Hip-Hop, Idolatry & The Church Pt. 10

"I wanna record with Prince."

So says Assistant International Music Director of the Church Of God In Christ Inc., or more correctly the Vice President of the International Music Dept.,  Kim Burrell. The following information is from a 2009 interview with E.J. Gaines of  Gospelpundit.com . In light of the recent post on gospel crossovers in Pt. 9 of this series, I thought it interesting to delve a little more deep into the subject and see what is attracting so many of today's gospel singers into relationships secular and worldly artists and how they are reconciling their actions.

I have pasted the 2 parts of that interview that we are concerned with in this writing. Kim's responses are in bold:

Pt. 1: Kim Burrell On Prince

EJ: Nice. Couple more questions… I’ve asked several people who they’d most like to record with and many of them have said either Stevie Wonder or Kim Burrell. Now, you’ve already recorded with Stevie Wonder and you are Kim Burrell– so how do YOU answer that question?

KB: Prince.

EJ: PRINCE?! I was not expecting that.

KB: I wanna record with Prince. There’s still a sound… I feel the presence of God. There’s a sound to come out of Prince through submission to the Holy Spirit. Not just to God, because he has a regard for Jehovah, for God.

But I’m talking about a SOUND to come out of Prince. I feel like every time I say it, God is shooting it to him. Not for the benefit of Burrell to do a recording. We can do it and keep it in the house as far as I’m concerned. I just wanna record with the man and sit with him because God has invested something in Prince that NOBODY in the world has.

And because of that, he has a worship inside of him that is second to none. There is an album that he did within the last 5 or 6 years, and one of the songs… honey, when I tell you there is a sound on there that came very close to the Holy Spirit of God… and I know he’s been tapping in on that because of his encounters with God.

EJ: I believe that.

KB: But there is still something that is to come out of him that I want to experience, and I’d love to do a recording with him because I want to experience that moment. I want the Spirit of God to flow through him to write and say some things to God that can change some people’s lives, and change how people worship.


I believe that Prince has an element inside of him that can change the way worship is heard.

EJ: Hmmmm. I pray that it happens.

KB: I do, too.

Here we go again....

???WHAT???

Now, this is really beyond me...She follows the same line of reasoning that Juanita II followed when she claimed that Prince and DMX were "before their time" and even visionary in their music. I can't for the life of me figure out how Prince, has "a worship inside of him that is second to none," I mean Prince or the artist formerly know as Prince, whichever one we are talking about, has something that "will change the way worship is heard"???? 

This gentleman (Prince) embraces the tenets of the heretic Charles Taze Russell and the non Christian Cult of the Jehovah's Witnesses...This is a cultic believer that still embraces his path as an avid adherent to a non-Christian cultic belief system. Although he
may be somewhat toned down as a celebrity, almost speechless in accepting his tribute at the BET Awards, if he follows this cult as is the story, he certainly has no clue as to who the Holy Ghost is, rejects Jesus as God, and even more as a non-created pre existent being. He further has to believe that all churches, including Kim's, are apostate and rejected of God. Prince has neither repented, neither is he on fire for Christ, neither can he be anything pertaining to Christ...What is going on??? How can a top gospel singer and worship leader in a pentecostal/holiness church have this great of an admiration for a non-believer that REJECTS the Jesus that she says that she sings about and dedicates her life to? She is correct, Prince will certainly change not only the way worship is heard, he will change worship all together.

It Must Be Magic

After you got up off the floor on the last part, as this may take some about a week to really get through when you think of the implications of what was just said, by a ministry music leader...then we can go on to this one, but you should remain seated so that at least your trip to the floor won't be so long this time...Sister Burrell is now going to do her best David Blaine impersonation and pretend that the bible supports gospel's collaboration with secular artists and secular music, by confusing evangelizing with the creation of music...Now the interviewer starts this confusion and notice how the collaboration part simply turns into "friendship"...Watch this, but please remain seated:

Part 2: Biblical Reconciliation Of Collaboration With Secular Artists

EJ: I wanna ask you about something that remains a hot topic of debate in gospel– associations and collaborations with secular artists. You’ve been outspoken about your friendships with mainstream artists like Chaka Khan, Omarion and countless others. And you’ve recorded with some mainstream artists as well. Yet you have peers in gospel, some of whom you’ve even recorded with, who are just as outspoken about NOT fraternizing with people in hip-hop or R&B.

What is the responsibility of the gospel artist in reaching artists in other genres, if there even IS one?

KB: The Bible is the truth for me. And it said “go into the highways and hedges and compel men to come, that My house might be filled.” It did not say “go and compel Christian men.”

EJ: Wow.

KB: Let me get my Bible because I want to quote it exactly… *pauses to grab her Bible*… Luke, Chapter 14, verse 23… and I hope this doesn’t get me in trouble because I’m here in my office and I’ve got this Bible, the one that I pray and cry in. That’s VERY not safe right now, because we will end up on the phone for 3 hours.

EJ: Ummm… we can do that. I’ll take it all. You can even call and leave voicemail messages with a good word in ‘em.

KB: *laughing* See, it’s in RED– “unto the SERVANT, go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled.”

Let me tell you something. THIS is a priority. If Jesus said it, it’s priority. And if we’re going to ever, EVER preach and teach and compel, I don’t plan to EVER do it just in the house of God, with people who are commanded to do the same thing as I am.

EJ: RIGHT!

KB: Why in the world would we not communicate with people… and people say “why can’t you just minister to them and call it a day?” I do.

I called Tyrese the other day– he’s in Austria right now and he’s finishing up his movie. Right before he went to Austria, I called him because he was heavy on spirit, because of my interaction with him, and having dinner with him and spending time with him in L.A.

EJ: You haven’t been eating with the tax collectors, have you?


KB: What? Oh, yeeeeees. And boy, was the meal good!


EJ: *laughing*


KB: *laughs*


EJ: But that’s the type of interaction I believe that Christ calls us to. It’s so weird to me that we wanna sing and preach to each other exclusively, as if we’re presenting some new revelation each time. It’s one thing to remind one another of the Gospel daily, but we’re almost so busy EVANGELIZING Christians.


KB: That’s right. And STILL not helping each other. Because we’re falling in front of each other, and we’re falling WITH each other.


EJ: Uh-oh.

KB: Some are leaving church together, getting drunk together, men AND women, whatever the gender… doing everything under the sun. But judgmental of things with which they have not been acquainted, things that are unfamiliar territory for them. They don’t know how to encounter it, so it becomes a “no-no.”

When people have only done what they’ve been taught, and they’ve not experienced it or asked God about it, they’ll be judgmental. But my commission, my priority is to do what the Lord has called me to do. And I’ve been successful with that.

EJ: Amen.

KB: I’ve had PLENTY of opportunities because of it. Like Tyrese, I mentioned calling him. He was just waking up and he said in his tired voice, “hey Lovely,” (that’s what he calls me) and I said “hey, when you wake up, call me because you’re in my spirit and I need to pray with you.” He said “I’ll do it, give me ten minutes.”

He called back in five and I shared some things with him and prayed with him. Do you not know, my friend, that he said “Kim, I’ve got 103,000 people following me on Twitter right now and I’m letting them know that what you’ve done for me, that you just prayed for me. And I’m starting a Twitter page for you right now.”


He grabbed whatever pictures he had of me and set something up… within maybe 5 hours, I had over 2,000 people following me. [Editor's Note: You can follow her at http://www.twitter.com/kimburrelllove.]


EJ: Yep.

KB: You mean to tell me that I’m not supposed to reach out and have dealings with them? They say “well, you’re doing music… you have to represent…” I REPRESENT GOD.

You’re tellin’ me that every person in the Armed Forces, that’s saved and loves Jesus Christ, knowing that they might have to go and MURDER somebody if they go to Iraq, they’re going to hell? They’re not doing the work of the Lord?

EJ: Right.

KB: So, I’m not into debates with people because folks always have their own idea about what it is that folks should and should not be doing. And those who are usually pointing the finger are talking to the wrong people.

And listen, those people found ME. I was walking in the store, 15 years ago or so, and Chaka Khan called MY cell phone. I don’t know how she got it. She called me. Same thing with Stevie. I left that message for so long on my machine…

EJ: *laughs*

KB: But he called me and we’ve been very close for 13 years. We talk about everything. But the deal is that these people need an outlet, they need somebody that they can trust. They know they can’t talk to each other, just like we can’t in church.


We know we can’t go to some of these artists– I KNOW I can’t! I know several artists I can’t go to right now and trust them with my personal business. Baby, it’ll be all over the place!


EJ: *laughing hard*


KB: With stuff ADDED depending on how they feel about me, with their grinnin’ selves. Don’t get me started, maaaan.


EJ: Oh my!


KB: I don’t get started on that junk. I’m out here doing work. I have more comfort with people in the world than I do with them. Because they’ll come right out and tell you– “if Jesus Christ comes back, I ain’t going.” And it gives me an opportunity to tell them why I know that they CAN, and deal with their situation.


Rather than church folks sayin’ “oh, I know He’s alright! High-five your neighbor!” They ain’t about to say “high-five your neighbor, although I fornicated last night” or “high-five your neighbor, although I committed adultery”… “high-five your neighbor although I’m an alcoholic, and a homosexual and a pervert.”

They ain’t gonna say that.

EJ: Right.

KB: But, you know, I love everybody. I love Jesus. I love doing this– it is what I do. I do the work of the Lord. It happens to come in the form of an album or two once in a while, concerts, and all kinds of stuff that the Lord is blessing me to do. This ain’t about Kim Burrell.

I haven’t known how to wake up and be about Kim Burrell since I was about 27. I stopped trying to be about Kim Burrell, especially after I had my son when I was about 31. I am not about Kim Burrell anymore. I’ve forgotten how to be about her.

Conclusion:

Now, the switch was on in that conversation...there was no mention about making music and supporting these artist secular music efforts, only "fellowship" and "friendship" and "ministry" to the lost. This is tragic and I fault not only Kim but also the host for not directing the conversation and separating the issues. Although one must know that Kim certainly knows the difference and the true concern. The concern is certainly not calling Tyrese up and having prayer with him or any other secular artist. They need prayer right along with the rest of us. The topic is why are our gospel singers and artists so head-strong on making music with and singing with secular artists and individuals? Why is it that they must support secular music efforts by taking their talents, given to them by God and using them for the world and a system that doesn't proliferate the message of Christ?

Have our leading Psalmists (as they are called now-days) forgotten about the holiness of God? Have they been so tricked into believing that they are to support the world with their talent while simultaneously preaching against it? Is it possible that they have conformed to the world and the world, though feeling better in their sins, (certainly feeling justified in their sins) has yet to truly come out and make Jesus Lord? Is there a different brand of salvation for those who have achieved a certain level of worldly success than us average, non celebrity folk? Obviously there is, at least in the minds of the stars and those with associations along these lines. 

What is the difference? The difference is the nature of music itself and what it represents and stands for. Music is not a morally or socially neutral venture. Music has a message and promotes a message, a world view and reality whether desired or hoped for or experienced. With the nature of music so clearly outlined in the bible one cannot simply sit by and minimize the impact of the intertwining of that which is holy with that which is profane.  One thing is for sure, individuals like this are making a mess out of the mission of the church and the sanctity of service to God. 

Where are the leaders in calling in the song leaders and holding the music ministers accountable? Do none of these individuals have spiritual and biblically centered leadership that will make them be accountable for their actions and associations? Yes, and they have every right to also hold the pulpit minister accountable for his/her actions also. 

We have drifted, collectively, away from the fountain of holiness and that which resembles Christ and yet we claim and profess that we are holy, not knowing that this is an utter impossibility. Our singers have been seduced and cloaked by the world and what it has to offer and seduced by the promises of fame, associations, acknowledgement and a type of spirituality that is certainly zealous, but without restraint and wisdom of God's council. It is in the wisdom of men that many stand binding themselves with the chords of an industry who's goal is not proliferation of the gospel, but corporate profits and expansion of status among men. 

How can we continue and feel that we will be blessed when all we've done is deliver our best to the altar of satan, sin and the flesh. Lord help the church to stand for if the Lord doesn't help even the remnant will be overwhelmed. 

Proverbs 14:12 ~ "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the WAYS OF DEATH."

Blessed!