There were a lot of really positive comments in this thread, but I felt motivated to give my $0.02.
Someone said music is what it is. And for the most part, I agree. But I'd further that to say that music eminates or comes from the soul of the musician(s) playing it.
One of the biggest "cross-over" hits a few years back was Stomp. Kirk robbed Parliament Funkadelic blind (at least I THINK it was P-Funk).... all the way to the top of the charts and to the bank. How many folks wound up at the alter after hearing it? Would any of us here question that the sentiment behind the lyrics and the rhythm & tempo were of "spiritual origin"? Teddy Riley did a cut with the Winans a while back too...."It's Time To Make A Change"... any one wonder if the Winans took off their holy robe or if Teddy "yep yep" Riley had found salvation? I remember a few years back, I was a part of a musical production and the music leader said she needed something upbeat.... I suggested and started playing Superfreak by Rick James. She (always raised in the church, unlike me) argued me down that MC Hammer wrote it!! For those that see the humor, you know that it was funny!
What I'm saying is that sure, every now and then, you'll hear a secular line in church, and if you really know your old school stuff, you'll know when you hear everything from the O'Jays and Gladys Knight & the Pips in todays contemporary gospel. Listen carefully... it's there! But what you're hearing is not "the devil" or "secular music" per se as much as what THAT MUSICIAN is feeling or using to communicate his or her message.
The source of the music is the soul of the musician. That is where, if you're thinking that something is corrupted or a line has been crossed, that is where the line has been crossed. If the soul is bad or not OF GOD, guess what the music is gonna be.... something to think about.
I'm not saying that a line has been crossed or that some artists that present themselves as messengers really aren't. I'm saying that the REAL issue is the motivations of the messengers that we're making rich and high on the hog with our monetary support and super star status.
In addition, where are the hearts,minds and souls of the audience that accepts them? We're so quick to recognize a club beat and a rap line or hook that we are showing where we've been in our past and boy we sure do miss it. Thanks Ron Winans for hooking up with TR and giving us something to reminesse about.....
Hez Walker, Kirk F., Yo Yo, The Williams Brothers, TD Jakes, and a lot others know that the masses they are trying to reach have a thread of worldliness in them and one way to attact them to their product and their message (or God's message since that is what they're supposed to be delivering) is to tickle the senses with something they can relate to. I dont' see anything wrong with it as long as the end goal is another soul saved. But is that happening? Or have they found another way to still have those worldly connections within the sanctity of a church surrounding. Ultimately, these are questions that no one here can answer. Only the person in the pew or at the B3 or on the drums or in the choir stand can answer.
But we, individually, in our own endeavors, have to make our own choices. Because ultimately, only we will stand accountable for our own actions. Let's not be so quick to judge and cast stones. Let's do our best to master our craft and deliver what WE want delivered. Listen to all music, learn it, understand what it takes to play it, and use our best judgement when it's appropriate.
(that was more like $0.12, but oh well...)