Gray on Defense
Since John Gray is a very active social media influencer, he responded to his critics with an emotional video of how he envisioned the reception to the car purchase.
He denies the notion that he used church funds and qualifies his right to spoil his wife with lavish gifts by disassociating himself from his position. He states:
​
"It wasn't a pastor who bought that car.
It was a husband."
To summarize his main points, here are a few questions he seems challenged by:
-
Can a pastor be a husband first?
-
Am I not a man first?
-
When do I get to express my love for my family?
-
Should I not utilize my hard earned money to honor my family?
-
Why am I receiving so much judgement?
Gray argues that his rights as a husband to cherish and spoil his wife are not at all confused with his role as a pastor. He believes his role as a man of God who is constantly evolving and growing has the right to celebrate God's providence. He works hard: books, speaking engagements, reality show, producing, endorsements, etc. All of his accomplishments generate financial incentives. His response and that of his wife indicate that he sees no harm in sharing his profits with his family. In fact, his interview with The Breakfast Club implied that he typically purchases larger items of value for his family and buys more economical goods for himself. As stated, he views himself as a husband first and pastor second. Remember, this was an eight year anniversary celebration where hundreds of friends and family members were gathered to honor their union. In his eyes, this is nothing more than a luxurious gift from husband to wife.
So why did it mean so much more to the public?
This is where the term "religious imaginary" comes into play. Here is the genesis of my inquiry: People on social media expect a distinct form of authenticity from content creators. People demand an even greater form of authenticity from religious leaders, especially in the American context of Christian evangelicalism and its complications. This intersection of visual culture, communication dynamics, religiosity, American Christianity, gender, race, and class all merge into the complicated picture of John Gray. Our collective memory of pastoral figures in the modern era forms a religious imaginary, which acts as a barometer for morally upright religious leaders. In this case, the Christian condition has become a broadly prescribed recipe for greed and neoliberal ideologies to the extent that being a Christian leader has become synonymous with scandal and corruption if you are rich.