Nowadays, with the use of social media - it's hard to differentiate when the majority is participating in something because it's currently in "trend" or if it's out of genuine enjoyment and/or fulfillment. It seems like everyday, there's something new to be apart of or a new bandwagon to jump on. And while this cycle doesn't typically bother me ... jk, it really annoys me. This particular topic is one that's really grinding my gears more than normal. And that's because it has to do with Faith.

Now, let me be clear. Finding your way to faith at any given time is great and I 100% support it, no matter what religion you choose to follow. However, what I find troubling about this is that it feels as though church and celebrating God has been made into like a trend. More specifically, like a Kardashian trend. You know the kind, where a member of that family does or wears something that's been around forever but as soon as they do it, every magazine or outlet wants to suddenly pick it up as an up and coming trend? But I digress.

A few weeks back, I started seeing these videos of Kanye West and a church choir singing random songs all dressed in the same color and I was highly confused. Was it a concert? Was it church? What was it? And there was immediately something about it that struck me the wrong way.

If you're a Kanye West fan, you know that he experimented with church inspired ballads on his album TLOP and it was amazing. The concept was really dope quite frankly, it was a mix of two different worlds that compliment each other and it's one of my favorite Ye albums to date. However, these Sunday Services ... I just don't get it. Is there any message being delivered/received? Or does everyone just congregate at some specific location the day of like a secret concert, dressed in the same colors and watch Kanye play music with a church choir as the background vocals? If anyone could explain its actual purpose to me, that would be great.

What really bothers me is that this was then brought to Coachella. I'm sorry but ... church and Coachella? Make that make sense for me. It seems like a mockery of church and all that it stands for to bring something like that to a music festival that is in no way religious. And on top of that, to then sell religion based merchandise for thousands of dollars? Say it with me ... ridiculous. I think the base of what church is supposed to look like has changed a lot over the years. And there's nothing wrong with that. Whatever works to help you make sense of the world through faith in a higher power - I'm here for. But let's not lose the purpose of it all. Because that purpose is to connect with a higher power. Being that I've just reconnected with my faith and going back to church, I would just hate for this to become a "trend" - especially for those who have not grown up in the Black church to all of a sudden decide to treat it as if it's a big party.

Most of us are aware that our culture is looked down upon and misunderstood when it's ours yet replicated and then celebrated in a better light. This is one part of the culture that I'm really unwilling to be okay with replicating. Where does the line get drawn? I say here.

In the name of Jesus.
Thank You for coming to MY Ted Talk.