Andrew 'Omari' Edwards

André Jebbinson, Staff Reporter

One popular Bible verse says 'All have sinned and come short of the glory of God'. It therefore means that the most reverend preacher and the most transformed gospel artiste were once of the world and had friends who are of the world, friendships that many of them have maintained since they have been saved.

There have been cases of gospel and secular artistes showing up at one another's shows, as well as other involvement. Most recently, gospel artiste Omari included Mavado in his Help video. The video features offenders who are crying out for help, but it has angered some people that a man with a musical reputation as daunting as Mavado's, is enjoying prominence in a gospel video.

"All of us had a bad reputation before. What is the discrimination about? I was no better than a Mavado before I got saved and one sweet day, I hope Mavado will get saved. A reach me a reach out to him," Omari said. "I am not doing anything wrong; it isn't anything Jesus would not have done. A dem same people Jesus called as his disciples."

Jesus loves them

One question the gospel artistes will ask is who will tell the wayward that Jesus loves them if they are treated like untouchables?

"If you leave them, who is going to lead them? If you are going to be oh so holy, you haffi guh come off di planet den," said St. Matthew, another gospel artiste who believes in taking his message to the vilest non-believer.

He added: "Even if you not in their company, people are still going to find fault. Everything you ask me goes back to Christ. People use to look at Him and wonder how He could allow a prostitute to wash His feet and how He could be friends with Paul. It goes back to knowing yourself."

Clearly, there are some things that separate the world from believers. That, for some people, includes dress, speech and lifestyle in general. There is no specified codeof conduct and it also has a lot to do with personality. In fact, personality determines how cordial the gospel artistes are with secular artistes and other secular companions.

Faith holds the key

"You can't put a limit on dat. You just have to know yourself and know what you are about, no matter what. You have to take everything by faith. Jesus use to be around rebels and looked like a rebel," St. Matthew said.

Omari, on the other hand, is more cautious about the level of his association.

"It's not like we wrap up and talk every day. If I am praying and remember Mavado, I will pray for him and call him up and tell him," he said.

Gospel artiste Moses said, "These were my friends before and I don't want them to think seh mi rich and switch. You still have to go around and still show dem the love ... I have friends who have changed because of my testimony and there are still some who need fi hear the Word."

"Without Christ, none of us are better off. We putting weight on sin, but sin is sin. We need to make people feel like they are welcome and the Church will accept them," Omari said.

St. Matthew took it to another level by saying some of the most ridiculed are sometimes some of the truest people around.

"You have some people who are not being real, they are only trying to please other people. A di same out-a-road people who other people criticise, a dem help you out all di time," he said.

He also had one final pledge: "What if my brother turn a cokehead? Mi naah guh disown him. Mi a go phone him," he said.