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Answer:
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Yes. I guess you could say that we have crossed over. But I have made sure that we are taking the CROSS over with us! As to these Christian music purists, I am not too concerned about them. I love them, but I don't believe that I am called to reach them. I have set out to reach the fringe outside of the church and within the flock. I think that a lot of the confusion is based on their lack of understanding of the music and its history. Believe it or not, reggae music initially started in the church. And its history since then has been no worse than any of the other countless genres of music that are now openly embraced by the CCM market.
I know that I will cause controversy with my statements. But I believe that controversy is a good thing. After all, I model my life after Jesus, the most controversial individual of all time. Another controversial person was William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army. He realized that the church of his day was not reaching those on the streets and in the bars. So he took old perverted drinking songs and simply changed the lyrics so that they would glorify God. What followed was one of the greatest revivals in England. In fact, many of the traditional hymns sang in churches today where written in such a manner. This is what we have set out to do for this generation.
You see, music is a language. To tell the direction of a culture, simply listen to the lyrics of its most popular songs. And in order to reach someone in a given culture, you must speak their language. Yet every generation the language changes. What worked yesterday may not work tomorrow.
There are many that say that some musical styles are of Satan. But God is the Creator of all music, and there is nothing new under the sun. Satan can't create all that he can do is twist and distort. I believe that music is neutral and that what counts is the message, the messenger and their lifestyle. I believe that we should embrace any musical style that is done for the Messiah regardless of the genre's supposed origin or its similarities to other's artwork. However, don't get me wrong, I am not suggesting to imitate the world, but rather to set the standard.
There are many that believe that we cannot use reggae or wear dreadlocks and be Christians. "Blood and Fire!" My response to them is that I am becoming all things to all men. I am not changing the message, only the medium. For God works in mysterious ways, and I am one of His mysterious ways.
Mark Mohr
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