1.I got got a chance to speak to Mary Mary and get their side to this whole secular-christian collab thing. We'll be airing the interview (3/10 wbru.com 8-8:30am) I'll re-air it as well on an upcoming episode of Beats & Blessings (Da South.com radio network). All i can say is this is a topic that they're very passionate about and went into great detail about why they did what they did.
2.I wonder would we be making such and issue or big fuss if Mary Mary weren't as well known as they are or if they collabed with with R+B singers like a Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, John Legend or some "conscious" rapper
--

My real problem with this is that we as Christians and fans are always talking about how Christian Hip Hop /R&B needs to be pushed and advanced more and how the kingdom of God needs to be exalted and lifted up(which I totally believe)............you mean to tell me that with ALL of these excellent and talented Christian rappers/singers who we have that need to be put on the map(and if they are already on it,advanced foward,which would help the Christian Hip Hop game tremendously)you went to all theses secular artist?You've got to be kidding.And what is the point?The only person who had something to do with the song originally anyway that is on the video(besides Mary Mary of course) is Kierra Sheard!So where did all these other people come from!?All I'm saying is that if other Christian artist can't even support each other and boost thier own genre than what will happen to it?I'm not saying that it is a sin to try and be a witness to those who need the Lord but the ones who will get the profits and the credit are the ones in the videos(who are mostly secular artist)and not really to the Christian artist who need the funds.And you really have to be careful of who we choose to listen to because everybody who sais they are Christians are not(no I am not talking about Mary Mary)......the Bible sais that many will say Lord,Lord, and then the Lord will say that He never knew them and He tell them to depart from Him because they were workers of iniquity.Many secular artist claim to be Christians and claim to have a praying grandmother(which is buy the way is not going to get you into heaven.I don't see that anywhere in Romans 10:8-10.And I aint bashin the saved,sanctified, and truly Holy grandmothers or mothers but if it depended on them for salvation then it would be a whole bunch more of folk in heaven right now)I just wish that they had chosen some of the Christian artist...........

I see this post is getting all of us nowhere. I want everyone to stop for a minute and take a deep breathe! lol Alright, let's do this, let's wait till the video comes out and pray that it becomes successful in reaching those who still do not have a relationship with God. Now I know this is a little hard to do cause we all including myself have made some judgment calls but this post has received way too much attention. I would like for all of us to hit the Music Leak section and check out all the new songs that are added daily by DaSouth crew. Please give your honest feedback about the songs just like you did in here so that the artists will know where they stand in their music and also help the DJ's know what songs to spin on their radio shows. So let's just chill for a moment and wait till this video comes out. Love all of you and stay humbled.

Ok, now I don't really comment, but this calls for it
Yea we cannot know definitively, what the video will be about until it actually comes out, but we can make a pretty good inference based on the prevoius fruit.

i.e. "Superfriend" ft. David Banner
The song reduces Jesus to just a "superfriend," no longer a righteous Jugde, and Banner is portrayed as being in tight cohorts with the Lord. We all know he isn't.

2.) As far as I know, Mary Mary don't preach about the ugliness of sin. Most of their songs talk about God's love (VERY VALID), but without a proper exposition of the utter sinfulness of sin, that makes one uncomfy, then there can be NO TRUE REPENTANCE!!!

so we can't know for sure, but we can be fairly sure...but we'll all see when the video drops...I LOVE DA' Truth..."IT'S PRICETAG BABY!!!!"

Where is the Church? Answer in you...I attend a local church but why do we submit to a building and not GOD. Invite them to church...? Are you kidding me and then the rest of the week there lost and being ministered too by the enemy. Is the preacher and/or Pastor the only one in church that has the power to liberate them out of darkness and into the marvelous light of Christ? We are so wrap up in titles, self prosperity, and pride that we miss the mark (meanwhile the devil is laughing at the bride of Jesus the Christ). Honestly Mary Mary is being conformed to the world and it's not just them. Christianity is by far is Biggest Religion, the bible is constantly on the best seller list. My question is this is the Church you attend suffering opposition because the Gospel is being preached in your local community? If not..., I pray for you!

now... I'm not for what they allegedly did but It's kind annoying that those sorts of subject have more response than the positive messages, the cd reviews, the new music leaks... Why are we so drown to drama! It has a place but come on!!!

Lol...no doubt fam! I just hit you up too with my number! Glad we could clear that up! Yahweh bless!!!

No we the bloggers, aren't JUDGING! Nothing about Mary Mary is Holy if we want to get technical. Their whole Swag or Style SCREAMS Secular. At the same time I've never heard them really confess they are save and santified and Holy Ghost filled. But if they are winning soul, the bible states then they are WISE! We must continue to pray for them.

Isaiah 58:1 "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins".

DUDE NOW I SEE U ARGUMENT...HIT ME UP AT CHENOLYFE@GMAIL.COM SO I CAN SHOOT U MY NUMBER CUZ THAT IS A BEAST IN ITS SELF AND I HONESTLY DONT WANNA TYPE SO MUCH, LOL. WE HAVE HAD THAT TALK WITH AAAALLLLOOOOTTTTTTTTT OF PPL!

SEE I ASKED AND U RESPONDED...

5) WHAT IF ANY OF THOSE ARTISTS READ WHAT YALL ARE SAYING ABOUT THEM HERE (I.E. THEY ARE THE ENEMY/DEVILS/DARKNESS, ETC...) DO U THINK THEY WOULD WANNA BE CHRISTIANS?
If they are being convicted by the Spirit, YES! I didn't get saved until someone pointed out how immoral I was and that there was a better way to live inside His Kingdom! Look at Jesus' examples. He always let people know they fell short and offered them the Kingdom instead of how they were living. Even while not condeming them, He still told them to sin no more!

ONE IM SAYING THAT BY PPL CALLING ME THE DEVIL IM NOT GONNA JOIN THEM...SECOND WAT I WAS SIMPLY SAYING WAS THAT PPL'S COMMENTS HERE ARE IN NO WAY CONVICTING, BUT BASHING...SAYING THEY WRONG FOR THIS AND THAT ETC ETC. I SHOULD HAVE REPHRASED THAT BUT I WAS KINDA TOUCHING ON WAT U SAID. BUT U RIGHT AINT BASHED NOBODY, U SHARED UR OPINION..

AND ABOUT WAT U SAID: THERE WILL BE POEPLE THAT THINK THEY CAN LIVE LIKE HEATHENS AND SAY THEY SAVED BUT ALSO THERE CAN BE PEOPLE WITH A POSITIVE EFFECT...WE ARE NO ONE TO SAY THE ITS ONE WAY COMPLETELY OR THE OTHER COMPLETELY. ITS KINDA LIKE SAYING THAT SECULAR CATS CANT MENTION THE NAME OF JESUS CUZ THEY NOT SAVED...THAT DOESNT MAKE SENSE TO ME. WE ACT LIKE CHRISTIANITY IS STRICTLY EXCLUSIVE. ONLY CHRISTIANS CAN TALK ABOUT JESUS...GOD IS GOD AND HE CAN TAKE A SINNER TO PREACH A MESSAGE HE AINT LIVING AND MAKE IT OF FULL EFFECT THRU HIS [GOD] POWER!

ITS WRONG TO SAY THAT GOD CANT DO ANYTHING!!!

WE JUST HAVE TO SLOW DOWN AND NOT BE SO QUICK TO JUDGE AND BASH...LETS SEE THE OUTCOME LIKE WE BOTH SAID...

AGAIN SORRY IF I MADE U SEEM LIKE U WERE BEING JUDGMENTAL BUT I WAS SPEAKING IN GENERAL [ANSWERING UR ANSWER, LOL]

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but the problem Jesus had with the Pharisees was that they claimed to be of God but were not followers of His word and commandments and instead substituted their man made doctrines and elevated them over the word of God. I make this statement because I dont see how Christian artists asking why another Christian artist was not reached out to is looked at as being in line with Pharisees.

Another thing to look at is that Jesus came in with no "Body" to support Him(ie. nowhere to rest His head). Now He has a "Body" to lay His head on and entrust to spead the messege of the Kingdom, so why would we surpass His messengers and join ourselves with those who preach something opposite our message?

I dont know if you're not understanding me, not reading what I've written, or I'm misunderstanding your responce, but I have not been judgemental at all. You restated what I said about the purpose of the video, and it "seems" as if you were using it as an argument against my stand. I specifically stated that we won't know until after we see the video. That's not being judgemental at all. Besides, as a Kingdom citizen I have the right to judge actions(not people) and that is what I refered to.

You stated... "WAT IF PPL SAY "WOW THATS MY FAV ARTIST DOING THE GOSPEL THING" AND CHURCH NOW IS LOOKED AT A LIL DIFFERENTLY, NOT SO JUDGMENTAL ETC ETC...AND THEY ACCEPT THERE MOMS/FRIENDS OFFER TO GO TO CHURCH? ITS PASTORS AND CHRISTIANS JOB TO SHOW THEM THAT U HAVE TO BE IN BUT NOT OF... " First of all, that may cause more confusion for most because they may then think that it is okay to live anyway they please and still be Christians. Just because they decided to attend church because LL says he pays tithe doen't mean anything(not that you stated that). So how do we show them that we are to be in the world and not of it, if we dont draw a clear line(again, that is if the video shows an inclusive scenario)?

Again, I don't see anywhere where I've bashed anyone. I've only stated my opinions based on scripture. As far as the T.I. thing, I don't believe in throwing out names, so you shouldn't make that assumption unless I had brought that up. I personally believe in speaking out against sin, not people. There are places in the word when specific people were called out by name though. I dont have to put myself in their shoes because I've been there(being judged) and am still there to an extent because of my music and those same individuals I reach out to. 75% of my ablum was produced by secular artists, so I've been down that road also(that's a different story all together...lol). I see no problem with artists who do the same. Anyway, I just thought it was wrong of you to make statements about me that I never expressed as far as judging and bashing. I pray that I misunderstood your post and you were talking about others. Yah bless!!!

We all need to be shaken to the core...we've been saved for like 5 minutes (sarcasm) and become worthy of wearing the title Judge...I pray the Holy Spirit continues to humble us all.

Think of the ridicule Jesus received when he started his ministry with the like of Peter and them... SINNERS!!! He was walking around stone cold chillin' with these dudes like they was brethren! The Pharisees were saying, "I still think it would've been better had they used one of us." And then for him to go eat, meet and greet with sinners at Matthews house? And then make him a disciple??!!! Unheard of! I guarantee you, if Jesus was walking in the flesh today, folks would be judging him left and right. Especially when he said "let he who is without sin cast the first stone." I mean, homegirl just got caught in the ACT of adultery. She wasn't sitting down having a meal and tea. She was getting down!!! Yet, what did Jesus do?

Brings tears to my eyes how much Jesus loves the sinner...

Wow Cheno, that testimony sure humbled me. I do still feel that at least it would have been great if they used Christian rappers, but at the same time I do see what your saying and I feel you on it.

And Nina, you funny haha . No stones for you lol

You hit it right on...grieves me to see how judgemental we'br become. Dare I say modern day pharisees?? Ouch...nobody would like that. :repares for the onslaught of stones::

UR ANSWERS WERE GREAT UP UNTIL THE ""BUT"" ON EACH ONE...AND U DIDNT ANSWER THE LAST ONE...ILL SAY IT AGAIN IM NOT DEFENDING NOBODY!!!

WE CANNOT JUDGE SO SOON. WAT IF PPL SAY "WOW THATS MY FAV ARTIST DOING THE GOSPEL THING" AND CHURCH NOW IS LOOKED AT A LIL DIFFERENTLY, NOT SO JUDGMENTAL ETC ETC...AND THEY ACCEPT THERE MOMS/FRIENDS OFFER TO GO TO CHURCH? ITS PASTORS AND CHRISTIANS JOB TO SHOW THEM THAT U HAVE TO BE IN BUT NOT OF... U NOR I CANT SAY THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WONT SHOW THEM THAT U CANT LIVE LIKE THE WORLD AND SAY U SAVED...

WE CAN SIT HERE AND GO BACK AND FORTH, MY THING IS THAT I WISH THE PPL OF GOD WILL JUST SIT BACK AND THINK BEFORE THEY START BASHING STUFF WITHOUT EVEN HEARING THE WHOLE MATTER...U URSELF SAID "Again it really matters what the video portrays. [IF] it's "We Kingdom citizens shine so brightly because of the God in us and you should come get a taste," then I'm all for it! -MEANING WE DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT THE VIDEO IS ABOUT...
WAT IF IT IS DOING JUST THAT...WAT IF IT SHOWS KANYE OR COMMON KNEELING CRYING OUT TO GOD, AND THROWING OFF THEY GOLD CHAINS AND GOING TO A CHURCH AND KNEELING [LIKE THE SONG SAYS]??? OR WALKING OUT OF A CLUB CRYING CUZ THEY CANT TAKE IT NO MORE AND KNEELING BY THERE CAR CRYING OUT TO GOD?

LIKE I SAID IM NOT DEFENDING ANYTHING IM JUST TIRED OF THE PPL WHO ARE SO QUICK TO JUDGE!!!

I STARTED WORKING ON MY ALBUM WITH A SECULAR PRODUCER...PPL BASHED THAT QUICK LIKE, SAID WE SHOULDN'T MIX...BUT NOW THRU PRAYER AND LOVE THE SAME PRODUCER IS WORKING EXCLUSIVELY WITH CHRISTIAN ARTISTS [EVEN DOING TRACKS FOR REACH RECORD'S SHO BARAKA]

DONT BE SO QUICK PPL!

OH PS CHEVIST I WAS GONNA GO ONE BY ONE BUT FOR WAT... I DO WANNA HIT ON THE FACT THAT BASHING IS NOT CONVICTION... THERES A BIG DIFFERENCE. AND U HAVE TO THINK FROM THERE [SECULAR NON BELIEVERS] PROSPECTIVE...THEY DONT UNDERSTAND... THEY SEE IT AS IF THESE CHRISTIAN DUDES ARE DOING THE SAME THING THE REST OF THE WORLD DOES...ALL THEY DOING IS "JUDGING AND POINTING THE FINGER AT ME"...PUT URSELF IN THEY SHOES FOR A SEC...WAT IF U WERE T.I. AND HEARD "WHO THE KING" BY LECREA...NOT KNOWING ALL THE BIG BIBLE WORDS, WOULD U THINK THAT WAS A CONVICTION TRACK OR A DISS TRACK??? NOW TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER, WOULD U EVEN WANNA ASSOCIATE URSELF WIT THEM OR BE LIKE THEM WHEN THE "WORLD DOES THE SAME THING??? FOR THAT STAY IN THE WORLD...

SUCKS WE TO BUSY BASHING THESE DUDES INSTEAD OF DOING LIKE JESUS DID...HE GRABBED SINNERS AND PUT THEM TO WORK IN THE MINISTRY...OH MY GOD THE NERVE OF JESUS TO DO A RECORD WITH SINNERS [I MEAN] START A [[[MINISTRY]]] WITH SINNERS... "YEA BUT THEY CHANGED" "BUT THE POINT IS THAT THEY WERE MINISTERING WITH JESUS BEING SINNERS...AND THERES PLENTY OF EVIDENCE IN THE SCRIPTURES THAT SHOWS THAT THEY WERE STILL STRUGGLING WITH DIFFERENT THINGS, TO THE POINT THAT WHEN IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE THEY ALL DENIED JESUS AND HIS TEACHINGS...JESUS DIDNT TAKE GAMALIEL OR ANY OF THE STUDIED INTEGRATE RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF THE DAY...NO HE USED SINNERS...FROM THE AGES OF 14-25...AND TRUST ME THERE WAS PLENTY OF NON-PHARISEE, NON-SADDUCEE, NON-SCRIBE PPL OF GOD HE COULD HAVE USED... BUT HE CHOSE "SINNERS"...ITS HIS JOB TO CHANGE THEM, ITS OUR JOB TO PLANT AND WATER THATS IT...1 CORINTHIANS 3:6-7

1) WHAT IF THROUGH THAT VIDEO SHOOT GOD SPARKS SOMETHING (TRUE CONVERSION FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT) IN THOSE ARTIST...? That would be a great thing to occur, but the masses who watch the video will only get that "it's the God in the secular artists" and it's cool to do what they do and still be concidered God fearing people.

2) DID JESUS START HIS MINISTRY WITH SINNERS (12 DISCIPLES)??? AND STILL HANG WITH ONE KNOWING HE WAS [STILL] A SINNER AND WOULD EVEN BETRAY HIM? He did, but in no way did he allow them to continue living the way they were living and stand beside them in front of the masses and say "God is with them!"

3) WHAT WAS HIS ULTIMATE GOAL WITH HIM HANGING WITH THOSE [SINNERS]? To introduce the Kingdom of God to them.

4) WHAT IF GOD IS BEHIND THIS WHOLE VIDEO WITH A PURPOSE...AND U FIND URSELFS BASHING AN IDEA THAT GOD MADE...? There is always a purpose, but it could be to expose people too. We can only make judgements based upon scripture and how a situation lines up or goes aginst it.

5) WHAT IF ANY OF THOSE ARTISTS READ WHAT YALL ARE SAYING ABOUT THEM HERE (I.E. THEY ARE THE ENEMY/DEVILS/DARKNESS, ETC...) DO U THINK THEY WOULD WANNA BE CHRISTIANS?
If they are being convicted by the Spirit, YES! I didn't get saved until someone pointed out how immoral I was and that there was a better way to live inside His Kingdom! Look at Jesus' examples. He always let people know they fell short and offered them the Kingdom instead of how they were living. Even while not condeming them, He still told them to sin no more!

Again it really matters what the video portrays. If it's "We Kingdom citizens shine so brightly because of the God in us and you should come get a taste," then I'm all for it! If it's we're gonna hang out for a video shoot and potray that all of us are of God, then we should have nothing to do with it! Only the video will tell the outcome of that though. Yah bless!!!

So you people are saying that we should just live in our own little world and not even TRY to make peace with the secular people? That we should be hypocrytes and say we're spreading the good news when all we do is sit back and not even take a great chance like this to tell others about Jesus Christ? Ai yah! You people really don't get it do you? We were put on this earth for a reason let's fulfill the purpose that God has given us and stop trying to be "safe Christians"

CAN I THROW A FEW QUESTIONS OUT THERE ( I KNOW I GOTTA WALK ON EGG SHELLS WIT SOME OF U DUDES...BUT OH WELL) AND PLZ READ AND ANSWER THEM BEFORE U GET UR "REBUKE' READY...DONT JUST SKIM THRU READY TO SHOOT...

1) WHAT IF THROUGH THAT VIDEO SHOOT GOD SPARKS SOMETHING (TRUE CONVERSION FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT) IN THOSE ARTIST...?

2) DID JESUS START HIS MINISTRY WITH SINNERS (12 DISCIPLES)??? AND STILL HANG WITH ONE KNOWING HE WAS [STILL] A SINNER AND WOULD EVEN BETRAY HIM?

3) WHAT WAS HIS ULTIMATE GOAL WITH HIM HANGING WITH THOSE [SINNERS]?

4) WHAT IF GOD IS BEHIND THIS WHOLE VIDEO WITH A PURPOSE...AND U FIND URSELFS BASHING AN IDEA THAT GOD MADE...?

5) WHAT IF ANY OF THOSE ARTISTS READ WHAT YALL ARE SAYING ABOUT THEM HERE (I.E. THEY ARE THE ENEMY/DEVILS/DARKNESS, ETC...) DO U THINK THEY WOULD WANNA BE CHRISTIANS?

!!!!!LISTEN, BEFORE U CHARACTERS TRY TO BASH ME THEO/BIBLE/CRAZY/LOGICALLY! I AM NOT SAYING I AGREE OR DISAGREE WIT THIS TOPIC. DANG PEOPLE SIT BACK AND THINK FOR A MINUTE BEFORE U PULL UR GUNS OUT...GOD LOVES THEM AS MUCH AS HE DOES US! MATTER FACT THE BIBLE SAYS HE WOULD LEAVE U TO GO GET THEM MATTHEW 18:12-14!!! READ THAT VERSE AND SEE HOW GOD IS MORE EXCITED ABOUT THEM COMING TO THE KNOWLEDGE THAN HE IS ABOUT U HAVING ALL UR BIG OL' KNOWLEDGE!!! U DONT EVEN KNOW THEM OR THERE HEART...I AM NOT DEFENDING THEM AT ALL IM JUST SAYING DONT BE SO QUICK TO JUDGE. DUDE IM TRIPPING ON HOW QUICK WE ARE JUDGING THIS WHOLE MATTER AND HAVE NOT EVEN SEEN THE OUTCOME. HAVE U DUDES EVEN HEARD THE SONG???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWq0BE7zYK8

AND HERE ARE THE LYRICS

http://www.metrolyrics.com/god-in-me-lyrics-mary-mary.html

THATS WAT THE SONGS ABOUT...

ZEE U HIT IT ON THE HEAD
1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore JUDGE nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the HEARTS: and then shall every man have praise of God.


1 MORE QUESTIONS...

WHAT IF GOD LOVES AND HEARS KANYE, COMMON, ETC ETC CRING OUT AT NIGHT...AND UR BASHING THEM?

IM RELUCTANT TO SEND THIS CUZ I KNOW SOME OF THESE CATS WILL FIND SOMETHING TO BASH AS ALWAYS BUT HEY I HOPE SOMEONE GETS THE POINT...

I DEFINITELY AGREE MY DUDE.

Lets see Da South get an interview with Mary Mary on this topic. That will be great! I would love to hear from the people that make these sort of moves and do what we all see as a compromise. Of course we know they will probably not want to do it. Maybe you can start it off with Mary Mary on an interview about Sunday's Best, the tour, the album, and then the video, and be like "OH, we got a hot discussion going on right now about the video... can you answer our 30 questions... HA!

YOU GOT CATS CONFUSED AND DISCOURAGE RIGHT NOW. (SORRY TYPO)

OK,I GOT YOU FAM,BUT HOW MANY CHRISTANS OR NON CHRISTIAN HAVE TO GO ON CONFUSED,OR LOOK AT US AS HYPOCRITES.WE CANT GO ON WITH THE I GOTTA DREAM SPEECH,THAT SOON WE WILL GET THE OPPORTUNITY,SOLD OUT BELIEVERS WILL MAKE CHRIST THE PLATFORM,BUT YOU CATS CONFUSED AND DISCOURAGE NOW, YOU STILL GOT BELIEVERS STRUGGLING WITH SECULAR MUSIC NOW.COME ON MANG...

That is the response I was looking for.

Marvin, you mis-read what I wrote. Read the paragraph in its entirety. Let me speak ABC's... More doors will open for Christian artist, and if you are a sold out believer, represent well when you get the "platform"!

I guess the word platform messed you up... I said... "and soon outspoken men and women of Jesus Christ will gain a platform."

YO MANG,MINISTER CRAIG LEWIS WAS OFF IN SOME OF THE THINGS HE SAID ABOUT HIPHOP AND I DONT AGREE WITH SOMETHINGS HE SAID, MAINLY ON CHRISTIAN HIPHOP,BUT WHAT I DO AGREE WITH, IS A VALID POINT HE MADE ON THE SATAN WANTING HIS PLACE BACK IN THE CHURCH, IN THE PULPIT, AND THE CHURCH MAKE DUDES LIKE KANYE,COMMON,AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER ARTISTS BECOME ENABLERS,AGREEING WITH THEM, MAKING THEM FEEL LIKE THEY SAVED,BUT THEIR FRUIT IS SOMETHING TOTALLY OPPOSITE TO CHRIST.AND TO GOZPUL MUSIC GROUP LLC,IS IT ALL ABOUT THE PLATFORM,THAT WE CAN BE HEARD?DO WE BECOME THAT DESPERATE FOR THE PLATFORM? WHY DIDNT THEY ASK YOU? DONT BE SO NIEVE BRUH. SATAN WANTS HIS PLACE BACK!

In regards to your question earlier, yes I would be in the video and murder the remix for the Kingdom...lol! That's depending on how the video would be structured. If it was us(Kingdom citizens) telling them(secular artists) that we are more fly and blessed, etc. than they are without the sorrow associated with their lifestyles, than I'd be all for it! But if it was just we all hanging out and in the video like "It's the God in ALL of us" then no I couldn't co-sign that and neither shold anyone else who is apart of the Kingdom! Guess we'll see when the video come out! Prov 10:22 The blessing Yahweh, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it. That's what the world needs to hear! Yahweh bless!!!

LOL...I'm laughing because this is actually taking place in a lot of churches, especially cats from the club leading worship and playing the piano/drums, etc. It's really no laughing matter, but the world is laughing at us as a whole due to our lack of integrity! Yah bless folk!!!

Let's get anyone in the street to share a pullpit with the pastor on sunday, or get people in the club to come lead our different worship/music ministries in our different churches
Jesus ate with the sinners but He never preached with the sinners

This is a hot topic.

It's amazing how we say "us and them" and "Our music" when really the Message of Jesus and his redemption is no respecter of person as the body of believers we need to remember that. We follow Christ because we are no better…

I think the real issue is how this is mixing and diluting the message of redemption creating CONFUSION.

We know that God is not the author of Confusion.

This type of thing is nothing new, we see similar in Acts 16:16-18 Paul and Silas and how they got thrown in Prison.

If they allowed the Girl With the power of divination to follow them, this would have had extremely negative consequences on their mission. They could have made a lot of money form accepting her in, but in rebuking the spirit in her and releasing her they got thrown in Jail. (Think about it today. A possible Libel case if Mary Mary if they were to do? A fine maybe jail time?)

Every one would like to think they could do it but how many really would???

In closing I think the thing thats really burning the body of believers is that Mary Mary have such a strong voice as Christians in Music industry, There actions are giving a faulty portrayal of what Christ requires of us

They are leading a hole generation of people both young and old to think that they can SIN with out repentance and still believe God in them. by accepting and justifying the Sex, Guns and Money culture we see gloryfied Popular music of this day on such a large scale.

But this is how you know It's the end times...
True?

The cost is high everyone, know that.

We're trying to show them that for Christ we live
Help 'em understand for Christ we die
Man the cost is high (high)
You gon say ya good byes
Cause part of you gon' have to die
Yeah, the cost is high

I know some, dudes that are Christians that produce for the wicked
And I know some musicians that use their gift in the church
But the same musicians that use their gift in the church
Produce and play for the wicked, but they call it work
And they try to justify and say that its just a job
But that's the customized line, that they use to compromise
just adjust the knob on your radio
Here we go, another song a saint produced
Is producing lust and lies
It's another side to the coin, I know you know where I'm going
This is bigger than trying to stay employed
And I'm so convinced that's it's more
Cause if these same producers were writers, they wouldn't write for Playboy
O boy, I know I sound kinda stern
But if they majored in communications they wouldn't work for Howard Stern
I know they're more concerned about the dollars earned
Then they all God's glory I ain't talking outta turn
When you help the same people that's working against the Kingdom
You ain't taking it back by force, you making matters worse
And they all try to get off by saying I ain't the star
It's like saying I ain't robbed the bank man I just drove the car
You ain't gotta shoot the ball to put points on the board
All you gotta do is pass to help the other team score
So even if you on the board you still guilty as charged
On that tour, by the way God didn't open that door

--Da Truth

Zee I respect your comment, but to say that we do not have a point in commenting on how we might feel about this topic is ok. But if that is the case then this topic should have not added a comment section. This topic alone was going to cause friction among many of us due to what the subject is about. Its cool to post an announcement about whats up and coming in the ministry news but it is wise to make sure that if you don't want to hear negative comments on a subject that hasn't happened yet or not explained, then please do not allow comments to be posted until its official. Just some constructive criticism. Love what all of you guys are doing with the website though. God Bless

Not the case fam. Quite a few things that are posted on this site are posted KNOWING full well that some comments we may not agree with will be made. So that is an incorrect conclusion you've come to. It is an assumption to think we don't expect negative comments. I ask that you think more highly of us. Because currently that view isn't in line with how we actually run and approach the site in regards to posting news and what comments are made.

Having said that, just as you think you have the right to voice your opinion, I should be extended that same liberty. You gave your opinion, and I humbly and peaceably gave mine. My comment was one given as advice. You can take it or leave it. It wasn't given as a demand. Huge difference. If it was given as a demand, then maybe your comment about how we handle comments on this site would be warranted. But that's not at all the case here, is it? Not at all fam.

Again, my comment was one of godly advice. Take it or leave it. Next time, I only ask that you allow me to be a contributing member of the site as well, WITHOUT my being an owner of it having anything to do with it. Because I would do the same either way. Meaning, even if I wasn't an owner, I STILL would've said what I said. Then what would've been your response, other than what you said above?

Conclusion? Let's deal with the facts and leave me being an owner of the site out of the equation. That's all I ask.

It's all love.

Zee

Zee I respect your comment, but to say that we do not have a point in commenting on how we might feel about this topic is ok. But if that is the case then this topic should have not added a comment section. This topic alone was going to cause friction among many of us due to what the subject is about. Its cool to post an announcement about whats up and coming in the ministry news but it is wise to make sure that if you don't want to hear negative comments on a subject that hasn't happened yet or not explained, then please do not allow comments to be posted until its official. Just some constructive criticism. Love what all of you guys are doing with the website though. God Bless

Zee I feel what you are saying, but let's be honest here, I feel that witnessing was going on. But this decision to add these phonies to the video was not made by Mary Mary, but through their management and record label to be featured as a Cross Over video to be aired on mainstream video shows.

We don't necessarily know that for sure. For example, it was Erica's husband how chose to have David Banner on "Super Friend." The mgt. team had nothing to do with it. I wouldn't doubt if this was Mary Mary's decision.

Is this good, yes if you want to market yourself, but you will have to compromise for the Kingdom. The truth is by adding celebrities to your video, it helps the viewers stay intuned with the video not the message. Its a sad move in business but I wish it was a cameo appearance with Gospel artists cause it would have justified the song.

Again, you're making a determination without having seen the video. You have no clue or idea what role these celebrities have in the video. At this point it would be consider judging them without evidence. God doesn't approve of such a thing. They may only have 2 second cameos in the video and, again, Mary Mary could be telling them (celebrities) that it is the God in them for why they're blessed. The point is until the video comes out no-one should be saying anything. Feel me?

But what can you expect from Mary Mary? They make great songs but no fruit, just fans. Love them and will continue to pray for them. At least Kirk is carrying the cross.

Hey, we all got an opinion.

Zee I feel what you are saying, but let's be honest here, I feel that witnessing was going on. But this decision to add these phonies to the video was not made by Mary Mary, but through their management and record label to be featured as a Cross Over video to be aired on mainstream video shows. Is this good, yes if you want to market yourself, but you will have to compromise for the Kingdom. The truth is by adding celebrities to your video, it helps the viewers stay intuned with the video not the message. Its a sad move in business but I wish it was a cameo appearance with Gospel artists cause it would have justified the song. But what can you expect from Mary Mary? They make great songs but no fruit, just fans. Love them and will continue to pray for them. At least Kirk is carrying the cross.

1 Corinthians 4:5

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Honestly, no-one here knows what role Kanye, Common, or anyone else in the video is playing. Did anyone even consider that maybe Mary Mary will be telling Kanye and Common and the others that it is the God in them (Mary Mary)?

I think many have quickly assumed that Kanye and Common will be in the video saying "it's the God in me." And all without even seeing the video.

Hey, just wanted to say that it's more than just them planting a seed. The name of the song is "God in Me". If God isn't in them, why would you give them a false sense that He is with them in this?

I'm all for building with secular people, for Braille does this. But when you go ahead and muddy the waters you end up becoming tasteless salt, and it doesn't really make a difference. It's also disrespectful because they know of the Christian rap market pretty well, and for them to disregard it again isn't cool. If anyone can show the God in Me, its a Christian. Once again, we all are made in the image of God, but we all aren't in Christ.

You don't have to be a Pharisee to proclaim this. DOn't dine with sinners and lose your principles and foundation in godliness. Jessu ate with the tax collectors...but He got up and not many went with Him, some did, but some also ended up asking for His crucifixion. So it's not fair to say that we can't say anything about this, because saying God is in you carries alot of weight, contrary to what the world makes of it today.

even thinks of saying anything they should consider the story in Luke 18:10-14 and acknowledge the fact that at times in our lives we are the tax collectors, but more than oft us as Christians tend to fall under the Pharisees category. we are not the religious elites of our day we are wretched, broken and in need of redemption just like every other person on the planet. Now while this is showing non-christian rappers that god loves them my only issue is did these cats honestly know where they stood with Jesus by the end of the day?

Wow, are we so quick to judge! Who knows what seeds were planted doing this video. We are called to be light and as a light you shine brighter in the dark not with to other lights. We should use our mouths to pray that God recieves the glory not to put our mouths in situations so we can look puffed up.

What up peoples, I read all the comments on here about this topic and this really is no surprise to me. The decision to allow Kanye West, Common, and other secular artists and performers to make cameo appearances in their video is obviously a marketing choice. Because of this decision that was probably made by their management and record label, their video will now be shown on 106 and Park, Rap City, MTV, and VH-1.

Now do I agree with this, no... I feel like we allow the world to help us decide how Gospel music should be viewed by the many. It's sad cause we are not supposed to conform for the world, but visa versa! Like I stated before this is a no shocker, cause these talented ladies have done collaborations with Missy Elliot, David Banner, and most recently the most embarassing performance with a secular artist...
BET Gospel Celebration 2009 with LL Cool J where the lip licking bandit has the nerve to toss money in the air (Making it rain) to symbolize that if you pay your tithes, you will gain in that nature! What a load of dog mess!

What all of you don't know is that there are more celebrities who also made cameo appearances in the video and they are: the KKK, Michael Jackson, Osama Bin Laden, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Boy George, George Michael, Elton John, and the Temptations! Lol

Well I pray that there is some witnessing that went on during the shoot but let's face it? It was just another video shoot where pictures were taken and laughs were shared.

Hot Garbage!

What makes the cameo worse is the title of the song, "God In Me". To people its gonna be seen like God is in them when clearly He is not. I don't know the particulars of the situation with them and these artists so I can only pray for them. But no definitely not a good look, of all the people to cameo on a video to show God in them it should be Christian artists. Common and Kanye are made in His image yes, but God isn't in them so why allow them to be in a video that's supposed to represent this?

No wonder why things like 106 and Park Generation Gospel gets cancelled...we don't support our own, which is against Biblical principle actually.

Much prayer

I don't agree with a gospel artist teaming up with a secular artist at all. Sorry just don't. How does that work? Isn't our music supposed to be glorifying the Lord? How do you do such things with a secular artist on a track that does not hold the same moral values as we do? I mean as Christians we can't go into something like that thinking we will hold them to our moral standard on that project. They don't understand our moral standard and we cant expect them to. They are not the ones that are claiming Christ, we are. Therefore, we are the ones that will be held accountable when people hear that one track you do with whoever and then they hear the tracks after that and associate you with it. They will think it is hypocritical because the world is always trying to make excuses for what they do and will jump all over an opportunity to point out a Christians fault in the spotlight. They wont hear your message and they will call you out on it.

If you are saying that you are using the opportunity to try to speak into the artist, in hopes that they will come to Christ. Well if you got it in good with them like that and they ask you to work on a project with them, then I would say pass on the project and minister to them anyways. They are not just going to come out of the blue like that and ask you to get on a song with them. You more than likely would have a pre-existing relationship with them in which you probably, I would hope, have already been witnessing to them and therefore you would have no need of urgency to jump on the project cause you don't know if you will ever have a chance to speak into their life again.

I do get tired of hearing people say, "Imagine if 50 got saved, the damage he could do for the kingdom of God." Well 50 isn't saved and thats that. I am not saying he cant be, but we got plenty of gospel artist that are just as bangin doing it big for God NOW. How insulting is that to God? Lord your tools are not good enough, but if you had that "50 tool" man show would be over. That is what we are essentially saying when we say such things.

Jesus was amongst the sinners, but he was not a sinner. The moment a Christian artist hops on a secular track, they just went from being amongst the sinners to being part of a sinful image.

Thats how I see things...

Grace and Peace
Redeemed In Prayer

MARY MARY IS "CONFLICTING" WITH THE VERY THING WE FIGHT TO OVERCOME.SINFUL NATURE,KEEP THEM IN PRAYER. CAUSE LIKE EVERY CHRISTIAN,WE ALL FALL. NO MATTER IF WE FALL 7 TIMES GET BAQ UP. THEY HAVEN FALLEN,BUT THEY SURE DO HAVE US @ A LOST OF WORDS. WELLLL MAYBE NOT A LOST OF WORDS. BUT WE SURE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY BOUT THIS ISSUE.
BLESS GOD
COOP

Which of you artist would have even wanted to be in the video if they, Mary Mary, were going to have those guest in the video? Would you be in the video, or would you decline, with an explanation being something like, My principles will not allow me to collaborate on such a project with artist that don't fully represent the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, So I must say not to your invitation at this time.

Hey, let them do their thing, you don't have to support it, but in the end more people will know that Christian musicians and artist exist and soon outspoken men and women of Jesus Christ will gain a platform. When you get the platform, use it wisely because it will not last forever. Most of the industry people that control the gates don't want to see saved, holy ghost filled, followers of Jesus Christ in their lives everyday, because it forces them to see themselves. We we do not continue to be the huge "thing" for the moment we will get a quick push to the side.

Let's perfect our craft, do good business, grow in industry wisdom, maintain the Words perspective of righteousness and continue to be used by God!

Nothing else matters!

Not happening man. "bad company corrupts good character"
Just not alright. Pray for them. Its too bad cause potentially they'll compromise themselves, as the world will laugh and mock the people who care and pray for them! It happens ALL the time. You know what, its not just the DOOR thats narrow, its the PATH!! Its a door you don't wanna walk through!

This is one of the resons why there is so much division amongst Kingdom people. The "Body" as a whole wont even support their own gifts on the insde, but will collaborate and support artists with non-Kingdom values! Why should the world even want to give us a chance as artists, when our own people dont even ride with us? And we wonder why some of our artists decide to cross over and do secular rap(not giving them an excuse though)? The "Body" will beat up on us for not being "traditional" enough and then turn around an yoke ip with those who are not even of our fold! Let's pray we as a body wake up start representing the gifts within as we should! Maybe I'm just a bitter artist though...rotfl!? Love and blessings in Yahshua!!!

when they say feature does it mean common and kanye are rapping on the song or they're just making cameos? I think the David Banner collab could've been executed better . They could've used some one like Lecrae or Flame to better push the kingdom agenda.I ask we continue to keep Mary Mary in prayer.I would love to get there take on why they decided to do what they did. It's not like this is the first time gospel artists have collabed with secular artists and I'm not saying it's right . But I would love to hear Mary Mary's side of things plus How Kierra Sheard feels about being on the song with Kanye and Common(if they are rapping).As far as I'm concerned the song was fine as is w/o the additives.

Light and Darkness cannot co-exist! That calls for a compromise!

Be in the world but not of the world.There are Gospel Rap Artist that deserve to be heard too. I mean just thinking back at watching the Celebration of Gospel on BET They had Main Stream Rappers why couldn't they have used artist like LeCrae, Tripp Lee, T-Bone rappers who are actually GREAT Lyricist and can actually Rap. The Church is Compromising with the World, But The WORLD isn't COMPROMISING WITH US( THE CHURCH!!!! I'M IRATE ABOUT THIS

so you become a 'supergroup' when u start collabing wit the devilz commradz...

the light should not be intimately involved with darkness, specially workin with them in this way. use God's people if u lookin for help.

That's real whack that a CHRISTian artist has to go out and get worldly artists to do songs wit em.

All these talented gospel hip hop artists and they cant recognize they own,i dont have a problem with the collab thats on them, but i do have a problem with not using any of us...idk it kinda hurts.