“Mr. President, would you sign this?,” a 10-year-old Alabama girl asked as she held out her pink camouflage Bible to President Donald Trump. The president and first lady signed the cover of her Bible and signed another for her friend, said the girl’s mother, Emily Pike. Others quickly joined in.
The Trumps signed the Bibles — along with other items, like hats and $100 bills — as they met with survivors of the deadly Alabama tornados at a local church on Friday. The Bible signings were criticized by some, but other religious leaders say it’s not a big deal, noting that Trump was simply doing as asked.
Quick to judge from afar
Unsurprisingly, journalists, activists, and Trump critics were quick to mock the move on Twitter. Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, a self-described “Expert on the Religious Left” and founder of The Resistance Prays, tweeted: “‘Signing bibles’ is not a Christian tradition in any church I’ve ever encountered.”
But others replied that having Bibles signed, usually by famous preachers and evangelists, is an old practice in some circles.
In the independent Baptist Church of my youth it was a big deal to get bigger name preachers to sign your Bible.
— mdsimants (@mdsimants) March 9, 2019
Not so fast
Rusty Sowell, pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Beauregard, AL, where the Trumps visited, said the president’s visit was “very uplifting” and would “help bring attention” to the hard-hit community.
Noted Dallas pastor and Trump supporter Robert Jeffress said signing Bibles is “very appropriate.” He added that people ask him to do it “all the time,” the New York Times reported.
Plus, Trump wasn’t handing out pre-signed Bibles, said James Coffin, executive director of the Interfaith Council of Central Florida. “Too much is being made out of something that doesn’t deserve that kind of attention,” he said.
“It would’ve been worse if he had said no because it would’ve seemed unkind, and this was at least one way he could show his concern along with his visit,” said Bill Leonard, the founding dean and professor of divinity emeritus at the Wake Forest University School of Divinity in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. “In this setting, where tragedy has occurred and where he comes for this brief visit, we need to have some grace about that for these folks.”
It’s been done before
Leonard also noted that “it’s important to remember that signing Bibles is an old tradition, particularly in Southern churches,” the AP reported.
Other presidents and celebrities have also signed Bibles on occasion. Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, and even SCOTUS Justice John Roberts have all signed Bibles, Peter Manseau, the Smithsonian’s curator of religion, told the Washington Post.
Football star Tim Tebow, who is popular in Christian circles, has signed Bibles, as have Duck Dynasty stars. Evangelist Billy Graham even signed a Bible and gave it to Trump himself in 2005.
NBD
In the end, this is much ado about nothing. Bibles have been signed before, even by Obama. Trump wasn’t handing out pre-signed Bibles like campaign merch — he was doing what he could to offer support and empathy to a community ravaged by disaster.
And imagine the headlines if Trump had refused that little girl?
598 Responses
It is perfect time to make a few plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I’ve learn this post and if I could I desire to counsel you few fascinating issues or suggestions. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I want to learn even more things about it!
Terrific post but I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this subject? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit more. Appreciate it!
fresh mushroom
A person essentially help to make seriously posts I would state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and thus far? I amazed with the research you made to create this particular publish amazing. Great job!
Thank you, I’ve recently been looking for information approximately this topic for a while and yours is the greatest I have came upon till now. However, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you certain about the supply?
Xvideos Travestis
We wanted to create a store where our customers can come to us and tell us their needs so we can help them find exactly what they are looking for.\n\nWe work tirelessly to find top quality products to bring you at a price you can afford
video production Tampa videographer Tampa Video Production Florida Tampa Video product
You need to participate in a contest for among the best blogs on the web. I’ll suggest this web site!
Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I’m going to watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you continue this in future. Many people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Excellent blog here! Also your web site loads up very fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol
Very good blog! Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers? I’m hoping to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you recommend starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m totally confused .. Any suggestions? Thank you!
My husband and i were now ecstatic Peter managed to deal with his survey through the entire ideas he got through your web pages. It’s not at all simplistic to simply choose to be giving freely information and facts which usually many people could have been making money from. And we consider we have got the writer to appreciate for this. The entire illustrations you have made, the simple site menu, the friendships your site make it easier to engender – it’s got all incredible, and it’s really facilitating our son in addition to us consider that this content is satisfying, and that’s exceptionally fundamental. Many thanks for all the pieces!
Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it is truly informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
I’m curious to find out what blog system you happen to be working with? I’m experiencing some minor security problems with my latest blog and I would like to find something more safeguarded. Do you have any suggestions?
You are my breathing in, I own few blogs and rarely run out from post :). “‘Tis the most tender part of love, each other to forgive.” by John Sheffield.
Wonderful site. Lots of useful info here. I¡¦m sending it to a few friends ans additionally sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks in your effort!
I have not checked in here for some time because I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are great quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
Hola! I’ve been following your site for a while now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Kingwood Tx! Just wanted to tell you keep up the good work!
Mr fog Max Mr fog Max PRO Air Bar Disposable Cali Air Disposable
As I web site possessor I believe the content material here is rattling fantastic , appreciate it for your hard work. You should keep it up forever! Best of luck.
Hello, you used to write magnificent, but the last several posts have been kinda boring… I miss your super writings. Past few posts are just a bit out of track! come on!
Social networking for NDT technicians
It is really a great and helpful piece of info. I’m happy that you simply shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or weblog posts in this sort of house . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this website. Reading this information So i am glad to exhibit that I’ve a very just right uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I so much indisputably will make sure to do not disregard this site and give it a look regularly.
OFWMONEY -Growth Tactics
What i do not understood is actually how you are not really much more well-liked than you may be right now. You are so intelligent. You realize therefore considerably relating to this subject, produced me personally consider it from a lot of varied angles. Its like men and women aren’t fascinated unless it’s one thing to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs nice. Always maintain it up!
Thanks for all your labor on this site. My mum loves conducting investigation and it is obvious why. Almost all notice all about the powerful medium you create very useful guidelines via your web site and in addition inspire contribution from visitors on that theme then our own daughter is in fact discovering a lot of things. Take advantage of the rest of the year. You’re the one performing a remarkable job.
I have been reading out many of your articles and i must say clever stuff. I will make sure to bookmark your website.
Hi, Neat post. There’s an issue with your site in web explorer, would test this… IE nonetheless is the marketplace chief and a good section of other people will leave out your great writing because of this problem.
Hi! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a team of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have done a extraordinary job!
Thanks for any other excellent post. The place else could anyone get that kind of info in such an ideal means of writing? I’ve a presentation subsequent week, and I’m at the search for such information.
Dead composed content material, thank you for entropy. “The bravest thing you can do when you are not brave is to profess courage and act accordingly.” by Corra Harris.
we are a company located in humboldt county CA we have a large selection of top shelf marijuana strains, we also have vapes, edibles and more. Our customers are our top priority, please contact us if you have questions like where to buy cannabis online in restricted states/countries.
I’ve read some good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you put to create such a fantastic informative website.
High DA PA SEO Backlinks – Boost Your Website Ranking
Hi would you mind letting me know which web host you’re working with? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most. Can you suggest a good hosting provider at a reasonable price? Thanks, I appreciate it!
I have to show some thanks to the writer for bailing me out of such a matter. Because of searching throughout the the web and coming across techniques which are not pleasant, I was thinking my entire life was done. Existing without the presence of solutions to the problems you’ve solved as a result of your main article content is a critical case, as well as the kind which may have badly damaged my entire career if I hadn’t come across your blog post. Your actual ability and kindness in touching a lot of stuff was useful. I’m not sure what I would have done if I hadn’t discovered such a stuff like this. It’s possible to at this point look ahead to my future. Thank you so much for the reliable and sensible guide. I will not think twice to refer the website to any individual who would need support about this subject.
WANSHENG GAMING
Thanks a lot for the article post.