Some of you may have followed some of the debate in the fundamentalist blogosphere over John Piper’s allowing Christian rapper Curtis Allen to sing a rap song in the Saturday night worship service at Bethlehem Baptist. There was much written on the issue and I am sure most of you couldn’t follow everything. Then the discussion spawned debates over music in general all over the blogworld but also specifically here at my blog here.
Well, I don’t want to reopen the whole debate. But I would like to point you to a few posts relevant to this discussion that you may find helpful.
- First, my friend Nathan Pitchford has a helpful post on “The Poetics of Rap”. In that post he evaluates rap’s place within the history of poetry. You will find it informative and helpful (by the way Nathan is a great poet in his own right).
- Second, Nathan posted the lyrics to one of Shai Linne’s songs on his CD The Solus Christus Project over at Reformation Theology blog. That post has generated some discussion of its own. [For more insight into Shai’s music (and holy hip hop in general) check out his listening guide.]
- Lastly, Kerry Gilliard, “The Black Calvinist”, responded to some comments that Greg Linscott of Sharper Iron left on some of his earlier posts about this commentary. Kerry’s post is a good look at the cultural perspectives of a Black Christian with regard to this whole debate. I think you will find his thoughts helpful and very gracious, as well.
I got Shai Linne’s CD in the mail on Friday. It’s really good stuff (theologically speaking). It’s very substantive compared to other Christian music, and Shai’s candor is well appreciated. Considering the vast negative associations related to rap/hip-hop music, it was amazing to listen to this genre of music that was clearly redeemed and faithful to biblical doctrine (especially about the doctrine of eternal punishment [aka Hell and the Lake of Fire]). I haven’t yet read the links that Bob provided, but I believe it’s worth the look. It’s sad to say that many conservative evangelicals and fundamentalists would probably avoid this emerging genre of music or look upon it with disdain. I’d say for myself that I was blessed by how Shai (and others who contributed to the Solus Christus Project CD) presented the music. It may be difficult to understand the music at first (since many may not be familiar with rap/hip-hop), but you can read the lyrics that was provided inside the CD jacket.
Larry,
I too have been blessed by Shai’s music. And likewise much of the content of the music is more theological in nature than much of CCM. Shai (I think) or else someone else remarked that hip-hop/rap is like preaching set to music. The medium allows for more substantive lyrics (and more content period in the lyrics—they are often longer and more involved than most popular hymns even, today) than most other styles of music period.
Thanks for sharing, Larry. God bless.
Bob
Just found out about all this:
The way I see it, music was created for God’s glory and, in most cases, has been usurped by Satan.
I’m tired of the Christian Pharisees deciding what style of music is “holy” for everyone else. Theirs is a church in retreat…
I wonder what had have happened if the church hadn’t retreated from “rock and roll” back in the 50’s and 60’s?? What if they had engaged it instead and claimed it for Jesus in its infancy??
God bless you Bob.
RK
Bob
By the way,thanks for the correction on my site about who really sung for John Piper.
I asked by young adult childrens about this issue of music. They they listen to the music of the culture. My 25 years old, said, “I do not think that Country or Hip Hop is Christian Music. Considering even though there are great deal of Christian lyrics in country songs that does not make the music Christian.”
My four children listen to all kinds of music.
They listen to music for the words and the sound.
If they like the style of music they would go to hear them sang. My oldest son does not like Hip Hop and he said I wouldn’t go, because I don’t like the style, even though the words were christians.
They say what is the fuss in anyway dad, are you stll a fun- mentialist”
Oh thanks a lot….
Charles
Thanks for your thoughts Rhett and Charles.
God bless you both.
Eh, I dunno. I am an avid listener of Christian Rap (Lampmode is awesome in my book – lines up with scripture) and I see hip-hop as an art form that God can use. I mean, no one criticizes Nigerian music (where my parents hail from) or any other cultural music that can be used to praise the Lord.
And I can see where others come from, because secular hip hop is softcore porn in the media and promotes a reprobate lifestyle. Also, many others have not grown up in a family or society where hip-hop is prominent. My own mom, a baby boomer, nods at the Christian hip-hop movement, because it’s a breath of fresh air to the depravity shown on the TV and blasted on the radio.
Stay blessed.
You keep it up now, unrdesntad? Really good to know.
Thanks for the feedback, Ndidi. It is great to hear various perspectives. You are so right that much of this is cultural.
Sadly, it is easy to be culturally elite and look down your nose at other cultures’ music. Many times we whites don’t even realize it, yet that’s what we do.
Blessings in Christ,
Bob Hayton
I don’t think the culture is the problem per se. One can attach any culture and/or context to making it good or bad. Talking about the act of making love which is not bad per se but in a certain context it can be bad. I think some music styles just lend more for a certain culture better than others. For instance, I have never witnessed any fame enjoyed by the hymn writers I know of. Hip-hop, Soul, R&B etc tend to (notice I say tend to) draw the attention to men rather than to God. Their skill and creativity often receive a central place in their ministry by ways of fan clubs, pictures, biographies and financial enrichment, performances etc. A song that comes to mind is
“Little is much when God is in it. Labour not for wealth or fame. There is a crown and you can win it. If you go in Jesus name.” – Kittie L. Suffield, 1924
Now again, these things are not bad per se but in light of worship, teaching and praise all the attention should be on God and His Word. I therefore resolve that the music is not bad to listen to. But to use it as a way of praise and worship is, in my experience, a bad mix.
Practically speaking, if one wants to concentrate on God and His Word I don’t think it is a matter of taste that certain music stimulates, thinking and rational processes along with the emotion and the other stimulates more the emotion over the thinking and rational processes. I would compare the thinking and making rational decisions with the spirit and the emotion with the flesh. Is flesh bad? Of course not. But if it gets the majority of focus and attention, the upper hand so to speak, the spirit will soon take the backseat. An interesting book on this topic is ‘Music in the balance’ by Frank Garlock & Kurt Woetzel.
This, of course, is not a full rebuttal on using certain music as an agent for praise and worship. It is just a sparkle as I realise this is not the platform for lengthy prose.