By Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter LIKE AMOS, the Old Testament prophet, many individuals in Christendom today ask: 'Can two walk together, except they be agreed?' (Amos 3:3).
This question, which has been ricocheting within the spiritual realms of the church for ages, has been filled with renewed life. The prophetic utterance has gained significant weight in this time, since there has been a sharp increase in the number of professed Christian musicians who are strumming 'unholy tunes'.
While some remain tolerant, many others are casting stones at the gospel musicians that have decided to mix light and darkness by playing secular music on the side.
Nonetheless, those that find themselves in the hot seat justify their actions and steer themselves clear of admitting a breach by saying that they have been sent on divine assignment by the Lord.
Bassist Dale Brown, who is a member of the Emmanuel Apostolic Church in Portmore, is numbered among the instrumentalists who have decided to strike some secular notes. The 27-year-old, who has been saved for 17 years, helps to give deejay Sean Paul the 'light' while he performs on-stage.
Mr. Brown is the only Christian in the no-name backing band which he joined in September of last year. Apart from boldly stating that the chance to play on the band was a divine opportunity, Dale highlighted that it is just a job and is in no wise dissimilar from another Christian who has a boss that is not a Christian.
"This is what I do for a living. I go to the job, do what I have to do, get paid and go home. I don't have to fall prey to the negative influences on the job," reasoned Mr. Brown, separating his spiritual life from his profession.
"I see nothing wrong with them and as Christians I don't think that we should discriminate," reasoned Mr. Brown, who compared his actions to that of the Lord Jesus Christ by stating that He did not discriminate and walked with pharisees and publicans. As for those who are chastising him for his actions, Dale says their words are like chaff.
In his eyes, their arguments are merely opinion and not based on scripture. "Music at any level is just music, brethren. Christians in Jamaica have been socialised that if it don't seh Jesus throw it out the window," continued Dale.
The skilful bassist has travelled with the band to several Caribbean destinations and boasts that he has never felt out of place. According to him Gimme the Light, which has lines such as; 'gimme the light and pass the dro (weed), bus anada bottle of Mo (champagne)', is a song that speaks to having fun and he sees nothing wrong with that. However, each man chooses what he does to gain the desired fun.
Keyboardist, Jathniel Randall, 24, who was 'born into the Church', told The Sunday Gleaner that he too has to be dodging negative criticisms that have been hurled at him, due to the fact that he plays for non-Christians. "I have been told that I have been filled with a wrong spirit," stated Mr. Randall who, like Brown, turns a blind eye to the scourging.
However, Randall, who has been caressing the keyboard for 12 years and is the band leader at his church, Miracle Valley Apostolic, highlighted that in choosing which secular acts he works with, several factors are taken into consideration. He said that protecting the image of his church is a major deciding factor. However, the ultimate decision is left up to his judgement. "It's left strictly to my discretion. I don't jump at every job that comes my way.... there are certain artistes I will not be seen with," argued Randall, as he split hairs.
Since January of this year, Randall has been working with M-phatic Music, which is home to upcoming dancehall duo Kafinal and Sambo, known for songs such as Cooking Dat Pwile and Drive By. However, he is not alone, as the other two core members of the band who play at his church also work alongside him at M-phatic Music.
Mr. Randall's first taste of the secular music pot came in 1998, when he played in a jazz band with the renowned Seretse Small. In the same vein as Mr. Brown, Mr. Randall drove a wedge between his spiritual life and his career, as he reasoned that "...music, like anything else, can be used to be a revenue generator. There is the ministerial side of my music, where I give back to God, then there is the occupational side, where I earn from."
He further stated that the finances of most Christians are gasping for a breath of fresh air, since the persons who stage gospel shows have
