Twitter is calling out Juanita Bynum after two videos of the gospel singer started circulating on social media. In one clip, the 63-year-old is seen telling a church congregation that someone isn’t saved if they listen to secular music. However, a Twitter user posted a second video of her dancing to Mary J. Blige’s “Just Fine.”
Now, viewers are calling the singer out for her spiritual hypocrisy, and the clips have opened up conversations about issues in Black churches.
“I wanna know what bishop told you that you can still be saved and listen to secular music,” she says in the first clip. “Who told you that?”
In the same clip, “Good Love” by Usher and the City Girls plays in the background as she asks the crowd “who told you that it was OK if we just jam and then sing in the choir?”
Juanita Bynum is something else.pic.twitter.com/UbytKCqpat pic.twitter.com/p9dYRfFMkk
— hurstonian. (@DrAhmadGH) August 18, 2022
In the second video, however, Bynum appears to be living her best life while dancing to Blige’s “Just Fine.”
The clips caused quite a stir with Twitter users, who had a lot to say about the hypocrisy of her actions.
“She got that secular wig on, what’s the problem?” a user pointed out.
She got that secular wig on, what’s the problem?
— yippie.ky.nai (@Janaiberry) August 18, 2022
Another confirmed that this is a “doctrine” they grew up with.
“This doctrine is what I was raised up under, unfortunately. They teach you this. This [sic] Christians who listen to secular music aren’t really saved. They think they’re going to heaven, but they aren’t,” they tweeted.
This doctrine is what I was raised up under, unfortunately. They teach you this. This Christians who listen to secular music aren't really saved. They think they're going to heaven, but they aren't.
— Field of Wildflowers (@ErikasAwesome) August 18, 2022
“But in all seriousness, it’s so odd to me that Black church folk deny their own cultural heritages + the rich history of interexchange b/t ‘the sacred’ and ‘the secular.’ As some have put it and the archive shows, ain’t no difference b/t the Saturday ‘sinner’ & Sunday ‘saint,'” one user wrote.
But in all seriousness, it’s so odd to me that Black church folk deny their own cultural heritages + the rich history of interexchange b/t “the sacred” and “the secular.” As some have put it and the archive shows, ain’t no difference b/t the Saturday “sinner” & Sunday “saint.”
— hurstonian. (@DrAhmadGH) August 18, 2022
One user pointed out the hypocrisy in the church.
“They just be making up stuff. Either Jesus absolved us of our ‘sins,’ or he didn’t. Am I free after being ‘saved,’ or am I bound by a bunch arbitrary rules about what I wear, where I go, what I listen to & read, and who I make a life with? Is it oochie wally or one mic?” they wrote.
They just be making up stuff. Either Jesus absolved us of our “sins,” or he didn’t. Am I free after being “saved,” or am I bound by a bunch arbitrary rules about what I wear, where I go, what I listen to & read, and who I make a life with? Is it oochie wally or one mic?
— LOfficielEbony, JD (@LOfficielEbony) August 18, 2022
Another pointed out that gospel artists must listen to secular music for inspiration.
They lowkey listen to secular music. These gospel artists are not getting samples & inspo out of thin air.
Miss “Lord Split Me Open” should go to the studio w/ Kirk Franklin, Donald Lawrence & other artists.
Even the late Andrae Crouch worked with Michael Jackson and Madonna. pic.twitter.com/Isl6j3wNEx— Shaquille Sunflower (@HelloAryk) August 18, 2022