Trump's sale of Lee Greenwood's controversial Bible, draws pastor's backlash: 'It's blasphemous'
Former President Donald Trump's sale of Lee Greenwood’s controversial Bible has hit another level of controversy as a North Carolina pastor went viral for putting it on blast.
Charlotte, N.C. Pastor Loran Livingston condemned Greenwood's "God Bless the USA Bible" in a live stream sermon for Central Church delivered on April 14. Clips of the sermon show Livingston at the pulpit talking about politics in church.
"Some of you bring politics into the Church," he said during his sermon. "You think that politics is spiritual stuff."
The original video of the church service has been screened tens of thousands of times, while clips of Livingston's segment on Trump's sale of Greenwood's Bible have been viewed millions of times after being shared on multiple social media platforms.
Greenwood's Bible has been controversial since he first started to try and get it published due to the political overtones to it. Here's what you need to know.
What is the Bible that Trump is selling?
The "God Bless the USA" Bible is the brain child of Greenwood, a Nashville-area country musician whose hit song “God Bless the USA” inspired the Bible with a similar namesake. Greenwood has been an avid supporter of Trump for years.
The text includes the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, Pledge of Allegiance and the lyrics to the chorus to Greenwood’s “God Bless The USA.” It has been seen as a symbol of Christian nationalism by many critics.
Watch: N.C. pastor blast Trump Bible
Around the hour and nine minute mark, Livingston starts speaking about the intersection of politics and condemning Trump selling Greenwood's Bible. Watch the YouTube video of the church service below.
Livingston also warned the congregation and viewers that, "people that don't read [the Bible] and pray will get politics mixed up with church."
He preached that politics were something of "this world" and told people that politics didn't belong in church and that their mission is to serve God and that voting was a "civic privilege" not something that has to do with their relationship with God.
"When you don't read and pray, you say, 'Wow, there's a Bible out now that includes the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, isn't that wonderful?'" Livingston said. "No! It's disgusting, it's blasphemous, it's a ploy. Are you kidding me? Some of you are so encouraged by that?"
Why did former President Donald Trump start selling a Bible?
“All Americans need to have a Bible in their home and I have many. It’s my favorite book,” Trump said in a video posted to social media in March, encouraging supporters to purchase the “God Bless The USA Bible.” “Religion is so important and so missing, but it’s going to come back.”
His plug for it recycled language the former president has used to appeal to a conservative Christian base.
“Our founding fathers did a tremendous thing when they built America on Judeo-Christian values,” Trump said in his video on social media. “Now that foundation is under attack perhaps as never before.”
He's selling Greenwood's version of the Bible for $59.99.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Trump's sale of Lee Greenwood Bible draws Charlotte pastor's ire