How many poets do you know that have a co-writer? Houston's best known spoken word artist - Se7en - has one and he says it's God. Se7en has been performing his works for almost a decade and has come to be known as "The Fire Poet" due to his aggressive delivery. However, his poetry is not the only thing on fire as Se7en claims he is on fire for Christ. Always willing to share a testimony, Se7en allowed us an interview.

When did you first develop relationship with God?

I don't remember life without God. My grandmother kept me in church and I was always aware of Jesus, what he did and who God is. I was always prayerful - I used to lead devotion at church.

Spiritual growth tends to have an effect on one's lifestyle and vice versa. What defining moments contributed to your growth?

I had a couple; senior year in high school was one of them. I confessed Jesus as my savoir and got out of the hood things I was doing. In college I had a relationship with God but it was never profound. Around [age] 22, I had my degrees and expected the world to open up to me. I was expecting to make all this money, but found out how hard it is. It was the first real taste of adulthood - not college life. College life is jaded, but in real adulthood, you find out that you can't call on friends or family. You don't have anyone to call on but God. At one point in my life all I did was: wake up, read my Bible, go to work, read my Bible on my lunch break, go home, read my Bible, pray and go to sleep. That was it. I did that for months. I stopped doing certain things and talking to certain people.

That's the most passionate I have ever been with my relationship with God and the Savior. Also, I would tell people [about Jesus]. When you're a baby in Christ, it's exciting. You want to jump up and down and every other word out of your mouth is "God this and God that..." You just beat people up with the word. But this might push people away. I had to mature and be more accepting of people and where they were with Christ. The fact that I had friends who didn't have any relationship with God was unbelievable to me!

You will find different plateaus and different stages of growth. Like right now [pause] Wow! I am experiencing a great level of peace, which is a little unnerving to me. In my profession, one of the key ingredients is my fire. My anger about what I think is wrong or what societal ills sicken me is what makes those pieces come off so aggressive, raw and honest. So in my growth it's hard for me to get upset about things because everything has a place. That's understanding God.

We make satan a scapegoat. But if God really had an issue with this dude, he'd be done! God allows him to walk, play and frolic. No matter what he does, he is what he is. Satan [was] an angel. Still, he is one of God's creations. But when God gets done with it, he's just done. We give satan more power than he actually has...and more credit. In that, I don't say "oh, that's the devil. Lord save us!" Man...I'm really alright and we all are alright. God has us. That is understood. That's what I'm starting to develop: unshakable faith!

You have a piece called "Stand Up" where you challenge the audience to actually stand as they hear situations or circumstances they can relate to. What moved you to write this piece and deliver it in such a manner?

When I was young and hustling I used to sit in the back of the church. Sometimes I felt like all of that they're doing - hollering, clapping and singing those corny songs - I ain't 'bout none of that! Other times I would feel like: I'm not them. I'm not a good kid. I sell dope, steal cars...I smoke, I drink. I would beat myself up. I felt unworthy amongst those people. God's people.

Then, [years later] I was growing in the word, testifying, writing spirit-filled pieces, being active in the church, trying to tithe...just growing in the spirit. When I changed the places I went and the people around me, there was another level of prosperity. Everything was peaceful. I was around good people and money was just overflowing! I would walk in the house like Dave Chappelle: "I'm rich!" [laughs]

Here it is now -10 to 15 years later - now I'm sitting in the front. One day I glanced at the back pew and remembered when I used to sit on the back pew! I remembered when I used to sit back there and how desperate and disconnected I used to feel. Whoa! Well, what about those people? Am I going to leave them back there or give them an invitation to come see what I see? It's just like the classroom: the people in the front are more engaged and learn more. So what could I do to erase the hard part? The hard part is the first step. The first step is standing up. If you can stand, more than likely you can put one foot in front of the other and come to the alter. You can leave whatever it is you are dealing with, join church, ask for prayer...something. That first step is standing up. That's how the piece developed.

When I do that piece, I ask people to stand up. And if you examine the piece, all I do is lay out the 7 deadly sins. I just lay them out as I roll through the piece and in most cases the entire church is standing up. Everybody is dealing with those things. That's why the piece was developed: to bring people to God and to the church...to let people know that it's okay to be imperfect or have things going on in your life. It's okay. 

Spoken Word is not a "traditional" form of ministry. What is your take on non-traditional forms of ministry?

Ministry comes in all forms: rap, praise dancing, art...your whole life is ministry. When I'm at the club drinking it may not be the best ministry, but it is what it is. Is it desirable by societal standings and church norms? No. But it is what it is. Some look up to me and it is what it is. If we are really trying to be like Jesus, which is the mark, you have to know that every turn you make and breath you take is ministry. The traditional mindset is that ministry comes from the pulpit, but that's not the case at all.

You do not like to be called a "Christian Poet." Why is that?

I tell people I'm not a Christian poet; I'm a Christian. Period. What happens if I lose my voice, God forbid? If I can't spit poetry am I not a Christian anymore? I don't want people to ever be mistaken and think this is the only thing I am going to do. Because guess what? I spit "The Jesus Piece" in The Shadow Bar, on the curb, in the school, in the strip clubs...just like I would in church. I would do it in a mosque or synagogue. So If I'm not in a Christian setting when I do the poem am I not a Christian anymore?

The bottom line as a poet is: I'm compelled to spit the truth...and sometimes I may use profanity to bring that truth to light. It's going to be tastefully done, but someone may say, "I saw Se7en at the club and he didn't sound like he did at the 10 o' clock service!" I'm not. I'm going to do what's necessary to get the point across. I don't curse with ill intent. I need you to internalize the point. Don't miss the point! It's about the intent, connotation and even tone of the words you use. So don't give me a title as a "Christian poet" that's going to keep me from performing somewhere like [the strip club] Onyx. No. I am going to go in there, stand right next to that pole and spit "The Jesus Piece" and "Stand Up!" Then hopefully someone in there will say, "I needed to hear that."

Think about it. Jesus wasn't in River Oaks. Jesus was in the hood! I can't stand when people are too live to talk and be amongst the people. [side note: That's why I go St. John's. It's a reality check to sit next to Mathew Knowles and also a dude that hasn't had a bath in three days. It keeps you real.]

7th Made is a lifestyle. It's a continuous spiritual journey and effort. What do you do to ensure continuous growth in the spirit?

I try not to question God and I operate knowing that all things are subject to change.

 

Se7en's Fun Facts

Favorite Bible verse: "In the beginning God Spoke"

Favorite Gospel Artist(s): Yolanda Adams and Marcus Wiley

Favorite part of church service: I have two churches I really love: Awakenings' 12:30 service in the El Dorado Ballroom and St. John's. There's no favorite part because it is truly an experience.

- J. McNair