Preachers of L.A trailer review pt 1

.:::Shai::..

I was first introduced to the trailer of Preachers of L. A through a Christian Youtube channel called 11:59 news, and our opinions are based off the trailer alone.  When it first starts it gets your attention by showing the pastors preaching to their congregation, saving souls in the world, praying for those who need it, then a beat kicks in and expensive cars start popping up with an introduction of the pastors.  From there the beat changes again and pictures of expensive cars, homes, pastors getting tailored made suits, playing golf followed by these pastors quickly giving scriptures that they think helps justify their riches.  I thought the purpose of the show was to show the struggles of pastors and the gospel of Jesus Christ instead of the riches of these pastors. If this show was whole heartedly about the gospel, and struggles that pastors face, then their riches should have never been advertised nor spoken on unless they’re using their money for the gospel meaning they’re investing their money to help spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.  At the end of the day it shouldn’t be about money, cars, or homes, but saving souls, and the challenges of being a man of God. This is called using the gift God gave you in an idolatrous manner, (in the words of Ellen G. White) “The means which he has lent them to sustain his cause and build up his kingdom are invested in houses and lands, lavished on pride and self-indulgence, and the Giver is forgotten.”

Another thing that disgusted myself and Irra is how Minister Deitrick Haddon made the excuse to a young man that “At the end of the day, he’s still a man”. That is a poor excuse for any human being to use.  I understand no one is perfect but to use that as your crutch/excuse is downright pathetic and disgusting to me. David was man that has made the same mistakes that Detrick Haddon made and instead of justifying his mistakes he owned up to them, and accepted the consequences that God had for him.  He was a king of all tribes, an example, and a leader as well.  Another thing I disliked about Detrick Haddon is how it seems from the trailer that he’s parading around a woman he had an affair with, not as a wife to him, but a baby mother/girlfriend.  In this situation its the principle of the matter, and that principle is she’s the woman he had an affair with, and to parade her around as if it’s all good because she’s now his “girlfriend” still doesn’t make it right.  As Christians we are to set the example, now I’ll let Irra get more in-depth with it

:..::Irra::..:
I'm sure you all have noticed that there aren't many Christian shows on television and if it is you can believe it's not to edify Christ. That's the last thing the world is trying to do so it doesn't surprise me that they have a show for "preachers". Furthermore, look who's network it's on ... Oprah's, a woman who openly denies Christ ... think on that a bit. I first viewed the trailer awhile ago while browsing the net and just the title alone put me off, not to say that there are no genuine preachers in L.A it's just that when the place is mentioned, especially in conjunction with reality t.v my mind automatically thinks, materialism, superficiality, vanity etc and I must say, the trailer is disappointing in that it doesn't disappoint. In other words, it was everything I expected it to be. I have a few issues with this show, just based off the trailer but my main issues are the prosperity message, the materialism and the misrepresentation of Christ and real preachers.

In the trailer the first images we see are a display of lavish houses, luxury cars, one 'preacher' driving in his fresh whip, comparing himself to Jay-z while another is misquoting scripture" stating "God said to be prosperous and I believe wholeheartedly in that" as we can clearly see. You see, "The bible condemns no man for being rich, if he has acquired his riches honestly. Not money but the love of money, is the root of all evil. It is God who gives men the power to get wealth; and in the hands of him who acts as God's steward, using his means unselfishly, wealth is a blessing, both to it's possessor and to the world. But many, absorbed in their interest of worldly treasures, become insensible to the claims of God and the needs of their fellow men. They regard their wealth as a means of glorifying themselves. They add house to house, and land to land; they fill their homes with luxuries, while all about them are human beings in misery and crime, in disease and death. Those who thus give their lives to self-serving are developing in themselves, not the attributes of God, but the attributes of the wicked one" E.G.W "The Ministry of Healing"

My issue with the prosperity message, can't even really call it gospel, is that it is non-biblical and it takes the focus off God and directs it toward earthly things. Jesus said in Matt 6:19-21 "lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt ... but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven ... for where your treasure is there will your heart be also". And I'm pretty sure we all know the tale of the rich man who couldn't part with his wealth in order to pursue a life with with Christ and then Jesus later said "easier is it for a camel to enter the eye of the needle then for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of Heaven". When I first read this I just thought Jesus was using a good metaphor but I later learned that the "eye of the needle" is an actual gateway in Jerusalem that was so small and narrow that the camel couldn't get through unless it first stopped and removed all it's baggage and then it could only get through on it's knees. I'll let that one marinate a bit. Furthermore, If the prosperity gospel is true then it would work in all situations but you take that same message over to some third-world countries where they live and eat amongst garbage, are under government suppression and tell me how far it gets. If blessings are equated with wealth and prosperity then do you mean to tell me that God doesn't love his children over in those impoverished countries? ... so either God isn't who/what he says he is or this message isn't true.

Because of time I didn't get to really hit on all the points I wanted or really sit down and edit but we'll be sure to touch on it in part 2. To be more specific we will touch on the "pimping" of the gospel, mega "preachers" vs real preachers, and the compromising/condoning lawlessness in the church ... stay tuned!