Source: xfinitytv.comcast.net

WE TV has another hit on their hands with their new reality show “Mary Mary,” featuring sisters Erica and Tina-Atkins Campbell,  from the gospel group with the same name. Madame Noire caught up with the two sisters to discuss the show, Tina’s unexpected pregnancy, family and that pesky pole issue. 

Why did you all decide to do a reality show?

Tina: The biggest deciding factor in taking this show on was the fact that we’ve got a lot of things that are not generally considered great success stories but to us, it’s what makes us successful, it’s what makes us great. And it’s the fact that we are moms of multiple children, we are very good moms and active moms, even though we have nannies, we have help. We are very hands on with our children. We’ve both been married, we’ve been married in entertainment, happily married, not perfectly married, but happily married for over 10 years. We know countless families that do not like each other and cannot stand each other. People who started out when Erica and I started our careers, who are no longer together.  And so those three things, the fact that we’re able to still manage to stay together, still managed making the group work when it’s really hard when our personal lives are quite different, maintaining a marriage and managing a household filled with kids, in addition to all of our other things. I think that is also very inspirational and we said, ‘let’s let the cameras in and see if this can be as inspirational as our music is.’ So we decided to go for it.

Erica, Is it easier working with your sister or easier working with your husband?

Erica: It’s a challenge with both because there’s personal and then there’s business and you have to make sure that you don’t let the personal intrude on the business. I think I’m a little bit better with my husband because it’s 11 years but I’ve been with Tina all my life and we’ve been fussing since we were kids. So the last 11 years we’ve been working hard, really putting in the necessary work to make sure that we are as professional as possible because it’s easy to not give to the people who we know are family. You assume that they know you love them. Oh, she knows that I didn’t mean it like that. And sometimes they don’t know. So, to be to make sure that you show the same compassion that you would to a producer, even though that producer is my husband. Plus, she’s my little sister so I think I sometimes treat her like a little sister.

Source: repentgospelartists.blogspot.com

Yesterday, I caught up on one of the few reality tv shows I can still stand, Mary Mary. Some folks were very skeptical of the show because the sisters,  the stars of the show, Erica and Tina, are gospel singers. I guess people didn’t want to see these two acting a fool on tv. I was skeptical too, but only because I thought it was going to be boring. But that’s not the case. The show, though it lacks the drama we see on Basketball Wives and The Real Housewives of Atlanta, is still very entertaining. Kind of like the Braxtons but with a lot less foolishness and infidelity.

In one of the more recent episodes Erica and Tina decided they were going to have a girls getaway with their other sisters and sisters-in-law. (They come from a large family.) Erica, the more mild-mannered sister, who was also pregnant at the time, suggested that while they were away in Palm Springs,  they take a pole dancing class. Well, Tina, who is kind of hot-headed and feisty, was not having it. Despite Erica trying to convince her that it was just a workout with she and her sisters, Tina couldn’t get past the sexual connotation and even more importantly, she didn’t want to deal with the fact that the Christian community would throw major shade.

I remember watching the show and thinking well “gospel singer” is another career I can cross off my “occupations I couldn’t do” list. Really, the list is full of all types of jobs that would require me to be too much in the public eye because people, and for some ironic reason specifically church people, can be too mean spirited and judgmental.

When I was younger, I got to see the good and the bad when it came to church. I went to one where the message wasn’t fulfilling, the people were unwelcoming, petty and insanely judgmental and the church wasn’t meeting the needs of the community. And then when I got older I went to one that was the complete opposite. The latter church and the people in it, nurtured me and instructed me in a kind and loving environment. So I know how church should and shouldn’t be. Which is why it always saddens me when I think about the reputation “the church,” and let’s be real, “the black church” gets just because the people who rep it so hard, don’t know how to act like the Jesus they claim to worship. It breaks my heart to hear people claim that they’re done with church, although they believe in God, because the people inside the building have no act right whatsoever.

It breaks my heart because 1.) I know they’re telling the truth and 2.) because I know not all churches are like that and 3.)because God does not want his people out here dissuading others from entering his house. If any group of people are supposed to be accepting and warm, it’s supposed to be Christians; but far too often, that’s not the case. And that’s a shame.

While I could understand Tina’s reasons for not getting on the pole, it’s a shame that she, as a gospel artist, a woman who makes a living glorifying God, would even have to consider what other religious people might have to say about her working out on a metal bar. Sometimes…no a lot of times, it’s people’s own perversion that make them condemn others. If you’re the type of person who can’t look at a pole and not think about a woman taking her clothes off, then it’s not something you should be burdening other people with, that sounds like more of a personal problem.

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“Praise God, bring your Hot and make it rain for Jesus.”  When I recently read a Huffington Post article about the developing trend of pole dancing within the Christian community,  I initially laughed because I thought that there was no way that this story could be true.    Sadly enough, the respective essay went on to objectively describe a new workout class in Houston, Texas that occurs once a month and requires a church program for entrance.  Once in the class, women are reportedly taught to “celebrate their body which God has given them.”

Or, in simpler terms, engage in sensual and lewd dancing that purportedly yields greater self-esteem and pleases God.   Proponents of “Christian” pole dancing believe that it is not only a great workout but also a means for reaching the un-churched.  Of course, critics of this trending movement think that it is simply perverse and sacrilegious and is a “strange offering” to God.  Who is right?  And, has it gone too far when pole dancing is seen as acceptable form of praise?  In my humble opinion, I would resoundingly state, “Yes.”

Over the years, I believe that there has been progressive deterioration and secularization of Christianity, which has ultimately and tragically led to a significant reduction in its purity and power.  Pop psychology, New Age philosophies, metaphysics, and rock, R&B and hip-hop music mixed with Christianity have done nothing more than place man in the center of worship instead of God.  Additionally, many televangelists have fooled a plethora of individuals with their get-rich-quick and manipulative gimmicks such as miracle spring water, one-of-a-kind anointing oil, miracle cloths and seeds, prosperity schemes, etc.

Taking the above-mentioned information into consideration, it is really not a surprise that pole dancing has evolved as an ungodly mockery of sacred Messianic and Davidic dance as noted in the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Psalms.

To be sure, I would agree with the proponents of pole dancing that the workout can likely result in better flexibility, upper body and core strength and endurance.   And, indeed, not all forms of this performing art are erotic in nature, as evidenced in circus-related stage performances.  But, I wholeheartedly disagree with those who would think that God would not have a problem with women using their bodies to somehow spread the gospel.  And, I would not concur with the thought that “Christian” pole dancing is acceptable, because the participants do not take off their clothes which one would normally see in a cabaret or a sexually explicit party.

The thought of weaving the indecent and lascivious form of pole dancing that is commonly observed in strip clubs as an evangelical Christian ministry simply does not follow sound doctrine.  There is simply no way of putting a spin on this “strange fire” to justify the actions.

Rest assured, there are definitely more appropriate forms of recreation that are suitable for Christian women.  Whether it’s working out with an exercise ball or on an elliptical or treadmill, walking or jogging or engaging in acceleration training, there are many exercises that can be done to improve flexibility, the core and overall strength, while pleasing God by taking care of your temple.

It is imperative that the Body of Christ improve its ability to differentiate between holy and unholy and clean and unclean.  This becomes easier with rigorous studying of Scripture, fervent prayer and gimmick-free impartation of sound doctrine.  As time progresses, innovative ways of reaching the un-churched may be needed, but pole dancing is clearly not a means of accomplishing this task.

Hopefully, this trend does not sink any lower where one would start seeing women performing licentious dancing on a couple of poles during worship service on Saturday or Sunday.  It is not a far-fetched idea, and it may occur sooner than one thinks.

Anthony Jerrod is a bestselling author, speaker, and public policy expert.

Dear China,

I have been debating whether to take a pole dancing class. I would like to give my boyfriend the performance of a lifetime, but I’m nervous that I will look weird and silly and he won’t like it. What should I do?

Sincerely,
Buy-Polar

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Madame Noire recently sat down with “Basketball Wives” cast member  Jennifer Williams. You may know her from the popular VH1 reality show,  but Madame Jennifer is one busy lady who is shooting for more than just  reality TV stardom.

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