MUSIC: LYRICS OR ARTISTE ⁉️

Recently, I uploaded a picture of myself with a caption of one the popular 'worldly' artiste lyrics. I had downloaded his new song "2:30" to listen and vibe to. 

There is a reason why the word 'worldly' is  connoted. 

Àṣàkẹ‌ is one of the leading artistes in Nigeria at the moment with His latest song toping the charts alongside Davido's new released album. 

After few minutes, a religious folk chatted me up. And asked, 'which Àṣàkẹ‌'? I asked her how many Àṣàkẹ‌s do we have in Nigeria that are singers?

She said that she was surprised that I used the lyrics of a 'worldly' musician as caption. She kept on hammering on the word 'worldly'. 

It didn't bother me. So what really made me took it up was when the questioned that what has light got to do with darkness. 

That as a PASTOR (She didn't know I had relieved myself of my Pastoral duties), it's wrong to listen to  worldly songs. 

Now, I prepared my rebuttal. First, I asked her which song isn't worldly? 

All songs are made or composed in the world. 

No song came down from Heaven. 

In order to refute her next argument that inspirations are drawn from Heaven. 

I quickly backed up my point by letting her know that when people say they were inspired. 

They can't be inspired above their knowledge. 

The inspiration or motivation of any musician cannot go beyond his/her knowledge. Tope Alabi can never sing as the Hillsong Worship. 

She can never receive inspiration like that. Theophilus Sunday cannot be inspired like Sinach. 

And if inspiration is from Heaven (a singular source). 

Then, there should have been similarities, coherence and congruence in their inspirations. 

So I concluded that I listen to all genres of music. I don't discriminate. I pay attention to the lyrics of songs. It's not about the singer. 

While I was a staunched Christian, I never listened to every song. I pay attention to their lyrics. 

Any song that didn't exalt my oneness with God or my identity in Christ, I didn't sing or listen to them. 

It's not just about it being a Christian song or genre. 

In order to justify what she was saying or had been taught by Her religious Masters. 

The problem about religion is that we don't think. We just churn out or spew what we have been told by our Religious Leaders. 

She kept on discriminating and calling them 'darkness'. She said that these people smoke, womanize and drink. 

To crown it all, she said that the songs they sing don't edify the soul or spirit. 

Within me, I said, Yes! Now you've shot yourself in the leg. I rebuked her for calling them 'darkness'. Who made her judge? 

For the fact one does not sing a Christian type of song. Does that make Him a child of the devil?

However, I can't blame. It's the mentality of most religious folks. 

They see themselves as righteous and others as sinners. 

While they themselves do unimaginable or dirty things in secret. 

At least, these people are honest than they. They are not hiding who they are. 

Most of these self acclaimed righteous folks are hypocrites. 

They are living a lie. 

Lurking in their hearts are treacherous and abominable things. 

I prefer people that are real, not hiding who they are. 

Then, I jumped to address their style of living. Just because some of these Christian folks haven't been caught doesn't mean they don't commit these things. 

If Pastors can be stealing church funds, sleeping with female church members and sweeping it under the rug. 

Smuggling drugs to other countries in the name of international Ministration 

Why can't Christian artistes do the same? 

There is a Church Worship Leader that is a homosexual. He has been leading the church in worship for years. The songs they sing are widely sung by Christians in all the world. 

There is another that was stealing the church funds. Living luxuriously on the church finance. 

What is the difference between them and those that smoke and drink? 

One hides its own.. While the other is being real.

I have no issues with that. I just had to point to her to stop judging people based on their lifestyles.

Some people know how to present themselves as being holy or sanctimonious while they are beast or serpent within. 

We can't use that metric to judge who sings the right thing or not. 

Lastly, she said that those songs don't edify the soul or spirit. Norms, I don't like to argue or prove points. 

It was this statement that really made me reply her comments. 

I simply asked her if she knows that there are about 1000 things she does that don't edify the spirit. 

Why does she keep doing them? 

Academics doesn't edify the spirit.. Why is she bent on going to school? 

Watching movies don't edify the spirit, why does she watch movies?

So when it comes to songs.. Some edify and some don't. 

Hypocrites.. Bigots. I told her, I listen to songs not to edify my spirit. 

I listen for fun and to vibe. 

I know how I can edify my spirit or soul. 

It's not through songs. 

However, I draw inspirations when I listen to songs. Sometimes, it helps me concentrate on a task. 

To keep me alive and animated. 

I'm indifferent to songs (Except Romance or RnB genre). 

P.S: I do not intend that folks should listen to any genre of song. It's purely your choice or discretion. I listen to any genre as long as the lyrics makes sense to me. 

It's up to you to decide the type of songs that are healthy for your soul. 

And vibe with it. If you listen to edify your soul or spirit, that's good for you. 

If you don't, that's good. 

Let everyone walk in His own way. 

No condemnation. 

No criticism. 

©The_Alchemist (aka D_Ark)