I know I want to write this post but I don’t know where to begin. Consider this post a definite entry to the Transformation Series. Wow, I totally intended to type Transparency Series. God, is that you? But, yes, as the error suggests, this post is all about Transformation. And I can’t help but think that I am subscribed to a religion filled with believers of end results and not the processes that lead to those end results.

Context

Of course, there’s a context that I must share. Recently, Wayne Marshall released a song singing “Glory to God” featuring Season 5 The Voice winner – Tessanne Chin and Jamaican “Prophet” Ryan Mark. Since its release, there was an interview between Marshall & Footah Hype who is a Jamaican Dancehall DJ known for his controversial breakup with Dancehall sensation Ishawna. In the interview, Marshall denounces Jesus Christ’s necessity in connecting with God when John 14 says otherwise. It is clear that Wayne Marshall is not yet a Christian. I do believe that a transformation is taking place.

My Thoughts on Transformation

As I mentioned in my opening statement, I don’t believe that many Christians care about the transformation process of an individual. They care about your point of salvation and very few care about the moments that lead to that moment. I don’t believe that many Christians care much about the process of anything really. We love to focus on scriptures that present the directive and the result but struggle to focus on the context and the process. I remember a bible study at a church where I boldly stood and said that forgiveness is a process, after reviewing a case study. My response was followed by a sister who proudly declared she disagrees and that the bible says we’re to forgive so it should be instant. I guess I was wrong. My thought is that we make the decision to forgive but getting to that place of forgiveness takes time and effort. No? To each his own but back to transformation. Based on my own experience with God, I believe that the artiste is going through a transformation. It is our duty as Christians to educate and guide with love.

My Own Transformation

I remember the first time God reached out to me. A connection was felt but I didn’t know the source of that connection. In another moment when God reached for me, I figured it was Him, but didn’t know how to reach back to Him. So, I searched through the Rastafarian culture. I knew about God and I heard about Jesus but I didn’t understand the relationship and how it all connects. This is where the Christian duty comes in. Could it be that God is reaching out to Marshall and he is trying to reach back to him but he is using the wrong method? In the interview, he also expressed that he felt the anointing of God at Prophet Ryan Mark’s church. Do we know the details surrounding his church attendance or what has been happening with Marshall spiritually? Do we know what Prophet Ryan Mark is teaching or if he is guiding Marshall to Jesus?

Does the Messenger Thwart the Message?

“The song doesn’t glorify God” is the view of a fellow blogger at Stick a Pin Ja. In the article, the blogger highlights all the ways in which the song does not glorify God using the post-production interview as a strong point. The blogger justifies “why God does not like that song” using various scriptures throughout the bible. Is the song valuable without the views expressed in the post-production interview? Has the messenger or the medium thwarted the message?  Are we judging the messenger based on our own understanding?

My Closing Points

Many times as Christians we kick the feet of men trying to make their way to Christ. We have become authorities in Christianity that instead of preaching the gospel to lead men to Christ, we aggressively present biblical scriptures to defend a salvation we once knew nothing about. Can we add some love to our approach?

It could be because I was once at the place of confusion where Marshall is at that I see things differently. Thankfully, I had a praying mother to guide me to the truth that Jesus is Lord and Saviour. Let us pray that Ryan Mark is Marshall’s guide and that this song is a melodious representation of a divine process that is taking place in Marshall’s life.

My Testimony