(Photo : Marvin Sapp)

As we reported previously, gospel artist Marvin Sapp recorded a duet with Kandi Burruss, star of Bravo TV's reality show The Real Housewives of Atlanta, titled "Stay Prayed Up."

Despite the track's positive message, many Christian fans took offense to Sapp's willingness to work with someone who lives a less-than-righteous life (Burruss sells a line of sex toys and also shares a home with her live-in boyfriend).

Burruss openly addressed the backlash via her blog on Bravo's website, stating, "Thank God I don't let things get to me. I'm a very open and honest person. I say what I want to say when I want to say it. If I feel like doing something, I do it. I felt that I wanted to do this song, so I did, and I'm glad I did. This song is my testimony."

Finally, on Monday, Sapp took to his Facebook page to make his first - and only - statements on the song. Following is his post in its entirety:

Usually I don't respond to people about things like this however I must this time. The problem with many in the church is 1.) that we major in minors and 2.) ignorant (not well studied) of scripture.

Lets deal with the first, This woman who was an ex R&B singer that sells sex toys and live with her man decided on a show that reaches 10 million viewers per showing (believers and unbelievers) to sing about,,,, Not sex toys, drugs or living with a man but PRAYER!!!!!! and the saints are upset.

The lyric says, "I stay prayed up, that gets me by, that how I made it through my darkest time, see I'm a sinner and thats no lie, but thank God my prayers are heard because he knows I try" Wow!!!!! nothing elicit or comprising about the lyric....

So lets look at how Jesus dealt with the sinner..... From my study of scripture the only people he checked was the church (religious people of that day) however the sinner he consistently showed COMPASSION!!!!!!! Examples...... Woman caught in the ACT of adultery Also the Woman at the well....... Never exposed them publicly, dealt with them privately. We as believer major in minors...... So caught up in the messenger that we are missing the message "Staying Prayed UP".

Now I close with this...Everyone that God used in scripture was flawed and or had struggles.... Let me call the roll..... Moses was a murderer, Rahab was a harlet (whore), David was a murder/adulter and still considered a man after Gods own heart, Peter was a cutting cusser however was in the inner circle of Jesus, Paul was a murderer and made many blaspheme against God however wrote 2/3 of the NT, He spoke through a Donkey and if we decide to be quite rocks will cry out...

We say we are christians which means being Christ-like but question peoples motives that model his behavior....The bible speaks about witnessing and that you need to be wise to win souls and Paul says I became all things to all men that I might win some.... Compromise was never done here nor do I condone her life style or life choices and keeping 100 you don't know the off camera conversation we had. Again big picture 10 million people at 1 time were challenged to PRAY in difficult times WOW!!!! Thats Awesome and Ministy.....

PS Didn't spell check because I'm late to a meeting.... Be Blessed

Billy Dorsey, a Grammy, Dove and Stellar Award-winning producer and songwriter echoes Sapp's sentiments, also noting Christ's tendency to step outside of the church in his ministry.

"If Sapp is looking at it from a ministry perspective, Jesus didn't hang around with the people "church folk" figured He should have," says Dorsey. "He hung out with those who in all aspects were beneath His righteousness, but He used that to lift them up to greatness. You can't help someone up if you're not willing to get close enough to let them lean on you."

Having collaborated with a bevy of mainstream artists, including rapper 2 Chainz and R&B group Day 26, as well as witnessing the carnal lifestyles of many in the music industry, Dorsey understands why the public may question a collaboration like Burruss and Sapp's. Still, says Dorsey, if the motive and intentions are Divine - as it certainly seems they are in this case - God will get the glory.

"The sex toys and other things are hers," adds Dorsey. "If [Sapp's] heart is focused on ministry, God will allow his light to shine in the midst of the darkness, rather than being overcome by it."

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