Tye Tribbett proves that he does not know the Bible

Tye Tribbett is yet another example (or warning – depending on how you look at it) as to why many of today’s “gospel” or “Christian” musical artists should not transition into the pulpit as pastors.

It appears as if although these artists may be great in the ministry of music, too many seem to be lacking in biblical knowledge and understanding.

Following close on the heels of all of the controversy that’s taking place with former gospel artist William Murphy, the ever-energetic Tye Tribbett himself has been embroiled in his own controversy that’s been gaining traction on social media.

Tye’s troubles began when he appeared on the infamous “Breakfast Club” for an interview with that host who has the unmitigated gall to refer to himself as a god. During the interview, Tye went on a rant about the church, calling it everything “but a child of God”. He went on a tirade about how “the church” was whack and how many of the people leading these churches are not qualified to be pastors.

He delved into his own personal experiences of what it was like growing up as a Preacher’s Kid, inclusive of all the harsh, unrealistic expectations placed on his young shoulders to live a perfect life. No doubt, it was growing up with those experiences that helped to shape Tye’s view of the church which he apparently holds to this day. And in no uncertain terms, he expressed how he felt about the church during his interview on the Breakfast Club.

While on the surface his comments on the breakfast club may have sounded offensive, I didn’t rush to my laptop, created a new documented file to blast out Tye Tribbett for speaking “his truth”. Instead, I listened to his comments again and although I didn’t agree with the terminology he used, nor did I agree that the platform he used to express himself was not the place to make such comments, I understood what he was saying.

Aspects of some of today’s modern churches are “whack”. There is too much mess taking place in many churches and it accounts for one of the reasons why so many people have given up on even attending church.

So, I was willing to extend Tye some grace on what was said after I realized that he was talking about the institutionalized church and not the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. He couldn’t have been. I got the impression that he was talking about churchianity and not Christianity. I myself have issues with some of the politics and institutionalization of many churches and how many of today’s modern churches have gone off the rails in terms of sticking with the scriptures. So, like I said, I understand what Tye was trying to say.

However, Tye’s overall, general statement about “the church” was misguided and wrong because he did not differentiate between the church of the Lord Jesus Christ and the institution of church. Why was that important? Because the people he was speaking too on the show and many people in the radio audience have no idea that there is a difference. Even if that’s the way Tye felt about the politics and institution of today’s church, the fact that Tye Tribbett is himself a pastor of a church, should have served as his reason for not tearing down the very institution of which he is a part. Instead, as a pastor, Tye should have used that opportunity on that platform to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, instead of simply promoting his new album, while bringing reproach to the Church of God.

Yet, in all of this, I left the situation alone, extending grace, because I understood what he was alluding to.

However, it was Tye’s clapback to the backlash he received on social media by thousands of Believers that caused me to sit up straight. The rebuttals from Believers from around the world to Tye’s tirade on the Breakfast Club were swift and forceful. Believers were upset and they expressed their reasons why.

Just like his musician colleague William Murphy who responded terribly to the backlash he received for turning his church into a night club, Tye Tribbett too created a follow-up video to explain himself, but ended up making matters worse. He made new statements in the follow-up video than what he did on the Breakfast Club, which I found unscriptural and misguided.

I could no longer keep silent.

At the beginning of the “response” video, Tye appeared to be walking back the comments he had made on the Breakfast Club, saying that he did not call the church whack, and admitting that perhaps he could have better worded what he had said. If he had left it at that, you would not be reading this blog. But the video continued, and things went south – fast.

Because what Tye had to say was a bit lengthy, I would not attempt to paraphrase the statement that I found offensive, but rather I will quote his words directly. Here goes: “People said that I should not have said what I said on that platform, because those people were unbelievers…they don’t understand God. To me, that’s institutionalized thinking. I believe – and maybe I just believe differently, and they need to hear what I believe - but I believe that everybody is a child of God, period.

“If you got breath in your body, you’re a child of God; atheist, transgender, homosexual, heterosexual, thief, murderer, churchgoer, bishop…everybody is a child of God. The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein. Everybody belongs to God. If you have not received Christ, you’re lost. That’s a different story. You’re lost if you have not received Christ, but that does not mean you’re not his. Everyone you meet belongs to God. That’s God’s child. So, I don’t believe that I was in an environment of people who are not God’s children. Anyone you meet, they belong to God. That’s God’s child; whether they’re wayward or have accepted Jesus. If they don’t believe in Christ, they have not found their way home. Charlamagne and Jess admitted they went to church. Jess says she goes to church, even though she doesn’t get there as often as she would like, and Charlemagne said he attends the Potter’s House on line. So, they were churchgoers and they understood what I meant.”

Whew!! Is Tye Tribbett serious? Is this guy a pastor? Is he responsible for leading God’s sheep? Those are frightening possibilities. So, maybe he’s right, when he said the church was whack and based o what he said in that video, Tye Tribbett is a major part of the wackiness. This man is not qualified to be a pastor and should just stick to music.

But then again, it makes me think about all of the gospel artists that I listen too, and it makes me wonder what exactly these people believe. We sing their songs, dance to their music and consider it ministry to our souls, but we know very little of what these artists believe about Christianity. We don’t know the religions, denominations, beliefs or convictions of these people who claim to be gospel music artists. But that’s another story for another time.

But for now, I must address Tye’s lack of basic Christian principles, which is that only those who are born again are children of God. That’s basic, fundamental Bible. Yet, here is someone who claims to be a pastor spewing heresy that everyone in the world is a child of God. Rubbish Tye! And he was persistent in asserting such foolishness, having repeated it so many times in the video, throwing in every type of sinner you can imagine into the mix. This man should not be shepherding anyone.

The Bible is clear that those who are children of God are those who are Born Again…Born from above…born of the Holy Spirit. John 3:3 says that “unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God.”  Romans 10:9 tells us that “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Then there is 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 1:23, Acts 2:38, Ephesians 2:8-9 and so many others. The children of God are those who are indwelled with the Holy Spirit of God.

Every human being cannot say this. This is not every human being’s reality. Only those who have confessed and repented of their sins, who have a new heart and raised in the newness of life with Christ.

Unbelievers, those living in open active rebellion against God, are not God’s children. Yes, they are God’s creation, but they are not God’s children. Ephesians 2:3 declares that “we were once by nature children of wrath.” Psalm 51:5 says, “Behold I was brought forth in iniquity and in sin my mother conceived me.” Romans 3:23 suggests “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Basic biblical principles, which any Christian pastor should know. That’s stuff we learned in Sunday school. And for someone like Tye, who claimed to have grown up in church, and who claim to be a pastor, it’s complicated to try and accept that he doesn’t know how someone becomes a child of God. It’s hard to believe that he doesn’t know that not everyone on planet earth are God’s children.

If we are all God’s children, then apparently Jesus Christ did not know that because he told some of the religious leaders of his day that they “were of their father the devil”. (John 8:44-45) This is proof that we are either children of God or we’re children of the Devil. And only those who are born again are children of God. We only become children of God when we are translated out of the kingdom of darkness, into the kingdom of light. And that’s not something we can do by ourselves. It’s a spiritual act by God himself.

Now I see why Tye and other gospel artists like him can go on these secular platforms and not declare the gospel of Christ. They don’t know the gospel of Christ. They may sing about it, but from what they say, they really don’t understand it.

So, here’s a suggestion for Tye Tribbett, get out of the pulpit and stick with the music, because you’re apparently leading God’s people astray. You don’t know the scriptures and based on what YOU say you believe, you’re way, way off. And while you’re ministering to people through your music Tye, go and learn the fundamentals of Christianity if you’re gonna be singing about it. Get a better understanding of God and his kingdom if you’re gonna be singing about God or his kingdom. Because as it stands now, based on what you said, you lack understanding about what the true church of Jesus Christ is and who belongs to it.