Controversy (in my Prince voice)

I'm going to kick off the year with a bit of controversy.

Recently, Pastor Kim Burrell has taken a lot of heat for preaching a sermon where she called out homosexuality as a "perverted spirit." Her sermon was spread via social media and as a result, Ellen DeGeneres cancelled her from appearing on her show where she was presumably going to talk about her role in the soundtrack for the movie Hidden Figures. Her radio show was also cancelled.

Homosexuality in the black church has long been a huge deal and I believe that churches that believe it to be a sin are struggling to find the right balance of addressing it. When you're in the limelight for your music ministry and begin to cross over, it becomes increasingly difficult to find that balance. I suppose this is why Tasha Cobbs and Kierra Sheard haven't crossed over. It's definitely not for lack of talent.

As a worship leader, we get in front of God's people and invite them to come with us to a special place. A place where our hearts are tender to God's call, God's word, and His presence. In this place we become transparent, see our shortcomings, and feel God's grace. It's something we wish everyone could experience. While there is a time for rebuking and reproving, we need to make sure that people feel like they belong in the house of God. It's hard to do that if we don't treat/address sins equally and if we condemn folks to smithereens. Each and every one of us (all sinners) should feel equally convicted for our sins and equally loved because we are God's children. I'm not saying that God wants you to be silent or permissive. I'm saying let's ask God for the right way to deliver His word to his people so that we can be the most effective vessels possible.

In the words of Otis Redding "try a little tenderness." Or for those wanting a scripture "A soft answer turneth away wrath." (Prov. 15:1)

Blessings