languages can access the Bible, can access information, can find out how to live more on that faith-based path.
00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:40.480
But I think to your point, it just how do we kind of look at it and how is it being approached?
00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:58.400
And you know, I think it's unfortunate that social media also does push so much of the negative narrative versus seeing the positive stories of what the churches are doing of the impact when they're actually in Africa, building the church in Africa or building the you know, the extension of what they're doing in the US.
00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:01.920
Because a lot of people will say that, but it's kind of like what you know on the news, right?
00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:14.559
Where it's like, oh, they got all of these PPP loans, but didn't do anything, you know, they didn't actually contribute to helping the people or helping, you know, during that time, and that situation turns people the wrong way.
00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:14.799
Yeah.
00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:16.960
Because it's like, wait, what are you doing with those funds?
00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:23.920
And we went, you know, there's a church that we've been able to, uh, we haven't, you know, joined officially as members, but that we attend that's near us in the East Valley.
00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:24.960
Yeah, that I was just gonna get to that.
00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:27.599
And I appreciate the fact that they are more transparent.
00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:30.880
They are one of the things that I love that they do the dollar, the dollar.
00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:38.079
Oh my gosh, if you want to share a little bit just about that program and what they do there, because it doesn't have to be lock the doors,$10,000.
00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:40.000
We need it from somebody to be blessed.
00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:40.880
Yes.
00:24:41.200 --> 00:25:00.640
Quickly before we jump into that though, I do want to say I feel that the Drewski viral clip unfortunately played into the stereotype that black people cannot handle finances.
00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:14.640
Because that's something that we've heard over time, and that's even something that where we also, you know, we've been in some situations where we've seen firsthand where people will not only treat us differently, or have the assumption their implicit bias can happen.
00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:15.680
Correct.
00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:32.000
Um, but society, because if you think about that right, there have been many programs where if you are black and you're trying to get a loan, they make you take a class before so that you can learn how to manage your finances, but yet for other races, that's not the case.
00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:37.920
So that's more so where I was thinking when I originally was talking about the Drewski viral content.
00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:38.960
Going back to the dollar.
00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:45.759
And that's I just wanted to say that's a great call out, too, because that's the the there's a lot a lot of times there's those undertones.
00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:47.200
That's come on out, it's a system.
00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.160
It's the system.
00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:54.720
Yes, you're acknowledging all the churches, but because he the comedian is black, the audience and the crowd is black.
00:25:55.680 --> 00:26:02.640
Now people can take this and say, Oh my gosh, this is a black church skit versus wait a minute.
00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.359
No, no, no, no.
00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:04.079
No, no, no.
00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:13.839
These mega churches, yes, what we're seeing transpire, like you know, the skit of him hanging from the ceiling, that was from a predominantly white church that that also happened.
00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:17.200
They asked the congregation to not have their phones out.
00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:19.680
They did it like a comedy, like a Netflix special.
00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:29.680
Put your phone away because we don't want you showing that we got people coming from the ceilings and that we spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on this production versus pouring that back into our members and community.
00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:34.319
And so I just I think that's a really great call out because that's the nuance.
00:26:34.640 --> 00:26:35.599
That's what I'm yes.
00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:40.880
That can be very much an undertone of it can be a race thing when it has nothing to do with race.
00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:42.799
It's about are you being transparent?
00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:47.440
Correct, are you sharing what you're doing with the funds and how that's being represented?
00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:48.960
Because I think that's really key.
00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:49.519
Yes.
00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:52.240
I wanted to make sure I said that because that was something that was on my heart.
00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:57.839
Now, going back to the dollar tithe, there's this church and it's big.
00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:00.319
I mean, I'd have to say there's probably campus.
00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:01.200
Yeah, it's a campus.
00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:07.440
I mean, they have thousands of members, and so we started going there because it's it's relatively close to our house.
00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:19.359
What they do is in the beginning, you know, before we jump into the uh session, they'll go around with a basket and just say, Can everyone donate a dollar?
00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:26.960
This dollar uh or these donations are gonna be going to a family that is selected from the church that is in need.
00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:28.640
Yeah, like a woman had cancer and needed to be a good thing.
00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:29.519
Yeah, a woman had cancer.
00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:31.039
I think a woman was gonna lose her home.
00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:34.160
Another woman needed her bills, yeah, her bills covered.
00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:37.599
But again, all they were asking for was simply a dollar.
00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:43.039
If you can tithe more, one dollar, fantastic, but all we're asking for is one dollar.
00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:48.480
And so that was very, I feel like that's digestible for a lot of people.
00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:50.880
You know, when we talk about sowing a seed, right?
00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:57.759
Are we, you mentioned this earlier in the episode, where where are people at now when it comes to their finances?
00:27:57.839 --> 00:28:09.680
If we know that 70% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, then I'm more than likely, I'm gonna do I tithe today and give my last 20, or do I use that for put food for my family?
00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:13.119
Like those are the major decisions that people are having to make right now.
00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:17.279
So having something that that is a dollar to tithe, very easy, very digestible.
00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:24.319
And I also just want to call out, too, yes, there's that tithing, but when we talk about giving, it can come in different forms.
00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:25.920
Forms because you can give your time.
00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:39.279
Come on, and I think that's not talked about enough that if you were currently struggling financially, like even I think about us, there were times where early on in our marriage, early on in our business, where we were literally struggling.
00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:40.799
Literally giving our last 20.
00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:42.720
Literally giving our last 20.
00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:46.799
Where it's like, man, I don't know where the next 20 is coming from per se.
00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:47.519
But I know God.
00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:50.319
But I know God, I can't faithful.
00:28:50.640 --> 00:29:00.079
Or we maybe only had that 20, but we donated and volunteered our time to do health and wellness boot camps, marriage sessions at the church, correct.
00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:01.039
Give our time to help.
00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:04.799
All of those things are other ways.
00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:08.160
Maybe it's you volunteering at the children's church, correct, right?
00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:13.039
Or you getting there early and walking kids across the street, or walking people across the street to crosswalk.
00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:18.319
Like, there's so many different ways without it being monetary that you can pour in and give.
00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:22.000
And God, you know, one thing I love, God doesn't miss anything.
00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:25.039
No, He sees all of those things.
00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:30.880
And one of our favorite verses that we talk about too, John 3:30, he must increase, but we must decrease.
00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:37.359
So a lot of the pastors that are making it where they're increased, they're elevated on the stage, they're on the spotlight.
00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:38.880
Almost as if you are the God.
00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:39.680
Come on now.
00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:41.200
Let's not make it about you.
00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:45.599
But they always say it it's all it should be all about him, not about us.
00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:46.880
Should be about God.
00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:59.839
So if the story and the narrative is not drawing back to what God did, his testimony, how he's worked in your life, then I think automatically it's like, wait a minute, are you swaying away from bringing the book and what God is talking about?
00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:06.079
Whatever the title is, Catholic, Christian, correct, you know, Muslim, Jehovah's, it doesn't matter what religion.
00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:10.079
It's like, are you living according to the good book?
00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:13.359
Are you living according to what's righteous and what's right?
00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:24.799
Or are we allowing what the world, you know, the negativity, the doom, the all of those things to overwhelm and consume us instead of us overcoming the world?
00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:27.200
Correct, and being obedient, right?
00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:34.319
The Bible says that we should obey the laws, the principles.
00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:43.279
And what I do love about the Bible too is that it really doesn't matter what season you are in personally, or even the year, let's say, right?
00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:55.519
The Bible, in some way, shape, or form, will be able to speak to what you are going through or what you're feeling or the path that you should take, who you should be as a person.
00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:58.559
The Bible still has those guidelines.
00:30:58.720 --> 00:31:01.519
It still has the way that you should be living as a person.
00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:27.039
And this goes back to the scripture of, you know, um, and it's when you hear it, it sounds very potentially aggressive, maybe, but you should essentially kill your spirit in order to gain and be fulfilled by Jesus' spirit, and that's the way that you're gonna ultimately be able to live your most fulfilling life.
00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:31.359
So I think that it's all of this is just very interesting.
00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:39.039
Ultimately, we would like to see some more financial transparency coming from churches, uh, specifically just for what we're talking about.
00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:52.319
We'd love to see that pastors be more engaged and more in tune with their congregation, um, rather than potentially pushing their own personal agenda or pushing another agenda that is not of God.
00:31:52.640 --> 00:32:06.240
And then also making sure that you are, again, knowing and understanding where your congregation is, not only financially, but potentially spiritually as well, right?
00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:19.279
Because we've been to some congregations where the pastor is speaking almost in a way that is like trying to hype you up, if that makes sense.
00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:19.759
Oh, yeah.
00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:22.160
I mean, especially, you know, especially if you go down in the South.
00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:22.960
Right.
00:32:23.279 --> 00:32:24.400
Baptists, I know.
00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:30.000
More hype you up, which sure I'm here for that energy, but like, you know, kind of tempering that expectation.
00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:33.519
Where you're giving me hype versus bringing the book.
00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.240
Bringing the book.
00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:46.160
Is the content matching the enthusiasm and the, you know, and we've been around some pastors who also are critical of their congregation and talk about their congregation, talk about people in their congregation.
00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:56.799
And um, you know, a little pettiness and uh quite a few of those things that can make you feel as if, okay, well, maybe this is a blanket statement, but this is all churches.
00:32:56.960 --> 00:33:04.400
All churches are like this, or I've had a couple of bad experiences, so then I'm just not gonna go back, or I'm not gonna continue reading the the Bible.
00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:17.200
And as we know, there should be a hunger for the word every day of you being in your Bible, so then you don't have to rely all the time on your pastor, or you can call your pastor out and say, hey, that's not of the of the book.
00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:18.880
Yeah, no, you're absolutely right.
00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:21.440
And and it really is a situation where it's some, not all.
00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:23.200
Correct, and it's just like anything else.
00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:28.799
It's some not in some pastors, not all in some places, it's some churches, not all.
00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:33.680
And so we've been around some great pastors, great churches, and if you think about it, right?
00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:42.640
And and just to be transparent, I think it's also a part of the enemy's attack of course to say kill, steal, and destroy.
00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:44.160
Come on, John 1010.
00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:45.759
He wants to be able to do that.
00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:49.200
And so the idea that let me push you a little bit further away from church.
00:33:49.359 --> 00:33:49.839
Let me show you.
00:33:50.880 --> 00:34:00.799
Let me show you the worldly let me show you the worldly things that are happening in some, not all, let me show you the worldly things that are happening in some churches to make you say, that's why I don't go.
00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:01.440
Exactly.
00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:07.599
That's the reason why we're not there, or that's the reason why I'm not giving any money is because they're not transparent.
00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:12.639
When just like anything else, there's certain companies and organizations that are best places to work.
00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:16.400
Some have an A rating for their food inspection.
00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:18.400
Churches have an A rating.
00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:22.239
There's some that have transparency around what they're doing with their funds and what they're doing.
00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:24.159
Those are the ones that you want to find.
00:34:24.239 --> 00:34:26.320
And what we see, the Bible talks about it.
00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:27.599
What happens in the dark comes to light.
00:34:27.679 --> 00:34:32.880
So you're able to then see, hey, I'm in the right spot here, or I'm in my Bible and I'm reading.
00:34:33.119 --> 00:34:37.039
This pastor's not actually following and living what he's teaching.
00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:37.519
Yes.
00:34:37.679 --> 00:34:40.960
Let me make sure that I'm in somewhere that I feel poured into.
00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:49.599
And I think always the best test, and this isn't this isn't a scripture, but I do love this myangelical, it's remember how you felt in the moment, right?
00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:53.280
It's not about what they said, what they did, but how you felt in that moment.
00:34:53.599 --> 00:35:07.119
And you know, it's almost like you know, we talk about the gym and that health physically, but the spiritual health, you should feel better coming out of church than you did going in or than you did prior to.
00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:13.519
So if you're leaving the church and you're feeling some conviction or something's not sitting right with you, that's a red flag.
00:35:13.840 --> 00:35:23.039
Whereas if you're leaving and you're feeling more poured into, you're feeling ready for a new week, you're feeling uplifted, that's a sign that you're in the right church or in the right space and place.
00:35:23.199 --> 00:35:29.840
And so I just hope this blesses somebody that might be dealing with that church hurt, trying to figure out where do they stand on their journey.
00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:35.599
Because I have been seeing just in conversation, more and more people leaning into, hey, bro, send me those scriptures.
00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:37.760
Hey, what are you doing on your faith journey?
00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:43.679
Hey, this year, one of the things I'm working on is my faith journey because the world is so negative.
00:35:43.840 --> 00:35:56.559
There's so much happening that can keep you down in the dumps and you know, um, frustrated or or in fear and worry that faith is you know continuing to have forward action and trusting him.
00:35:57.280 --> 00:35:57.920
Amen.
00:35:59.199 --> 00:36:03.360
I quickly want to add something to that too, is is there's uh two things.
00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:20.159
So, number one, if you're feeling as if this is not the right pastor, or you mentioned specifically that feeling of when you come out of church, if you're not feeling like you were poured into, then that yes may be a sign for you to transition, but you sh you yourself should always be in the Bible, anyways.
00:36:20.239 --> 00:36:20.400
Yeah.
00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:23.440
So at least you are still staying in the Word of God.
00:36:23.599 --> 00:36:29.760
You still are having your own understanding, which is also why I like the U Version Bible app as well.
00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:31.360
You still have your own understanding.
00:36:31.440 --> 00:36:38.800
And I really love the plans that they have where you can choose, hey, I'm feeling anxious, I'm grieving, I am dealing with friendships changing.
00:36:39.039 --> 00:36:45.440
Dealing with friendship challenges, all of that, and you'll be able to find the scriptures in the Bible app that will be able to back that up.
00:36:45.599 --> 00:36:54.719
But even if you don't have that right pastor or that right church home, you yourself should still be in the word of God if that's still something that you want to pursue.
00:36:54.960 --> 00:37:16.719
And I was also going to mention that going back to what you mentioned about where we are in the state of the world right now where we are seeing fear-based media, our our leadership is not where most of us probably would want to bring up questions about what's true and what's true, what's not.
00:37:17.039 --> 00:37:36.079
Uh being able to have something that you believe in that's bigger than you, and having a bigger vision also will be able to help you get through those days where your resilience may not be as high and you don't you're not feeling as strong.
00:37:36.239 --> 00:37:38.960
You may be going more on the on a worldly route.
00:37:39.280 --> 00:37:55.760
Having something that you believe in that's bigger than you, it just gives you that bigger vision of, okay, this is a season for me where I may be in between churches or I am that I'm in a season of church hurt, but I know that I do believe in God.
00:37:55.920 --> 00:37:58.719
I have seen him work, he has worked in me.
00:37:58.880 --> 00:38:03.840
And I just am finding my way back to the right church home, the right pastor.
00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:18.400
But as if you just staying in the word of God and staying in the Bible, that is something that's going to be able to at least maintain and give you some of that long-term investment into yourself, into your understanding.
00:38:18.559 --> 00:38:31.039
Because I fully believe that, you know, don't, you know, you don't need to call a pastor out in front of everybody, but if you need to pull him to the side afterwards and just say, hey, you know, I've noticed we're we're st we're we're steering a little bit off the path here, we need to bring it back.
00:38:31.199 --> 00:38:34.079
Um, I think that's a something else that can also happen too.
00:38:34.320 --> 00:38:46.239
Yeah, I and I appreciate you sharing that and and and also I will say leaning in on community, where if there's someone that you cross path with, whether this is work or on or on your journey.
00:38:46.719 --> 00:38:59.280
Bible studies too, Bible studies, but if you there's someone that you feel their spirit, because you that's one of the things that's great is that someone with a right spirit and and the Lord is moving through them, you can feel it.
00:38:59.440 --> 00:39:01.199
And people say, Man, your energy is different.
00:39:01.280 --> 00:39:04.480
You gotta you got a certain you know, man, there's something about you.
00:39:04.719 --> 00:39:05.119
The light.
00:39:05.280 --> 00:39:05.679
The light.
00:39:05.920 --> 00:39:06.320
That's it.
00:39:06.559 --> 00:39:15.920
When you meet somebody or come across someone that has that light that you know is God shining through them, ask them, hey, where do you have a home church?
00:39:16.079 --> 00:39:16.480
Yes.
00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:18.960
Hey, do you have a pastor that you like to listen to?
00:39:19.199 --> 00:39:22.880
You know, is there somebody that's helping pour into you that was really great?
00:39:22.960 --> 00:39:26.239
Because I'm looking for something to help me with my church foundation.
00:39:26.400 --> 00:39:27.920
I'm looking for a new church home.
00:39:28.239 --> 00:39:29.440
That can be a part of it.
00:39:29.519 --> 00:39:31.039
And then maybe it's you joining.
00:39:31.119 --> 00:39:40.320
Maybe it's you getting a chance to join that Bible study or meeting up or just watching that pastor from home on YouTube right after you watch this episode.
00:39:40.559 --> 00:39:41.360
Absolutely.
00:39:41.599 --> 00:39:41.920
Yeah.
00:39:42.000 --> 00:39:56.000
So we hope that this, you know, on one end, we brought you a little bit of what we're seeing on social media and the viral clip with Juice with Drewski, uh, the comedian, uh, when it comes to church and ties and offerings, specifically what that skit was about.
00:39:56.079 --> 00:39:59.679
But we hope that we expanded a little bit for you all as viewers and listeners to be.
00:40:00.559 --> 00:40:08.559
To know that there's something beyond that, and that you should always be pouring into your cup, too, through the Bible and community as well.
00:40:08.800 --> 00:40:16.639
If you are in between your um seasons or your phases, there's God will never abandon you.
00:40:16.800 --> 00:40:21.679
You know, I love that scripture of God will leave the 99 to go and get the one.
00:40:21.920 --> 00:40:27.920
Know that you are the one, and God will come and get you if you are looking for him and you are working the works.
00:40:28.079 --> 00:40:30.079
He will, you are not forgotten about.
00:40:30.320 --> 00:40:36.079
You some things are delayed, not denied, but he will all God is faithful and God will provide.
00:40:36.239 --> 00:40:38.000
So we hope that this blessed you today.
00:40:38.079 --> 00:40:42.480
If it did, please send it to somebody that you think this can also bless.
00:40:42.719 --> 00:40:47.760
If you're following us on social media, it is at Coupley Fit, C O U, P L E Y F I T.
00:40:48.159 --> 00:40:51.280
If you are watching us on YouTube, please like and subscribe.
00:40:51.599 --> 00:40:56.079
As always, keep growing, glowing, and feeling better together.
00:40:56.800 --> 00:40:57.360
Bye.
