Easter Controversies To Avoid (cont.)
Easter Outfits and the Problem of Perception
On Easter Sunday, churches, worship styles, and pastors all are under scrutiny. Another potential distraction is clothing, especially when worshipers perceive that a preacher’s style of dress is too extravagant.
A notable example involved the uproar over a megachurch pastor’s Easter outfit in 2024. Steven Furtick, pastor of Elevation Church in Matthews, North Carolina, wore what some people called a bright pink “grandma sweater.” Adding to the controversy, that sweater reportedly had a price tag of $2,000.
Online comments roundly criticized the pastor’s fashion choice. “Bro’s sweater has more holes than his theology,” one person joked on social media. Someone else posted, “$2k to dress like a Golden Girl?” Other people defended Furtick’s freedom to dress as he chooses. But the debate about luxury apparel clashed with the humility and sacrifice that are central to Christianity and Easter.
Even when pastors have good intentions, perception matters. Consider what message your appearance sends to unchurched people—and whether your wardrobe draws attention to Christ or away from Christ. For visitors who might think Christians are hypocrites, visible displays of wealth can reinforce their skepticism. So at Easter, stay focused on our Savior, who set aside glory, endured humiliation, and willingly gave his life for us.
Easter Appeals and Promises of Prosperity
In spring 2025, Pastor Paula White called the upcoming Passover–Easter season a “divine appointment” to receive “seven supernatural blessings and provision.” White, the personal pastor of President Trump and leader of the White House Faith Office, urged people to donate “$1,000 or more, as the Holy Spirit leads.” In exchange, they would receive items including a Waterford crystal cross, an olive wood communion set from the Holy Land, and a Passover devotional.
“You’re not doing this to get something,” White said. “But you’re doing it in honor to God, realizing what you can receive.” She quoted Exodus 23:15, saying, “None shall appear before me empty-handed.”
Critics, including some pastors, labeled White a false teacher and accused her of promoting prosperity theology. Noting that faith shouldn’t be exploited for financial gain, they said it is theologically unsound and misleading to link promises about blessings to specific donations.
White’s ministry said all donations were voluntary, meant to honor God, and her supporters said the high-profile pastor wasn’t selling a direct guarantee of blessings. Still, the appeal for money put White (and, by extension, all Christian pastors) in a bad light.
It’s fine to collect an Easter offering. In fact, financial giving usually spikes on that Sunday. Just use caution when making appeals. Avoid implying that the more people give, the more they will be blessed. You also might want to announce that visitors aren’t obligated to put money in the offering plate, in case they feel uneasy about expectations.
