Acclaimed international gospel singer, Osinachi Kalu commonly known as Sinach has castigated gospel artists for drinking wine and preaching water. While speaking at a special section with local gospel artists recently in Kenya, the Nigerian song stress called on her peers to stay in the straight and narrow path.
He statements come at a time when the gospel fraternity has been under attack for performing in night clubs.
One of the questions that bothers many gospel musicians is whether it’s alright for them to perform at such places or not. While others argue that it’s a good way to reach out to souls and draw them to Christ, there are those who believe that performing in a nightclub is biblically inappropriate.
“The spirit in the club is different.” Sinach says. “First of all you must know that you are a servant,… you are a minister and your job is to support the pastor. That does not make you any less. Put on your servant-hood cloth and ask your pastor; what should I do to make your work easy?”
“Some artists want the best of both worlds and you cannot have it all. You do not put a toilet brush in the sitting room, it just doesn’t fit. I don’t work with artists who play in clubs, you have to stay in one place. Make your choice and stay where you belong.” She adds.
Invest in Music.
Sinach also challenges artists to invest in their music, stating that they cannot expect other people to invest money in their music if they wont do it them selves.
“You need to style up,” she says.”there is no pastor who wants to work with someone who is smelly and badly groomed. Get descent cloths and learn to speak properly, good etiquette is important. Don’t let anyone lie to you that money isn’t important, do good music and charge a fair price for it. Also have a home church where you serve, without expecting to be paid.”
Get a day Job.
Most of the artists who play in clubs cite their need for a paycheck as the reason they seek these opportunities. To this sinach says:
“If your music isn’t paying yet, get a day job until it does. I am still employed at my home church, even though i make money out there and that enables me bless others financially.
What others think.
To differ from Sinach, popular Zambian gospel rapper Pompi who was in Uganda recently took to his facebook page a while back to defend himself and his Lota house label for performances at some night clubs.
He had this to say; “We will continue ministering to the lost. There is nothing more ugly than an orthodoxy without understanding or without compassion. We at Lotahouse value people so much so that we will not discriminate on who is and who is not worthy of the Gospel. Those who want to keep the Gospel within the four walls of the church sorry but we have to leave the 99 in search of the one lost sheep as commanded by our Savour Jesus Christ. Enjoy the luxury of freely given Green pastures, We will be delivering this very important good news of grace to that one. The truth needs no defending so we will simply reply by sending you progress reports.”
From Ghana, gospel music singer Mary Agyemang says; “We are to go anywhere and preach the gospel so I’ll go. If I don’t go to the nightclub, who will be there to deliver the message to them. I always say that we should not be hypocrite. Will you be tagged as a sinner if you perform at nightclub?”
Asked specifically whether other artists who have chosen to stay away from the club are hypocrites, she gave an emphatic yes and asserted that “if you won’t go and preach to them, who should go there? They are being hypocrites. If you tell me you won’t go there you are a hypocrite because you do not know the lifestyle of the person at church you are always preaching to.”
