Over the weekend, GRAMMY® Award-nominated gospel singer Travis Greene accepted the controversial invitation to be the opening act at President Donald Trump’s Liberty Ball.
For those who thought he would feel the wrath of the anti-Trump nation, he says, “Honestly, there’s been a lot more support than backlash.”
The “Intentional” singer shared his experience Monday during a phone interview with Erica Campbell on her nationally syndicated radio program, Get Up! Mornings.
Though some did disagree with the 33-year-old singer’s decision to go, Greene said, “I think a lot of them are just upset over social issues.”
He also asserted that critics would have a different viewpoint if they read and understood Scripture. “It’s very hard to read the Bible and not be convicted to be involved in culture rather than just to complain about it,” said the chart-topping musician.
Rooting his perspective in biblical wisdom, Greene explained, “Acts 17 talked about how Paul and his boys flipped the world upside down”—something that doesn’t “happen by staying in the comfort of our four walls of our church, and just praying for things to happen,” but rather, by “engaging in culture.”
For those who thought he would feel the wrath of the anti-Trump nation, he says, “Honestly, there’s been a lot more support than backlash.”
The “Intentional” singer shared his experience Monday during a phone interview with Erica Campbell on her nationally syndicated radio program, Get Up! Mornings.
Though some did disagree with the 33-year-old singer’s decision to go, Greene said, “I think a lot of them are just upset over social issues.”
He also asserted that critics would have a different viewpoint if they read and understood Scripture. “It’s very hard to read the Bible and not be convicted to be involved in culture rather than just to complain about it,” said the chart-topping musician.
Rooting his perspective in biblical wisdom, Greene explained, “Acts 17 talked about how Paul and his boys flipped the world upside down”—something that doesn’t “happen by staying in the comfort of our four walls of our church, and just praying for things to happen,” but rather, by “engaging in culture.”
Although the pastor of Forward City Church in Columbia, SC now seems confident in his decision to sing at the huge political affair alongside R&B songstress Chrisette Michele, Greene told Campbell his initial inclination was to decline the invitation.
“My first response was no I’m not going to do it because of fear of man, but once I put prayer behind that, it just didn’t hold up very strongly. It was an absolute carnal response to what I believe was a spiritual door,” he said.
Once there, the young pastor who estimated he was “one of about ten black folks” in a crowd of thousands, noted that the great majority of people in attendance were Christians who appreciated him showing up.
“People were running up to me and really thanking me for coming,” Greene said. “I think one of the reasons, among many, that God had me do it, was because I think it was a great bridge and representation for the urban community, and the church at large.”
“My first response was no I’m not going to do it because of fear of man, but once I put prayer behind that, it just didn’t hold up very strongly. It was an absolute carnal response to what I believe was a spiritual door,” he said.
Once there, the young pastor who estimated he was “one of about ten black folks” in a crowd of thousands, noted that the great majority of people in attendance were Christians who appreciated him showing up.
“People were running up to me and really thanking me for coming,” Greene said. “I think one of the reasons, among many, that God had me do it, was because I think it was a great bridge and representation for the urban community, and the church at large.”
The gifted producer and songwriter who was named Billboard’s most
played gospel artist of 2016, said, “As a church, we’re way too quiet
and when we do voice our opinion, it’s about the wrong thing”—which he
is out to change.
The international minister is on a personal mission to cultivate a different mentality in supporters as well as members of his local assembly. He’s training action-oriented leaders.
“One thing I teach at Forward City Church in Columbia, SC is that there are only three responses you can have to culture,” Greene said. “You can tolerate and just accept whatever it is; you can complain about it, which, we as a church are professionals at doing; or you can engage in culture and help to redefine it, and that’s what I believe one of my many roles are with culture.”
The international minister is on a personal mission to cultivate a different mentality in supporters as well as members of his local assembly. He’s training action-oriented leaders.
“One thing I teach at Forward City Church in Columbia, SC is that there are only three responses you can have to culture,” Greene said. “You can tolerate and just accept whatever it is; you can complain about it, which, we as a church are professionals at doing; or you can engage in culture and help to redefine it, and that’s what I believe one of my many roles are with culture.”
Watch the full performance below.
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