Seduced Church: The Prostitution, & Sale Of The Psalmist

Gospel Artists 

Dial 666 To Make A Deal

Matthew 4:8-11 ~ 8-Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9-And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10-Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11-Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

One thing is for certain. as we have already established...the gospel minister is in trouble...we have seen the meltdown and breakdown...In my Hip-hop Idolatry & The Church Series #9,  I have taken a look into the world of music cross-overs. As noted in the post over the years we have seen artists that have gone from gospel to secular music and from secular to gospel music and such the like. As I noted then, it is a tragedy and it still is a tragedy. 

Secularism: When The World Looks Good & Considerations Of God Become Small

The term secularism can be defined in the following manner:

1. Religious skepticism or indifference.
2. The view that religious considerations should be excluded from civil affairs or public education

Our friends at Real Zone allowed a pastor to define secularism highlighting it's spiritual implications as follows:

“Secularism is a movement that opposes God and everything that is associated with God. Secularism promotes independence from God. It removes God from people’s thoughts, the educational system and from programs and policies. It is, therefore, wrong for anybody to criticize or label as secular, an artist that sings a song which is not blasphemous of God or his commandments. “

Secularism is more in line with a culture or a world view. A way of doing things that does not allow the influence of God or Biblical based moral decisions to come into play. The artist or individual is pursuing a "career" using the instruments that belong to God with no consideration for HIM and when there is consideration it is usually a reinterpretation of material facts to suit. 

The problem is further summed up like this...folk that only have a gift and a place because of God, fail to subject and submit that gift to God in favor of money, fame and worldly accolade and career advancement. They have cheapened themselves by using their gifts inappropriately and even against God to favor, honor and support an anti-Christ industry of secularism displayed through music and various forms of entertainment. 

Evil Communication Corrupts Good Manners (1 Cor. 15:33)

I mean look at it...we have gospel artists and even leaders and administrators of organizational music departments such as pastor Kim Burrell, Assistant International Music Director in the Church Of God In Christ, who has not only said that she wants to "sing with Prince", because she feels that he is "anointed"(what a JOKE!) but has also made career decisions and moves in union with homosexuals such as Krishnar Lewis (Lewis Agency) to not only produce music, and videos, but also the show "Whatever It Takes" The title is all in it as Kim says:

"I'll do 'whatever it takes' to sustain the momentum of my success, as long as I have my dream team" ~ video promo

Unfortunately, Kirshnar now has stage 4 rectal cancer that has metastasized from what has been said in the video, so it is a wonder how long this relationship will continue or go on. We do pray from Krishnar's salvation. In short there will be at least 2 persons whom pastor Burrell will have been around that is in serious need of a move of God, but yet she seems focused on the "momentum" of her "success" as she does not apparently want that hindered in any way and will do anything to keep it going. 

Kim isn't the only one by any means that is misrepresenting the office of "psalmist" as they have become to be known in many modern Christian circles. There are others such as Erica Campbell of  Mary Mary who have not only employed perverted rap artists such as David "Put Your Panties On The Floor" Banner into their music, but Erica has also recently said  the following of her husband and former/current secular/gospel music producer "Baby Dub" Campbell:

“I feel like my husband has been called to minister,”...“Now I said, ‘Lord, when I first started dating this guy he worked for Death Row Records, but he was from the church. That was a perfect combination for me: a little street, a little church.”

For Erica, the street/church combination worked...It worked so much until she married a man who produced music for one of the most suspect secular music labels in America. Shug Knight's former bloody baby, Death Row records...(now WIDEawake-Deathrow; sold in 2009 for $18 Million.) I guess that was slightly better than Tina, (the other Psalmist) who almost killed her husband, as she admits, when news of his infidelity surfaced:

“Once I became aware [of the affair], I initially wanted to kill my husband,”...“I was considering adjusting the will, the living trust and all that kind of stuff. I did physically try to stab him. Several times…I never got to the point of physical harm, not really, but my words…My words hurt.”

Does any of this resemble "gospel" or what "gospel" should be? We know that men are imperfect, however, there is not a glimpse or a hint of "redeemed" in any of these actions and sentiments. Can you imagine telling your young people to find a man that is a "little street" and a "little church"? What type of biblical advice or admonition is that? Can you imagine receiving praise and worship, hanging on God to move for you and being led to that by a person who has a knife in her purse waiting for an opportunity to stab her husband because he has acted selfishly and in an ungodly manner? What happened to values of prayer, seeking God and doing what David did, going into the HOLD? However, a secular mind, does secular things. There is no doubt about it.

(Update 56/4/2013: According to the Ebony article, the affair occurred about 2 and a half years ago, prior to the reality show and Tina only sought to stab him with a fork. Now I happen to like Tina and certainly don't minimize the pain that she felt and certainly pray for her. She is a family woman and I like the fact that she tries to arrange her life to place family first. I know this was a rough revelation for her and pray for the best, BUT in times like these, WE revert to our roots of righteousness. The streets say "kill", and the inclination to do so is certainly born of the flesh, the Lord says trust HIM.)

Romans 8:7 ~ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  

What Is Genre? Whatever It Is It Doesn't Matter To Them

Generally speaking, the term "genre" indicates the type or class of music that is being presented. There are certain movements within the music that are specific to each genre of music. This is basically how the music is identified or classified. What we are talking about is greater than one form of music sounding like another. We are talking about the complete crossing over of the message and point of emphasis of the music from one category or type to another.

In the minds of the modern crossover gospel artist, genre (the type of music sung) is a marketing opportunity or a way to make more money or increase the artists audience. There is no resemblance that the audience or target is looked at as a ministry opportunity or mission field. They are people that need to become new fans like followers of the "Pied Piper". The psalmists themselves are unaware or uncaring about why there should be a difference between clean and unclean.

Doing The "Twist"

I believe it was Chubby Checker that did a dance called "the twist" back in the day. Well there is a new "twist" and it begins in the minds of many of these gospel artists. Some artists are simply confused and looking to blame everyone else but themselves for their faults and decisions. This sort of mentality is readily seen in artists such as Shei Atkins, who says that although her mission is to help people live out their faith, blames her pursuit of "crossover" and engagement with secular music and the secular music industry on the people in the church. She claims that it was those "judgmental church people" (many of whom have helped to make her famous and able to live the lifestyle that she enjoys) that have caused her to leave the gospel music industry. She has said this:

"Although I love God’s people, I can’t waste years trying to break this mentality and use that as an excuse for not doing what God told me to do,” ..."Every part of the body of Christ is unique and beneficial and if we all work together, we would be so much more powerful. God is more concerned about how you live than what genre you’re categorized in.”

Like many of her colleagues Shei is confused. First, she slaps the face of the people that have supported her from nothing. Then it's even worse for her spiritual understanding. How in the world can a person think that anyone can be "helped" and encouraged to live a godly lifestyle by being turned to worldliness and secularism? This is rank and utter confusion. At heart it is obvious that those with sentiments as such do not want any sort of accountability. Shei readily blames the church for judging her music and message by the standard of the word of God. Can she possibly be serious? The real question that needs to be posed is can a person lead one into God's presence with such confusion of the mind and dilution of the spirit? Why? Because it is obvious that she is not saved or if she was, she has walked away from HIS supremacy in her life. I am willing to KNOW that it is an impossibility that folk in this sort of condition are hearing from the Lord in any way, other than as he convicts them of their sins and encourages them to repent and do their first works over again. Shei's additional tirade against the church can be found HERE. 

Even The "Bishops" Are Confused

Even persons that you think would hold individuals to a higher standard have gotten into this sort of "psalmist apostasy".  More than likely the real reason is because even they enjoy the popularity that it brings and also live off of an industry which feeds their monetary needs. For example, recently the Bishop Paul "Eddie Long must repent" Morton declared that there should be more "love music" in the gospel music industry as he affirmed:

“When you are with your spouse there are some songs you just don’t want to hear. When I’m with my wife I don’t want “Amazing Grace”. Give me a love song!”

In other words, when the bishop is alone with his wife, and after the Viagra has finally kicked in...for that 4 hour countdown he doesn't want to be bothered with thinking about Jesus or who Jesus is. He wants Luther or Wonder...Whether he wants "honey love" or not, bottom line is that he simply wants to be able to engage his wife with an exclusively "Jesus free" mind...OK....(I'll leave that alone) 

The "Anointed" Have Mingled & Been Seduced

Certainly Fred Hammond, one who has been said to be among the most  anointed "music ministers" in gospel music, has responded to this apparent "need" among the saints for more love songs, by not only producing a "love song" CD, but even more recently a mixed secular/gospel group United Tenors (UT). Previously, Fred said this about his decision to do "love songs":

“I knew I had to do this record. I knew it was time for me to share my heart about love. I knew that the body of Christ needed to hear these songs, but I honestly didn’t know how it would be received. I always say that I’m a ‘step out of the boat’ kind of artist, and I am grateful for everyone who has stepped out with me to support this CD. It is humbling and it is heartwarming and it is a reminder that when God gives you something – to move on it, even if you don’t fully understand what He is doing,”

So according to Fred, this "love song" project was something that he was led of God to do because the "body of Christ needed to hear it"? OK, is that true? No one asked me and I'm in the Body...at least so I thought... Don't get me wrong, there are some good songs on the CD, but the question is, is this what the psalmist has been commissioned to do? Sing love songs so the people of God can feel better about "gettin' down" with their spouses? Is this what the people of God should be led to embrace by the leading of the "psalmist"? Secularism in the name of the Lord and romance? The conversation needs to be had. Is any of this really the leading of the Spirit? What does this do to ministry and the work of the Lord? And for heaven's sake, could somebody please tell me how any of this edifies single believers trying to live out their commitment to Christ?

Remakes & The New Reality 

Then we certainly don't and can't forget the remakes of secular songs such as "Oooh Child" by dancing Kirk Franklin and shoutin' Donnie McClurkin. It seems that there were a host of Franklin song on the CD 'Hero'  that were simply reworked secular songs designed to basically bring the past into the present and in my opinion incite "familiar spirits". We are also reminded and the efforts of other artists such as J. Moss  and even Jonathan Butler who do both secular and gospel music at the drop of a hat if the money is right. After all, music is music right?

Finally, (but by no means least) there's the BET reality show "The Sheards" which has exposed the younger Sheards (Kierra and J Drew II) desire to gain a larger audience almost by any means necessary. In this show J Drew II  continuously and consistently seeks to not only go into secular venues, but to immerse himself into the secular industry itself. Kiarra has her own vision for her musical future by proclaiming that the new "genre" (secular music) is necessary and simply good for her "brand" and business all together.  Can you believe it? The "psalmists" of God are now a "brand", seeking fans, a "target markets" and ultimately a new audience and larger following to sell more units and get more popularity and fame and move more units. Remember, the devil said, simply "fall down and worship me and I'll give you all the accolades of these kingdoms." Have we forgotten what we so eagerly learned in kindergarten and first grade bible study? It seems that the importance of it has fallen away from us, for sure. 

HOLD THE PHONE...PLEASE!

I could go on and on with others who have done their "do" before the world, committing adulteries, fornication and down right feuding and being ungodly...To go down that trail would be a futile effort in my opinion because it seems that many of them don't care and all people like to talk about is the next scandal.

To the point, our gospel music personalities aka: the psalmists, have been willingly PIMPED by secular music and have willingly sold themselves and their gifts into prostitution. This means that they have engaged and embraced things and people that they should not have ever considered embracing. At the expense of the people of God and the mission of Christ, they have delivered their goods to the devil for one ultimate and singular purpose...to take the glory from God and deliver it to the devil himself.    

Somebody Got To Make Money...Why Not Me?

Now, it is the devil that grants the popularity and fame. It is the devil that gives the stage of exposure. Singing to mere church folk just isn't good enough. Secular stages, settings and contracts are essential to fame popularity and success. The psalmists have embraced people who speak in dollars and market-share. They do not speak in scriptural verses nor do they speak in spiritual edicts or by spiritual references. They speak in sales and increased popularity with and in the world. For them it is a win-win of dollars with the illusion and false promise of preaching or being able to "reach the masses". Like Kirk Franklin prepared us in his famous imitation gospel/secular song "Stomp" by stating "Just in case you think gospel music has gone too far"...Well, it has. Gospel music has gone too far!...Not only that, but because of the compromise of the so called psalmist, many of the most popular ones are simply not fit for worship. They have embraced another love all while singing about the God they "say" they love:

1 John 2:15 ~ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the 

Father is not in him.

The system that the modern psalmist loves is one that gives them popularity and fame and accolade. It creates "ungodly" friends and illusions and is based on sensual, earthly, and devilish wisdom. We must dispel the myth that all roads and paths are the same or are ordained of God. They are not.  

The Secularism Of Gospel Is Not A Parallel Path

What makes this and these actions so pervasive is that the devil himself has been the author of the delusion that the secular music path is simply a parallel to the gospel music path. The claim is that these are simply two roads that run parallel and that can be bridged or turned on and off as the artist sees fit. However, nothing is further from the truth. 

Secularism and Gospel are not two "parallel paths" or options to build or engage industry or ministry. Parallel paths run in the same direction even if they end at two different points. The path between gospel and secular are is different. They are diametrically opposed directions and value systems. They are two totally different and opposite directions. In order to embrace one path, the other must be turned away from. Although the sound is an important identifier, the sound  of either of them doesn't matter. One brand of music can sound like the other and still not be on the same or a similar path and be far from the other. This is similar to the "gulf" that was between the beggar and the rich man in eternity or in hell. (Lk.16:26) This chasm cannot be bridged. it wasn't meant to be bridged. The way of God and the way of the devil are two totally opposite realities with two completely different ultimate realities and purposes.

This is the message that needs to be heard...it is IMPOSSIBLE for the gospel artist to "crossover" to secular music. What is actually happening is that the gospel is being REJECTED and the secular embraced as a new path. There is no mixing of truth and mixing of unrighteousness. There is also no drawing of the secular artist into gospel. There is only a desensitization of those who listen to gospel to these things.

The gospel has been sold into bondage and the gospel artists have prostituted themselves for fame, fortune, and pomp of the world.  This was the promise of the devil. To make those would serve him wildly popular and rich beyond belief in this world.  

Conclusion

If unrighteousness is embraced, righteousness is rejected. If righteousness is embraced, unrighteousness is rejected. This is the key to the temptation of the enemy when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. The lesson we learned was this:

First, everything already belonged to God, including the people and their adoration because every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that he is Lord.

The devil only offers illusions and temporary fixes but the come with a price. The price of fame, and accolade of men is the loss of anointing, place and relevance. I believe this is in part what we are seeing when we see sin running rampant among those who's lives should be representative of the Christ they sing about.

Strangers have crept in, but we are not unaware of them. We see them. Unfortunately for them, they haven't fooled us that can discern darkness from light.

Isaiah 14:11 God draws a sharp contrast at the judgement that he was to deliver in spite of the celebration using "viols" (12 stringed instruments) among the Babylonians. Many have said that the devil himself, being the chief musician of heaven at one time, also had instruments built into his body to make praise to God. Having drawn himself away from his purpose, his aim now is simply to draw the same type of praise that he once gave God, to himself.

Since Jubal in Genesis 4:21, we know that music has always had a special place and purpose among God's people. Smiths Biblical Dictionary says this:

1. The golden age of Hebrew music . David seems to have gathered round him "singing men and singing women." (2 Samuel 19:35) Solomon did the same, (Ecclesiastes 2:8) adding to the luxury of his court by his patronage of art, and obtaining a reputation himself as no mean composer. (1 Kings 4:32) But the temple was the great school of music, and it was consecrated to its highest service in the worship of Jehovah. Before, however the elaborate arrangements had been made by David for the temple choir, there must have been a considerable body of musicians throughout the country. (2 Samuel 6:5) (David chose 4000 musicians from the 38,000 Levies in his reign, or one in ten of the whole tribe. Of these musicians 288 were specially trained and skillful. (1 Chronicles 26:6,7) The whole number was divided into 24 courses, each of which would thus consist of a full band of 154 musicians, presided over by a body of 12 specially-trained leaders, under one of the twenty-four sons of Asaph, Heman or Jeduthun as conductor. The leaders appear to have played on the cymbals, perhaps to make the time. (1 Chronicles 15:19; 16:5) All these joined in a special chant which David taught them, and which went by his name. (1 Chronicles 23:5) Women also took part in the temple choir. (1 Chronicles 13:8; 25:5,6) These great choirs answered one to another in responsive singing; thus the temple music most have been grand and inspiring beyond anything known before that time. 

I have spent some time in this post outlining the problem and it is serious and evident to see. I thought that I would leave it up to you to comment on what needs to be done to get this right...What must be done to make this right? Can it get right? Please feel free to address this for all those who look on. I would also like to hear from those in the industry if you are not ashamed to respond. Has the industry and the secular elements of it helped or hurt you personally...you're take please....Thanks.

Blessed!

Update & PS:

Don't think for a minute that the top selling gospel artist of all time has escaped. Marvin Sapp will have his share of explaining to do before the throne as well as I explain HERE.