Chicago, IL – What does Grammy Award-winning gospel icon Yolanda Adams have to with hip-hop and house music? Well it’s “Not Just Another House Party,” is a birthday celebration for the legendary DJ Terry Hunter taking place at the Wintrust Arena. The event has a lineup featuring a fusion of various secular music. So what’s the issue?
Yolanda Adams Partners With The Queer Roots of House Music
To understand the conversation, one must first appreciate the history. House music was born in the late 1970s and early 1980s from the ashes of disco, finding its sanctuary in the underground clubs of Chicago.
These clubs, most notably “The Warehouse” helmed by DJ Frankie Knuckles, became havens for Black and Latino members of the LGBTQ+ community who were often marginalized and excluded from mainstream nightlife.
It was in these dimly lit, pulsating rooms that a new sound emerged—a soulful, electronic beat that fostered a sense of belonging and liberation. House music was more than just a musical genre; it represents a gay culture.
Given this history, the question arises, “Does a gospel artist’s presence at a House music event create a conflict of interest?
Yolanda Adams: Denouncing Gospel Artists Who “Mix”
G. Craig Lewis is well-known for his biblical and historical insight on hip-hop and secular music, believes Kirk Franklin and Yolanda Adams9 have “sold out” by mixing with the secular world.6
- He has explicitly denounced gospel artists who use hip-hop elements in their performances.7
- He also condemns those who employ secular producers or stand on the same stage as mainstream secular acts.8
In his view, any gospel artist who collaborates with or borrows from the hip-hop world is promoting a “demonic move of the enemy” and creating “unfruitful works of darkness.” His ministry has even encouraged believers to destroy hip-hop CDs and merchandise.10
Here is a video from EX Ministries, G. Craige Lewis’s ministry, discussing his views on the immoral blending of secular and Christian artists.
Truth About Hip-Hop: “Come Out From Among Them”
For some, the hesitation over an artist like Yolanda Adams performing at this event may stem from a scriptural understanding of separation from the world.
The biblical passage often cited is 2 Corinthians 6:17 from the Complete Jewish Bible:
“Therefore, ‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says Adonai. ‘Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.’”
A deeper look into the theological context of this verse reveals a call to be distinct from sinful practices and idolatry, not a command for complete isolation from people or cultures that are different.
Be A Light In The Darkness
The passage encourages believers to be a light in the world, which necessitates engagement rather than withdrawal. It is a call to holiness and to be a positive influence, not to retreat into an insular community.
In this light, an gospel artist’s presence in a seemingly secular space can be viewed not as a compromise of faith, but as an intentional act of outreach.
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