Marvin Sapp: Christians Should Support Gospel Artists Even If Their Private Lives Are ‘Questionable’.
Popular gospel singer Marvin Sapp, who’s also founder and senior pastor of Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, stirred controversy online Thursday when he suggested that Christians should buy the music of gospel artists even if their private lives are “questionable.”
Sapp’s comment comes in the wake of the success of rapper Jay-Z’s much publicized “4:44” digital-only album which was certified platinum, with sales of 1 million copies in the U.S., less than a week after its June 30 release.
“‘Jay-Z’s album went platinum and it hasn’t even been released to the masses yet! It went certified platinum just on tidal! Coming to Apple and all other outlets next week! What is that saying?'” Sapp said he was asked in a post to his more than 2 million fans on Facebook Thursday.
The “Never Would Have Made It” singer said he responded: “The world supports its own.”
“Not one supporter of Jay-Z (Believer or non-Believer) questions his lifestyle, beliefs or commitment to his wife. They know that the messenger is flawed but they support his message to the tune of 1 million sales and it hasn’t been released to the masses yet. I believe the world gets what believers still don’t or refuse to understand,” he continued. “#myopinionon That the message is always bigger than the messenger.”
