Renowned pastor, Bishop TD Jakes voiced his concern over the images being portrayed on the show this past Sunday while taking up an offering at his Potter’s House Church in Dallas, Texas. Oxygen’s hit reality series “Preachers of LA” is not being
received well by many Christians who believe the show plays up every bad stereotype non-Christians and naysayers have ever had about the church community.
Made up of Los Angeles-based pastors Bishop Noel Jones, Bishop Clarence McClendon, Pastor Wayne Chaney, Bishop Ron Gibson, Pastor Jay Haizlip and former pastor/Gospel singer Deitrick Haddon, “Preachers of LA” chronicles the behind-the-scenes aspects of these preachers lives. What’s causing the show to catch hell is how some of the preachers are flaunting ostentatious wealth and extravagant lifestyles.
“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,” emoted Bishop Jakes, as his congregation roared.
He continued: “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!”
Bishop Jakes is a multiple-time New York Times bestselling author and producer of films like “Jumping The Broom,” “Winnie Mandela,” “Not Easily Broken,” the upcoming “Black Nativity,” and others. He does not take a salary from the church that he founded and does not use church finances for any of his outside ventures.
“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. So let the work I’ve done speak for me. You are sowing into good ground; and the 300 families that are employed in this ministry eat from this ministry, work in this ministry, and help us to produce the excellence that we do. The natives all over Kenya drink water because of this ministry. And the hospital in Nairobi survives because of this ministry,” he explained, before adding: “I do not need you to buy my car. I got this!”
Bishop Jakes happens to be best friends with “Preachers of LA” star, Bishop Jones. Bishop Jones said his friend expressed great concern about his decision to participate on the Oxygen series.
“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. So consequently, I’m on the other side of the protection that he would like me to have and then its risky business – it’s no question in my mind – its risky business,” Bishop Jones shared about Bishop Jakes response to his joining the cast.
Despite a lot of backlash from the Christian community, “Preachers of LA’s” debut episode delivered 1.1 million total viewers, which marked Oxygen’s strongest Wednesday season premiere ever according to Nielsen.
