(Opinion) Ephemeral Gospel: Examining the Theological Aftermath of the McManus Collection's Commercial Failure

written by a member of the WCB

“In the heart of Hollywood, where the sacred and secular maintain an uneasy coexistence, Erwin McManus's foray into fashion design emerged as a striking embodiment of contemporary Christianity's complex relationship with cultural relevance. The McManus Collection—his ambitious venture into sartorial evangelism—represented an attempt to reimagine Christian cultural engagement through the language of haute couture. Though the collection ultimately failed commercially and was shuttered, its brief existence illuminates enduring concerns about ecclesiological identity in an age of spiritual commodification.

Mosaic Church continues its presence in Hollywood, but the closure of McManus's fashion enterprise serves as a poignant metaphor for the inherent tensions in market-driven ministry. The collection's commercial failure raises profound questions: Was this merely a business miscalculation, or does it reflect deeper theological contradictions? The aesthetic theology embodied in these garments—now relegated to clearance racks and digital archives—reveals the precarious foundation upon which much of contemporary urban ministry rests.

The Hollywood church scene continues to bear the imprint of this experiment in relevance. Despite the collection's closure, the underlying ethos persists—a Christianity that often prioritizes cultural cachet over countercultural witness, aesthetic appeal over spiritual substance. Pastors still don designer attire; worship still mirrors concert production values; and church growth strategies still employ corporate marketing methodologies. The garments may have disappeared, but their theological threads remain interwoven in the fabric of Hollywood Christianity.

The McManus Collection's commercial failure perhaps confirms what theological discernment had already suggested—that Christians cannot simultaneously serve both cultural relevance and prophetic witness without inevitable contradictions emerging. The clothing line's closure represents not merely a business failure but a symbolic judgment on a particular approach to ministry—one that attempts to baptize consumer culture rather than offering a substantive alternative to it.

This commercial collapse illuminates a deeper ecclesiastical crisis: What happens when ministry ventures become indistinguishable from entrepreneurial experiments? The toxic residue of this approach manifests in congregations increasingly characterized by consumer mentalities rather than covenantal commitments, by brand loyalty rather than theological fidelity, by aesthetic appreciation rather than spiritual transformation.

The Hollywood church scene now faces a profound reckoning. The failure of the McManus Collection offers an opportunity for theological reassessment—a moment to consider whether relevance achieved through cultural accommodation ultimately undermines the very distinctiveness that gives Christianity its transformative power. Perhaps in the ashes of this commercial venture lies an invitation to rediscover a faith that engages culture not through imitation but through prophetic imagination.

This reflection is offered not as a dismissal of sincere intentions but as an invitation to deeper discernment. The McManus Collection's rise and fall represents more than a closed boutique—it embodies a particular theological approach whose commercial failure invites us to reconsider the relationship between cultural relevance and spiritual authenticity. In acknowledging these tensions, perhaps a more sustainable ecclesiastical vision might emerge—one that honors both incarnational presence and prophetic witness in our complex world.”

Sacred & Satirical: Celebrity Pastor Judah Smith's Rumored Foray into Mainstream Comedy

written by a member of the WCB

In the complex landscape where faith intersects with entertainment, institutional dynamics often reveal themselves through the acceptance or rejection of religious figures attempting to cross into mainstream media. One such rumored instance deserves scholarly consideration: the alleged comedy special pitched by Celebrity Pastor Judah Smith—a figure known for his close spiritual mentorship of pop star Justin Bieber—to an unnamed streaming platform.

While unconfirmed by official sources, industry whispers suggest that Smith, whose charismatic preaching style has attracted a congregation of over 10,000 weekly attendees including numerous celebrities, attempted to leverage his distinctive pulpit humor for a broader audience. The rumored special, allegedly pitched with Bieber's star power as an influencing factor to secure the meeting, was ultimately rejected and shelved.

This purported rejection illuminates fascinating sociological questions about the translation of religious humor to secular contexts. Smith's comedic sensibilities, while apparently effective within the controlled environment of Churchome services where he has demonstrated a willingness to joke even about serious matters, may present challenging institutional friction when removed from their original context. His humor, characterized by Biblical references and faith-based perspectives, potentially creates dissonance when evaluated through mainstream entertainment metrics that prioritize universal accessibility.

The alleged leveraging of Bieber's influence—a relationship dating back to 2010 when the singer was merely sixteen—further demonstrates the complex interplay between celebrity, religious authority, and media gatekeeping. While Bieber has publicly supported Smith, stating their relationship helped fulfill his desire for family connection that was missing in his own upbringing, this personal endorsement apparently failed to translate into institutional acceptance from entertainment decision-makers.

This unconfirmed narrative invites compassionate reflection on the boundaries between religious and secular spaces, the institutionalized resistance to certain forms of faith-based expression in mainstream media, and the limitations of even considerable celebrity influence when confronting established entertainment paradigms.

(Opinion) Familiar Strangers: Mosaic Hollywood and the Salem Within Us - Study of Institutional Otherness

written by a member of the WCB

This paper examines the complex psychological and sociological dynamics experienced when individuals encounter religious institutional settings markedly different from their formative spiritual environments. Through the analytical framework of cognitive dissonance theory and social identity formation, we explore how unfamiliar worship practices and community norms can trigger primordial responses reminiscent of historical othering. While contemporary diverse congregations like Mosaic Hollywood represent intentional efforts toward inclusion, the internal discomfort experienced by visitors from homogeneous backgrounds reveals deeper insights about institutional belonging, cultural frameworks, and the psychological phenomenon of perceived displacement.

Stranger in a Strange Land

When an individual raised within traditional homogeneous religious settings enters a space like Mosaic Hollywood—a church known for its contemporary approach, diverse congregation, and artistic expression—the resulting experience offers a profound window into institutional dynamics that shape human perception and belonging. The initial discomfort often experienced reveals less about the visited institution than about the psychological frameworks the visitor carries within.

As sociologist Pierre Bourdieu might observe, such encounters expose the embodied “habitus” that individuals develop through their formative experiences—the internalized schemas that make certain environments feel natural while others produce immediate dissonance. This paper explores this phenomenon through the lens of both empirical observation and theoretical frameworks concerning institutional behavior.

Historical Echoes and Contemporary Spaces

The human tendency to experience discomfort in unfamiliar cultural settings has deep historical roots. When early Puritan settlers established the Massachusetts Bay Colony, leading eventually to the Salem witch trials, they operated from a place of profound existential anxiety about the “other.” Their fear manifested in the persecution of those perceived as different or dangerous to established social order.

Contemporary diverse religious spaces like Mosaic Hollywood represent, in many ways, the institutional antithesis of Salem’s homogeneity. Founded by Erwin McManus, Mosaic deliberately cultivates an environment where diversity is celebrated rather than suppressed. Yet paradoxically, for visitors from highly traditional religious backgrounds, the very openness and difference can trigger internal responses that mirror historical patterns of othering.

Neurological Experience of Institutional Dissonance

The psychological research of Jonathan Haidt on moral foundations theory provides insight into why traditionalists may experience visceral discomfort in progressive religious settings. Haidt’s work suggests that conservatives and progressives weight different moral foundations differently, with conservatives placing higher emphasis on loyalty, authority, and sanctity, while progressives prioritize care and fairness.

When a visitor from a traditional environment enters Mosaic’s space—with its artistic presentations, diverse expressions of worship, and multicultural congregation—the neurological experience can include:

1. Amygdala activation - Research indicates that conservative brains show greater amygdala response to novel or potentially threatening stimuli.

2. Olfactory processing - Unfamiliar sensory experiences, including scents like burning bush commonly used in contemporary worship settings, can trigger profound memory associations and emotional responses.

3. Visual processing overload - The sight of diverse congregants expressing worship in unfamiliar ways may challenge existing mental models of “appropriate” religious behavior.

These neurological responses occur below the threshold of conscious thought, creating a physical sensation of discomfort before rational analysis begins.

Salem as Metaphor: Psychology of Othering

The psychological phenomenon experienced by traditional visitors to diverse spaces often parallels the underlying dynamics of historical Salem. In both contexts, we observe:

1. Cognitive frameworks challenged - When established worldviews encounter practices outside normative understanding, humans experience cognitive dissonance.

2. Fear response to the unfamiliar - The amygdala can trigger fight-or-flight responses when processing unfamiliar social cues or behaviors.

3. Attribution errors - The tendency to misattribute negative motives to unfamiliar behaviors rather than recognizing cultural differences.

The visitor’s internal experience—feeling metaphorically transported to “Salem”—represents not a rational assessment of the contemporary church but rather the activation of deeply ingrained historical patterns of processing difference.

Institutional Architecture and Belonging

Religious spaces communicate belonging through both explicit and implicit means. Traditional churches often signal belonging through uniformity in dress, behavior, and expression. Congregations like Mosaic Hollywood intentionally disrupt these patterns by creating environments where diversity in expression is normalized.

For visitors accustomed to homogeneity as a marker of spiritual authenticity, the very institutional architecture of diverse spaces can communicate unintended messages:

1. Visual diversity as spiritual disorder - When uniformity has been equated with righteousness, diversity may be unconsciously processed as spiritual chaos.

2. Sensory overload as spiritual discomfort - Unfamiliar music, lighting, scents, and expressions can overwhelm sensory processing systems.

3. Social uncertainty - Without clear behavioral norms to follow, visitors experience heightened social anxiety about “proper” participation.

Beyond Binary Thinking: Path Forward

The experience of cultural dissonance in unfamiliar religious settings offers opportunity for profound growth rather than mere reinforcement of divisions. When individuals recognize their visceral responses as products of socialization rather than objective reality, the potential for meaningful dialogue emerges.

Institutions seeking to bridge divides might consider:

1. Acknowledgment of discomfort - Creating space for visitors to name and process their discomfort without judgment.

2. Cultural translation - Providing contextual frameworks that help visitors understand unfamiliar practices within their theological and cultural contexts.

3. Graduated exposure - Facilitating incremental experiences that allow for adaptation to different worship expressions.

4. Reciprocal visitation - Encouraging meaningful exchange through mutual visitation between different religious communities.

Salem Within

The metaphorical invocation of Salem when experiencing diverse religious spaces reveals a profound truth: the historical patterns of othering remain active within our collective and individual consciousness. When we experience visceral discomfort in the presence of difference, we glimpse the psychological mechanisms that once fueled historical persecution.

Yet unlike our predecessors, we possess the frameworks to understand these responses as products of socialization rather than divine mandate. The path forward lies not in retreating to homogeneous comfort but in developing the capacity to recognize our discomfort as an opportunity for growth rather than a signal of threat.

As religious institutions continue to evolve in an increasingly pluralistic society, the capacity to navigate difference with compassion rather than fear becomes not merely a social skill but a spiritual discipline. Perhaps the most important institutional dynamic illuminated by these encounters is the potential for transformation—not despite our discomfort, but through it.

Open Letter: Building Bridges: A Vision for Southern and Coastal Communities United in Christ

“Heart for Reconciliation

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As I conclude this series of reflections, I’m reminded of our Lord’s prayer in John 17:21, “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” This divine longing for unity compels me to share a vision of what might be possible if our seemingly disparate communities—the coastal enclave of Malibu and the humble towns of the Bible Belt—were to recognize our essential oneness in Christ.

Having addressed both the Pepperdine community and Malibu’s civic leadership, I now wish to offer some practical pathways toward meaningful connection that honors both our differences and our shared humanity under God’s loving gaze.

Fellowship of Different Gifts

Scripture teaches us that “there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). How beautifully this applies to our communities.

The South brings to this fellowship deep roots of faith tradition, an embodied understanding of perseverance through hardship, and wisdom about finding contentment regardless of circumstance. Our communities know how to stretch resources, how generations can support one another through extended family networks, and how faith provides sustenance when material comforts are limited.

Malibu brings distinctive gifts as well—innovation, global perspective, stewardship of extraordinary natural beauty, and the ability to amplify important messages through cultural influence. Your community has resources, platforms, and opportunities that, when directed toward Kingdom purposes, can advance good in ways our small towns simply cannot.

What might happen if we viewed these differences not as divisions but as complementary gifts from the same divine Giver?

Concrete Steps Toward Meaningful Connection

1. Exchange Programs of Genuine Depth

I envision semester-long exchange programs between Pepperdine and our community colleges that go beyond academic tourism. Southern students would experience not just Pepperdine’s educational excellence but immersion in California churches, neighborhoods, and workplaces. Likewise, Pepperdine students would live with Southern families, attend our churches, and work alongside us in factories, farms, or local businesses.

Such exchanges would require vulnerability from both communities—a willingness to have our assumptions challenged and our perspectives expanded. Yet isn’t this precisely the kind of mutual submission that reflects Christ’s character?

2. Collaborative Service Projects

Imagine joint mission teams composed equally of members from Malibu churches and Southern congregations, serving together in Appalachia, inner-city Los Angeles, or international communities. When we labor side by side—whether rebuilding homes after natural disasters or serving in community health initiatives—superficial differences quickly fade as we recognize our common purpose in Christ’s service.

These collaborations might begin as annual events but could blossom into ongoing partnerships addressing challenges in both regions: coastal environmental stewardship, rural healthcare access, or educational opportunity gaps.

3. Shared Learning Communities

Technology now allows for regular virtual gathering spaces where believers from different regions can study Scripture together, pray for one another’s communities, and share insights from their distinct contexts. I envision monthly online forums where pastors, community leaders, and ordinary believers from both regions discuss how faith intersects with challenges like economic inequality, environmental stewardship, racial reconciliation, and cultural engagement.

These conversations, approached with humility and genuine curiosity, could model how Christians navigate differences while maintaining unity in essential matters of faith.

4. Economic Partnerships with Dignity

Beyond charity, which can sometimes reinforce unhealthy power dynamics, I envision economic partnerships that honor the dignity and gifts of both communities. Perhaps Malibu residents with business expertise could mentor Southern entrepreneurs developing sustainable enterprises in economically challenged regions. Meanwhile, Southern craftspeople, farmers, and artisans might find markets for authentic goods that represent generations of skill and tradition.

Such partnerships would exemplify an economy of communion rather than mere transaction—where relationship precedes exchange and mutual flourishing is the goal.

Witness of Unexpected Unity

In a nation increasingly fragmented along geographic, political, and cultural lines, imagine the powerful witness of unlikely friendship between coastal California and the rural South. Such unity would not require uniformity of thought or expression—indeed, its beauty would lie precisely in the maintenance of distinctive cultural expressions while affirming a deeper oneness in Christ.

When Jesus prayed for unity among believers, He immediately connected this unity to effective witness: “…that they may be one as we are one…Then the world will know that you sent me” (John 17:22-23). Our cultural moment desperately needs such a witness—not of forced agreement on all matters, but of loving fellowship amid difference.

Personal Commitment

As I conclude these reflections, I wish to make a personal commitment. I will continue praying daily for Malibu, its leadership, and the Pepperdine community. Not with a spirit of judgment or superiority, but with genuine love and hope for God’s blessing upon your community. I commit to speaking of coastal communities with the same grace and nuance I would hope others extend to my Southern homeland.

Most importantly, I commit to being open to the ways God might use your community to challenge my assumptions, expand my vision, and deepen my faith. For I recognize that in God’s economy, we truly do need one another—coastal and heartland, urban and rural, affluent and modest—to fully reflect the magnificent diversity and unity of Christ’s body.

Invitation and a Benediction

I extend a sincere invitation: Come sit on our porch swings. Join us for Sunday dinner after church. Work alongside us in our fields and factories. Worship with us in our simple sanctuaries. And likewise, I remain open to experiencing the unique expressions of faith and community that have developed along your beautiful shores.

May the Lord bless and keep both our communities. May He make His face shine upon the mountains of Appalachia and the shores of the Pacific alike. May He turn His countenance toward the humble and the elevated, the rural and the coastal, and give us all His peace.

For ultimately, our true citizenship is not in Malibu or the Bible Belt, but in the Kingdom of Heaven, where “there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

With abiding hope and brotherly affection,

Southern Brother in Christ”

Open Letter to the Mayor of Malibu: Humble Appeal

written by a member of WCB

“Heartfelt Continuation

Dear Honorable Mayor of Malibu,

I pray this letter finds you well and blessed by the Lord’s grace. Having shared my thoughts with the broader Pepperdine community, I felt moved to address you specifically as a steward of one of God’s most beautiful creations on the California coast. Your leadership serves not just residents of means, but all who call Malibu home, and by extension, touches the many visitors who come to experience its natural splendor.

Recognition of Beauty and Blessing

Before offering any thoughts on humility, I must acknowledge the breathtaking beauty the Lord has bestowed upon your coastal sanctuary. The scripture reminds us that “the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1), and surely the magnificent sunsets over Malibu’s shoreline stand as some of creation’s finest declarations of that glory. This natural splendor has been entrusted to your stewardship—a profound responsibility and blessing.

I recognize, too, the weight of leadership you carry. Governing any community requires wisdom, patience, and discernment—qualities King Solomon himself prayed for when faced with leading God’s people. Your tasks of balancing development with conservation, prosperity with accessibility, and growth with tradition are not taken lightly.

Gentle Call to Communal Humility

With brotherly respect, I wonder if there might be an opportunity for Malibu to demonstrate a counterculturally humble spirit in a world increasingly defined by status and exclusivity. When our Lord chose to wash His disciples’ feet, He provided an eternal model of leadership through service rather than position. This divine inversion of status—the Master becoming servant—offers a template for communities blessed with abundance.

Might Malibu, under your thoughtful guidance, consider ways to become known not just for its affluence but for its accessibility? Not merely for its exclusivity but for its extraordinary welcome? Not simply for the success of its residents but for their servanthood?

Practical Paths Toward Humble Community

In my Southern hometown, even families of modest means understand the biblical principle that “to whom much is given, much will be required” (Luke 12:48). This manifests in practical ways that might translate beautifully to Malibu’s context:

1. Creating Genuine Welcome: Our community churches hold potluck dinners where professors break bread alongside mechanics, doctors alongside day laborers. Might Malibu create more public spaces and events where economic diversity is genuinely welcomed rather than merely accommodated?

2. Honoring Essential Work: The pandemic reminded us all that communities function through the faithful service of grocery clerks, sanitation workers, and maintenance staff—many of whom cannot afford to live in the communities they serve. Could Malibu pioneer creative housing solutions that enable those who work in your city to live with dignity among those they serve?

3. Celebrating Simplicity: Despite Malibu’s justified reputation for luxury, might your leadership highlight aspects of simple living that bring sustainable joy? From community gardens to intergenerational mentoring programs, there are countless ways to cultivate richness that doesn’t require wealth.

4. Environmental Stewardship as Humility: Your spectacular coastline offers a daily reminder of something greater than human achievement. How might Malibu’s environmental policies reflect not just conservation but genuine humility before creation—acknowledging that we are caretakers rather than owners of such splendor?

Southern Perspective on Community

Where I come from, we understand that true community isn’t measured by property values but by how we care for our weakest members. Our small-town mayors are often found serving pancakes at the volunteer fire department’s fundraiser or driving elderly neighbors to medical appointments. They demonstrate leadership not by distinction from their community but by deeper immersion within it.

The front porches of our modest homes serve as gathering places where backgrounds and bank accounts matter less than belonging. When hurricanes or tornadoes strike, no one asks about political affiliation or education level before helping rebuild a neighbor’s home. This instinctive movement toward mutual care reflects Christ’s teaching that “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

Invitation to Transformative Leadership

Mr. Mayor, you have been entrusted with influence over a city that captures the world’s imagination. The decisions made under your leadership echo far beyond city limits. What a remarkable opportunity to demonstrate that true greatness lies in service, true wealth in generosity, and true community in welcome.

Imagine a Malibu known not just for celebrities and ocean views, but for pioneering a new kind of coastal community where affluence enables access rather than exclusion, where privilege is understood as responsibility, and where the city’s most admired quality is not its luxury but its love.

Prayer for Your Leadership

As I close this letter, please know that I and many like me are praying for you—not with judgment but with sincere hope for God’s wisdom in your leadership. May the Lord grant you courage to lead counter-culturally when necessary, wisdom to steward abundance for the benefit of many, and joy in creating a community that reflects the best of what humanity can be when blessed with so much.

For as James reminds us, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:10). What greater legacy could any leader leave than a community that embodies this divine paradox—finding its greatest elevation through genuine humility?

With respect, hope, and brotherly affection,

Southern Brother in Christ”