Has Gospel Music Gone TOO FAR? - Page 2

FeeFee · #16 08-27-2002, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by FuturePhD

On that note, I was HIGHLY UPSET when I saw "Bad Boy Entertainment" (after I confirmed this was P. Diddy's record company) with a song on my WOW Gospel 2002 CD. Now, that, in my opinion is TOO FAR. I don't care how famous you are, if you are singing about premarital sex, drugs, cohabitation, and living contently in these states in your own life, I don't want to hear you make any attempts at a gospel song. That's just plain hypocrisy and you better believe I returned the entire CD.

Is that to mean that you have a problem with secular artists singing or making gospel records? I understand where you are coming from, but to say that they can't sing gospel, well, I don't know about that. I won't pass judgement like that on anyone. Sad to say, but there are probably those who have a career in making gospel music who are not leading their lives entirely the way that they should. BET has a new show on Sunday afternoons, "Let's Talk Church" and this particular topic was discussed. People like Pastor Shirley Ceaser (who by the way has a song with DC's Michelle Williams - "Steal Away"), Andrae Crouch and Howard Hewitt were the guest panelists. They all agreed: No one has the right to say who can and who can't sing gospel music. You can't make those limitations on people.

Just my opinion, that's all.

Professor · #17 08-27-2002, 11:16 AM

FeeFee you beat me to the reply. I'm with you. From the words of The Color Puple "Sinners have souls too."

FeeFee · #18 08-27-2002, 11:49 AM

Great minds think alike!!!

Kisha · #19 08-27-2002, 12:14 PM

I think the church and gospel music is in a transition period. If many of you recall the same "controversy" that exists today with contemporary gospel and gospel rap existed when what we now consider traditional gospel first came on the scene. Thomas A. Dorsey and many other pioneers in gospel were criticized for bringing the "blues in the church."

Yesterday's gospel music will not reach the generation of today. We have to meet unbelievers where they are. The youth of today are into hiphop. I see nothing wrong with flavoring the inspired Word of God with beats. There is a message in the music.

No, I'm not a big fan of gospel rap, but then again, I'm not apart of the hip hop generation either. It is our job to win souls to the kingdom. How many people have you brought to Christ? As long as souls are being saved and lives are being changed, I say keep on making the gospel rap and any other forms of expressions that draw men to Christ.

No, I don't think christians should be doing the holy butterfly either. That's ridiculous! But, someone quoted the scripture from Jeremiah that it is okay to dance unto the Lord. We all have different means of worship. You may scream and shout, I may sit and be solemn. Whatever the case maybe, God says, worship in spirit and in truth! That's what matters!

FuturePhD · #20 08-27-2002, 12:22 PM

Anybody CAN sing gospel music. FeeFee, no where did you or anybody on this message board hear me say that they couldn't. I said that I didn't want to hear it. And, yes, sinners have a soul too.

I'm not marching around the building of Bad Boy Entertainment yelling that they are defiling the name of God. But what we must understand is that there are impressionable people out there who think that they can live like they want to live the rest of the week and live righteous on Sunday. And if Christians claim to love everybody, I don't see how we can sit by and let that happen. I believe that people who sing songs glorifying sinful lifestyles and at the same time want to talk about how good God is are hypocrities. I consider these to be lukewarm "Christians" (Revelations 3:16) or carnal minded "Christians" (Romans 8:7).

I don't have a right to dictate who can and cannot sing anything (rap, opera, techno, raggae, whatever). But I do have the right to decide who I will support and who I will speak against. I am personally tired of Christians being so accepting about who represents Christ. We need to remember that those who are not for Christ are against Him. Let us not forget that Satan knows the scripture as well as anybody.

FeeFee I did appreciate your comments. I would be careful, however, of who I chose to align my thinking with.

FeeFee · #21 08-27-2002, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FuturePhD

FeeFee I did appreciate your comments. I would be careful, however, of who I chose to align my thinking with.

I'm not understanding what you mean by this.

Anyway, I still stand by what I posted. Yes, you are always entitled to your opinion - I can't (nor would I want to) take that right away from you.

NUPE4LIFE · #22 08-27-2002, 03:39 PM

What's up y'all. I too watched "Let's Talk Church" on BET. And from that show, I gathered that most of the time we as Christians act as if we own the word of God. We don't! While many might feel that gospel music has gone too far, I don't. After all, all gospel music is is the word of God put to music. And another thing, Andrae Crouch (who has worked with Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones) said that he's heard many "gospel" songs by gospel artist, who were not gospel songs. I think that it's great that the youth are finding a way to express themselves through Christ. Sometimes we Christians can be so critical of one another. I think there's room for all types of praise and worship in the body of Christ. As long as they are not misrepresenting Christ and the Word, it's all good to me!

SeriousAKA · #23 08-27-2002, 04:11 PM

I'm loving this conversation! I have a question....I understand many of the things done in the name of the Lord but I can't figure out Stepping for the Lord. Can someone help me?

Also, has anyone heard or seen the video about you can't have my virginity? What is this about?

AND, I can understand the arguement about secular singers singing gospel from both sides. But my concern is and has always been, what example is being set when 99% of the artists music is about gloryifing sex, drugs, violence, etc but then they put out one song about the Lord? This is a problem I've always had especially with R. Kelly way before the mess he's in now. What is the example?

One last thing, I too can't stand Kirk!!! I loved Kirk and the Family but somewhere along the way, he lost it! As someone said before, there is a difference between singing for the Lord and being an entertainer. Where do we draw that line?

FuturePhD · #24 08-27-2002, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FeeFee

I'm not understanding what you mean by this.

Anyway, I still stand by what I posted. Yes, you are always entitled to your opinion - I can't (nor would I want to) take that right away from you.

I PM'ed you about it.

prayerfull · #25 08-27-2002, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SeriousAKA
I'm loving this conversation! I have a question....I understand many of the things done in the name of the Lord but I can't figure out Stepping for the Lord. Can someone help me?

At our church, our pastor's son..who is now our youth minister...started practicing some "Steps" with our youth. They really enjoyed it. They made up CHANTS that related to bible verses, etc. Of course, my pastor's son is a Kappa, so he had them working it out with kanes. LOL. The youth liked it. They related to it. Pastor isn't exactly too accepting of this concept though and is surely not about to let them roll up on Sunday morning service to step in front of the congregation. However, this stepping concept may have its own time and place and I really am trying to come out of my very conservative shell and keep an open mind.

The whole thing about secular artists and gospel music...I agree with many of the comments made. I just can't listen to PDiddy glorifying sex & drinking...and then flip the station and hear him producing gospel tracks. What's next...Master P's gospel compilation with C-Murder (from prison of course), Silk the Shocker and Lil Romeo? Or perhaps the Cash Money Millionaires will get down with the gospel thang.

SeriousAKA · #26 08-27-2002, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by prayerfull

At our church, our pastor's son..who is now our youth minister...started practicing some "Steps" with our youth. They really enjoyed it. They made up CHANTS that related to bible verses, etc. Of course, my pastor's son is a Kappa, so he had them working it out with kanes. LOL. The youth liked it. They related to it. Pastor isn't exactly too accepting of this concept though and is surely not about to let them roll up on Sunday morning service to step in front of the congregation. However, this stepping concept may have its own time and place and I really am trying to come out of my very conservative shell and keep an open mind.

That's cool! If it keeps them interested because you never know when one will receive the Spirit.

thesweetestone · #27 08-27-2002, 10:14 PM

I have never heard of not being able to clap in church.

Anyway I used to visited this one church on the Sundays that my church wasn't having service. This pastor would get up and say all kinds of inappropriate things. My mother went to church with me one time and that man in the pulpit saying the word "Coochie,"so after church my mother went to him and asked him what does that mean? She said that he broke it down to her and even used the P word.

He said he has to speak to the people on a level they can understand. That's just to much to be saying in church.

FuturePhD · #28 08-28-2002, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by thesweetestone
My mother went to church with me one time and that man in the pulpit saying the word "Coochie,"so after church my mother went to him and asked him what does that mean? She said that he broke it down to her and even used the P word. He said he has to speak to the people on a level they can understand. That's just to much to be saying in church.

I had to leave a church service one time when the speaker called the woman at the well a "ho". The things people say!

Blackwatch · #29 08-28-2002, 08:53 AM

I have a quick question,
How much of the Gospel rap is actually for unsaved folks? How much Gospel Music is for unsaved folks? I used to work with a youth ministry back home that was not affiliated with any specific church. One of the things that we used extensively was music. We had all sorts of hip-hop from biggie and Tupac to T-bone and the "Gospel Gangstaz"

( gospel rappers). The kids (who were "saved" and "unsaved") really were NOT feeling the gospel hip-hop

. They just did not associate God with a "bumpin' beat". They didn't even listen to the gospel hip-hop we had. A more effective evangelical tool was they way we used to analyze the Tupac and Biggie songs in light of scripture, they then began to relate to God on their level. The gospel hip-hop really led to more confusion for the unsaved kids, though the saved kids related to it okay. Most Gospel music is for believers period. It seems that the music inspires and/or entertains believers and really isn't that effective of an evangelical tool. Whether its Thomas Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson, Mary Mary or Kirk, it has mainly been for believers, not unbelievers.
One danger I see is that people will begin to see gospel music just as another genre' of music like rap or pop. This happens because many gospel artists are not critical enough nor are the theologically sound in their songs. I have a friend of mine who is a Muslim who was actually sang in the Gospel Choir at his College!!!! He said he was in it because of the women

. He said whenever they mentioned Jesus, he would simply not say His name or anything that had to do with a Trinity. The people in the choir knew he was a Muslim, but didn't care, I guess they thought singing would change him, it didn't, and most times songs will not convert an unbeliever. It would be things like this that would disturb me more than there being gospel rap. How can you call your gospel music an evangelical ministry with unsaved folk delivering the songs? Let's be more critical ya'll when it comes to "music ministry" or just call it what it is "Christian Entertainment for Christian folks".
Blackwatch!!!!!

SeriousAKA · #30 08-28-2002, 11:54 AM

@ Blackwatch..

I was at a confernece 2 summers ago with my Youth and we were talking about usiing music during service. We of course were the only Black church represented so I guess they thought we would think it was "cool" that during the Sunday that the Youth conducted the servcice they entered while DMX's prayer was playing. Now, my kids and I were like whoa! what is really going on? Their goal was to let the older people in thier curch know that all rap wasn't bad but I think they could have and should have chosen something else.