On Wednesday, Jan. 25, GRAMMY® Award-winning gospel recording artist Tina Campbell published an open letter to President Donald J. Trump online.
While some thanked the “Destiny” singer and described her post as a “mature” and “biblical” response to America’s newest shift in power, others let it be known that they weren’t too thrilled about it.
The Gee Tree Creative CEO's attempt to corrall Christians by admonishing them to move away from fear, anger and division, and toward love, unity and forgiveness for Trump, was interpreted by some as support for the president's overall flawed behaviors and rhetoric.
In a portion of the letter expressing her personal convictions and sentiments, Campbell wrote, "I choose to believe that that same power that comes from Almighty God is at work in Mr. Donald Trump, and it will be used for the greater good of this nation and its people."
Many Christians were wildly offended by that.
The new leader is viewed by a large segment of society as racist, xenophobic, sexually predatory, desirous of only self-gain and all things ungodly. Some of the angriest members of this group, rather than parse out the 42-year-old solo artist's statement, viewed it as a wholesale endorsement of everything the controversial Commander-In-Chief stands for.
Lots of fans are assuming that one-half of the duo Mary Mary is suggesting that God is directing the Republican Billionaire CEO whose 90-day refugee ban just sent the world into a frenzy.
The people want to know if she thinks the all-wise, all-loving Savior is guiding Trump as he implements less-than-kind policies toward the needy and disenfranchised.
If you haven't read the original open letter that sparked heated debate and intense criticism, read it here and draw your own conclusions.
To see for yourself how some dissenting voices quickly turned Campbell's pro-Trump post into an anti-Trump roast, go through 10 replies EEW Magazine editors have gathered from those who passionately disagree:
Miranda Jones: The irony is that so few of you artists, who are first believers, wouldn't publicly stand with Kim Burrell, but can stand with President Trump.
Toni Byrd: Tell that to Medgar Evers, Rosa Parks, MLK Jr., The Freedom Riders, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner, those young men and women who sat in at segregated lunch counters. Tell that to the millions of Native American men, women and children murdered for their land and who, to this day, are STILL fighting to keep a pipe line from going through THEIR land. Injustice to one is injustice to all. Even God, himself, fought on behalf of His people. Don't tell us to pray for a man promoting discord, division, racism, sexual misconduct, xenophobia with his narcissistic behavior. There is a difference in respecting the office and supporting the devil. Trump represents his father, the devil. He is for himself and is a great threat to humanity. #NOTMYPRESIDENT
Fran Marie Washington: Can you link the letters you wrote asking for prayers for the Obama family over the last eight years? No, I won't bother sharing this as I haven't seen or heard anything Godly coming out of Trump's mouth.
LaBarbara Watts: A well written letter. BUT such a waste on that demon. There is nothing we can do. His pan is to destroy us and build his empire!! Only God can save us. All your pretty words of explanation mean nothing. Falls into the sell-out position.
Doris Almore Watson: Tina, doesn't the God in you recognize the devil in Trump??!! Everything Trump does and says reeks of racism and hatred. Trump doesn't believe in God because he thinks he is God. There is nothing about him that is Godly or Christ-like. No, I don't support him or his agenda and if you support him, you support all that he stands for.
Doll Kennedy: Now is not the time to engage in bad theology! The old testament is full of people who fought (with the help of God) against oppressive leaders! In the new testament Jesus fought against the oppressive government!
Bad theology causes complacency and justifies one staying in an oppressive situation rather than fighting for good. We do not need to pretend like Pharaoh was elected by the Israelites or that Pilot just needed prayer. Stuff like only serves the enemy fosters more oppression. I choose to follow Jesus and fight for the oppressed! I will fight until hell freezes over and then I'll put on my ice skates and fight some more! The Bible is about oppressed people being freed!
Tyff Tff: Tina Campbell, stop!!! He is a divisive bigot and for you to stand with him is a shame! You can forgive and have empathy but to stand with him... No! So you stand with his unconstitutional policies of banning ALL people from certain countries because of their religious practices? Do you stand with his constant blatant lies he tells the American public on a daily basis? Believing in forgiveness does not mean you have to align yourself with whom you forgive.
Phelisa Smith-Pittman: Just stop already! We already know to pray for our leaders, but why say you support him? You support hatred and bigotry? Really? You support a known liar, and sexual predator? Someone who is compromising our security and freedoms? Really? You support what he is projecting? Cause I thought Jesus said they would know we are his disciples by the LOVE we show. This man won because he fueled and pushed racism, hate and bigotry. Girl bye! You should have stayed quiet on this one, cause this just sounds foolish!
Charlesetta Brown: Being a Christian means that yes, we should pray for those in authority but that doesn't mean we should not protest or speak out on unfair, discriminatory decisions & policies made by government. Government is of the people, by the people & for the people. Trump was elected. He's not King of an empire & he is not God.
Huling Foster: Matthew 7:15-17 states "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." I humbly ask that you reflect and reconsider your position.
While some thanked the “Destiny” singer and described her post as a “mature” and “biblical” response to America’s newest shift in power, others let it be known that they weren’t too thrilled about it.
The Gee Tree Creative CEO's attempt to corrall Christians by admonishing them to move away from fear, anger and division, and toward love, unity and forgiveness for Trump, was interpreted by some as support for the president's overall flawed behaviors and rhetoric.
In a portion of the letter expressing her personal convictions and sentiments, Campbell wrote, "I choose to believe that that same power that comes from Almighty God is at work in Mr. Donald Trump, and it will be used for the greater good of this nation and its people."
Many Christians were wildly offended by that.
The new leader is viewed by a large segment of society as racist, xenophobic, sexually predatory, desirous of only self-gain and all things ungodly. Some of the angriest members of this group, rather than parse out the 42-year-old solo artist's statement, viewed it as a wholesale endorsement of everything the controversial Commander-In-Chief stands for.
Lots of fans are assuming that one-half of the duo Mary Mary is suggesting that God is directing the Republican Billionaire CEO whose 90-day refugee ban just sent the world into a frenzy.
The people want to know if she thinks the all-wise, all-loving Savior is guiding Trump as he implements less-than-kind policies toward the needy and disenfranchised.
If you haven't read the original open letter that sparked heated debate and intense criticism, read it here and draw your own conclusions.
To see for yourself how some dissenting voices quickly turned Campbell's pro-Trump post into an anti-Trump roast, go through 10 replies EEW Magazine editors have gathered from those who passionately disagree:
Miranda Jones: The irony is that so few of you artists, who are first believers, wouldn't publicly stand with Kim Burrell, but can stand with President Trump.
Toni Byrd: Tell that to Medgar Evers, Rosa Parks, MLK Jr., The Freedom Riders, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner, those young men and women who sat in at segregated lunch counters. Tell that to the millions of Native American men, women and children murdered for their land and who, to this day, are STILL fighting to keep a pipe line from going through THEIR land. Injustice to one is injustice to all. Even God, himself, fought on behalf of His people. Don't tell us to pray for a man promoting discord, division, racism, sexual misconduct, xenophobia with his narcissistic behavior. There is a difference in respecting the office and supporting the devil. Trump represents his father, the devil. He is for himself and is a great threat to humanity. #NOTMYPRESIDENT
Fran Marie Washington: Can you link the letters you wrote asking for prayers for the Obama family over the last eight years? No, I won't bother sharing this as I haven't seen or heard anything Godly coming out of Trump's mouth.
LaBarbara Watts: A well written letter. BUT such a waste on that demon. There is nothing we can do. His pan is to destroy us and build his empire!! Only God can save us. All your pretty words of explanation mean nothing. Falls into the sell-out position.
Doris Almore Watson: Tina, doesn't the God in you recognize the devil in Trump??!! Everything Trump does and says reeks of racism and hatred. Trump doesn't believe in God because he thinks he is God. There is nothing about him that is Godly or Christ-like. No, I don't support him or his agenda and if you support him, you support all that he stands for.
Doll Kennedy: Now is not the time to engage in bad theology! The old testament is full of people who fought (with the help of God) against oppressive leaders! In the new testament Jesus fought against the oppressive government!
Bad theology causes complacency and justifies one staying in an oppressive situation rather than fighting for good. We do not need to pretend like Pharaoh was elected by the Israelites or that Pilot just needed prayer. Stuff like only serves the enemy fosters more oppression. I choose to follow Jesus and fight for the oppressed! I will fight until hell freezes over and then I'll put on my ice skates and fight some more! The Bible is about oppressed people being freed!
Tyff Tff: Tina Campbell, stop!!! He is a divisive bigot and for you to stand with him is a shame! You can forgive and have empathy but to stand with him... No! So you stand with his unconstitutional policies of banning ALL people from certain countries because of their religious practices? Do you stand with his constant blatant lies he tells the American public on a daily basis? Believing in forgiveness does not mean you have to align yourself with whom you forgive.
Phelisa Smith-Pittman: Just stop already! We already know to pray for our leaders, but why say you support him? You support hatred and bigotry? Really? You support a known liar, and sexual predator? Someone who is compromising our security and freedoms? Really? You support what he is projecting? Cause I thought Jesus said they would know we are his disciples by the LOVE we show. This man won because he fueled and pushed racism, hate and bigotry. Girl bye! You should have stayed quiet on this one, cause this just sounds foolish!
Charlesetta Brown: Being a Christian means that yes, we should pray for those in authority but that doesn't mean we should not protest or speak out on unfair, discriminatory decisions & policies made by government. Government is of the people, by the people & for the people. Trump was elected. He's not King of an empire & he is not God.
Huling Foster: Matthew 7:15-17 states "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." I humbly ask that you reflect and reconsider your position.
Whether others side with Campbell or not, she has made her position very clear.
“I choose to believe in President Donald Trump. I choose to stand with him, and pray for him,” she says in her letter, “because, as a follower of Jesus Christ and a firm believer in the Holy Bible, according to 1 Timothy 2:1-3, I have been commanded to."
That scripture she quoted reads, "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior."
“I choose to believe in President Donald Trump. I choose to stand with him, and pray for him,” she says in her letter, “because, as a follower of Jesus Christ and a firm believer in the Holy Bible, according to 1 Timothy 2:1-3, I have been commanded to."
That scripture she quoted reads, "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior."
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