Credit: Sirius XM
On Nov. 17, Prophetess Juanita Bynum, 55, updated her Facebook status with a video of an Atlanta congregation dancing to secular music in the sanctuary, captioning it, “This is why we have to pray.”
The featured footage belonged to Greater Traveler’s Rest (House of Hope), led by Pastor E. Dewey Smith in Decatur, GA. Bynum’s commentary sparked an online war of sorts.
On one side, there are supporters of the viral dancing video. On the other side, there are detractors. Each side, however, claims to be right.
Who actually is?
Well, if the tension it causes among Believers is any indication, there is no black and white answer.
The decades-old debate about whether secular music has any place within the four walls of the church has never been resolved, with some saying yes and others answering with an unequivocal no.
Dr. Smith checks the yes column as long as, according to him, the music is “non-violent, non-misogynistic, non-vulgar, non-profane, non-degrading and non-sexual in nature.”
Too bad one of the songs, Chris Brown’s “New Flame” is indeed sexual in nature, although the highlighted snippet played on the occasion of the ministry’s 138th Anniversary omitted the egregious references.
Each year, House of Hope has a moment of multi-generational celebration, honoring different age groups and acknowledging their journey of faith. This is an effort to bridge the gap that exists in many churches among “Builders” (born 1945 and before); “Boomers” (born between 1946-1965); “Busters” (born between 1966-1983); and “Bridgers” (born between 1984-2003).
One song represents their past, before Christ (B.C.) and the other is the tune that sets the soundtrack of that generation’s after-deliverance (from sin) days (A.D.).
“New Flame,” which features Usher and Rick Ross, is an invitation to a woman to leave the club with a male suitor and engage in sexual relations—hardly meeting the criteria the pastor set.
Notwithstanding, the intention behind what Smith calls a “moment of fun,” is said to be harmless.
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SOURCE: EEW Magazine
