It has been said that “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”. Well, that is true until someone doesn’t like the imitation. There has been great push back regarding Beyoncé new album Cowboy Carter. With many saying that superstar has no right making a country record and others whispering in not so soft terms that black folks have no place in country music.
Just like most popular music genres, country music in the United States began with Black People. More specifically, the story of country begins with the banjo. The modern-day banjo is a descendant of a West African instrument.
Hillbilly music, which would later be renamed country, became the music of the south. The first hillbilly artists drew inspiration from slave spirituals, field songs, hymns, and the blues, which itself has black origins.
To be clear Beyoncé performing country music is not an imitation. Beyonce’s performing country music is preforming music made in the image of black people.
Genesis chapters one and two reveals the story of the creation of the earth, the plants and of mankind. In creating mankind God does something he does not do with any of his other creations. He makes Adam and later Eve in his own image.
Being made in God’s image is not that we physically look like God, rather it means that we have the image of God imprinted in us. The essence of our being is God. God is creative – and we can be creative too. God loves us – and we too are capable of love. God is so forgiving that he gave us Jesus so that our sins are forgiven, setting the stage for us to forgive.
Beyoncé with Cowboy Carter is teaching us to embrace, express and live in the image of our creation which is country music.
So, the question before us now is are we living in the images that God has made us to be? Are we living in God’s image of creation, are we living in God’s image of love, are we living in God’s image of forgiveness?
We can’t escape the image that God has made us to be, but we can repress it. If you are not living in the image of God a course correction is possible, by praying this prayer with me: Father, I come as your creation who is not living in your image. I ask that you come into my life restoring within me the all the elements of your image with in me and it is in Jesus name that I pray. Amen
For More Great Content Go To Marben Bland.com
