Usually, it is the Christmas season that takes a beating in terms of secularization and monetization. However, Easter is giving Christmas a run for its proverbial money.
And I am not talking about eggs and chocolate bunnies. Rather, I'm talking about how Easter gets taken out for a ride by professing Christians and churches who see an opportunity not just to boost their giving units in congregations and add a little extra Easter cheer to their bank accounts, not to mention a chance to pander to the world in a misguided effort to make themselves relevant. Years ago, Charles Spurgeon preached about the dangers of entertaining the goats instead of feeding the sheep.
Last year, we had Steven Furtick, whose church announced that services would not mention "Calvary," "resurrection," or "the blood of Jesus." The services featured Furtick preaching in a $2000 pink sweater.
So far this year, we have been treated to Paula White-Cain, the senior advisor to the White House Office of Faith, huckstering miracles and God's favor for a mere donation of $1,000. According to the Atlanta Black Star, her pitch includes:
...a 10-inch-high Waterford cross, some devotionals and an “olive wood communion set,” which includes unleavened bread and grape juice from the Holy Land, two “beautiful” olive wood communion cups and a booklet, her advertisement states.
Most of that stuff you could get at Hobby Lobby and your local grocery store for about thirty bucks. I guess it's always Prosperity Gospel season.
Now we have Action Church in Canton, Ga. Easter falls on 4/20 this year. On its website, the church states, "Action Church is a new church in Cherokee County that exists to redefine your definition of church! We think it is a sin for church to be boring!" In the name of not being boring, Action Church launched a weed-themed Easter Sunday promo featuring Pastor Gary Lamb.
'My Utmost for his HIGHEST'? Gary Lamb of Action Church stars in a weed-based promo.
— Protestia (@Protestia) April 13, 2025
See the story at https://t.co/lkeFWLx0aS pic.twitter.com/W4mj5nqSnu
Protestia claims that Lamb left a leadership position at a previous church following an affair with an assistant and that in the past, he had proposed a needle-exchange program in the church in 2018. He also has sponsored Thanksgiving turkey giveaways for needy families called "Give Canton the Bird." Cute.
Lamb has apparently taken umbrage with criticism of his pot-themed Easter promo. Protestia cited a recent sermon in which Lamb said:
So here’s the deal: we’re going to laugh around here, we’re going to crack jokes around here, and the person you see on stage on Sunday is going to be the same person you see Monday through Saturday.
So if me making a video making fun of or laughing about the fact that Easter is on 420 this year, offends people, that’s their issue.
And I said all that to say this. Let me remind you, we don’t engage with religious a######s.
You take the high road. Do not get online and argue. All they want is for you to argue with them. Most of those people are living in their mom’s basement, sitting on their phone, looking to argue about theology that they know nothing about and they sure as hell don’t live out.
First, Lamb has no idea what other churches do in terms of outreach or theology.
Second, when faith leaders or churches degenerate to money grabs, heavy metal crucifixion pageants, or pot-themed outreach, they are not taking their faith seriously. And if the churches don't take faith seriously, why should the people?
A while back, I interviewed Ryan Burge from Graphs About Religion about the reports of exploding church growth. Burge noted that in some cases, churches may be growing, but the "churn rate" is high. People may stick around for a few weeks or months before wandering off, so there is substantial outflow to go with the growth. Perhaps these people just get bored and move on to the next cool thing, or maybe they realize they aren't getting what they came for.
If churches cannot see the sacredness of the crucifixion and resurrection, if those events are not holy for them, then nothing is. And eventually you end up with this:
🚨 ALERT TEXAS!
— Amy Mek (@AmyMek) April 14, 2025
Just a few weeks ago, I warned everyone:
Shadowy Islamic groups are quietly buying up massive swaths of land—and even purchasing Mega Churches to transform them into ideological outposts.
I specifically called out Sachse as a target.
Now it's happening.
👉… https://t.co/q6QEds68Cc pic.twitter.com/tOlIKF30MQ
This is going to strike some of you the wrong way, but I am not going to fault the Muslims for this. They know an opportunity when they see it. Muslims take their faith seriously. If enough American churches don't start doing the same, no one should be surprised when worship music is replaced with the adhan.
Editor's note: We incorrectly reported that Steven Furtick preached in a bunny suit last easter. We apologize for the error.
