"It hurts. You get angry. You get mad. You even feel disrespected because you don't understand how people can be that *dumb* or unintentional in the name of Christ. That's how you know it's where you're supposed to serve."

This was a Facebook message I received from a friend of mine in ministry after one of my rants. I was fresh off a tantrum over an article condemning Mali Music for signing with Akon's label. It misquoted something that he said regarding gospel music and while I can respect a difference of opinion (sometimes), I by no means can tolerate bad journalism. My friend understands all too well the frustration I feel when it comes to how some members of the church treat Christians who have been called to the mainstream. She is right. I get mad. I will admit that I sometimes get cussin' mad; slammin' doors, temperature rising, on the verge of tears but too angry to cry, mad. Because to me it's a no brainer. It's an open and shut case. However I need to accept that not everyone will agree, be angry yet sin not (Ephesians 4:26).

If you are a Christian artist in mainstream music (or a "Hilltopper" as I call them) I don't doubt that you too have gotten angry, hurt and even cussin' mad. You feel this deeper than I do. Because when someone is telling you that you are outside of God's will by being outside of the church walls when it comes to your art, for the most part they are spewing damnation on what you know to be your calling. For a lot of people their calling and who they are are one and the same and thus they take this offense very personally. I want us to peel that offense off. You have to. You won't survive within the church if you don't.  I can already hear some of you now though...

"Oh I'm not a part of 'the church'. I am a Christ follower/Red letter Christian/Follower of the Way, etc..."

The purpose of this ministry is not to foster an us vs. them mentality when it comes to those in the church with an opposing view on Christians in mainstream. You may not like some members of your family (the church), but the fact is you are a part of it. In regards to your relatives, you can't say "the aunt that sends me money every year on my birthday is family but the uncle that gets drunk and belligerent at every funeral repass is not." You can't claim to be a Christ follower,ask him to break your heart for the things that break his, yet hate His bride. At the end of the day, we are all that bride. So how do we get along?