Gospel and Rap- Can it really be accomplished without someone crossing the line?

Gospel and Hip Hop:  Can they peaceably coexist?

That was certainly the question last week after a controversy stirred up about Hip Hop Artist, Meek Mills song, “Amen” struck a vein in the heart of those who love Jesus when they heard the lyrics of this song.  If you have not heard the song, listen to  the song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDJSTd-vhhI.  In Fact, Pastor Komo Johnson called for a boycott of the song stating that it was blaspheming God and a sin.  Meeks thundered back at the Pastor on radio station Hot 107.9 Philly stating that Pastor Komo Johnson was trying to seek attention  and that if he wanted money for his church he could have asked him privately for it.  Essentially, Mills accused the Pastor of a divination spirit.  The Pastor rallied back proclaiming that he and other Christians were offended by the lyrics and he had a right to tell him that what he did was a sin and that he should admit he was wrong and repent.   You can here the whole conversation from the radio station at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT_GJUdM2Ic.  Ultimately, Mills did apologize for offending Christians and Pastor Johnson did call off the boycott, but not before the devil got a chance to raise his ugly head.   Pastor Johnson was interviewed later about the radio confrontation with Meek Mills which can be heard in its’ entirety at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIPCeggr8co.   After this interview a lot of issues still remain unresolved in my opinion.  First, Mills mentioned that his 85 year old grandmother did not have a problem with his song and she is a Christian.  My question is “Why Not?”   Second, it was cited that some Christian Hip Hop Artists disagreed with the way Meek Mills was approached by Pastor Johnson. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n-lXgilyoY. Pastor Johnson said he makes no apologies for using scripture to rebuke Meek Mills.  I wholeheartedly agree!  If you can go on national radio blaspheming God, then you ought to be able to withstand the criticism about your actions.  And Meek, it was one pastor who even admits that he isn’t well known.  I feel that the more well known pastors like T.D Jakes, Paula White, and others should have expressed their outrage also.  And what about the gospel and contemporary Christian artists?  Why didn’t we hear more from them?  You got off easy Meek!  Last but least, Meek , you mention how you have helped get drug dealers off the street and have given sneakers to children.  My response to this is, it does not make up for the damage you are doing to these children’s soul as they sing the lyrics to your song while saying “Church, Amen”.  And as far as Kirk Franklin doing a remix with you, I seriously doubt it!

This echoes back to the fears that traditional churchgoers felt when gospel artists began to become more secularized.  Hopefully, this type of thing never happens again, but I doubt it.  Hip Artist like  Kanye West and Pusha T have songs that mention God in their lyrics and titles, but none have gone as far as Meek Mills’ “Amen”.  This is the reason why I feel it is ever so important that Gospel and contemporary Christian artist continue to thrive to produce the best music as possible.  Music that will have our children singing praises to the Lord instead a glamorizing  sex , drugs, money, lies, cars etc.