Former President Donald Trump has partnered with singer Lee Greenwood to sell the “God Bless the USA” Bible for $59.95 this Holy Week. Here are your smelling salts. Better now? I am not big on celebrity-hawked merch. Religious merch even less, so I get a skeevy feeling. Like why not a Dairy Queen Palm Sunday “Hosanna Church Fan”. I am a snooty-booty snot, but I believe in “freedom of choice”. People are free to choose how to spend their money without judgement from blue noses like me. Don’t tell that to news organizations like The Hill or Associated Press or national kvetchers like Mary Trump, Liz Cheney or Chris Hayes.
You should know that the Lee Greenwood “God Bless the USA” Bible is not new. It was originally published in September of 2021:
The Bible is the King James version, with a twist: It contains hand-written lyrics to the chorus of the song, as well as the text of the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Pledge of Allegiance. It is, according to Greenwood, a natural combination to have the founding documents packaged with the Bible, but not everyone agrees.
In 2021, according to reporting in Religion Unplugged, talks with Christian publishing house Zondervan to produce a “God Bless the USA” Bible on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 fell apart after an online petition circulated, saying that such a Bible would be a “toxic mix” that would fuel “Christian nationalism and anti-Muslim sentiments found in many segments of the evangelical church.”Greenwood, however, dismissed those objections, telling Deseret recently, “That’s all part of the ‘cancel culture’ when you are promoting the word of God.” The project had struggled to get off the ground last year because of supply chain issues and “woke” companies that hindered production, a website promoting the Bible said last year. But it’s back, and selling for $59.99 on Greenwood’s website.
Please note, that the $59.95 price is not bloated on the Trump website. It is consistent. The Left hates religious people. The sight of a Bible makes them sizzle like a Vampire in the Sun. When Trump walked over to St. John’s, in June of 2021, with a Bible in his hand, the Left went apoplectic.
Trump flogging a Bible on his campaign website is enough to make their pointy little heads explode.
The Associated Press wrote:
Former President Donald Trump is now selling Bibles as he runs to return to the White House.
Trump, who became the presumptive Republican nominee earlier this month, released a video on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday urging his supporters to buy the “God Bless the USA Bible,” which is inspired by country singer Lee Greenwood’s patriotic ballad. Trump takes the stage to the song at each of his rallies and has appeared with Greenwood at events.
“Happy Holy Week! Let’s Make America Pray Again. As we lead into Good Friday and Easter, I encourage you to get a copy of the God Bless the USA Bible,” Trump wrote, directing his supporters to a website selling the book for $59.99.
The effort comes as Trump has faced a serious money crunch amid mounting legal bills while he fights four criminal indictments along with a series of civil charges. Trump was given a reprieve Monday when a New York appeals court agreed to hold off on collecting the more than $454 million he owes following a civil fraud judgment if he puts up $175 million within 10 days. Trump has already posted a $92 million bond in connection with defamation cases brought by the writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexual assault.
If only the AP and other news organizations had been so offended when the Clintons donated their used underwear for a tax write-off.
My husband, son and I got Bibles at our confirmations. We got copies of the Founding documents in school. That doesn’t happen now in most schools and churches. People don’t know their rights, as Trump points out.
That wasn’t nearly as offensive as Biden hectoring us. But, the Elites beg to differ. First up, Chris Hayes tells us that Trump is not a particularly religious man hawking Bibles.
Again — as @chrislhayes says, the @nytimes reports Trump is getting royalties from the Bible he’s telling his followers to buy… but the @Tennessean left that out of their “what to know” article about it entirely. pic.twitter.com/GysuboFsK4
— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) March 27, 2024
Well, if God only used particularly religious people, He might be shite out of luck. God uses anyone and everyone for His will. Mary Trump, Trump’s niece, has more important insight into Trump’s relation with our Creator”:
1) He's never prayed in his life.
2) If that were a real bible, it would burst into a ball of flame. https://t.co/Qk0wAewEnV— Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) March 26, 2024
My favorite counselor in pastoral matter, Liz Cheney of the lying, false January 6 Committee, suggests Trump buy a Bible to educate himself on Adultery:
Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) took aim at former President Trump for launching an initiative to sell Bibles on Tuesday and encouraged him to read what the Bible says about adultery.
“Happy Holy Week, Donald. Instead of selling Bibles, you should probably buy one,” Cheney wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, in response to a screenshot of Trump’s Bible pitch on Truth Social.
“And read it, including Exodus 20:14,” Cheney added, referring to the verse that commands, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
My beautiful Victory Girls Blogging Sisters, Nina, Carol and Darleen, all had thoughts about what Miss Cheney could do with her advice. Particular thoughts on stones and casting them and bearing false witness. Nina suggested “37 Best Bible Verses” as a Holy Week study guide.
Look, I think humping Bibles for political power is vulgar, but I also think colored porcelain in bathrooms is vulgar. However. What if Trump brings people to faith with his schlock, who am I to judge. Actually, I am a bad Baptist girl. I drink. I smoke. I curse. I take the Lord’s name in vain. So, I think it’s particularly pompous to assume you know what’s in someone else’s heart…particularly in Holy Week. Shame.
Featured Image: Anestis Anestis/flickr.com/cropped/Creative Commons
Kevin says: The Malignant Tumor isn’t “bringing people to faith with his schlock;” he’s driving them away … in droves. The MAGA crowd at his rallies look like an early mass release of patients at any State Psychiatric Hospital on any given day. He has done one thing for religion … he’s made mockery of it.
Here’s a VG future blog post … I just saw that a Democrat won a formerly republican held seat in a special election in Alabama. A L A B A M A ! What in the name of everything that is holy going on? I’ll explain it for you … the majority of funds are going to pay the Malignant Tumor’s legal fees versus republican down ballot candidates and issues. Do you think the Malignant Tumor will hand over one dime of his newly created (he’s praying to God it remains high for three months until he can cash in) wealth for his run for office? Not in a million years because he has schmucks like you giving your pennies. Not even the super wealthy are donating to him; they at least have enough sense it’s a bottomless pit of victim blaming causes.
As much as you try to put lipstick on this pig, it’s still a pig.
SFC D says: You’re not a well man, are you Kevin. It may be putting lipstick on a pig, but that pig is very likely to be your next president. There are things I lilke about Trump, and things I don’t like. But I’ll tell you this: I’ll take 1,000 President Trumps over 1 President Biden. The entertainment value of watching liberal heads explode (much like yours does on a regular basis) alone is worth my vote. Can you honestly say that your life has been improved by Biden? And if so, how? I don’t think you can honestly answer that.
GWB says: I don’t think you can honestly answer that.
I’m not sure Kevin can answer any question honestly.
And his utter hatred for Trump and anyone who says anything less scathing than “Burn in hell!” about the man is definitely a broken heart and brain.
Que says: As a confessional Lutheran, this makes me cringe.
We believe the Bible to be the holy, inerrant Word of God. The Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, the Pledge, and for heaven’s sake — song lyrics! — do not constitute Scripture. To include them in a KJV Bible is to signal that they are the equivalent of canonical books, and they are most certainly not. Definitely not “God Bless the USA” *facepalm*
And “Happy Holy Week”?? It’s the most somber week of the Christian calendar, when Christians worldwide reflect on the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. It’s NOT a week of celebration.
Toni, you can sugar coat this all you want, and accuse me of needing “smelling salts,” and I wouldn’t care. However. for many of us traditional Christians the flogging of this “Bible” for political purposes is abhorrent.
GWB says: It’s NOT a week of celebration.
Oh, I disagree. It’s somber, yes, but we know how the story ends. I hold my hallelujahs in check until Sunday, but it’s hard, knowing what the awfulness of Good Friday* means for us. But I would rather say “Blessed Holy Week,” myself.
(And, note, the Church has called it “Good” Friday for a very long time. It is the most blessed day of the year, next to Easter.)
As to the Bible, we often include in study bibles a lot of non-biblical material. The key is that normally it relates directly to understanding the Bible. The extra material supports the Bible, and not the other way around. And I agree this stuff really doesn’t support the Bible, though it might be supported by Scripture. I might be more receptive of the included items if, say, the DoI and Constitution were annotated with Bible references supporting the things therein. (Even that would be … difficult, IMO.) So, I don’t think it’s cool, but I also am not highly offended (because it’s been done plenty before).
John Shepherd says: I hope Trump was just doing a favor for a friend because this has a money changers in the Temple feel to it. I already have a King James Version so I will take a pass.
GWB says: I already have a King James Version so I will take a pass.
Heh. More than one KJV, RSV, ASV, TLB, ESV, NIV, and “The Story”, along with Hebrew and Greek interlinears. I don’t really need another Bible, at all.
John Shepherd says: Spend a lot of time on the street corner, do ya?
A reader says: I 100% agree with Que. This is abhorrent. First of all, America is not a Christian nation no matter how much Christian Nationalists and conservatives want to spin it. We don’t have a state religion by design. So to put the Bible with song lyrics and purposefully secular texts like the Declaration and Bill of Rights is sacrilegious. (The pledge is different as the current version was basically adopted as a stance against Communism.) Also The King James Version has a long and interesting history. It’s also the version used by Christian Fundamentalists, specifically groups like the IBLP and the IFB.
As for Nina, Carol and Darleen… here are some countering thoughts:
1. Casting stones refers to Jesus and the incident of the woman caught in adultery in John 8. Jesus was speaking to the religious leaders who were trying to trap him. And he wasn’t falling for it. The law required not only that the woman be brought forward, it also the man and that witnesses be produced and that a witness begin the executions (Deuteronomy 22:22). So they were purposefully trying to get him to break the law.
That passage doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t judge others at all. In fact, the Bible lays out a method by which to judge others that is very specific. In sum, it refers to other Christians while God will judge those outside the church. (1 Corinthians 5: 12-13.) So yes, Christians can absolutely judge others, so long as they’re Christian. (I’m simplifying it a ton though.)
Therefore if Trump professes to be a Christian and he absolutely can be judged by other Christians. (And those outside the church who look at his example.)
2. As for bearing false witness… what has been said that’s false? Others have claimed that he is a Christian, but that doesn’t make it so. Has he ever outright said he is? Paula White, the prominent pastor who talked about him a lot and blessed him during 2016 campaign is a prosperity gospel minister. To someone raised Nazarene like me, that’s abhorrent. Also, he doesn’t live as a Christian. He blasphemes and bears false witness almost as much as he breathes.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:15-20: “ “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, by their fruit you will recognize them.”
Trump’s “fruit” is routinely sour and rotten. It treasures vengeance and hatred and self-righteousness. I’d say those verses in Matthew are the best ones to think on in his regard.
GWB says: America is not a Christian nation
We don’t have a state religion
These are NOT the same thing, though Progressives have been pushing that line for 100+ years. America was absolutely a Christian nation. The vast majority of its people were Christian when founded, and the remainder were mostly Deist. And the principles upon which it was founded are decidedly Christian. As a matter of fact, without Christian principles and morals, the nation never could have established a successful republic. France tried that – a totally reason-centered republic – and they ended up with Napoleon, instead. Indeed, only with Christianity does pluralism even come close to working.
It’s also the version used by Christian Fundamentalists
Oy vey. While there are plenty of people silly enough to actually believe “It was good enough for Paul, it’s good enough for me!” that’s because it’s the one they were raised with. But it’s silly to hold the translation responsible for those people’s silliness. And, at that, the more troublesome people are those who hold up a Bible and claim to be a Christian, while excising verses and chapters from it, or claiming it doesn’t say what it clearly does. And that happens with lots of versions other than KJV.
I’m also a bit miffed at your casual use of the term “Christian fundamentalist” in the same fashion as the Progressives and atheists. A fundamentalist is one who believes in the inerrancy of Scripture and the application of it to your life. But it’s used to mean “oh, those crazy people over there that we think are misinterpreting it.” I used to use it that way, too – but I’ve grown since then.
I won’t argue with your statements about Trump. People holding up as a modern saint are not paying enough attention. (I would ask, though, for specific examples of him bearing false witness and, especially, blaspheming – recent ones.) And, him hawking a Bible like this does raise my hackles. Fortunately, I’m not voting for a human savior – just President of the US.
GWB says: One other possibility on it being a KJV Bible: the KJV is entirely free. You’re not paying someone to license their translation.
Also, for anyone complaining about the price…
A quick check of the first page of bibles on Christian Book Distributors (a large purveyor of bibles, bible studies, devotionals, etc.) has bonded leather bound bibles ranging from $10 to $90, with a large number within range of $60. Concordia Publishing has devotional bibles from $40 to $55 (not leather bound), and a thumb-indexed study bible for $65. While I blanch at those prices, I think it’s mostly because I remember when a $40 bible was really expensive.
GWB says: Well, if God only used particularly religious people, He might be shite out of luck. God uses anyone and everyone for His will.
Which more people would know if they actually read the Bible.
Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) took aim at former President Trump
And most any politician telling me how I’m a lousy Christian is one of those things that makes me want to tie a bunch of torches to foxes’ tails….
Is this “sordid”? Meh, maybe. It provides more evidence for some of his “huckster” status. And Americans have a definite love-hate relationship with showman style Christianity. I do wish he wouldn’t do it. But I’m much more offended by people claiming to be able to tell me who is a “good Christian” from their lofty perches of hubris. Especially ones who advocate the tenets of the Progressive religion, which is a Christian heresy and an attempt to replace true Christianity. (And my definition of “true Christianity” is based entirely on Scripture – all of Scripture – which I’ve actually read. More than once.)
GWB says: only used particularly religious people
Oh, and let me pound on this phrase a bit. “Religious” people are all around you. Their religion, however, is not what you’re on about here. What you should say is “holy” people. It’s “holy” that distinguishes the righteous from the unrighteous. It’s the unbelievers and the heretics that you mean when you say “not particularly religious people.” (And, this was perpetuated by our Founders when they talked about “religion” and meant Christianity – because everyone around them and their entire culture was Christian. But it is a failure of good language.)
Stephen C says: I am not bothered. I have a Jesuit education.
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