Track 5: Crying, and weeping for the lost!

December 28, 2009 by BBurrows
Filed under MUSIC/CONCERT NEWS

I have cried until the tears no longer come; my heart is broken. My spirit is poured out in agony as I see the desperate plight of my people. Little children and tiny babies are fainting and dying in the streets. Lamentations 2:11 (NLT)

Before I get started I want to ask your forgiveness for taking so long to post Track 5. I wish I had a good excuse, but I do not. I will be more diligent in my postings throughout the next year and will try and post a track every two weeks. Again, I ask your forgiveness and ask for your prayers in understanding the importance and responsibility that I have in communicating to the Christian community.

Over the past few months God has revealed many things to me about how important our ministries are. How important His instructions are; Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT).

What has struck heavy in my heart is are we actually making the most out of every opportunity we have in proclaiming Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Like Jeremiah are we crying and weeping for our communities? Are we pouring out our prayers, talents, thoughts and efforts in an attempt to save the unsaved? Are we watching without heart, or compassion the “little children and tiny babies fainting and dying in the streets”? Are we willing to open our church doors to people who do not look like us, smell like us, talk like us, worship like us or dress like us? Or are we closing our church doors ignoring the “desperate plight of my people”?

Never have these questions been so alive in my heart. As many of you know I play bass in a Christian hip/rock ministry called D.O. and the Gorillas of Gospel. We blend hip/hop, rock and funk with a little jazz, a little blues and a how lot of the Holy Spirit. We have been blessed by God who never fails to provide us with places to minister, and souls to be saved. We recently, God showing His sense of humor, ministered three times at an Ocean City night club called Fagers Island – yes a bar! As you can imagine we have taken some heat for ministering in a bar – and yes I respect and appreciate all the thoughts expressed about this venture – and through this experience I can truly say “I have cried until the tears no longer come; my heart is broken”!

At Fagers Island we met a lot of very talented local musicians from all genres and walks of life – jazz musicians, and bluesmen, rockers and crooners. During our three nights at Fagers we got to know many of the musicians, and this is what I found out; most of the musicians playing in that bar were former church leaders and musical ministers! They were former youth ministers and worship leaders, and men trained and educated in Bible studies and ordained! Yes, former musical ministers from all walks, backgrounds and musical styles! When I asked why they were in a bar playing bar music, to a person they responded, “Because I wasn’t welcome in my local church!” Not welcome because of the style of music they played, the style of dress they wore, the hats on their heads turned backward, the instruments that they played – not welcome because of who they are!

If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness. I John 2:9 (NLT)

This causes my heart to break, and my soul to cry. Church what are we thinking when we reject people because they are not like us? Do we think that once rejected that a person is going to pack up their bags and just move on to another church – and risk being rejected again? Do we understand that when we reject people we are turning them back to a world that does not care about them! I have felt and know this rejection well! And, I know how hard it has been to get back up and keep moving forward after each rejection. What if for one year, just one, we as the church welcomed everyone just as they are! And, what if we welcomed their talents whether they are Christian rockers, or rappers, or soul singers? Instead of putting our God, and our church and our ministry in a box, why don’t we just let go and see what happens? My challenge to you and your church this coming year is to let God work in all aspects of your ministry and see what happens. And please, accept people that are drawn to your church and use their talents, gifts and offerings! Let the church be the place where no one is rejected!

Before I end I do want to let everyone know that a coalition of Christian rappers, hip/hop artists, soul singers and R & B ministers is now being formed. This is not an association, but rather a coalition of Christian musical ministers wanting to partner in ministry and go out into the world and proclaim Jesus. If you are interested in partnering with this coalition please contact me at cyberchurch4christ@hotmail.com, or on Friday, January 8, 2010 we will be at the Fish Locker Café at 201 Sunset Blvd. in Ridgley, MD for a night of musical ministry. Doors open at 6:30 and the event starts at 7:00.

God bless each of you and thank you for thoughts, prayers and comments.

Jesus Christ 4 Life After Death 4 Eternity

Research and acknowledgments:

Ben Burrows is a lay writer and speaker, and founder of ‘Groovin Toward Glory Ministries, co-founder of D.O. and the Gorillas of Gospel, Street KING Productions and co-author of “BOOK! The Raps and Rhymes of God”