“Who all over there?” The question asked and answered with Heaven in mind.
There is a humorous inside joke to this question, but for the purpose of this blog, we are going to bring some serious dialogue to the question. “Who all over there?” Is an idiom used to get intel about the current guests to make a determination as to whether or not the person inquiring should still come. It speaks volumes to the intentionality and deliberate nature in the one asking the question to determine if they are going to subject themselves to being in an environment with people who may or may not share their sentiments or interests.
1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Bad company corrupts good character.” Despite the Bible explicitly sharing that the interactions that one has can be unfruitful and grossly lead to compromise in one’s life. We have the propensity to want to see the best in those whom we desire to remain in contact with. However, their unwillingness to not come out of the world, should be our measure to determine if we can continue to walk together. After all, “How can two walk together unless they agree?” “Who all over there?
Recently, the world hosted an awards show and had a category for the “Best Gospel Song of the Year.” It was a collaboration with Kirk Franklin, known in the Gospel Industry, and a Rapper, named GloRilla. We saw this type of collab before with Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Nikki Minaj. We see people hand over the mic for a duo to touch what should be sacred and life-changing. We are inviting those in, not to teach them about Christ and His Ways; rather, we tell them to bring their gifts and remain in their Old Creation nature. The Message is conveyed that there is no need to live out the life you sing or rap about in this song. “Who all over there?”
This indeed is a questionable love! It is a love that can see someone walk into a music studio; unconsecrated to create a song to present to Saints in Christ, who have walked away from the very lifestyle those Artists represent. Do contracts with these individuals that amass financial gain and notoriety, while these individuals are spiritually bankrupt. “Who has bewitched you?” It is not a light decision to desire to do anything that is connected to the Name of God. “Who all over there?”
These people are so far removed from the Cost to Walk with Christ that they can put out a “Gospel song” and in the same year, go back to business as usual with their original lyrical content. And it seems like their albums are twice the level of vulgarity and expression. We even allow repeat DUI offenders to belt out songs in the church; who run regular social media lives calling out the various Gospel Singers who have tried to correct and openly using profane language and down-playing the effects her choices has on the Body of Christ. “Who all over there?”
It is impossible for the world to define and represent the Gospel. The onus is not on the world or Award Shows that represent the world to portray Gospel Music correctly. No other music transforms, corrects, and draws to Christ like Gospel Music. When they yoke with these individuals, People who did not follow the Artists have now been given access to them because of Gospel Singers and Producers who did not love them enough to tell them to come out the world first before going into the booth.
During the recent Award Show, quite a few received Icon Awards, and it was the accepted mixture that we witnessed. They thank their god and then go back to using profanity and feeding their lower nature. Franklin drove home a Message about not being perfect and what people have seen concerning his life. A room full of darkness needed someone who truly understood, “Who was all over there!” A moment desperately needing a transformative encounter with the Lord, was met by several who basically said, “You can have both- God and the World!” Those who have had to walk away; obey God beyond what their flesh desired; and embraced becoming a New Creature, know all too well…The only way to have both is to change the capital to lower case! You can absolutely have “god and the World!”
“Who all over there?” When one is on assignment for real and you are not looking for photo ops and celebrity sighting moments- you know that if God allows your paths to cross, it has Heaven and eternity in mind! Time is drawing nearer and we cannot afford to walk in unaware of who truly crept in! The Enemy has never come in to collab- it has and will always be about infiltrating to take over! “Choose this day who you will serve.”
Divine Work & Pray:
Work:
Jot down in your journal passages of scripture where God highlights occurrences of those who did not handle His Glory appropriately. What were His sentiments concerning the profane?
Pray:
Father God, may the fear return to your people concerning You. You are a consuming fire. You are a God who demands and deserves total surrender. Accepting your endowment of grace has allowed us to boldly walk away from the world. The stronghold that was once there, can no longer hold me into bondage to my fleshly desires. I shall be who you have called me to be; I shall confidently do what you have called me to do; and I shall remain mindful of the harvest that is plenteous. Let me be a laborer who has a burden to win the Lost. May a life poured out be a most precious account of the provision you made to Save me. A great cost was made by your only begotten Son! May I not be guilty of trampling on grace. An undeserved gift; yet the most profound opening of the Gift of Salvation transformed me and gave me new life! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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