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Bishop TD Jakes Says This Is The Most Crippling Sin Society Is Dealing With Today

His upcoming Lifetime films 'Wrath: A Seven Deadly Sins Story’ and ‘Greed: A Seven Deadly Sins Story’ debut on the network on April 16 and April 23.

Bishop TD Jakes is releasing his next two Lifetime films under his Seven Deadly Sins Saga banner and will unravel all of the ins and outs of Wrath and Greed.

Sitting alongside Derrick Williams and Shaun Robinson as executive producers, the upcoming Seven Deadly Sins anthology, based on the books by Victoria Christopher Murray, will debut on Lifetime on April 16 and April 23.

Wrath: A Seven Deadly Sins Story stars Michelle Williams, Tina Knowles-Lawson, Romeo Miller and Antonio Cupo. Greed: A Seven Deadly Sins Story is headlined by Monique Coleman, LisaRaye McCoy, Eric Benét, and Nathan Witte.

RELATED: Bishop T.D. Jakes Talks' Seven Deadly Sins,' Lifetime Movie Anthology

“At one stage in your life it might be lust, at another stage in your life it might be greed,” Jakes says explaining that it is inevitable that we will come face to face with all seven deadly sins. 

“In another stage in your life, you're watching other people [gravitate to their] passion and you might be envious. It kind of depends on where you are. But somewhere along your way, you're going to fail all of them. And ages and stages have a lot to do [with it].”

In a conversation with BET.com, Jakes shares why he takes on films that are filled with jaw-dropping moments, what it was like working with the cast and what sin he believes is the most crippling that society is dealing with today.

BET.com: Last year, you debuted the first two iterations of your Lifetime Seven Deadly Sins Saga films with Lust and Envy. Now you are back with two more iterations Wrath: A Seven Deadly Sins Story and Greed: A Seven Deadly Sins Story.

Why did you choose to tackle these two sins next?

Bishop TD Jakes: We're just following down the path of the book and the text itself on the seven deadly sins and say we're listed in the Bible and then we have this huge dramatization. That centers around how we handle pressure and how different people based on the triggers from the traumas that they have incurred in life are more susceptible to certain things and other people. I thought that Victoria Murray did an amazing job in the novel. And to bring that to film as another layer of integrity to the project.

(Photo: Courtesy of Lifetime)

BET.com: In Wrath viewers will see Michelle Williams, Tina Knowles Lawson, Romeo Miller, and Antonio Cup in the film. And in Greed will see Monique Coleman, LisaRaye McCoy, Eric Benet, and Nathan Witte.

Can you talk to us about how it was to work with the cast for each film?

Bishop TD Jakes: It's a collaborative effort between Lifetime and our organization and all the executive producers get a chance to weigh in on it and try to pick the person that fits the role and has the cache to be able to deliver the kind of dramatic presentation. These films are quite dramatic, you have to have the chops as an actor to be able to deliver that.

(Photo: Courtesy of Lifetime)

BET.com: Now, Bishop, the last time we spoke, we talked about your personal experiences with lust and envy related to the Seven Deadly Sins Saga. When it comes to wrath and greed, how have you been able to live with these sins, and what advice do you have for those who might need a little assistance?

Bishop TD Jakes: The Bible said “Anger rested in the bosom of fools, [TK Verse].” We all get angry but only some of us stay angry. I think it's very dangerous to be led or driven by any emotion as it relates to greed in a capitalist society. You're always having to push away not prosperity, but you do want to push away prosperity that conflicts with other core values that you have. It's alright to be ambitious, but when you get to the point, that you're ambitious and reckless, and that's the point you can cross and not even realize it.

I think one of the great things about this film is the believability of the characters and the relatability of the characters. People tell you don't cross the line but they don't tell you where the line is. And so you have to be able to make a distinction between being reasonably ambitious and being greedy. A lot of times it depends on not so much what you want, but what you're willing to do to get it and you need to set boundaries and allocate a budget on how far you're willing to go to get up.

BET.com: Now, Wrath and Greed are premiering in April on Lifetime. What are some jaw-dropping moments that fans can look forward to?

Bishop TD Jakes: I think you're gonna be really surprised at the character Michelle Williams plays I think you're gonna be really surprised that she defends herself and fights back. [We] certainly [have] the strong Black woman image upheld there.

There are several jaw-dropping moments in the way that the script is written and the way that actors conveyed it and the director directed it. I'm really careful about attaching my name to things and so it's the kind of thing that I think I would watch it! But also think that the target audience of Lifetime will really relate to the struggles of these women with the various areas with whom they have to do it [with].

BET.com: Bishop, the seven deadly sins can be crippling but what sin do you feel is the most challenging today?

Bishop TD Jakes: Oh my gosh, that's a great question!  If you could close your eyes and just point at every one of them. You're gonna see them today. I think it depends on where you are in your life.

What I've really tried to point out is to not demonize the villain but to really get you to see that every villain was at one time of victim. We look at what people do, but we don't look at why people do it. And I think we've done a really good job of pointing to the why behind the what, and we'll never get together as a society until we get past what and start to understand the word.

Don’t forget to watch Wrath: A Seven Deadly Sins Story and Greed: A Seven Deadly Sins Story only on Lifetime on April 16 and April 23 at 8 p.m. ET.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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