During an interview with NTV’S Faridah Nakazibwe, 27 year old ‘Former’ church choir songster at Victory City Church Irene Ntale narrated her switch from Gospel Music to Secular music.
This interview was aired just after we had received an e-mail asking about the legitimacy of Christian musicians pursuing a career in secular pop music.
The correspondent wanted us to address and publish something related to this phenomenon. How should we think about it? Is it always wrong? It is something we should encourage? It is true, Secular music doesn’t necessarily mean godless or anti-Christian.
Does it mean that if an artist performs secular music then they are not Christians? There is a whole spectrum of views on this matter.
The most important question to ask (and sometimes the most difficult to answer) is, “What are my motives for wanting to be involved in secular music?”
Irene Ntale, during the interview clarified the genesis saying, “When I was still in church, I used to sing, we had a band however, we separated ourselves from the church choir, I and 3 other boys. That is when I started learning instruments as well. This she says was done because she didn’t want to sing in church alone.
Asked as to whether her mother wasn’t concerned about the new move, Irene said that this is a phase that her mother though would pass and that she [Irene] would finally return back to singing gospel music alone.
“I started leaving bit by bit, not that I was tired of the church, but I simply didn’t want to sing in church alone.”
While I never assume someone’s motives will be completely pure, there’s a significant difference between someone who lives to play on stage and someone who lives to serve others with their gifts. If there’s any doubt about why I want to play music outside the church, it’s a good idea to ask others I respect for their honest evaluation of my motives.
Singing a gospel song does not automatically make one a Christian neither does singing secular make one a sinner.
A song has its purpose. There are secular musicians who use their songs to preach about H.I.V., teenage pregnancy and a whole lot of social vice. There are also some gospel singers that love everything ungodly and absolutely are the most un-Jesus like people you could ever meet.
Likewise, some who don’t even sing about Jesus or never mention Jesus once in their lyrics, are humble Bible believing family man/women who are faithful believers in Christ.
Bottom line: Can the lyrics in a secular song be true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy? If so, then there is nothing wrong with a Christian listening to a secular song of that nature.
Know your heart and seek to make music for the glory of Jesus Christ, no matter where you play or sing. Our music isn’t about us. It’s about drawing attention to the God who gave us music in the first place. No other kind of music will last nonetheless.
Watch the rest of the Interview here
editor@ugchristiannews.com
In Photo – Irene Ntale [NT Images]
