By Grace Not By Works

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not by works, so that no one can boast.”- Ephesians 2:8-9. There is always some controversy in the society. There are always those who believe that they have a higher moral authority and look down with disdain on others. Given that culture is not static we should indeed expect more disagreements in and across the cultural landscape. The most recent controversy surrounds dancehall superstar Spice whose given name is Grace Hamilton. Without a doubt the youth are faced with many problems. The social ills are too many to mention in this a pluralistic society. Spice’s 'Ohhhh No School Tour' was aimed at educating and empowering the island’s youth on the importance of standing firm on their beliefs and values. The school tour commenced on Monday January 28 with visits to Waterford and Cumberland High Schools. The tour continued Tuesday with stops at Spanish Town High and her alma mater St Catherine High where an emotional Spice, spoke with students, recalling her experiences as a student at the institution. Spice commented that the tour, which is inspired by her recent single, Hell No, serves as a motivation to the youth to normalize being different, to stand out and say 'no' to certain immoral and sexual habits that devalue their character. However, soon into the school tour Apostle Jeffrey Shuttleworth was among the first to voice his objection to Spice ‘Ohhh No School Tour’. “Shuttleworth said “it makes a mockery, absolute mockery and runs amok of what we purportedly are trying to teach our children, decorum, decency, dignity, discipline.” Shuttleworth further remarked, “you are fighting out devotion out of schools and yet you are allowing filth to go into schools.” On the other hand, Pastor Joseph Williams of the Calvary Evangelistic Church of God opined that you should not use anyone's past to condemn them. He quoted the Book of John chapter 8: verse 7, when Jesus says ' So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her'. Pastor Williams argues that everyone deserves a second chance. He added that he believes she should get a chance to do what she would really love to do because the context of what she will be sharing is to bring peace and eliminate the crime and violence in the schools and teach the youths the right things. No one is perfect because we're all ' born in sin and shaped in iniquity," he reasoned. The truth is most of us associate Spice with adult entertainment. The fact is students already know all of her songs. We live in a society where students are exposed to lewd lyrics on public transportation to and from school. The proliferation of social media means that more and more students are engaged on various platforms accessing both appropriate and inappropriate content. Are we catering to a culture of hypocrisy? Schools are allowed to invite various dancehall artistes to perform at their fund raising events, without any controversy, many of whom also have a mixed repertoire of songs. Music as Agent for Change. Music is extremely powerful. Music can influence our emotions, thoughts, and behaviours in numerous ways. Music helps us to connect with others and express ourselves. Music has the ability to shape cultures and societies around the world for generations. Music has the power to change one’s mood, change perceptions, and inspire change. Music is an essential aspect of all human civilizations and has the power to emotionally, morally, and culturally affect society. When people from one culture exchange music with each other, they gain valuable insight into another way of life. Music’s impact on human rights movements and its role as an agent for change is clear in the history books. One example is the impact of the “freedom songs” of the Civil Rights movement, such as “We Shall Overcome” Undoubtedly, everyone has a personal relationship with music whether we accept this or not. On the other hand, the influence of the church continues to wane. As a result, dancehall artistes have more of an impact on the lives of students. This reality is not likely to change anytime soon as more and more students become disengaged from the education system. School Tour Stalled. Since the controversy Spice has cancelled her school tour. It was never the intention for Spice to perform her raunchy lyrics on the tour. Instead, she gave motivational speeches, delivering messages about self-worth and making positive life choices. “Society needs to know that adolescents are encouraged by success stories too. It takes a village. Our kids need encouragement, they need love, they need a number of things to grasp the knowledge from our teachers," the dancehall star argued.” To The Church. What would Jesus do? Would He condemn the messenger? God hates sin; however, He is ready to forgive us once we repent. The church has always been that place and voice of refugee and compassion. The church has always been one of forgiveness, second chances and redemption. Perhaps, one of the most significant Bible stories on this issue is that of Saul, who once persecuted Christians prior to his conversion to Paul while on the road to Damascus. In Acts chapter 9 verses 1-4, “meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” To those who argue that the messenger is problematic, we must pay close attention to the story of Saul who turned Paul.

Society’s Outcasts. Jesus supported society's outcasts. He showed love, compassion, and kindness to those who were marginalized, oppressed, or enslaved. Jesus sought out and accepted people who were often pushed aside by society. It was not normal for men to speak directly to women (John. 4:27). Not only do the gospels show Jesus speaking to women, it depicts Him doing so with an element of tenderness. Jesus did more than heal the woman with the bleeding disorder; He calls her “daughter.” (Luke 8:48) When Jesus addresses the woman doubled over from spiritual oppression, He calls her a “daughter of Abraham” (Luke 13:16)-conferring on her a spiritual status equal to her male counterparts. Much of the Old Testament was concerned with purity. One could become unclean through exposure to potentially contagious diseases (or body fluids that could carry disease) or from eating unclean foods. Once someone was unclean, they had to avoid sacred spaces and duties until they could be purified. To be unclean was to be socially ostracized. Jesus’ ministry was about unity and not division. “For He himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility” (Ephesians 2:14-16, NIV). Social Justice . Over the years the church has been accused of being selective in those issues they address. Issues such as gambling and gender based violence appear not to be given importance. Social justice issues are not given much attention. According to the United Nations, "social justice" means ensuring everyone has equal economic, political, and social rights and opportunities, advocating for fair treatment and access to resources for all, while actively dismantling barriers based on factors like gender, race, ethnicity, or disability, ultimately aiming for a peaceful and prosperous coexistence among nations; it is considered a fundamental principle for achieving human dignity and development. Discrimination. Spice has been a trailblazer in the dancehall space. Spice was the first female hardcore dancehall artiste to receive a Grammy nomination in the Best Reggae Album category for her 2021 album 10. One has to wonder whether other factors are also at play for this rebuke of Spice. Is the rebuke of Spice rooted also in the sex of the artiste, no pun intended? Would a male dancehall artiste receive the same reprove? Is colourism at play? What if Spice were a browning? Would she be treated in the same manner? Notwithstanding, the dancehall space has always been one of protest and advocacy. This allows for a subtle, sometimes not so subtle type of discrimination against this genre of music. The dancehall space does not get the same or similar respect as reggae. Oftentimes, dancehall music gives a voice to the voiceless in the society and addresses those issues which are not readily spoken about by traditional media. The fact that the education system does not inculcate the positive values and attitudes is very disturbing. It is rather unfortunate but a growing number of students do not see their teachers as role models, nor do they view pastors as role models. Society at a Crossroads. Meanwhile Errol Martin, acting principal of St Catherine High School, said he is happy that dancehall artiste Spice visited her alma mater on Tuesday for her 'Ohhhh No School Tour', despite backlash about her character. "She came to the school as a past student, and I would not want to take that privilege from her. I don't have any regrets, to be honest," he said. "I believe in redemption. Isn't that what the Bible says? “Her words likely had a greater impact than they would have been coming from another speaker.” The society is at a crossroads, some will say in a crisis regarding identity. The controversy also exposes how divided the church community continues to be. This division within the body of Christ is unacceptable. We all need to step back and interrogate the dancehall space especially concerning its ongoing contribution to our culture. Our disagreements should not descend into vulgarity. We may not like the music, however, let us all act with some level of politesse and respect regarding each other. In the words of Spice, the fact that I influence them I may be the one that can speak to them and say this is wrong. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #Spice #dancehallmusic #culture #Jamaica #religion