Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Going Secular

I've been in the music industry/music almost my whole life.1999 is the year I got saved and introduced to JESUS CHRIST.I knew instantly that I was called to do music in a revolutionary way.With no mentors and very little guidance in the music business, I hit the ground running.I moved to Nashville when I was 25 with plans to expand my dreams, calling and the music I was blessed with.I can honestly say my motives were pure and all I wanted to see was the kingdom of GOD being advanced.When I first started going to the GMA'S, Verbs and Phanatik expressed to me not to "get sucked into the machine".I got the gist of what they were saying but did not have the full understanding of what the "machine" was.Welcome to Nashville's Christian industry! Since I've been in the Christian industry I have experienced the bad,the ugly and the worst.I've seen Christians do bad business and manipulate scripture to get what they want from people.I have seen a lack of character and integrity.I have seen Christian artist getting drunk having casual sex outside of marriage, adultery and entertaining groupies.Overall, one of the biggest disappointments was witnessing how prejudice Christians and Christian artist can be.You've got Christian Contemporary Music which is predominantly white people and you have black gospel which is predominantly black.This is modern day segregation.This is the state of the so called "Church".I have seen artist and ministers form clicks and talk badly about each others forms of ministry.I have seen openly homosexual men and women in places of leadership.As well as men who abuse their wives be in places of church leadership.I have seen the most disrespectful "hollywood" people in church and in the Christian industry.Lord knows, I have never seen so many lazy, don't want to get a job folks, in my life, until I got saved.If you desire to do full time ministry, well minister some character and integrity to yourself first.It seems that it rarely exists that people keep their word and stay loyal.I thought we were suppose to be praying for one another and covering each other.The same people who will show up for their own shows to get paid, you wont find at prayer meetings.I have had people ask me how much I charge for shows and guest appearances, for them only to get mad at the answer.They want you to bless them with a free verse but sell their CD for 10.00 to 15.00 dollars.Meanwhile, they have uncleared samples on songs and no bar codes on their CDs.Without these things it ultimately amounts to stealing.I have seen artist/ministers preach against each other and divide the people of GOD'S kingdom.I have seen artist/ministers switch up their calling and change who they are so that caucasian churches or mega churches will book them.I have seen a lot of african american churches spend millions of dollars on a building and spend nothing on providing a full time youth and children's minister.Some of these same churches don't even have an area for the youth to meet.It seems that with these leaders trying to please everybody and have the "new" thing, that their family lives often take the hardest of blows.Them desiring to be so well known ends up with their own kids not knowing who their parents are.The thing that hurts the most is GOD'S people have left him and abandon their communities.I am not mad or bitter by any means.I'm just hurt! While we are busy people pleasing, people are dying and not knowing our savior JESUS CHRIST.Which brings me to my conclusion.Through being humbled by the hand of GOD and by a series of events.I realized I have been a people pleaser myself. GOD has called me to the mainstream/world to minister to the brokenness of the industry/unchurched.I have been such a hypocrite walking around with titles so I can be accepted by the church because I was born different and called to be different.I am taking the titles off. No more christian Artist, rapper none of that.I am just an artist.No I am not leaving GOD or my faith in JESUS CHRIST.I am just switching lanes to the mainstream.My focus will be to the streets, clubs, schools systems, suburbs, communities and anywhere lost people are.I will still minister/perform at churches if they book me but that will not be my focus. I feel like I owe it to my supporters, and fans to let them know which direction GOD JESUS CHRIST is taking me.
I'll leave you with this quote: " If we had no titles or could not tell anybody that we were a Christian. Would people be able to tell we were christian by our lifestyle"
P.S: Majority of what GOD did and the miracles that took place where outside of the four walls of the church. 
By: Eric Davis aka OLDHEAD
          CONTACT INFO:
WWW.OLDHEADTV.COM
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Email address: oldhead1@gmail.com

9 comments:

  1. I just came across this post and now I know why you have been so heavy on my heart. I need to send you something. Hit me at my email address memiller5@yahoo.com.

    Thanks!

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  2. I am with you 150%...you know if you need ANYTHING let me know. Love you!

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  3. Honestly, I can't understand why you would take Christian artist out of your title, but if God has placed this in your heart, then what can I say? I understand the idea that Christians carry titles that mean nothing when their lifestyles are NOT reflective of someone who lives for Christ. I understand that you're tired of seeing the Christian church sin more than sinners. But understand this...the "so called christians" whom you speak of have taken CHRIST out of the church. A person who is truly making an attempt to live for Christ is ostracized and seen as an outcast. They make you feel, as though, you think you are holier than thou and they PrAY for your fall--just to prove a point. The “Church” tell us all that we are Sinners not understanding that we WERE sinners, but are now called CHILDREN of God. For, if they believe and teach that we are children of God, that would hold us up to higher standards. Therefore, if we are called sinners we become comfortable with sinning. This is why everyone is feeling comfortable with sinning. The church is for sinners, not for the SAVED. The REAL Christians have NO place in the church! We also do not have a place in the WORLD. So, by taking Christian artist out of your title, are you not doing the same? Do you believe that the WORLD would accept you? Did Christ seek acceptance from sinners? Or did sinners Come to Christ? It appeared to me that Christ was opened to all people, he INVITED all. But, those whom he invited chose to CHANGE and turn away from their evil ways. Christ did not dwell with sinners, he preached to sinners. Should we not DWELL with our own kind, Christians? Real Christians are defined as---believers and followers of Christ. The problem is that you won’t find REAL Christians in the church and you won’t find them in this WORLD. WE are outcasts---neither the church nor the World has any use for us. Our own so-called Christians brothers/sisters have forsaken us and cater to the needs of the sinners. Yeah, we should minister to sinners, but are we called to give our ALL to sinners? I thought we were called to give our ALL to our brothers/sisters in Christ. The devil can take some things from me, but He can NOT take the Christian out of my name. I am a Christian. I am a child of God and I am proud of it! I’ve been thrown out of church and rejected by the World. But, I still stand proudly on my father Jesus Christ. I am his and he is the I am. At the end of the day, I still support you if you feel, in your heart, Christ is asking this of you. Peace and many blessings my brother!!!

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  4. Not to be argumentative, only truthful.

    Actually, Jesus did go to sinners, otherwise, we, you and me, would have never experienced Him. Jesus went to the woman at the well, he went into unclean places and made them clean, he even had dinner at the houses of a sinner. Our goal, as "Christians", is to be a light among darkness. What's the purpose of a single candle in a room full of candles? Where we need to be is where there is no light. The purpose of taking off the word "christian" before the word "artist" is to be able to *invite* anyone to listen. Jesus didn't walk around with a name badge that said “Hi, I’m Christ”. He just was, and people were attracted to His light, love, and goodness, and followed Him. Most of the time, He didn't want people to know that He was the Christ. He actually liked to let people figure that out on their own. So if our own Savior wasn't attached to titles, then why are we?

    When Moses asked God who to tell the people he was sent by, God's answer was to tell the people that "I Am" sent him. The same "I Am" that always was and will be, and needs no definition or one specific title. Nothing can hold God. Why would the Creator of words be confined within them? He is unexplainable. He just is…. We ourselves cannot wrap our feeble minds around Him. We cannot define him, and therefore, should not even attempt to define ourselves.

    Nowhere in the original text of the Bible will you find the word "christian", this is a term we made up. Instead, you will find beautiful descriptors highlighting how we are *supposed* to be; loving, kind, generous, forgiving, understanding, and caring people.

    Nowhere are we instructed to be judgmental, thinking we are better. Our "own kind" are those who are now in the states we were once in, who are simply without the full grace of God. The only difference is that we were sought by God and adopted into the kingdom. Did we stop sinning that day we accepted God? No. We are not "saved", we are being saved until the day we die. We sin daily, and pray for the forgiveness of our sins. Our faults keep us closer to God; they are what keep up on our knees and praying. If you were perfect, you'd be God, but, as it turns out, there is only *one* High God. We are not Him. If you cannot admit this, you are helping no one, but glorifying yourself. I am a filthy rag who God saw something more in, and may I never forget that.

    Oldhead, I understand and join you in your frustration. Go and be a light to the world, but remember always who sent you. Just as Jesus did not restrict himself to only speaking life inside the walls of churches, neither shall you. Your audience will be much greater than walls can hold. And you will bring into the kingdom those who needed God the most: the hurt and the broken and the unsaved.


    "For a saint is just a sinner who fell down, and got up"

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  5. @humble tiffany...where did I say that Jesus didn't go to sinners? I don't recall writing this and when I read over my statement it's no where in it! Mrs. or Ms. sinner, I hope it's working for you. I am a child of God, I am not a sinner, I was once a sinner. I am called out! I am commanded by God to be seperate from the World.
    "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1)
    "If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." (1 Corinthians 3:17)

    "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?" (1 Corinthians 6:19)

    "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection." (Colossians 3:12-14)

    "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'" (1 Peter 1:13-16)

    "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." (1 Peter 2:9,10)

    Dang...these convince me I'm seen as GREAT. Wow!!!

    I'm humble because even when I sin, God doesn't see the sin, he sees his CHILD. What a wonder! This brings peace into my life and also it motivates me to sin-less. Likewise, I teach in my counseling groups---you're going to make bad choices,but those who truly love you, loves you inspite of you or the choices that you make. I call you a winner, I call you splendid, I Call you great...you are not what you do!!! Because, if I called you BAD when you do BAD you will live up to that expectation. But, I call you to a higher place, I call you by a better name. God calls us HIS CHIlD.
    Last but least...You are preaching popular beliefs---there are many like you...Don't you feel good?

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  6. Just logged back on, Thought I'd help you find where I got that from, which is why I responded. Here you go:

    "So, by taking Christian artist out of your title, are you not doing the same? Do you believe that the WORLD would accept you? Did Christ seek acceptance from sinners? Or did sinners Come to Christ? It appeared to me that Christ was opened to all people, he INVITED all. But, those whom he invited chose to CHANGE and turn away from their evil ways. Christ did not dwell with sinners, he preached to sinners. Should we not DWELL with our own kind, Christians?"


    And because I'm a human, I sin. I'm not perfect, and I know it. There are no saints, we all fall short of the glory of God. I'm not trying to argue with you, but uplift Oldhead in his decision.

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  7. The blog was good, my only concern is we should not looked to be accepted by the world. Just because we have some hypocrites in the church does not mean we have to be one. I run into artist all the time that say they do not want to be labeled a Christian Rap artist or Gospel artist because they want to reach a different crowd. Which sounds good on the surface but lets keep it real. They want to make more money because they do not want to work a secular job(which I think is funny because there is no such thing) to have time for ministry. But again if people say God told them, then we have to take their word.

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