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PreachersNSneakers: Authenticity in an Age of For-Profit Faith and (Wannabe) Celebrities
Founder of the phenomenon social media account PreachersNSneakers tackles how faith, capitalism, consumerism, and (wannabe) celebrity have collided.
What started as a joke account on Instagram has turned into a movement. Through this provocative project, the founder of PreachersNSneakers is helping thousands of Jesus followers wrestle with the inevitable dilemmas created by a culture obsessed with image and entertainment.
In PreachersNSneakers: 9 Questions to Help You Live Your Faith in an Age of Capitalism, Consumerism, and (Wannabe) Celebrity, the author boldly confronts many of the difficult questions plaguing countless Christians’ minds, such as:
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?
Is there space in Christendom for celebrities like Kanye and Bieber to exist without distorting the good news?
What about this: Is it wrong for someone like this author to call out faith leaders online and leverage “cancel culture” to affect change?
PreachersNSneakers will navigate these challenging questions and many more with humor, wit, candor, and a few never-before-published hijinks. Each chapter will explore the various sides of the debate, holding space for readers to make up their own minds. The book will doubtlessly become a staple for church small groups, college ministries, and book clubs, emboldening struggling believers who want to live a more genuine faith.
After all, the Lord works in mysterious colorways.
What started as a joke account on Instagram has turned into a movement. Through this provocative project, the founder of PreachersNSneakers is helping thousands of Jesus followers wrestle with the inevitable dilemmas created by a culture obsessed with image and entertainment.
In PreachersNSneakers: 9 Questions to Help You Live Your Faith in an Age of Capitalism, Consumerism, and (Wannabe) Celebrity, the author boldly confronts many of the difficult questions plaguing countless Christians’ minds, such as:
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?
Is there space in Christendom for celebrities like Kanye and Bieber to exist without distorting the good news?
What about this: Is it wrong for someone like this author to call out faith leaders online and leverage “cancel culture” to affect change?
PreachersNSneakers will navigate these challenging questions and many more with humor, wit, candor, and a few never-before-published hijinks. Each chapter will explore the various sides of the debate, holding space for readers to make up their own minds. The book will doubtlessly become a staple for church small groups, college ministries, and book clubs, emboldening struggling believers who want to live a more genuine faith.
After all, the Lord works in mysterious colorways.
238 pages, Paperback
First published April 27, 2021
65 people are currently reading
646 people want to read
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April 28, 2021
It all started with a pair of sneakers.
One Sunday morning in March 2019, Ben Kirby missed church and decided to watch worship videos to assuage his guilty feelings. In one of the videos, he noticed that the worship leader wore Adidas Yeezy Boost 750s, a pricey shoe brand manufactured by Adidas in collaboration with Kanye West.
“How could a dude leading a worship service at a church be so blatantly unaware of the optics that his shoes portrayed?” Kirby wondered. “And how could his boss … be preaching in front of thousands of people each week in a new designer outfit that most of the congregation could never dream to afford?”
With these questions in mind, Kirby did what many do these days and posted a picture to Instagram. “Hey,” he tagged the church in the post, “how much are you paying your musicians that they can afford $800 kicks? Let me get on the payroll!”
Thus began PreachersNSneakers, an Instagram account that put a price tag on the designer clothes worn by America’s celebrity pastors. The account went viral and sparked controversy, and now Kirby has written a book about the lessons he has learned since that first post.
Or, rather, the questions. PreachersNSneakers uses expensive footwear as a springboard for conversation about how pastors and churches should use their influence. Here are the questions Kirby asks:
* Is it OK to get rich off God?
* What do we do with Christian celebrities?
* Does God bless with bling?
* Are lifestyle posts a sin?
* Should faith leaders use platforms for political influence?
* Can self-help and the gospel coexist?
* Where does production value stop and vanity start?
* What happens when a harmless brand becomes our golden calf?
* When can Christians question public figures from afar?
Consider the first question. Scripture teaches that churches should pay their pastors (1 Timothy 5:17–19), but it doesn’t say how much. Usually, on analogy with the business world, the compensation of a pastor (i.e., CEO) is tied to the growth of the congregation (i.e., business). That’s understandable, but Kirby writes, “the idea of making the church more and more like a standard corporation gives me pause.”
Or take the question about production values. A congregation needs a space and place to meet. But how much should a church budget for what Kirby calls “buildings and amenities”? Are stage décor, light and sound systems, coffee machines, and the like — all standard features in most contemporary churches — the best investment of scarce resources? Or, “Has our desire to perform the most ‘excellent’ service and production slowly transitioned into being a vain practice to cater to human desires?”
Kirby doesn’t answer any of these questions definitively. After 31 years of continuous ministry, I can’t either. What is needed in any case isn’t a hard-and-fast rule but a heart shaped by the gospel. “While many of the questions I have raised don’t have super-defined answers (yet),” he writes, “I believe that we can actively push toward a more humble and generous posture, constantly emulating Jesus’ lifestyle.”
Amen to that!
Book Reviewed
Ben Kirby, PreachersNSneakers: Authenticity in an Age of For-Profit Faith and (Wannabe) Celebrities (Nashville, TN: W Publishing, 2021).
P.S. If you liked my review, please click “Helpful” on my Amazon review page.
P.P.S. This review is cross-posted from InfluenceMagazine.com with permission.
One Sunday morning in March 2019, Ben Kirby missed church and decided to watch worship videos to assuage his guilty feelings. In one of the videos, he noticed that the worship leader wore Adidas Yeezy Boost 750s, a pricey shoe brand manufactured by Adidas in collaboration with Kanye West.
“How could a dude leading a worship service at a church be so blatantly unaware of the optics that his shoes portrayed?” Kirby wondered. “And how could his boss … be preaching in front of thousands of people each week in a new designer outfit that most of the congregation could never dream to afford?”
With these questions in mind, Kirby did what many do these days and posted a picture to Instagram. “Hey,” he tagged the church in the post, “how much are you paying your musicians that they can afford $800 kicks? Let me get on the payroll!”
Thus began PreachersNSneakers, an Instagram account that put a price tag on the designer clothes worn by America’s celebrity pastors. The account went viral and sparked controversy, and now Kirby has written a book about the lessons he has learned since that first post.
Or, rather, the questions. PreachersNSneakers uses expensive footwear as a springboard for conversation about how pastors and churches should use their influence. Here are the questions Kirby asks:
* Is it OK to get rich off God?
* What do we do with Christian celebrities?
* Does God bless with bling?
* Are lifestyle posts a sin?
* Should faith leaders use platforms for political influence?
* Can self-help and the gospel coexist?
* Where does production value stop and vanity start?
* What happens when a harmless brand becomes our golden calf?
* When can Christians question public figures from afar?
Consider the first question. Scripture teaches that churches should pay their pastors (1 Timothy 5:17–19), but it doesn’t say how much. Usually, on analogy with the business world, the compensation of a pastor (i.e., CEO) is tied to the growth of the congregation (i.e., business). That’s understandable, but Kirby writes, “the idea of making the church more and more like a standard corporation gives me pause.”
Or take the question about production values. A congregation needs a space and place to meet. But how much should a church budget for what Kirby calls “buildings and amenities”? Are stage décor, light and sound systems, coffee machines, and the like — all standard features in most contemporary churches — the best investment of scarce resources? Or, “Has our desire to perform the most ‘excellent’ service and production slowly transitioned into being a vain practice to cater to human desires?”
Kirby doesn’t answer any of these questions definitively. After 31 years of continuous ministry, I can’t either. What is needed in any case isn’t a hard-and-fast rule but a heart shaped by the gospel. “While many of the questions I have raised don’t have super-defined answers (yet),” he writes, “I believe that we can actively push toward a more humble and generous posture, constantly emulating Jesus’ lifestyle.”
Amen to that!
Book Reviewed
Ben Kirby, PreachersNSneakers: Authenticity in an Age of For-Profit Faith and (Wannabe) Celebrities (Nashville, TN: W Publishing, 2021).
P.S. If you liked my review, please click “Helpful” on my Amazon review page.
P.P.S. This review is cross-posted from InfluenceMagazine.com with permission.
June 5, 2023
I requested this book because the description sounded good, but it seems like I’m out of the loop because almost all my Christian friends have heard of the instagram account: preachersnsneakers. But if you’re like me, Preachers n Sneakers is an account that points out when famous pastors wear very expensive clothes, because there’s something off about it. This book expands on the concept and discusses topics like:
- Making money while in Church ministry (is there such thing as paying pastors too much?)
- Christian celebrities
- Posting on Instagram
- The new form of Prosperity Gospel
- The role of politics in religion
- Church merchandise (I didn’t even know this was a thing?)
- Callout culture
As you can imagine, with this many topics, it’s going to be hard to dig deep into any of them (I mean, the issue of money and the Church can be the subject of many books). However, Preachers n Sneakers manages to give the reader an overview of the issues, which is enough information to get people to think about it. I think this would actually make for good cell-group/youth group material because each chapter ends with discussion questions. The last chapter of the book has some practical tips from the author, but in general I would classify this as a book that makes you think rather than a book that tells you what to do.
Additionally, this book is very American-centric in its view. But, I think that this book is important to Christians outside of America because America’s version of Christianity has an outsized influence. If we’re not aware of some of the problematic trends that are going on in the Church in America, then we might unintentionally bring them to our country.
In terms of style, the prose is fairly sarcastic and very “internet” (if that makes sense), so I imagine it’s going to appeal more to young people than older folks/people who don’t use the Internet, who might not even know that these issues exist.
Overall, I think this is a very accessible and important book for young Christians today. Preachers n Sneakers goes beyond a critique of pastors wearing expensive clothes and looks at the phenomenon of Internet fame, consumer culture, and even politics and how it all intersects with the Christian faith – things that are relevant to all believers in Jesus.
Also, it has the best dedication I’ve seen so far.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley, but all thoughts are my own.
This review was first posted at Eustea Reads
- Making money while in Church ministry (is there such thing as paying pastors too much?)
- Christian celebrities
- Posting on Instagram
- The new form of Prosperity Gospel
- The role of politics in religion
- Church merchandise (I didn’t even know this was a thing?)
- Callout culture
As you can imagine, with this many topics, it’s going to be hard to dig deep into any of them (I mean, the issue of money and the Church can be the subject of many books). However, Preachers n Sneakers manages to give the reader an overview of the issues, which is enough information to get people to think about it. I think this would actually make for good cell-group/youth group material because each chapter ends with discussion questions. The last chapter of the book has some practical tips from the author, but in general I would classify this as a book that makes you think rather than a book that tells you what to do.
Additionally, this book is very American-centric in its view. But, I think that this book is important to Christians outside of America because America’s version of Christianity has an outsized influence. If we’re not aware of some of the problematic trends that are going on in the Church in America, then we might unintentionally bring them to our country.
In terms of style, the prose is fairly sarcastic and very “internet” (if that makes sense), so I imagine it’s going to appeal more to young people than older folks/people who don’t use the Internet, who might not even know that these issues exist.
Overall, I think this is a very accessible and important book for young Christians today. Preachers n Sneakers goes beyond a critique of pastors wearing expensive clothes and looks at the phenomenon of Internet fame, consumer culture, and even politics and how it all intersects with the Christian faith – things that are relevant to all believers in Jesus.
Also, it has the best dedication I’ve seen so far.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley, but all thoughts are my own.
This review was first posted at Eustea Reads
August 24, 2023
I found this to be an incredibly thought-provoking audiobook listen. The author, Ben Kirby, is the narrator - he brings to the table some really important questions Christians should be asking themselves about how we use social media, our relationship to brands, and how we view & uphold “celebrity“ Christians. I appreciated his deep commitment to the Word and the desire he portrayed to help others follow Christ with authenticity. He’s self-deprecating & self-indicting; he’s not afraid to call out others, but also not afraid to work through the criticism his platform has received.
I’ll be thinking about the issues presented in this book awhile…
I’ll be thinking about the issues presented in this book awhile…
April 25, 2021
I honestly did not know about the PreachersNSneakers insta account until I started seeing prepub information about this book. After reading the summary and looking at the insta I decided to give it a read and thoroughly enjoyed it. Ben has written a careful, thoughtful book that recognizes the inherent tensions in using social media to point out the cash value of clothing items worn by Christian celebrity pastors, preachers, and worship leaders. While he does provide information, perspectives, and biblical truth to back up his thesis, Ben mostly just poses question about the intersection of faith, celebrity, wealth, and the new prosperity gospel. His humbleness, conviction, and deep love for the church shine through even as he examines and critiques some of the realities that have arisen from the megachurch Christianity. I would highly recommend and think this book is well-worth the read, regardless of your opinions about his Instagram account.
April 30, 2022
really interesting and funny idea for an instagram page, which has in turn launched some interesting and funny conversations. unfortunately, this book doesn’t really deliver on the promise of the premise. the crossover of fashion/wealth/materialism with the so-called emerging church is a fascinating topic, but it feels like the author doesn’t really know what he wants to say and doesn’t want to take any real stance. so every chapter ends with open ended meandering questions, like you’re trapped in a bible study with someone who knows how to act like they’re saying something but maybe not really able to say anything. so maybe it’s just more emerging church vibes.
March 31, 2022
Fascinating and so well written! I listened to the audiobook and highly recommend as there is bonus content at the end that is so enlightening.
I found out about Ben through the documentary on Hillsong Worship that recently came out on Discovery Plus and was impressed with Ben's comments and perspective. I immediately looked up the book (prior to even finishing said documentary) and found the book thought-provoking and challenging.
I found out about Ben through the documentary on Hillsong Worship that recently came out on Discovery Plus and was impressed with Ben's comments and perspective. I immediately looked up the book (prior to even finishing said documentary) and found the book thought-provoking and challenging.
December 13, 2021
In 2019 Ben Kirby missed church and decided to watch some worship music online. When he saw the lead vocalist of Elevation Church's worship team wearing $800 sneakers it irritated him even if he didn't fully understand why. That lead to the Instagram account PreachersnSneakers that posted pictures of celebrity pastors wearing ridiculously expensive clothing and shoes. What started as a whim based on Kirby's own sneaker obsession combined with his Christian faith, blew up and went viral. Some people praised him for pointing out the contradiction between pastors and wealth, while others felt like he was pointing fingers without all the information or trying to defame pastors. Kirby admits that he didn't have an agenda when he created the now infamous account, but merely wanted to shine a light on issues surrounding Christianity, celebrity, and consumer-culture. He openly admits that he does NOT have all the answers, but feels like this is an issue that increasingly needs to be addressed in churches and that Christians need to wrestle with in their own lives. There is definitely a lot to think about and I really liked that he didn't try to pretend that he has all the answers. The last chapter gives some questions and things to think about from several sources related to Christianity and money.
I wasn't familiar with PreachersnSneakers from the very beginning, but it was on my radar and when I saw this book was coming out I decided to check it out. I'm really glad I did because Kirby is a great writer and I was blown away by how well done this book is and how well he covered this topic. Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this one.
There were a lot of quotes I liked:
"The world's most famous pastors and their followers messaged me to say that I was divisive, that I was being a gossip, and that I would ultimately have to account for the souls lost (to hell, apparently) due to my posts. Let that sink in for a minute. Christ followers felt so strongly about my pointing to the value of their favorite faith personalities' footwear that they questioned my salvation and prescribed eternal judgement for my actions. You could say I'd touched a nerve." (p. 6)
"No one can say for sure whether this was an elaborate ploy or if Jesus really wreaked the rapper's [Kanye West] world. Either way, we should ask whether pushing a brand-new believer into the pulpit two seconds after his conversion is the wisest route. Maybe we should allow converts - celebrity or otherwise - to explore their faith more deeply before hailing them as role models for the next generation of religious young people." (p. 44)
[On the prosperity gospel] "I grew up thinking that God's blessing was that we are saved from eternal damnation in a fiery pit of death. But these leaders take it down a few notches and connect blessings to dream jobs, wedding anniversaries, expensive vacations, luxury vehicles, and of course, rare sneakers." (p. 61)
"If only God had sent a representative to earth to model how we should view health, wealth, possessions, power, fame, and status. Oh, wait.
Jesus amplified the idea that the poor, weary, and beaten down are actually blessed, loved, and even elevated in the eyes of God. This seemingly proved that He was God's Son and not some poser with slick words, because that idea was so countercultural for the time - and it still is." (p. 65)
"Connecting the faith I so strongly believe in with a political movement or party that I do not feel as strongly about feels like I am being forced into one of two groups of which I do not want to be a part." (p. 118)
"While the Bible promotes obedience to the government and political leaders through paying taxes and praying for those God has placed in leadership, we never find Jesus promoting, politicking, or stumping for a political leader...The gospel seeks to unite us to a Person, not a party, and I fear that many of those claiming to follow Christ are more worried about the latter than the former." (p. 121)
"At what point, though, are we willing to say as believers in Jesus that all our production, equipment, amenities, and commerce have become gluttonous or vain? Where does production excellence stop and vanity start? I totally get the argument that if God has gifted us with talents and abilities, we should use those for His glory in the most excellent way possible and to reduce distractions from Him. That could include using lights and sound in an excellent way. But when is it too much? Can it be too much? This is a macro level of the same discussion of whether or not it's okay for preachers to wear expensive sneakers." (p. 153)
"This whole conversation begs a bigger question about those Christians who choose to be public figures: Do we still owe them the Matthew 18 treatment of going to them in private if they've chosen to put their whole lives on display? If you sign up for the benefits, followers, and influence of being a massive public figure, should those followers still admonish, question, or encourage you privately? How is this supposed to work? There isn't much in the Bible about the topic of how to address sin with people whose lives are on display for all to see, and I still struggle with what to do. Are we supposed to just trust that these guys have a circle of advisors who are holding them accountable? Is their local church body holding them accountable? Many megachurches are led by single families and don't even have elders...Can we then use a larger platform to call out sin? I'm just now sure." (p. 191)
I wasn't familiar with PreachersnSneakers from the very beginning, but it was on my radar and when I saw this book was coming out I decided to check it out. I'm really glad I did because Kirby is a great writer and I was blown away by how well done this book is and how well he covered this topic. Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this one.
There were a lot of quotes I liked:
"The world's most famous pastors and their followers messaged me to say that I was divisive, that I was being a gossip, and that I would ultimately have to account for the souls lost (to hell, apparently) due to my posts. Let that sink in for a minute. Christ followers felt so strongly about my pointing to the value of their favorite faith personalities' footwear that they questioned my salvation and prescribed eternal judgement for my actions. You could say I'd touched a nerve." (p. 6)
"No one can say for sure whether this was an elaborate ploy or if Jesus really wreaked the rapper's [Kanye West] world. Either way, we should ask whether pushing a brand-new believer into the pulpit two seconds after his conversion is the wisest route. Maybe we should allow converts - celebrity or otherwise - to explore their faith more deeply before hailing them as role models for the next generation of religious young people." (p. 44)
[On the prosperity gospel] "I grew up thinking that God's blessing was that we are saved from eternal damnation in a fiery pit of death. But these leaders take it down a few notches and connect blessings to dream jobs, wedding anniversaries, expensive vacations, luxury vehicles, and of course, rare sneakers." (p. 61)
"If only God had sent a representative to earth to model how we should view health, wealth, possessions, power, fame, and status. Oh, wait.
Jesus amplified the idea that the poor, weary, and beaten down are actually blessed, loved, and even elevated in the eyes of God. This seemingly proved that He was God's Son and not some poser with slick words, because that idea was so countercultural for the time - and it still is." (p. 65)
"Connecting the faith I so strongly believe in with a political movement or party that I do not feel as strongly about feels like I am being forced into one of two groups of which I do not want to be a part." (p. 118)
"While the Bible promotes obedience to the government and political leaders through paying taxes and praying for those God has placed in leadership, we never find Jesus promoting, politicking, or stumping for a political leader...The gospel seeks to unite us to a Person, not a party, and I fear that many of those claiming to follow Christ are more worried about the latter than the former." (p. 121)
"At what point, though, are we willing to say as believers in Jesus that all our production, equipment, amenities, and commerce have become gluttonous or vain? Where does production excellence stop and vanity start? I totally get the argument that if God has gifted us with talents and abilities, we should use those for His glory in the most excellent way possible and to reduce distractions from Him. That could include using lights and sound in an excellent way. But when is it too much? Can it be too much? This is a macro level of the same discussion of whether or not it's okay for preachers to wear expensive sneakers." (p. 153)
"This whole conversation begs a bigger question about those Christians who choose to be public figures: Do we still owe them the Matthew 18 treatment of going to them in private if they've chosen to put their whole lives on display? If you sign up for the benefits, followers, and influence of being a massive public figure, should those followers still admonish, question, or encourage you privately? How is this supposed to work? There isn't much in the Bible about the topic of how to address sin with people whose lives are on display for all to see, and I still struggle with what to do. Are we supposed to just trust that these guys have a circle of advisors who are holding them accountable? Is their local church body holding them accountable? Many megachurches are led by single families and don't even have elders...Can we then use a larger platform to call out sin? I'm just now sure." (p. 191)
January 6, 2022
Consumerism/Captitalism and the Church, my favorite thing! But actually, it's an easy read and asks important questions for us in the West with Church. I may be less "in the middle" than Kirby on this issue, but it still made me think. I'm still thinking.
October 10, 2024
It doesn't really cover any new territory (at least, to me, maybe these conversations were fresher when the book came out, they were certainly fresh when the Instagram was started). But there's definitely a lot of importance and value to these conversations, and we should be having them.
On the flip side, I find it slightly ironic that Kirby's own writing sometimes leans too far for comfort into self aggrandizing, such as providing a laundry list of named famous people who he's been able to talk to because of the Instagram he started. We didn't need names, and I would have taken the whole book more seriously without that. In general there's something about Kirby that doesn't sit right with me, and has especially bothered me since he announced a few weeks ago that he's selling his titular Instagram.
All that being said, I still think he has some valuable things to say, and I appreciate the way God has used him and his Instagram to spark larger conversations and wrestlings within the larger church culture.
On the flip side, I find it slightly ironic that Kirby's own writing sometimes leans too far for comfort into self aggrandizing, such as providing a laundry list of named famous people who he's been able to talk to because of the Instagram he started. We didn't need names, and I would have taken the whole book more seriously without that. In general there's something about Kirby that doesn't sit right with me, and has especially bothered me since he announced a few weeks ago that he's selling his titular Instagram.
All that being said, I still think he has some valuable things to say, and I appreciate the way God has used him and his Instagram to spark larger conversations and wrestlings within the larger church culture.
April 9, 2023
It’s no surprise that the questions in this book are being asked by todays Christians. Especially since Gen Z and millennials want things to be more authentic, transparent and held to higher standards. The price of mega church pastors shoes weren’t all that was discussed in this book. Church merch, politics, celebrity conversions, and cancel culture were also discussed. Ben never starts the book saying he knows all the answers- if anything he was pretty humble at admitting the flaws with his Instagram account when he started it. He just leaves you will more why questions 🤪. But these are good questions you should want to ask, especially if you’re choosing a new church & that new church is a mega church.
September 14, 2023
I think that Ben’s diagnosis is exactly correct- that these are all things that need to be thought about and discussed. I didn’t think that he had a super strong prognosis for what the church should do, other than just think about these things. I hope that he is able to do that more in the future!
January 16, 2022
As a preacher who loves sneakers, of course I'm going to read this book. Raises some great questions about wealth, consumerism, social media, and celebrity in the American church. Loved the author's transparency about his own struggles in these areas.
I found myself wishing this book had been written by someone with a bit more of a sturdy biblical and theological framework. His arguments, though sincere, felt very proof-texty and weren't as ironclad as he made them seem. I think he also is a bit more hopeful than I am that the American church can somehow harness things like social media, "call-out culture", and celebrity for good. I can't help but think us using our online "platforms" is not how Jesus wants his kingdom to be built. Is it possible that social media is a net negative for the church? I think so. But that's just one man's opinion.
This book made me want to delete Instagram, read a bunch of Wendell Berry, and devote myself to my local church. That's not a bad idea...
Overall, a worthwhile read but not without it's shortcomings.
I found myself wishing this book had been written by someone with a bit more of a sturdy biblical and theological framework. His arguments, though sincere, felt very proof-texty and weren't as ironclad as he made them seem. I think he also is a bit more hopeful than I am that the American church can somehow harness things like social media, "call-out culture", and celebrity for good. I can't help but think us using our online "platforms" is not how Jesus wants his kingdom to be built. Is it possible that social media is a net negative for the church? I think so. But that's just one man's opinion.
This book made me want to delete Instagram, read a bunch of Wendell Berry, and devote myself to my local church. That's not a bad idea...
Overall, a worthwhile read but not without it's shortcomings.
January 26, 2023
I thought this was an okay look at a controversial subject - famous preachers living in luxury and wearing expensive clothes, specifically uber-pricey tennis shoes while their congregants and many people who support them work hard to provide for their families. It's definitely a subject worth discussing! On a personal note: the author strikes me as a very likeable and sincere guy. He seems like he'd be a lot of fun to hang out with. He probably brings the party with him wherever he goes.
That said, the book itself reads like a journal/diary at times. It was also filled with a ton of questions that the author wrestled with but he rarely seemed to come up with concrete answers or solid conclusions. And there was a lot of name-dropping of famous people he hung out with or who had promoted his site yet he criticized pastors for doing the same thing. I thought it was quite a stretch when the author equated churches producing merchandise and Christians buying that merchandise as being on the level of the Israelites worshiping the golden calf in the desert as recounted in Exodus 32. (Pg 170)
A couple of quotes I liked -
"The gaudy church buildings, worship productions, and larger-than-life celebrity leaders have reduced the appearance of Jesus to just another form of weekend entertainment that resembles a pyramid scheme where the people at the top collect the spoils and the commoners at the bottom continue to spend their wheels, hoping for more. We have allowed our churches to become inadvertent temples to fashion, production, and comfort, all in the name of relatability and being approachable..." (198)
"Up to this point, public questions about pastor's lifestyles have been regulated to only the top five richest guys, as we make fun of their private jets and quaint mansions. There is general consensus about that being ridiculous, but now (I hope) more Christians are willing to ask about the new market of faith leaders and the benefits of their ministries versus the risks. Namely, whether the hype-priests and prosperity pastors of today are just furthering the Christian entertainment marketplace, starving the need for actual biblical teaching and in the meantime lining their pockets and building up their platforms and influence." (199)
That said, the book itself reads like a journal/diary at times. It was also filled with a ton of questions that the author wrestled with but he rarely seemed to come up with concrete answers or solid conclusions. And there was a lot of name-dropping of famous people he hung out with or who had promoted his site yet he criticized pastors for doing the same thing. I thought it was quite a stretch when the author equated churches producing merchandise and Christians buying that merchandise as being on the level of the Israelites worshiping the golden calf in the desert as recounted in Exodus 32. (Pg 170)
A couple of quotes I liked -
"The gaudy church buildings, worship productions, and larger-than-life celebrity leaders have reduced the appearance of Jesus to just another form of weekend entertainment that resembles a pyramid scheme where the people at the top collect the spoils and the commoners at the bottom continue to spend their wheels, hoping for more. We have allowed our churches to become inadvertent temples to fashion, production, and comfort, all in the name of relatability and being approachable..." (198)
"Up to this point, public questions about pastor's lifestyles have been regulated to only the top five richest guys, as we make fun of their private jets and quaint mansions. There is general consensus about that being ridiculous, but now (I hope) more Christians are willing to ask about the new market of faith leaders and the benefits of their ministries versus the risks. Namely, whether the hype-priests and prosperity pastors of today are just furthering the Christian entertainment marketplace, starving the need for actual biblical teaching and in the meantime lining their pockets and building up their platforms and influence." (199)
October 30, 2024
Ben Kirby enlists Joel McHale to pitch his new show in the introduction to this slim volume. McHale’s stance made me think that it was going to be filled with laugh out loud moments and I'm sorry to report that this is not the case. I am, however, happy to report that the book is something I'd heartily recommend to my fellow atheists and agnostics.
Kirby had a grudge against sneaker wearing preachers five years ago, stemming from his memory of a preacher who came down the road riding a Harley worth more than his family's annual income. He also knows about sneakers (and tells the story about how he came to know so much about them), he sees a preacher wearing some sick kicks worth multiple thousand dollars at the pulpit, makes an Instagram account posting his find and goes viral. He gets both love and hate for his posts, he gets both encouraging and threatening DMs and he gets people talking. Throughout the book he takes the reader to various corners of american Christianity, from how communities form, what's the deal with the Prosperity Gospel, what kind of Christianity is trending (Hint: big city, abandoned warehouse, a few junkies and prostitutes in attendance), what's the deal with all the megachurches and conferences (Hint 2: these guys promote each other and this turns out to be very lucrative if they've also got secondary products to sell, like books, t-shirts, caps or tote bags) and even how cancel culture works in this environment where it's actually as old as Martin Luther's 95 theses pinned to the church door in Wittenberg. This whole journey is filled with a lot of soul searching, difficult questions regarding values, faith and doctrine and also a plethora of bible quotes complete with chapter and verse numbers.
Kirby had a grudge against sneaker wearing preachers five years ago, stemming from his memory of a preacher who came down the road riding a Harley worth more than his family's annual income. He also knows about sneakers (and tells the story about how he came to know so much about them), he sees a preacher wearing some sick kicks worth multiple thousand dollars at the pulpit, makes an Instagram account posting his find and goes viral. He gets both love and hate for his posts, he gets both encouraging and threatening DMs and he gets people talking. Throughout the book he takes the reader to various corners of american Christianity, from how communities form, what's the deal with the Prosperity Gospel, what kind of Christianity is trending (Hint: big city, abandoned warehouse, a few junkies and prostitutes in attendance), what's the deal with all the megachurches and conferences (Hint 2: these guys promote each other and this turns out to be very lucrative if they've also got secondary products to sell, like books, t-shirts, caps or tote bags) and even how cancel culture works in this environment where it's actually as old as Martin Luther's 95 theses pinned to the church door in Wittenberg. This whole journey is filled with a lot of soul searching, difficult questions regarding values, faith and doctrine and also a plethora of bible quotes complete with chapter and verse numbers.
March 7, 2025
This felt like a waste of time. I watched an hour long podcast episode where he was the guest and apparently I learned everything I needed to know cause there was nothing new in this book. Kirby wants to be hip and cool and use a celebrity for his forward and talk about all the great things he’s gotten in his life but he “calls it out” so we cannot call him a hypocrite. One example of his hypocritical behavior is in a line from the book he says, “In the words of the prophet DJ Khaled, ‘Congratulations,you played yourself.” I mean is that not delusional?! He wants to use all the hip clout and pop culture references but calls out any other Christian public figure who does the same. Also the amount of generalizations made is wild, he overgeneralizes every group from churches, to millennials, to Gen Z, to boomers, to both major political parties and it is exhausting. He assumes that every young Christian has had the exact same life experiences as him and therefore struggles with the same things as him and has the same convictions. In every chapter he points the finger at other people and points out problems(which I think are good points at times) but then he gives no solutions, which I don’t necessarily think he is qualified to do, but that brings me to what I think is a fair question. What is the point of this book then? Simply pointing out things that you think are problems(some good points and some bad) and then starting the next chapter without any resolution is not sustainable. I struggled through this book to say the least.
February 27, 2024
solid 3 stars.
Overall, this book wasn't bad. It's full of great questions to ponder regarding Christian celebrities, appeals to a fallen world, and our public portrayals of faith, especially on social media. Some parts, in my opinion, were lacking in theological depth, but the author is a layman. I also wish he shared the gospel more directly. Christians and non-Christians follow Mr. Kirby. In fact, many of the "Christians" quoted have some...questionable beliefs. This book would have been a fantastic opportunity to call everyone reading to repentance and implore them to place their faith in Christ fully.
Even if you don't get around to reading this book, definitely check out the preachersnsneakers insta account. The Lord truly does work in mysterious ways...and colorways!
Overall, this book wasn't bad. It's full of great questions to ponder regarding Christian celebrities, appeals to a fallen world, and our public portrayals of faith, especially on social media. Some parts, in my opinion, were lacking in theological depth, but the author is a layman. I also wish he shared the gospel more directly. Christians and non-Christians follow Mr. Kirby. In fact, many of the "Christians" quoted have some...questionable beliefs. This book would have been a fantastic opportunity to call everyone reading to repentance and implore them to place their faith in Christ fully.
Even if you don't get around to reading this book, definitely check out the preachersnsneakers insta account. The Lord truly does work in mysterious ways...and colorways!
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April 25, 2023this was a great book. i appreciate PreachersNSneakers (Ben Kirby) for asking the questions we're all thinking!
he is also very humble and willing to admit where he went wrong in the past, which was unexpected but great.
if you're a christian, i highly recommend this book!
if you're not a christian, just know we're questioning those pastors who seem to be profiting off the gospel too, and it also makes us feel icky. we're working on it.
he is also very humble and willing to admit where he went wrong in the past, which was unexpected but great.
if you're a christian, i highly recommend this book!
if you're not a christian, just know we're questioning those pastors who seem to be profiting off the gospel too, and it also makes us feel icky. we're working on it.
May 23, 2022
This book is more about faith and how to handle with being rich, or what to spend money on. And I think the author Ben Kirby nailed the Zeitgeist by confronting the church by consumerism, capitalism and celebrity culture. I can highly recommend this book, if you look for a humorous and serious book, that might also make you think deep.
September 12, 2022
This was a quick and easy read, but actually a lot more deep than I expected it to be. I thought it would be light and fluffy about the Instagram account called PreachersNSneakers. But it actually left me with lots of questions. Interesting questions about money in the church, power, politics, and celebrity Christians.
March 6, 2023
This book brought many questions and answers to what we SHOULD be asking the church today. The church, being our leadership & also ourselves. It is essential to thinking beyond our individualistic concept of church today.
The author did a great job at calling out the church community today while also calling out himself & us “common Christians” on how we’re living in modern day church world.
How can we be better? We need to start there.
The author did a great job at calling out the church community today while also calling out himself & us “common Christians” on how we’re living in modern day church world.
How can we be better? We need to start there.
January 23, 2024
wow! i loved this one! super engaging, entertaining, and thought-provoking read
January 12, 2022
Asks some good questions about Western celebrity Christian culture and my own complicity in what I value.
May 3, 2021
As a dedicated follower of PNS since day 1, I was really excited about this book. But also as a guy who likes to read meaty theology books, I had low expectations. I was blown away while reading! Kirby lays out his heart behind PNS and leads the reader into conversations that are uncomfortable but important. I really enjoyed this read!
June 14, 2021
My book club read this book and I’m so glad we did! We typically select fairly heady theological classics, but this one feels so relevant to the conversation about about culture, politics, wealth and the church. Ben asks great questions and brings us back to scripture and looking at all things through a biblical lens. Very fast, engaging, entertaining read that has challenged me personally.
June 6, 2021
There were a lot of really good points made in this book. It was easy and enjoyable to read. Coming from a more traditional/liturgical background, I was equal parts amazed and appalled at what I learned about celebrity Christians and their culture here.
February 8, 2023
It’s fine. The chapter that dives into the online sneaker scene and why shoes cost so much was super interesting. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the book. The vast majority of the book reads more like a journal entry from the author and a defense to common criticism he receives for his popular social media account “preachers in sneakers.” I think his criticism of mega church pastors and their expensive clothes/shows is warranted and has ultimately been a net positive. No defense needed.
May 5, 2021
Christian fame and wealth, if acquired, should be treaded through lightly and given away freely. Ben gets this spot on.
May 25, 2021
It makes you think about how you spend your money personally and opens up your eyes to the "prosperity gospel" that is so prevalent in today’s mega churches.
May 8, 2021
What started as a silly account mocking pastors for their expensive shoes, belts, and clothing turned into a movement and is now a book. I first followed @preachersnsneakers IG account after my own pastor was called out for his shoe game (he legit has one). It made quite the hullabaloo at church and some people were pissed. But once I went to the account, I really enjoyed the discussions I found. I don’t think you should ever be afraid to look at yourself and wonder if what you’re doing is not just good or right, but helpful and life giving to others.
“the church’s current relationship to fame runs the risk of watering down the gospel and our ability to influence others toward true life change.”
I absolutely loved this thought provoking and often times hilarious book. It’s a great mix of deep questions to ponder and bizarre real life scenarios that make you giggle. And being someone who was raised in small Lutheran churches and now attends a large, big screen mega church, these are questions I’ve actually asked myself.
“the Bible is replete with stories about pitiful, insignificant people being used in ways that changed lives for eternity. The poor and powerless are called “blessed” and the rich and famous are often chastised.”
Ben doesn’t have all the answers, but he doesn’t need to. He’s just created a space to ask the questions and start discussions. Each chapter ends with discussion questions. I read this alone but I found myself wishing I’d done it as a bible study. And often times, I read passages aloud to my husband and went over the questions with him.
“reimagining fame as an asset for Christian ministry is a far cry from the movement’s origins that often highlighted the poor, weak, lonely, marginalized, and overlooked.”
Growing up, my pastors were not “cool”. They were quiet, old, middle aged men. But I didn’t NEED them to be. I needed wisdom and direction and peace. So what has changed in our society and culture that has brought about a wave of “hip” pastors bearing tattoos and expensive shoes riding Harley’s to church? And do we care? Should we be concerned or should we just be thankful for a new wave of people coming to church and feeling welcomed?
Throughout the book, Ben asks these types of questions:
*is it ok to gain fame from religion?
*Is it problematic to amass wealth from preaching?
*Should church be cool?
*How is capitalism, consumerism, and celebrity changing christianity?
*Do you think there are “appropriate” luxuries for faith leaders to spend money on?
I enjoyed this look at current American church culture and the ethics behind it. I hope it continues to get people thinking, talking, and laughing. It’s good reminder that its OK to wrestle with your faith. It’s OK to questions your leaders. It’s OK to not have the answers and still love Jesus. The relationship with Jesus is what matters, not your shoe game.
Thanks to @tlcbooktours for this book to read, review, and thoroughly enjoy.
To read more reviews, head over TO MY BLOG.
Or see what I'm currently reading over on my INSTAGRAM PAGE.
And now you can even follow my book chats on my BOOKTUBE CHANNEL!
“the church’s current relationship to fame runs the risk of watering down the gospel and our ability to influence others toward true life change.”
I absolutely loved this thought provoking and often times hilarious book. It’s a great mix of deep questions to ponder and bizarre real life scenarios that make you giggle. And being someone who was raised in small Lutheran churches and now attends a large, big screen mega church, these are questions I’ve actually asked myself.
“the Bible is replete with stories about pitiful, insignificant people being used in ways that changed lives for eternity. The poor and powerless are called “blessed” and the rich and famous are often chastised.”
Ben doesn’t have all the answers, but he doesn’t need to. He’s just created a space to ask the questions and start discussions. Each chapter ends with discussion questions. I read this alone but I found myself wishing I’d done it as a bible study. And often times, I read passages aloud to my husband and went over the questions with him.
“reimagining fame as an asset for Christian ministry is a far cry from the movement’s origins that often highlighted the poor, weak, lonely, marginalized, and overlooked.”
Growing up, my pastors were not “cool”. They were quiet, old, middle aged men. But I didn’t NEED them to be. I needed wisdom and direction and peace. So what has changed in our society and culture that has brought about a wave of “hip” pastors bearing tattoos and expensive shoes riding Harley’s to church? And do we care? Should we be concerned or should we just be thankful for a new wave of people coming to church and feeling welcomed?
Throughout the book, Ben asks these types of questions:
*is it ok to gain fame from religion?
*Is it problematic to amass wealth from preaching?
*Should church be cool?
*How is capitalism, consumerism, and celebrity changing christianity?
*Do you think there are “appropriate” luxuries for faith leaders to spend money on?
I enjoyed this look at current American church culture and the ethics behind it. I hope it continues to get people thinking, talking, and laughing. It’s good reminder that its OK to wrestle with your faith. It’s OK to questions your leaders. It’s OK to not have the answers and still love Jesus. The relationship with Jesus is what matters, not your shoe game.
Thanks to @tlcbooktours for this book to read, review, and thoroughly enjoy.
To read more reviews, head over TO MY BLOG.
Or see what I'm currently reading over on my INSTAGRAM PAGE.
And now you can even follow my book chats on my BOOKTUBE CHANNEL!
August 19, 2022
The author, Ben Kirby, was interviewed for one of the Hillsong documentaries. I hadn't heard of him before, but his Instagram account seemed like an interesting idea, so I decided I should pick up the book and learn more.
I was raised in a conservative christian home (it sounds like my upbringing had a few things in common with Kirby's) and while I'm no longer part of any church and don't consider myself a christian, I still thought this was an interesting read. Kirby doesn't try to assume an omnipotent narrative voice. Rather, he expresses that many of the questions in the book are ones that he doesn't have a solid answer to. His purpose in writing 'PreachersNSneakers' was more to explore those questions. I think this is a good stance to take, given how many interpretations of the bible christianity has managed to generate. Kirby does a good job of exploring multiple sides of the issues he considers here. At the end of each chapter are discussion questions to help the reader think more deeply about the topic and analyze their own feelings. That was a nice touch.
Parts of this book did come across as 'preachy' (not surprising, given the subject matter), and that made a few of the chapters feel like they were dragging on and on. There weren't any chapters that I feel should have been cut out entirely, but some of them probably could have been edited down a little. That said, I'm not sure if Kirby had a page or word count he was expected to reach, so maybe that played a part in the longer passages that felt like a youth pastor trying to start a debate.
There were a few points where I felt like the author was trying to skirt around some controversial stances (he mentions homosexuality maybe twice and then quickly continues on without addressing his personal feelings, which I thought might be telling). I was worried his chapter on 'callout culture' was going to go in a really problematic direction, but it didn't. Kirby was willing to acknowledge that denouncing public figures who hurt others may be a worthwhile use of the internet, and I appreciated that. He offered a more nuanced take than I usually read, so kudos to him.
Overall, I liked this book. If you have no desire to read something that feels like a sermon at times, probably skip this. But if you're interested in reading about the moral dilemma of christian celebrities accumulating wealth, I'm sure you could do worse than this.
I was raised in a conservative christian home (it sounds like my upbringing had a few things in common with Kirby's) and while I'm no longer part of any church and don't consider myself a christian, I still thought this was an interesting read. Kirby doesn't try to assume an omnipotent narrative voice. Rather, he expresses that many of the questions in the book are ones that he doesn't have a solid answer to. His purpose in writing 'PreachersNSneakers' was more to explore those questions. I think this is a good stance to take, given how many interpretations of the bible christianity has managed to generate. Kirby does a good job of exploring multiple sides of the issues he considers here. At the end of each chapter are discussion questions to help the reader think more deeply about the topic and analyze their own feelings. That was a nice touch.
Parts of this book did come across as 'preachy' (not surprising, given the subject matter), and that made a few of the chapters feel like they were dragging on and on. There weren't any chapters that I feel should have been cut out entirely, but some of them probably could have been edited down a little. That said, I'm not sure if Kirby had a page or word count he was expected to reach, so maybe that played a part in the longer passages that felt like a youth pastor trying to start a debate.
There were a few points where I felt like the author was trying to skirt around some controversial stances (he mentions homosexuality maybe twice and then quickly continues on without addressing his personal feelings, which I thought might be telling). I was worried his chapter on 'callout culture' was going to go in a really problematic direction, but it didn't. Kirby was willing to acknowledge that denouncing public figures who hurt others may be a worthwhile use of the internet, and I appreciated that. He offered a more nuanced take than I usually read, so kudos to him.
Overall, I liked this book. If you have no desire to read something that feels like a sermon at times, probably skip this. But if you're interested in reading about the moral dilemma of christian celebrities accumulating wealth, I'm sure you could do worse than this.
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