The exodus of Ugandan gospel artistes to secular music has ignited a debate on the unprecedented switch that has left Church leaders rattled.
When such artists are interviewed, some point a finger at the church noting that while they might keep up with limited support and appreciation from ministries, having to continuously deal with judgmental believers is a little beyond what they can take up.
Tabloids in Uganda have often questioned the ‘authenticity’ of some gospel ministers. They fault or insinuate controversy regarding their life style, Childhood life, financial spending habits, dress code, lyrical value and relationships.
“It’s not good to always judge people before you get to know who they are because, at the end of the day, the person judging will end up in shame. This has caused a lot of people to leave or hate church/ministry.” Gospel music singer Sami-k said Sunday in a private chat with fellow music ministers.
“50 percent or even more of the secular artistes started out in church and some are even born again. Just like I have club DJs who are my friends and born again. Their work and faith are different… Does that mean God is not with them anymore?” He asked.
“I’ll say this. Listen to the heart of the artiste, what are they saying, is it glorifying God and is it scriptural? Is it blessing the souls of people? Don’t look at it as they are doing secular music. That’s like saying you won’t listen to TD Jake’s sermon because he is a business man and advises wicked presidents or has actually written 2 albums called Sacred Love songs that are not preaching and those albums have both gospel and secular artistes.” He added.
Popular gospel singer Marvin Sapp, who’s also founder and senior pastor of Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan – USA, stirred controversy online Thursday when he suggested that Christians should buy the music of gospel artists even if their private lives are “questionable.”
Sapp’s comment come in the wake of the success of rapper Jay-Z’s much publicized “4:44” digital-only album which was certified platinum, with sales of 1 million copies in the U.S., less than a week after its June 30 release.
“‘Jay-Z’s album went platinum and it hasn’t even been released to the masses yet! It went certified platinum just on tidal! Coming to Apple and all other outlets next week! What is that saying?'” Sapp said he was asked in a post to his more than 2 million fans on Facebook Thursday.
The “Never Would Have Made It” singer said he responded: “The world supports its own.”
“Not one supporter of Jay-Z (Believer or non-Believer) questions his lifestyle, beliefs or commitment to his wife. They know that the messenger is flawed but they support his message to the tune of 1 million sales and it hasn’t been released to the masses yet. I believe the world gets what believers still don’t or refuse to understand,” he continued. “#myopinionon That the message is always bigger than the messenger.”
Sapp further elaborated on his thoughts, saying that when Christians stop supporting the music of gospel artists they think aren’t living according to certain Christian standards they are only “silencing this great gospel.”
“Believers won’t buy gospel music of some artist because of their presumed flaws and questionable life. Making them (the artist) bigger than the message of Christ and in doing so silencing this great gospel message musically, and slowly but surely putting this industry of gospel music on life support that has the ability to impact the masses,” he said.
“One day I pray that we all drop our rocks and remember that everyone, and I mean everyone, that God used in Scripture was flawed and or had issues that wasn’t Jesus Christ. And that’s why we needed His redemptive work in our lives. However, even with their flaws and all, God used them to deliver a message of hope and healing. Support the message of gospel music and let’s keep it alive,” he said.
Sapp sparked a heated discussion which as of Friday evening had triggered nearly 3,000 reactions and more than 360 comments, many of them disagreeing with his logic.
In the most popular response to the singer-preacher, Steven Dinwiddie, a pastor and teacher at New Seasons Christian Ministries strongly disagreed with Sapp.
“I don’t agree we cannot conform to the world and win the world. Jay-Z preaches and lives his lifestyle. We need to preach and live ours,” Dinwiddie wrote.
Others on Twitter also raised a similar concern.
“Your message should be as you live. Gospel is dying because most but not all of the gospel artists think they are beyond reproach,” (a one) April Henderson wrote.
cnakalungi@ugchristiannews.com
