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Another Round of Appetizers! Hors D’oeuvres Devotional #3 of 5

September 5, 2013
The Ambassador
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[dropcap]#3.[/dropcap]More nuggets before the main course! Hors D’oeuvres Devotional #3.

For many musicians music is a very effective means to a variety of ends. For some, music is primarily a means of acquiring money, fame, status, etc. For others, music is most importantly a means of creative expression for the purpose of empowerment and societal impact. Of course, there are various hybrids of these goals for almost everyone, and yet for believers in the Lord Jesus another more weighty element comes into view—the glory of God. This latter idea brings us face to face with the challenge of not only the “what” but the “how” music should be used and leveraged for the purpose of bringing God glory. Often, “success” becomes the initial indicator of whether a person is doing something right or wrong, and in Christian circles in particular, if God is perceived to “use” something for a “positive” ends, this becomes an even greater confirmation that they are indeed doing something right. How God Do It is about acknowledging that our music, or lives in general, can have all the key ingredients that make for good music/art such as “swag” and eloquence (“chatter”), and God may even “use it” for some positive purpose, however, some of these things we put stock in are the very things He has revealed that He does not use lest they compete with His glory. Let all who have His heart imitate His way of doing what He wants, how he wants.

Yea…uh-huh, uh-huh…Let’s just talk…yeah…Ah…trippin’, slippin’..
Got swagga in that music/ chatter in that music/
Yeah God might use it/ but that ain’t how God do it.

[one_half][note color=”#000000″]

Verse 1

I got my hop and my hippin’/
Gospel I’m spittin’/
my Pops has written His thoughts I’m not trippin’/
I drop my writtens for blocks that’s not gettin’/
what I got/ plus I drop/ ’cause it can rock Christians/
Who are rocked by the God who’s not in our pictures/
But in God’s Son we watched Him drop in our mixture/
It is not popular still I’ve got to chop with men/
who will stop for a hot second to just listen/
Ladies too/ ladies you all cute/ you bat an eye/
but nobody is exempt, we all in Adam die/
So I just straight pull up/ “Jesus”—what up?/
Go right in like it’s life or death—bullet/
In all the way/ some stay ‘cause they feel us/
Others walk away or say, “Whatchu talkin’ ’bout Wilis”/
I’m talking ‘bout heaven’s head resident/
Like y’all talk about every dead president/

Hook

Um hum/
Why your God on the tuck?/
Um hum/
o why He in the cut? (2x)
Got swagga in that music/
chatter in that music/
Yeah God might use it/
but that ain’t how God do it. (2x)

[/note][/one_half][one_half_last][note color=”#000000″]

Verse 2

(You know what)…
If I was an “ordinary rapper” I would be fine/
Design my rhymes around whatever makes me shine/
Quickly make a beeline/for a dope “me” line/
Talk to the felines/hoping they say “He’s fine”/
That was the old me, I’d rap like that I/
now think that’s just blowing smoke like a crack pipe/
That mic’s now for bringing that life to cats my/
Path’s light/ all because of Jesus my flash light/
I don’t wanna force Him/ I wanna floss Him/
Raps aren’t commercial/ but I wanna endorse Him/
He was in that grave man/ Call him Captain Caveman/
We don’t have a cow/ holy cow—death it just grazed Him/
Lord of all, you ought to call Him that/ ‘cause He’s lifted up/
Sure as you ought to call a chicken that/ if he clucks
Jesus is the man can you grant me that?—fifty bucks/
Who can take away your sin/not cover that/ like sippie cups?

Hook

Verse 3

I’ve been on the Internet/ seeing where men are at/
Shame, nothin’s really changed/ I’m no longer into that/
I no longer club/ I know longer puff/ I don’t thug/
I ain’t hangin’ on the corner with the drugs/
This is not a boast, I’m just saying I was stuck/ I was cuffed/
Jesus came and I laid it down like a rug/
You say I found religion/ I just say I found love/
A beggar telling other beggars, “hey I found grub!”/
This is sort of like them lepers in the book of 2nd Kings/
Knew people were starvin’/ then one day they found some “bling”/
They began to party/ eat and drink—they partied/
Then they cried out, “this ain’t right man we should tell somebody”/
Oh—this is how God do it man/ this is what God chooses man/
Through preaching that’s foolish/ don’t know this you’re clueless/
If you do let’s do this/ with it you’re not fruitless/
But without it there’s no doubt/ just hang it up like Judas/[/note][/one_half_last]

How God Do It Devotional Thought

Of all the things that Scripture teaches us about Jesus, ranking pretty high is the idea that God knows what He’s doing, and how to do it. This basically says that God is all wise, which as A.W. Tozer has insightfully remarked, “…is the ability to devise perfect ends (‘the what’) and to achieve those ends by the most perfect means (‘the how’). “Sadly, we think we know better, and like the apostle Peter, rebuke some of our Lord’s ideas when they don’t “jive” with ours. There is a classic account in Jesus’ life when he had to teach His disciples this principle. He, the rabbi, had to demonstrate that His ability and wisdom trumped theirs, even extending into the realms they felt so adept and confident in—fishing. After these professional fishermen fished all night (the “wise” time to fish) and caught nothing, the Master flexed His wisdom and gave them instructions that landed the best catch of fish in their lifetime. You see, He was teaching them, and consequently us, that He even does “our thing” better than we do. If He does “our thing” better than we do, of course He does His thing better than we do.

This wisdom is always at work in all of God’s acts and strategies, and God has been known to give details and specifics about what He wants, and how He wants it. He seems to care about the “how” as much, or more, than the “what.” As early as Genesis 4 we encounter God rejecting an offering from Cain, based on some breach of “the how” the offering was to be made. We see it again in the specificity of “how” the ark of Noah was to be built. All throughout Israel’s history there were specifications on “how” to do everything—worship, war, live, thrive, the list goes on and on. Eventually, the Lord Jesus would model for the apostles, and all believers, how His kind of earthly ministry should be carried forth.

Spoiler alert—God always wants things done in a way that gives Him the most glory. It’s not good grammar but—that’s how God do it.

Jesus Himself and the gospel message are God’s wise ideas—which look foolish to the world, and “unimpressive” to those who want “signs and wonders.” However, “in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom; it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” God is pleased not only to save, but to save in a certain way. He chose One who, according to Isaiah 53:2-3, “…had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men…one from whom men hide their faces…and we esteemed him not.” Man always chooses flamboyant, impressive people and ways. We “ball so hard…u can’t find us!” We choose to use those who have more “baller status”—the more flashy, majestic, strong, eloquent and wise. Well, the Lord Jesus has shown us a different way—His way.

“Jesus way.”

The church has been given the task of carrying on the mission of Jesus, in the “Jesus way.” However, as I mentioned, His ways can rub us wrong, causing us to adopt other strategies that we are more comfortable with and in. Let us constantly ask the question, “How does God do it?” “How does God ‘get the job done?’” Well, we at least know, He saves, builds, preserves, and gets His glory, not through man’s abilities, but through the Spirit-empowered simplicity of devotion to Christ and His gospel. The crux of God’s acts throughout history boil down to this. This is how God do it.

As one who does use music to spread the gospel I have applied this to my church ministry, even my rap endeavors. Not all believers have this goal in mind, but if saving, or even drawing to Christ is a claim and/or goal, God has revealed that He does this through the proclaimed and lived out gospel (Rm. 10; 1Cor 1-2). This may seem foolish, and may seem like it doesn’t “work.” However, 2 Cor. 4:2-5 disavows the use of slick tactics, and sly techniques.

“But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”

God is not merely concerned about the what, but also the how. You can have swagger, chatter, and can flatter, but that is not how God does it. I’ll close again with Tozer who rightly sums it up this way, God accomplishes His will in ways that firstly gives Him the most glory, and then “does the highest good of the greatest number for the longest time.”

The Ambassador Presents Hors D’Oeuvres – EP
Now Available Digitally Everywhere

The Ambassador “YAH (You See Me)” (music video)

August 31, 2013
The Ambassador
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Music Video From New EP. Press PLAY below.

Appetizers are Served! Hors D’oeuvres Devotional #1 of 5

August 20, 2013
The Ambassador
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[dropcap]#1.[/dropcap]I would like to share with you some devotional thoughts behind my new EP, “Hors D’Oeuvres” that dropped on last week. But first, check out the lyrics below that I will be expounding on. “Turn this light out… and so it begins…”[one_half][note color=”#000000″]

Hook

I’mma be a waiter/ I can take the order/
How about that bread of life, how ’bout living water/
You didn’t ask but here’s an offer/
Come and get up on these hors d’oeuvres
This is just a hors d’oeuvre
This is just a hors d’oeuvre
A little rhyme—all word!
This is just a hors d’oeuvre

Verse 1

Anybody out there hungry/
Anybody want to feed their soul?/
Anybody out there want these/
Lyrics that I got…either fast or slow?/
Anybody got that tummy to taste God’s better than tightest flow?/
Wanna ride like a HUM-V? We can ride high on the righteous road/
If the answer’s “yes,” you don’t gotta press nothing, sit back ingest/
I’m bringing this truth around. You can just sit back and rest/
If the answer’s “no”—cool—I’m still gonna come your way/
Feel free to just let it go by, or try the array upon my tray/
No, you didn’t ask for it/ but the Chef wanted you to have more/
You know I had to get them scriptures out, Should’ve seen how I dug in like Hacksaw/
No frontin’ like a back door/… No sushi but that’s raw/
There’s a place to r.i.p but, to get in He’s key like a passport./
I’m spittin’ it, hoping you’re getting’ it. This is written real earnestly/
In fact this life is an hors d’oeuvre, but there’s eternity/
A little rhyme—all word/
More to come…But here’s an hors d’oeuvre.
Come and get up on these Hors d’oeuvres
This is just an hors d’oeuvre
A little rhyme—All word
This is just an hors d’oeuvre[/note][/one_half][one_half_last][note color=”#000000″]

Verse 2

Picture yourself at a black-tie affair/
You in the building and everyone’s there/
Photo shoot fresh even black-died your hair/
Some of you rockin’ some jewels—kind of rare/
What could make things even better to you?/
You’re thinking you know—Great cooking could/
They bring something that u didn’t order
but this is ok cause it’s “looking good”/
And it’s free…/How can it be?/
It’s from the Chef…this is complimentary/

This is the way that I look at the truth I’m wanting give to the people I meet/
It’s not the fact that you asked, it’s something I think that you need/
I figured I’d give you the option–you can take it or leave/
Nobody can make you believe/ nobody to make you receive/
Just A little rhyme—All word
There’s more to come… But here’s an hors d’ oeuvre.

Hook

Imma be a waiter/ I can take the order/
How about that bread of life, how ’bout living water/
You didn’t ask but here’s an offer/
Come and get up on these hors d’oeuvres
This is just an hors d’oeuvre
This is just an hors d’oeuvre
A little rhyme—all word!
This is just an hors d’oeuvre
Imma be a waiter/ I can take the order/
How about that bread of life, how ‘bout living water/
You didn’t ask but here’s an offer…

[/note][/one_half_last]

Hors D’Oeuvres Devotional Thought

Recently, I have been contemplating the nature of both the message and ministry which our Lord has entrusted to us who have placed saving faith in Him, and been sent into the world as His representers. It was the risen Christ who dispatched Spirit empowered believers into the world, which He described as the sending of “sheep in the midst of wolves” (Matt 10:16).

Chomp Chomp

Apparently, Jesus means for His servants to brace for some kind of certain hostility, and some measure of opposition. The “beef” that we face is usually due to the message we preach and the ministry we do for the sake of Jesus. So in light of this reality, what would lead us to offer the world anything from the Master’s table? What if they disrespect it, or mock it, or refuse it? Thus the concept of “the hors d’oeuvres.” Hors d’oeuvres are usually not requested, they are just available for the public based on the Chef’s desire to provide them.

I’m reminded of a similar thought in the book of Isaiah, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price (55:1). Later, the Lord explains that the way to eat freely, not by coercion, but in response to the gracious offer, is to “Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live…” (2-3).

Our message is from the Chef—and He has prepared truth to feast on, and eternal life to consume. We must come to grips with the fact that Hip-hop, like the entire world, has no innate appetite for the gospel, or the God who offers it.

In light of this reality some have concluded that we should not give the gospel to them. In fact, within Christian Hip-hop circles and some “seeker oriented” ministry circles, gospel-centeredness seems like an obvious counter-productive method of missional engagement. Often, when the gospel is too present, or the exaltation of Jesus and His principles too forefront, people will say, “that’s for the church.” The inference is that it must be for the church because the world would never want that.

To this logic, I say “NO!” The elevation of Christ, and the offer and explanation of His good news is as much for the world as it is for the church. The imperative nature of our call to “go and make disciples of all peoples” means that God, our Chef, has provided that which people are free to take or leave, but it is very much intended for them to partake of and find life.

As hors d’oeuvres are given freely for enjoyment, so the crux of our message and ministry is offered regardless of whether it has been requested or not. We offer it, expecting it to be received as an acquired taste. We believe, as Jesus told the Pharisee, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (Jn 6:44).

Jesus Himself is an acquired taste, and without an appetite for Him due to the drawing of the Father, people will not desire anything that makes too much of Him. Thus, the hors d’oeuvres concept applies. We dare to keep Jesus on our menus, and on our tables—not because people want it, but because God says that “repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations…” (Lk 24:47).

Ready.

To go even further, we persistently offer Him because Acts 4:12 declares that “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” People can go on iTunes and order what they want, but as for me and like-minded believers we say, “Come and get up on these hors d’oeuvres!”

The Ambassador Presents Hors D’Oeuvres – EP
Now Available Digitally Everywhere

If Loving You is Right, I Don’t Wanna Be Wrong

True (biblical) Christians love their Lord and His people. They know from Scripture that it is both/and, not either/or. Fundamental to a true Christian belief is the belief that love is not merely a "feeling" or a four letter word, but it is an action.

June 18, 2013
The Ambassador
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True (biblical) Christians love their Lord and His people.

They know from Scripture that it is both/and, not either/or. Fundamental to a true Christian belief is the belief that love is not merely a “feeling” or a four letter word, but it is an action.

God so loved the world
that He gave His only Son.

Jesus demonstrated the ultimate love (and provided us with a paradigm of Christian love) when He gave Himself for sinners while they were still sinners–while they were “a mess!” (Rm 5:8). Certainly we Christians have our issues. We can often be hard to love, but this is what makes agape (God’s love) so amazing. God’s kind of love flows from God’s kind of heart. It causes Him to lavish us with good things, and to not deal with us according to our bad things. Of course He can justly do this because of the cross, but He moves from being simply able to love sinners to actually loving sinners. It is because of a loving Christ that we have not only received love, but have also been given an amazing job. We are His priesthood, which means that we get to carry out His affairs, and we are the ones He set apart to proclaim His excellencies (1 Pt. 2:9). This is tip of the iceberg. God’s love for us is manifested in countless ways, and His love for His people is unquestionable. But not only has God Himself chosen to love us, He commands His people to do likewise and love one another. While the same thing stands true–we can be difficult to love–Ephesians 5 says we are to imitate the Lord in regard to this love for those whom Christ loves. Let’s chop for a few about the love of the saints for the saints.

Perhaps you’ve observed that rarely does a professing Christian admit to “not loving the saints.” Most (if not all) Christians I know, agree that it is wrong to not love the saints. Jesus even tells us that it is wrong to not love our enemies, so of course He demands we love our spiritual family. But equally true is the reality that obedience to these commands do not come easy, and we struggle to admit that we often do not love the saints. Some try to have it both ways–they want credit for their love claim, but justification for their lack of love deeds. They say “I love them, but I don’t have to like them.” I’ve heard many Christians relish in the fact that they love “the world” more than Christians. I’ve witnessed countless others who will not publicly say that, but their actions, alliances, and affiliations prove that they love “the world” more than the true church.

These contemplations recently struck me as I found myself surrounded by a spreading trend of Christians who seemed increasingly more unabashed in publicly expressing everything from mild distaste to varying degrees of hostility towards Christians or “church.” Of course I’m not referring to outright persecution or physical aggression. It usually takes more subtle forms like joining with “the world” in affirming a caricature of Christians or the church. Without differentiating good church from bad church, good Christianity from bad Christianity, or without any helpful nuances, everything related to God, except God Himself, is often dishonored by His own representatives. Tragically, all this takes place in the sight of a world that is watching. The world thinks that it sees, when it really, at best, only sees “men as trees” (Mk 8:24). Jesus gives sight to the blind, and shines light into the darkness. He was the one who said that His people are the light of the world (Mat 5:14), but I have a funny feeling the world does not see us in that light. Worse, we may not see ourselves in that light. My observation has been that often “the world” seems to think they are right in their assessments of God and His people, and they feel that they have found allies who share and affirm their misconceptions, or unbalanced judgments. The result is that they grow more hardened in their misunderstandings, and could get to the point where they neither see a need for the special grace found only in Christ, or for the special people who belong to Christ. In which case, they would much rather stick with their notions of “spirituality.” Worldly spirituality is usually some combination of individualistic piety and private faith, or an understanding of God that they come up with themselves. I believe sometimes we help them to feel justified in thinking this, and this troubles me, even though I know God will not be hindered ultimately.

Side bar…
Hip hop has never had a shortage of “spirituality.” They have never been without a respect for “respectable” aspects of people’s personal “faith” claims. However they also have often displayed an extra ignorance of Christ rightly revealed. As true of “the world” (from the biblical perspective), hip hop culture has always seen the Bible, God, and God’s people through skewed lenses. One of the blessings of having a Christ-centered, gospel-centered, gospel proclaiming, and theologically oriented Christian rap movement was that it was able to dispatch representatives who would shine light, and expose the broader hip hop listening context to a “right” understanding of God and His people. We could accomplish this in part through our rhymes, but only in conjunction with our robust oneness, and our aromatic Christ-likeness.

Back to it…
While some public critique of ourselves may be necessary at times, we can never let that rival or shroud our main commitment, which is to use our public platforms to honor Christ and show off one of the most potent marks of the true Christian–love for all the believers. This vertical and horizontal display of love is what makes us the city on the hill which cannot be hid. Platforms are perfect tools for showing off, we just have to remember what we should be showing off. Love for fellow believers is how Jesus said all people would know we are a part of Jesus’ squad of disciples (Jn. 13:35).There are many ways to love the saints, but one way is to cover her shame as Joseph set out to do when he thought Mary, the mother of our Lord, had been promiscuous (Mt 1:19). Another way to love the people of God is to show believers honor rather than either indifference or disdain (Rm 12:10).

In this era of public platform ministry, our love for our platforms is obvious, but our love for God’s church should be more obvious. Our claim to love the people of God is constantly being asserted, but we should be disturbed by how comfortable some seem to be dishonoring her before unbelievers. That’s a mark of “the world”- dislike and disdain for believers. Let’s not share that mark. Christians have a different mark–love for the brethren. Jesus prayed in John 17 that “the world” would see our love for each other, as well as our oneness. This, He said, would impact the world so that they would believe Jesus was sent by the Father, and the world would come to know about a unique love relation between God and His people.

Perhaps the church’s reputation for pharisaically being hostile toward the “world” has caused a sense of justified response. However, pendulums will swing to extremes in both directions. Today I sometimes see more love, tolerance, and honor for “the world” by Christians than I see by those same Christians for the saints. It hurts to see this because, whenever the world’s watching, we have a great opportunity to show them a correct (though not perfect) version of faith in Christ. We should avoid both extremes, and live out the biblical order of Gal 6:10–“…as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith”. 1 Peter echoes this same sentiment, “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood…” This is the will of the God that saved you and me (if you’ve been saved). Everyone gets treated with the dignity that is based on the “imago dei” (image of God ), but a unique love is to be shared and displayed among and toward the believers.

Lastly, the love of God extends, as they say, from the gutter-most to the utter-most. As imitators of God’s kind of love, we must be mindful to love the lowly, and not just “big shots.” I recall Jesus’ admonition in Luke 14:12-14,

“When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Here is another opportunity for our love to impact the watching world, especially in hip hop where being “hip”, “cool”, and socially accepted is a prerequisite for being embraced. We must be careful because there can be a temptation to only want “the world” to know about “the cool” acceptable believers (by their standards). Paul has already informed us of the fact that there are not many externally impressive, socially exalted Christians.

1Cor 1:26-29 – 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

God has rigged things this way, and still He says, “love your ‘not so noble’ and ‘not so wise’ and ‘not so powerful’ family. Show off that love in the public so “the world” will want to belong to God’s family.” If we communicate to “the world” that we don’t even like “us”, why should they want to be a part of “us.” Jesus has one body of Christ, and He loves her. Let’s get back to advocating, asserting, and affirming what Psalm 16:2-3 says,

I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” As for the saints…, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.

Amen,
The Ambassador

Instagram Photos from 2012

December 28, 2012
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Wanted? Yes or No?

Can a believer say that God doesn’t want hip-hoppers in his family unless they are completely 'un-hip-hopped?' Is it also true that God doesn’t want any of the cultural forms, talents, and artistic expressions that come out of the hip-hop context?

August 16, 2012
The Ambassador
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Within the last four to six months I have heard Christians say two disturbing things on behalf of God with no biblical authority from God. I have heard them say that “God doesn’t want them,” and “God doesn’t want that.” Who is “them” and what is “that” you are wondering? Well “them” is the hip-hopper, and “that” is the culture that they have popularized (rap, fashion, slang, etc.). Is it true? Can a believer say that God doesn’t want hip-hoppers in his family unless they are completely “un-hip-hopped?” Is it also true that God doesn’t want any of the cultural forms, talents, and artistic expressions that come out of the hip-hop context? It grieves me to my heart every time I hear Christians from the church culture (especially Black church culture) distort and contort scripture out of context to justify their alienation of anything with the label of hip-hop on it. We will look at God’s willingness to extend salvation to the most godless group of people, and then we will look at His tendency to use frail men and women and the “tools of their trade.”

(Part 1) God Doesn’t Want Them: Remember Jonah?

Imagine hearing God say, “I don’t want you!” As God’s representatives we must remember whenever the church community rejects someone in the name of God, he or she is claiming to reflect how God feels about that person. The church was left on earth to be God’s representative, and the world ought to know how God feels about something or someone by looking at the churches reactions and interactions with those things and people. This brings me to the story of Jonah, which provides an excellent case study of a prophet (representative) of God who was reluctant to deliver the word of God and who failed to reflect the character and mindset of God. Judging by Jonah you would have thought that God did not want Nineveh, but it turns out that only Jonah did not want the sparing of Nineveh. Judging from Jonah you would have thought that there was no chance for Nineveh, but it turns out that God wanted to provide Nineveh with a chance to escape judgment.

It is obvious from the beginning that Jonah does not want to warn Nineveh about God’s displeasure and his plans to judge them because he refuses to go (1:3). While we know he doesn’t want to go, we don’t find out why until the end of the story (4:2). After much speculation, Jonah’s “beef” with going on the mission to Nineveh is revealed at last. Jonah is disgusted at the idea that the vile, ruthless and pagan Nineveh could receive anything from God other than judgment. He doesn’t think they are supposed to participate in the benefits Israel enjoyed in knowing such a God. Listen to Jonah’s gripe once God spares the wicked but repentant city,

“Oh Lord, this is just what I thought would happen when I was in my own country. This is what I tried to prevent by trying to escape to Tarshish!–because I knew that you are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in mercy, and one who relents concerning threatened judgment (NET Bible).”

Jonah knows that his character and God’s character are opposites. Jonah wanted quick judgment, but God was slow to anger. Jonah wanted justice, but God was gracious and compassionate as well. Jonah could care less about Nineveh, but God had compassion on the wicked city. Sometimes God’s people do not accurately reflect God’s heart toward people and situations. The rest of Jonah’s story adds clarity as God exposes Jonah’s deep issue. Jonah cares about a plant, which he didn’t make, but does not want God to care about people that He did make. I’m sure that Jonah felt like he had a good reason to feel the way he did about Nineveh. Even God verified their wickedness (1:2). Yet he does not condone Jonah’s attitude toward the Ninevites. God is not defending Nineveh, or excusing them of the atrocities that they were notorious for. He is simply saying that regardless of how sinful people are, He may still offer them a chance to be saved from judgment. In order to escape judgment wicked people must repent. Repent from what? Their lack of religious conformity? No!—repent from their sinfulness.

How Does Jonah Apply to Hip-Hop?

The account of Jonah beautifully illustrates the distaste that many of God’s people have about the doo-rag wearing, pants saggin’, corn rows wearing, tattoo havin’, earring wearin’, community of hip-hop generationers. They do not like anything about this community—not their styles, slang, or art forms. In fact, they disdain and look down on everything this community does except for when this community imitates their generations cultural forms. They love to see a 17 year old look like a 70 year old. They want youth groups to esteem choir music and disdain rap. If a youngster does a “holy dance” in church, he gets an “amen,” but if he asks to break-dance in church he will be sternly rebuked for bringing the “world” into the church. Sadly, the anti-hip-hopper gets excited about the wrong results. They require outward change marked by external conformity to all of their generational and cultural preferences. However, David reminds us in Ps. 51:6 that God prefers internal transformation marked by truth in the innermost being. Imagine hip-hop outside, but Jesus inside. Imagine hip-hop forms, but godly functions. This is what we are after, and this is what Jesus, who rebuked the externally squeaky clean Pharisees, is after.

Just like Nineveh, hip-hop’s sinfulness could easily make parents and pastors desire its extermination. In fact, this is the campaign of some today. But how can the church, who is not sent to the righteous but sent to call sinners to repentance, be deceived into treating hip-hop with the same disdain that Jonah had for Nineveh? I’ll tell you how. They magnify hip-hop’s sin to a point where it seems to eclipse God’s grace. The only moral beings that are beyond saving and transforming are demons so in an attempt to get more people to dislike and disassociate with hip-hop, some are falsely demonizing it. They don’t want you think that hip-hop is just sinful, they want you to believe that hip-hop is demonic. There is no remedy for the demonic other than casting it out, so if they can make mothers, fathers, pastors, and leaders think that hip-hop is from the devil, then they prevent Christians from trying to model a Christian form of hip-hop. Now Christian hip-hoppers are facing persecution from their own family (the church), even when they are living consistently with the Christian faith.

The Worst Part

Now it’s bad enough for the church to treat secular hip-hoppers like they are too bad for God to want to save. It’s worse when Christians who were saved within the hip-hop culture are outcasted and rejected as though God, having saved them, doesn’t want to use them if they still exhibit detectable traces of hip-hop. Christians should be able to find acceptance from their church family on the basis of their common faith and their common Lord, but that is not enough for some people. We have to share a common dress, music, and jargon, etc. Literally, hip-hop in general has been framed by people who know that it is easy to believe an unverified, unresearched claim that hip-hop culture is a demonic, hell-birthed invention. This false notion makes the church not want to deal with hip-hoppers at all—saved or unsaved. Well this does not reflect the heart of God, and we know there is often a difference between how people view you and how God views you. People may feel like Jonah felt, but God feels like God feels. To all Christians who are indigenous to the hip-hop culture, turn up the volume on your faith. If you suffer, don’t let it be because you deserve it. Let us disarm the critic with our exemplary Christ-likeness. May our inner character outweigh the fact that we may wear a doo-rag or baggie pants.

“Set an example for the believers in speech, conduct, faith, love, and purity” (1 Tim. 4:12).

The Christian Living in Hip Hop Times – Part 1

October 24, 2010
The Ambassador
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Objective:

I quickly want to address 2 things because they are rapidly becoming FAQ’s:

Why Are Christians Defending Hip hop?
Christian “Rap” vs. Christian “hip hop”

Goal:

To persuade those of you who aren’t hardened in your bias to believe that there are many Christians who are apart of the hip hop people group but are more interested in the advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ than hip hop itself.
To encourage the Church not to shrink back from embracing Christian ambassadors of Jesus Christ who properly submit their hip hop-ness to the lordship of Jesus.
To To explain why “Christian hip hop” is something that is being made too big a deal of.
To encourage greater thought and research among those Christians who have good intentions, but have never biblically worked through the complex issue of the Christian and hip hop.

Q: “WHY ARE CHRISTIANS DEFENDING HIP HOP?”

It’s so villainous, it’s so sinful; it’s got to be demonic! Why are you Christians defending hip hop? Lately I keep hearing this question and I look in all directions as if to say, “who me?” I’m not defending hip hop! Don’t get it twisted, I know that a lot of people are defending hip hop, but I’m not apart of the camp that feels that need. However, for almost 14 years I have been on a mission to reach the hip hop people group with the gospel as an indigenous missionary to the culture. Every so often I am forced to provide a biblical defense for my claim to be called to reach hip hop culture, and more specifically to reach it indigenously (as a native to it). This current defense would not even be necessary if there had not been a recent revival of anti-Christian hip hop sentiment. This sentiment is from of old, and it is an attempt to make the church detest the hip hop culture to the point where the church ceases to be a missionary to it, and ceases to be a haven for those Christians who consider themselves to be apart of the Christian hip hop community. Let’s dive in.

LET’S GO BACK…

Recently it seems as though hip hop has become the new hot topic in the church. Pastors are buying DVD’s and having their whole congregations (not just the youth group) look at it. They are having discussions and forums about hip hop and often the conclusion is “away with hip hop—away with Christian hip hop!” Long before Craig Lewis’ rise to church-fame many Christians like myself were boldly and radically living out the glorious Christian faith with many of the non-sinful aspects of hip hop still visible. There were talks of us looking like the world, but as our Christ-like character shined it became difficult for our critics to deny the fact that our primary allegiance was to Christ. Several of our critics became our allies as they became convinced that we were not advocates of the sins within hip hop, only advocates of Christ being lord of the non-sinful elements of hip hop. Daily we lived out the commands of Christ in the sight of a world that was growing in regards to its hip hop orientation. During that time, the church hailed us as beautiful models of what it meant to be in but not of the culture. It was as though we had become a display of Christ-likeness with a hip hop twist.

One thing had become apparent, we shared a common faith with Christians who had no hip hop connection, and we shared certain aspects of a common culture with those who had a deep hip hop connection. This delicate balance is learned over time and through much biblical searching. When the Christian faith is properly integrated with any culture, a beautiful and biblical combination is there present. The fact that our anchoring faith could be lived out through our indigenous culture was news that we had hoped and prayed for. We had no desire to go off to the side and “do our little hip hop thing,” we wanted to be accepted as apart of the nucleus of the church by our elders and leaders in the faith. We expected to run into some immature people in Christ who would not be able to get beyond our exterior because we see so much of this in the bible. Biblically speaking, one of the marks of spiritual immaturity is a faulty value system. The Corinthians measured value and status the same way their surrounding culture did, so like the culture and unlike God, they despised small and weak things. In our present day, I believe something similar is happening. God sees the Christian in hip hop one way, and the church sees us the opposite way. The church can sometimes tend to esteem the appearance of godliness more than godliness itself. When this happens some people judge our Christianity by our appearance, while others will evaluate us on the bases of our faith, conduct, speech and character.

Until recently the Christian hip hopper was enjoying a time of harmony within the church. A glorious example of Ephesians 2:13-16 was in full blaze—one new man made up formerly opposing people groups. Sure, things have not been perfect, but we experienced a time of relative peace between the older generation of believers and this younger generation of believers. Our connection to the non-sinful aspects of hip hop culture was no barrier to our fellowship; in fact this was the key to a strategic partnership. A ministry like Cross Movement was able not only to rise under these conditions, but also flourish. God used us to spread Christ-centeredness through the means of hip hop music and many believers were strengthened in their resolve to be unashamed Christian witnesses. Hip hop provided us, and groups like ours, the platform to communicate our biblical affections to the hip hop generation and beyond. We were proud to bear the name Christian, and we welcomed being the smell of death to some and the smell of life to others (2 Cor 2:15-16). After many years of faithful service, CM and others were developing “family credibility.” The church was embracing us and we embraced the church. The church encouraged us to glorify God in our uniqueness while maintaining a commitment to Christian unity. We aspired to do just that. We sought to maintain an oneness with Christians through the centuries while still fulfilling a God given obligation to the surrounding mission field of hip hop culture.

Our mission field has been, and will continue to be the very context that God called us in—the hip hop context. We have been informing this contingent that the church at large is taking an interest in their souls. However, true religion as the apostle James reminds us, is not primarily mystical. True Christianity acknowledges a person’s spiritual and social needs. The world is not accustomed to seeing a hip hop that has been sifted through God’s word. They only know godless rap and godless hip hop culture. For many of them the thought that God will accept them is far-fetched. To the hip hop generation we announce that they can become apart of God’s family without being totally stripped of their social identity. This great news is now being frustrated by the recent attack on the whole concept of “Christ and hip hop” or “Christian hip hop.” As Christians and church leaders develop distaste for Christian hip hop, the church moves further away from the idea of using the Christian hip hopper as a missionary to the hip hop generation, or making a place for Christian hip hop converts.

SO WE ARE NOT DEFENDING HIP HOP

While we are not defending hip hop, we are reminding people of the biblical principle of unity and diversity, the reconciliation of all things, and the rights of all people to enjoy God within the context of their natural elements (as long as those elements are not sinful). We do not deny the sinfulness that exists in the hip hop culture. We do not minimize the crimes committed by the culture, and we have no intention of defending hip hop in the least bit. We simply want to stress that hip hop needs the gospel, and that means hip hop needs indigenous Christian missionaries. Those of us that are Christians of the hip hop generation, desire to display a version of the culture that is absent of the sins that the secular culture has become known for. We want to surrender our culture to the lordship of Christ so that He can use it for his redemptive purposes. We need the whole church to do this.

Stay tuned…

We are asking the church to stay tuned for the implications of properly viewing the relationship of Christians to hip hop. There are too many implications to even begin addressing at this point. However, don’t let your fear or lack of understanding make you a hard hearted skeptic. Let the Scriptures be brought to bear on the subject. Allow me and many of my associates to lay the issue out for you socially, theologically and missionally, and we will all see God glorified among a people that were not his people.

CHRISTIAN “RAP” VS. CHRISTIAN “HIP HOP”

WHY DO WE HAVE TO USE THE TERM CHRISTIAN HIP HOP, WHY CAN’T WE JUST CALL IT CHRISTIAN RAP?

THE PLATINUM QUESTION…

People often ask the question,

“Why can’t we call it Christian rap instead of using the word “hip hop”.

People are being persuaded that God is cool with Christian rap, but not with Christian hip hop. The argument goes, “Rap is just music, and hip hop is sinful culture, so God will accept Christianized music, but he will not have anything to do with a sinful culture.” This is more than an issue of semantics; this is an issue of Christian perspective. Whether we are dealing with music or a culture, God can transform it and get glory from it.

The transformation of music is as simple as redirecting the music to reflect and promote God’s mindset through the lyrics and goal of the song. The transformation of culture requires the transformation of people because people are at the heart of culture. This process is much more complicated which is probably why many people would rather not even deal with this part. When it’s music—“just change the words.” When dealing with culture you’ve got to change the heart, and this something that only God can do. However he does it through people and that is where you and I come in. The church has to decide whether or not to throw the culture out with the sins, or address the sins in order to see a change in the culture.

Christian Rap vs. Christian Hip Hop

Within the church, the term hip hop is becoming taboo. Even using the term “Christian hip hop” is taboo for some. When people express a desire to substitute the term rap for hip hop I always find this interesting since both terms, rap and hip hop, were coined by the secular world. So if both things and both terms have a secular origin, why are we struggling between which one a Christian can and cannot “Christianize.” Something fishy is going on, and it seems to me that the same people that clearly hate or dislike hip hop, apparently like rap. They can kick hip hop to the curb but they want to hold on to their rap. Since they don’t want to ruin their chances of enjoying Christian rap they convince people that God is not opposed to Christian rap. While they say this, they insist that he is opposed to Christian hip hop. Now we know that secular rap and secular hip hop are both godless. We also know that some Christian rap and rappers are godless as well. So how is it that we keep hearing some Christians say that we can keep rap if it is submitted to Christ, but hip hop can’t even be submitted to Christ?

THE TRUTH ABOUT RAP AND HIP HOP

You say, “Rap is just music, but hip hop is a sinful culture (way of life).” You are right about both things, but many of you refuse to believe that sin is not inherent to the original agenda of hip hop (that can be fully defended another time). Hip hop originally was just a combination of four platforms of expression, capable of serving whoever got the crowd’s attention. Like money—money is not evil, but it simply magnifies the abilities of the one in control of it. In the hands of terrorist money can be used to fund diabolical acts, in the hands of the church it can be used to carry out the Great Commission. Likewise, hip hop (a more comprehensive way of expressing yourself) as well as rap (a single format for expressing yourself) can be used to carry out the agenda of Satan or Jesus.

Another thing that many of you refuse to believe (no matter how many times you hear it), is that hip hop can be distinguished from the sinful acts committed by or in the name of hip hop. Listen to this statement by Africa Bambatta, one of the original organizers of hip hop affairs:

Due to their lack of knowledge about the whole of Hip Hop culture, many of our world’s youth are mistaken in thinking that activities such as: smoking blunts, drinking 40’s, wearing a designer label plastered across their chest, carrying a gun, or going to strip clubs are “Hip Hop.” Hip Hop is being portrayed negatively by many artists who work in the element of Rap (emceeing), and this negativity is usually instigated and promoted by the record industry and various other corporations who exploit the culture at the expense of the youth’s state of mind and morality.1

Did you read that? Even one of the pivotal and earliest influencers of hip hop (who’s not a Christian) declares that there is a difference between what we see being perpetrated in hip hop, and what hip hop really is. Hip hop is a servant of whoever is setting its agenda, and right now the world is setting its agenda. But in Christian hip hop, some of us diligently strive to insure that Christ sets the agenda. Hip hop is no more than the tint through which the light of God’s glory can shine. We know that God’s truth alone changes lives, but preaching has been describes as “truth poured through personality.” The “personality” is not the truth, but it is simply the means of providing variety in God’s diverse world.

People are at the root of culture, and neither people nor their culture can just be thrown away. Aspects of their culture can be discarded when those aspects offend God, but you cannot force total cultural assimilation on any group. You see it’s easy to throw away something you don’t care about, but it’s hard to let go of something you feel an attachment to. It is even in Craig Lewis’ interest to make people believe that Christian rap is ok, because he produces Christian rap and he supports his own Christian rappers (how convenient?). I don’t expect him to relent from his position, but many of you are just being dragged through the mud of his unbiblical positions without really allowing someone who knows both the Bible and the issue of hip hop culture to help you work through a biblical understanding of this issue.

JUST A WORD OF CAUTION…

Please recognize that it may sound spiritual to boycott every secular contribution to humanity, but THIS IS NOT SPIRITUAL BECAUSE THIS IS NOT BIBLICAL! Don’t mistake me for advocating godless secularism, but I do know that many Christians know that everything secular is not inherently sinful or off-limits to the Christian. The term secular can be used simply to describe “that which is not specifically related to religion or to a religious body.” That includes words like “basketball,” “book,” “music,” and other terms that are not necessarily religious in their use. Rap and hip hop are secular, but both can be sanctified by God and made profitable for the Christian.

So simply switching the words rap and hip hop does not help the Christian; they are both secular until Christ gets a hold of them. Christians can use both of these terms and participate in both of these cultural forms without feeling like they are copying the world. God forbids that Christians copy the world’s values, agendas, doctrines, etc., but there is much that we are meant to share with the surrounding world. To distinguish ourselves in this world we modify terms, abandon certain practices, and redirect agendas. This is a part of the reason why some of us even chose to put Christian in front of hip hop, so that we could serve notice that our hip hop has undergone a change in management. Even this decision to put “Christian” in front of hip hop makes other Christian groups mad. They insist that, there’s no such thing as Christian plumbing, or Christian horse racing, or Christian dry cleaning. (“Lord help me I’m in a catch 22!”)

CHRISTIANS DON’T ALWAYS REMAKE, SOMETIMES WE JUST MODIFY…

When people cynically ask, “What is Christian music,” what are “Christian plays,” what are “Christian bookstores?” I believe they are asking the wrong question. The question is, what we mean when we say “Christian bookstore,” “Christian plays,” or “Christian music”? Everyone ought to know that in these cases “Christian” is being used as an adjective or a modifier, which is then placed in front of everyday things, to add to, or alter what you would normally think of when you hear those generic things. For example, music today is normally a carrier of godless ideas, “Christian music” claims to carry godly ideas. Regular colleges are usually full of orgies, cheating, and anti/unbiblical education, but Christian college at least seeks to be, and facilitate the opposite of these things. My point is that the negative aspects of these things don’t automatically force Christians to invent some other word for these things, that is impractical and it is nowhere prescribed in Scripture. However, Christians have often given terms new meaning or higher meaning than the culture around them. The term “church” was a secular term, and Jesus said that he was going to build His church. In the secular world the cross has a negative stigma for being either an offense or foolish, but God did not stay clear of it. Instead he made that which was shameful and foolish, glorious and wise. I AM IN NO WAY EQUATING THE CROSS AND HIP HOP, but I’m just illustrating the way in which believers can take something common, and modify its meaning. In our culture we use modifying words such as adjectives. There is hip hop, but we do Christian hip hop.

YOU ARE SPIRITUAL, BUT ARE YOU SOCIAL?

If Christian is a term to describe your faith and your true spiritual identity then you are in good standing before God, but what is your connection to your social surroundings? Christians are prone to want to love God, and disconnect from people. We usually do this because we think that they are so sinful that God has given us permission to treat them like they have the plague. Guess what, we were designed to have vertical (God-ward), and horizontal (social) connectedness. We were not left in a totally Christian world, but we were left in a secular world, with a charge to impart our faith into every culture (Matt. 28:19-20; Ac 1:8). That means there will be a social connectedness with mankind (Christian and non-Christian). People are quick to point out the sinfulness of hip hop culture, and I am quick to agree. Hip hop is sinful, but so is every culture. No earthly culture would be cool to identify with if sin was an automatic disqualifier. We could not say that we are African or American because both of these broader cultural contexts, as well as the subcultures within them, are riddled with sin. However, the Bible teaches that cultures are free to develop, but that the sinfulness must be addressed by the transforming power of God’s Spirit.

CONCLUSION

Hip hop does not need a defense, and Christian hip hop is the free choice of the believers who want to use this concept to capture both a spiritual and social identity. Please people, understand the issue. We are not defending hip hop or seeking to imitate the world. We are in Christ, I hope when you see us you can tell. We live in the world, and I hope that when you see us you can tell. It just so happens to be that for the Christian hip hopper, he/she is in Christ and in a hip hop oriented world—that should explain things.

1 “Rap and Hip-Hop Guide,” online: http:/rap.about.com, accessed 13 July 2004.

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Just How “Christian” Are You Anyway?

February 27, 2007
The Ambassador
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Whether we claim to be a “Christian rapper,” a “Christian hip hopper,” or just a “plain Christian,” the question should be asked of us, “just how Christian are we?” The best Christian rappers are not just good rappers but, good Christians. The best Christian hip hoppers are not just cool hip hoppers but, good Christians. The best “plain Christians” are not those who have perfect church attendance, but those who live all of their life submitted and obedient to Jesus Christ. This is my burden and focus in 2007—the amping up of real Christians who are potent in their Christianity! Will the real Christians please stand up and stand out? Christian crowds are now easier than ever to amass. We’ve got our own celebrities, our own festivals, our own award shows, etc. Through the right marketing and promotions we can “do it big” these days, but in the midst of all of this I’m still plagued with the question, “just how Christian are we?”

This almost sounds like a trick question because it seems impossible to judge something like this. How do you judge how Christian someone is, or how Christian you are? I’m not sure that a “right answer” will be agreed on, but certainly we should be able to answer how much of the essentials of Christ’s character and concerns are easily detected in us? Out of the darkness of secular culture God has clearly snatched for himself individuals and placed them into a union with His Son Jesus Christ. After this transfer, a lifestyle change is supposed to visibly and tangibly demonstrate the difference being in Christ makes. Christ is supposed to take over a person and live his life out through them. Therefore, I look to my generation and ask “just how Christian are you?”

I labor missionally in the hip hop-saturated urban sphere on behalf of Jesus Christ. In the last decade I have personally been apart of, and a witness to the continued improvement of artistic skill among this group. The improvement of skill is just as difficult to “judge” but most people who have followed the journey of Christian hip hop would probably agree with me. But while I have to admit that there has been an improvement of skill on the mic and the drum machine, I have not seen an equally impressive improvement of Christian character and kingdom concern. We are excelling in ministry giftedness, but not necessarily as much in spiritual weightiness. Due to the stereotypical image of hip hoppers (saved and unsaved), it has been my personal aspiration to display weighty Christianity, and not simply hip hop skill. The necessity of this was never more illustrated than during the rise of Craig Lewis and similar critics. Since his attacks against Christian hip hop and the Christian hip hop community, it becomes even more apparent that Christians must display robust Christian-ness whether they are hip hop or not. Let’s look at some things that should be true of us as Christians living in an age of religious compromise.

Our Christian-ness Should Be a Public Affair

Christians are “cities on a hill which can’t be hid” not under-cover agents (Matt 5:14). According to Jesus Christ in Matt 5:13-14 Christians are considered “light” and “salt” partly because both their presence and the absence are readily detectible and significantly impacting. If it is not obvious that you are a Christian, then you are probably not, or you have a Christianity that is weak in its Christ-aroma. Many Christians, especially in the pop-world have learned how to keep their Christian-ness so undercover that nobody either knows that they are a Christian or no one cares. One of the most harmful and deceptive beliefs that exists among believers, especially those who want worldly acceptance, is the idea that Jesus can be buried deep in our heart and only peek His head out if someone expresses interest in our personal religious beliefs. This is the sentiments of many Christian artists who have very little public boast in Christ, very little mention of Christ, very little public dealings with Christ, but declare that backstage or “on-the-side” they are slipping Christ into the picture. Jesus Christ did not redeem a people so that they could sneak Him into the party. He is not meant to be slid through the cracks, but rather to be broadcasted loud and clearly by those of us that he has redeemed (delivered). Our faith is not a private matter, but a public affair. The Lord Jesus is to be our boast and our life, and we are to be his proud and public representatives—on and off the stage. In 07 let us not have a Christianity that is so private and personal that it never affects the public or the corporate surrounding. As Christian artists, as well as those of you who may be Christian celebrities, let us not just be known only for “backstage exploits”, but let us have “onstage exploits.”

Spiritual Affections Should Dominate our Passions

The struggle to live as though dead is a universal struggle for all of God’s people. Regularly we see our natural affections being nurtured and displayed more than spiritual ones. Our natural appetites are fed more than our spiritual ones. Zeal for earthly passions eclipse zeal for heavenly realities, and knowledge of earthly topics far exceed knowledge of theological topics. Too often Christians are diesel in their craft, but frail in their faith. They are the geniuses and “Einstein’s” of their vocations, but remedial in their grasp of the biblical realm. Church youth groups run the risk of falling into this category because today’s youth programs are entertainment heavy, but doctrinally skimpy.

I pray that 2007 we will depend on the Spirit to boost our godly affections and decrease our longings for “worldly” delicacies. Let us spend more time in the Scriptures than TV, and spend more time in cyphas around God’s word than cyphas around other things. As diligently as we study for a degree, let us diligently show ourselves to be approved workers who do not have to be ashamed. As the world marvels at our skills and abilities, may heaven rejoice to see our faith and devotion to Him who sits on the throne.

Christ’s Followers Don’t Fade, They Keep Following.

Are we marching to a different beat today? In regard to this world, I hope so, in regard to the faith, I hope and pray not. Christianity is a relay race—a faith that is passed down and passed on. We will never outgrow the need and the command to join the saints through the ages whose lives were built on personal and corporate prayer, worship, assembling with the saints, evangelizing and discipling, grappling with the Scriptures, and engaging in acts of kindness (Acts 2:42-47). We’d better not start replacing these Christian basics with beats, rhymes, hobbies, and business-moves that are supposedly for Christ’s benefit. It is real easy to hide out in the ministry today, because ministry can be big business today. For some, they never had it so good until they started “doing ministry.” The sad thing is that I meet so many people that see themselves in ministry that neglect the fundamentals like corporate prayer, studying the Scriptures in community, and faithfully assembling with the saints. I did not learn Christ this way.
Lately I have been more keenly aware of the new generations of believers who are learning what it means to be a Christian from those of us that have been screaming about Jesus Christ over the microphone. Just when we were ready to kick our feet up and enjoy the work of other committed Christians, the call for us to join the work came from on high. That is why I pray that our lives will demonstrate what our lips say. If we tell people that they should pray may they be able to see us in intense prayer. If we tell them that they should be a solid participant in a particular community of God’s people, I hope that we are such participants. If we tell them to rally with other believers and form solid community with them, we should be doing the same. In regards to the Christian basics, there is no need to march to a different beat. We are the leaders of today and tomorrow, so we must begin leading today. For those who have been sucked up into the grind of Christian hip hop, or just “civilian affairs” we must not allow the daily grind to hinder our spiritual grind. Selah—pause and think about that.

Christ’s Followers Refuse to Be Sons of Pharaoh
Since They are Sons/Daughters of God?

Christians reject worldly exaltation in order to heighten their chance of remaining faithful to God, and keep a connection with the people of God. (Heb 11:24-25). Their motivation is like Moses’ in Hebrews 11:26, “He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt….” In this age of “Christian celebrity-ism” it is hard to imagine this being many people’s desire. From celebrity pastors to singers and actors—so few Christian celebrities deflect human exaltation that if someone does it, they are looked at as “over-doing it,” or being needlessly offensive. This idea of tempering one’s personal exaltation is not radical however, but it is actually rather Christ-like or Christian. Moses rejected pharaoh’s throne so that he could please God and lead His people. John the Baptizer rejected an opportunity to ride the wave of his own popularity which he was gaining as Messiah’s forerunner (Jn 1:19-21). Jesus would not let the crowd make him their kind of king, but chose to remain faithful to the mission of the cross (Jn 6:15). Warning! The world has plenty of money, power, and respect to offer us, but it comes with a hidden cost. We must not be afraid to let their exaltation go, so that we will receive God’s exaltation in due season (1 Pt 5:6). When God grants us legitimate exaltation among the people of this world we must use it for godly purposes. I know—this is easier said than done.

As believer in Jesus Christ we will often be offered opportunities to improve our earthly situations by gaining favor with the world. It’s no secret that when the world likes you, they will support and even exalt you (Jn 15:19). However, Jesus said that the world didn’t like him but, rather hated him (Jn 15:18). So the only way for the world to hate Jesus, but like those of us who belong to Jesus, is by us making some sort of compromise. By luring us away from Jesus and his despised people (true believers), the world begins to tolerate us because the smell of Christ that was once on us begins to fade. Once the world makes a once despised Christian a “star”, it becomes more difficult for that Christian to live out basic Christianity. The pressures of staying liked, and doing well will take its toll.

The world is known for digging into God’s pot of believers and luring them out from the community of faith into the “den of snakes”. The world recruits from God’s stash and then employs them for the devil’s work. Before long, the Christian celebrity is forced to primarily exist among the other worldly celebrities that are apart of the same godless “world.” Over time the Christian develops tighter relationships, and greater solidarity with the godless “stars” of show biz, than they have with the “regular” Christians of the world. I see this frequently, and may never get too many “amens,” but this is a trustworthy statement. “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are…” (1 Cor 2:26-28). Let us be careful to stay grounded in the community of faith, and monitor how much human exaltation we accept. Too much is spiritual toxic.

Christ’s Followers Make God’s Priorities Their Priorities.

Christians prioritize God’s passions over their own, and therefore alter their personal pursuits in light of His revealed plans. God has passions and we have passions. God has plans and we have plans. The question on the floor is, “when our plans and passions clash, who’s gonna win?” I know we would quickly respond by saying “God of course,” but this is no usually the real. I find that it is rare for those of us with “American appetites” to yield our passions in order for God’s to prevail. God has provided examples of people whose personal priorities were not separate, but one with His priorities.</P>

What made Nehemiah take a leave of absence from his lofty job in the king’s palace and journey to the ruins of Jerusalem to rebuild the city wall?
What made the postexilic community of Israel leave the prosperity of the Persian Empire and return to the rubbles of Jerusalem?
Why did God send the prophet Haggai to rebuke His people about their failure to rebuild His temple?

These people’s passions had become one with God’s. God had revealed a dominant passion for both the city of Jerusalem, and the temple in Jerusalem. While God loves cities in general, He has revealed a special love for Jerusalem. While God empowers all mankind to do many great things, He provided special empowering grace for the building of the temple. He has always given a greater measure of grace for the accomplishing of His priorities, however, sometimes God’s people ceased to make God’s passion their passion.

Today God has a special passion for His glory, His church, Hs mission, and His gospel. Of course many other things are good in God’s sight, but not many things rival these passions of God’s. These priorities should become the individual and corporate priorities of every believer. There is so much to say about these, I’ll stop and save it for another time.

Conclusion

May this year be a year of dedication to God’s passions and not just our dreams. This is what Christians do—they do the will of the Father. How Christian are you? Answer this question this year by the choices you make, and the passions you pursue. Can we get back to the fundamentals of our faith? Being cool is cool, but being Christian is essential. In 2007 let’s go to war together, contending for the faith once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude 3).

Life After Craig Lewis: Let us move on

October 9, 2006
The Ambassador
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Casualties of War

It has been quite some time since Craig Lewis and Ex Ministries came on the scene and launched an assault on the whole of secular and Christian Hip Hop. Many of us laboring as indigenous missionaries to the hip hop community found ourselves ripped by the shrapnel of his claims. Internal bickering and disputing erupted within the church resulting in many casualties of this “war.” Sadly, there has been much damage to Christ’s body. Some people have been convinced that regardless of how Christo-centric and biblically laced a person from the Hip Hop community, he or she is an accomplice of the devil. Therefore, certain Christian Hip Hop heads have been repeatedly insulted by their Christian leaders, banished by their church family, boycotted, and despised because of their form of Christian ministry. Our CD’s have been burned in bonfires, and some individuals have been forced to renounce their affiliation with the Christian Hip Hop mission field.

In spite of this, others see how totally ungrounded this perspective is, and, based on 1 Corinthians 12:1-3, have decided to be even more dedicated to Jesus Christ and His lordship. Based on the truth of God’s revealed word, we are more confident than ever that God has graciously opted to save individuals within the culture of Hip Hop—like He has from every other fallen category of people. He has since taken us converts and dispatched us to a world that sees Hip Hop as a social phenomenon capable of affecting the urban and suburban scene one way or another. When you are passionate about seeing the Hip Hop engulfed urban landscape affected for Jesus Christ, you get excited at the thought of a redeemed community of hip hoppers being one of God’s tools to change the spiritual tide. So, whatever skepticism has come our way since Craig Lewis began tricking people, we take as “par for the course.”

Calm After the Storm

As divine providence would have it, after causing almost universal skepticism of Christian Hip Hop, the “minister” himself came under the eye of suspicion because of certain allegations and skeletons in his closet. All of this has caused a wave of confusion that has neither honored the Lord nor brought credibility to His church. Yet I sense a settling to the whole thing—a calming of this unnecessary storm. Indeed, immaturity keeps some people battling over “this and that,” but the lines seem to have been drawn, and “it is what it is.” With that being said, in the words of Paul the great apostle, “forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:13-14).

If you’ve been distracted from the Lord’s commission, it is time to get back to business. In spite of any momentary set-backs, confusion, and trouble, life after Craig Lewis goes on. He’s probably permanently apart of the church scene now, accepted by many as the tool of God to “stomp out the devil.” This should not surprise us. The Scriptures say, some in the church will “…accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). This is surely what has given Lewis so much momentum—he teaches what many already believed (because of their social prejudices)and wanted to hear. Even though Hip Hop was something they never studied (from a social and theological perspective), engaged in, or cared about, they allowed a “false word” about it to thrive in the church. The result: he became a hero, and his myths became “doctrine.” That’s ok, things are settling down, and those who have “ears to hear” hear, and those who have “itching ears” are having them tickled.

Back At It

God never promised us that in this life all hostility would cease. Those who have withstood Lewis’ deception live on; and we must stop arguing about things that don’t profit. The mission continues—we must not only glance at what is in the rear-view mirror, but focus on what is outside the windshield. Forget what’s behind, in a sense; let us plow ahead in obedience to the Great Commission. A world is dying and in need of God’s missionary agent called the Church. Cities are in a worse state than ever. Philly has over 1 million people that don’t know Jesus, and 75% of the men in jail are African American males who undoubtedly love Hip Hop culture. Urban and suburban kids are exposed to godlessness at such early ages that today’s most creative and spunky sinners are often “young” people. Kids (Christian and non-Christian) are more ruthless, more disobedient to parents, more relativistic, and more self-absorbed than ever. Secular Hip Hop is a leading influencer of this mentality and someone must lovingly, but aggressively contend for the faith among that group of people.

So, returning to my original premise—my “thesis”—the church must be the missionary agent who carries the message of reconciliation to hip hop-filled cities and suburbs. The godlessness of hip hop is a perfect impetus for dispatching Christian missionary agents who are indigenous to that context so that the church will honor the need to both contend for the faith and contextualize for the culture. We need more than rappers; we need Christians who care about people who don’t necessarily look, dress, or act like them. We need believers everywhere to directly or vicariously (through someone else) “tabernacle for awhile among them.” Who could have the guts and the gall to hang out among the sinful Hip Hop context? I believe if no one else will, at least the convert who has been delivered from the clutches of godless hip hop. This would be considered indigenous missions.

We Need Jesus More than Ever

Cross Movement has always been an advocate of Christo-centrism in everything including Christian rap. More than ever Jesus must be the focus of this mission, and the message of these missionaries. Although it seems that most people today prefer mindless rap—being entertained by simplicity such as “chicken noodle soup with a soda on the side,”—the deep things of God must be offered during times like these. May we never let our message spread further than His message, nor our fame eclipse the fame of the One who sends us. Mark 6 documents the sending out of the disciples for ministry, saying that after they had gone out and come back,“[Jesus’] name had become known” (14). Their “going out” resulted in the His name becoming known (14). Most hip hop artists want their names known, but the type of missionary I’m talking about determines to go out and blow the name of Jesus up.

We Need Life More than Lyrics

Many of the accusations levied against the Christian Hip Hop community are true. For this reason, I believe that Paul’s admonition to Timothy is an appropriate admonition for all young Christian leaders (hip hop or not), “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.” The way to combat people like Lewis is not with arguments on a message board. We must display exemplary Christian behavior so that those who judge us by our externals would be ashamed when they see the Christ-likeness of our internals.

Again, Paul tells Titus in regards to younger believers, “in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us” (2:7-8). You see, sadly, your youthfulness is a strike against you in today’s culture, just like it was in Paul’s. The only way to combat this is to be boomin’ in your Christian character, and not just churchy or nominally Christian.

Let Us Move OnSo, we continue blessing the name of our God, praying that he separates the wheat from the chaff, the shepherd from the hireling, the true pastor from the false prophet, and the useful Christian hip hopper from the useless one. Life goes on and so does the call of God. No more fussing over clearly bogus teachings, which don’t profit anyone. We must all remember that “the Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition…” (2 Tim 2:24). Let us press on to maturity in Christ, and declare His name among every context that God graciously allows—from Hip Hop to the ends of the earth.

Paul vs. Peter 2006

January 20, 2006
The Ambassador
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LOOK AT GOD!

God is something else! I would have never guessed that two years ago as I was desperately seeking God and surveying the culture for a topic to write my master’s thesis that I would have struck gold with the topic “The Theological Implications of Hip hop Culture.” One of my professors, Dr. Lawson, rightfully pointed out to me that I couldn’t force people to seriously consider hip hop, but if it could be determined that hip hop has theological implications, then every Christian would be confronted with having to choose a response to those implications. In light of the debates that have been raging in churches and on websites, God’s providence is obvious. We are not just debating about hip hop, WE ARE DEBATING THEOLOGY and its practical applications and lifestyle implications. The question that we are asking is, “who and what does God accept or reject?” Who are God’s people and what do they all look like, act like, talk like, dress like and listen to? This is the crux of the issue, yet it is obvious that the church’s problem with hip hop is deeper than its disdain for a people group and their culture.

WHY I STAY INVOLVED IN THIS DISCUSSION

Many people in the church suffer from either a misinformed and/or underdeveloped theology or no theology at all. As I listen to Craig Lewis and company—along with the people who urge that we stop all this targeting and educating about hip hop—it becomes evident that many people think that it is spiritual to ignore or disrespect a people group strictly because of its sinfulness. To treat the hip hop culture like it is somehow outside the scope of God’s grace and message of salvation is basically saying “to hell with you hip hoppers!” If that is too strong, perhaps it seems more palatable to say, “…to hell with all of the things about you hip hoppers except the things that are exactly like me.” Either way, this is exactly what is being forwarded due to the ignorance that prevails among us. Hip hop or not—I want to distance myself from this unbiblical sentiment, and that is the only reason why periodically I add a log on to the already raging fire of debate.

I can still hear my seminary counselor saying, “Duce, write something that will be helpful for you in ministry after you have left this school and gone into the mission field that God has prepared you for.” I had always approached hip hop as strictly an evangelist/emcee. Little did I know that as I approached hip hop from a social, theological, and scholarly level, I would actually unearth biblical credence for using Christian hip hop missionally, and biblical support for embracing the Christian who maintains non-sinful hip hop traits (don’t miss any of that—read every word carefully). After much prayer and thought what became obvious was that I could do a thesis that sought to expose the theological implications of a 30-year-old global movement that has the world under its sway. In complex urban settings (i.e. NYC, ATL, Philly, etc.) it is one of the most inescapable realities of the common people and the primary discipler of those born after 1968. I thought to myself, “Why not? The church could use the education, and Christians from the hip hop generation could use the biblical support for what they were already doing.” As an evangelist I had spent over a decade ministering as a Christian from the hip hop generation to more than just hip hoppers. I had developed a reputation for being faithful to the Christian faith as well as relevant to the “hip hop times.” After all of my recordings (The Thesis included), I didn’t even think I had to validate my total, complete and fervent commitment to the cross, the faith, and the people of God. I also thought that all talks about reaching hip hop would be evaluated in light of that prior faithfulness. But that proved to be idealistic thinking. Many, not all, of the naysayers do not know of my/our prior track record, so I must continue to set the record straight.

IT’S NOT ABOUT HIP HOP

No matter how hard we try to delineate between engaging a culture and embracing the sins of the culture we still find ourselves being accused of defending, promoting, or pledging allegiance to something other than Christ. Do the research; Cross Movement and all of its affiliated entities and artists have been elevating Christ over hip hop for more than a decade. We have become known for insisting that Christ and his cross be central in the Christian rapper’s music. However, because of our passion to see God save and use converts from the hip hop community, we cannot idlely standby while someone wrongfuly distorts the truth about the issue of hip hop and the Christian hip hopper. Hip hop is not a creation of the devil and the Christian hip hopper is not trying to Christianize a demonic invention. The devil is not a creator of anything. God is the sole source of all creation. Under God mankind was given a similar responsibility, the authority to cultivate. Mankind takes what God has created and cultivates it. In the Scriptures Satan never creates anything. He merely corrupts, deceives, and taints everything that God intends for good. The devil didn’t even create sin. He sins and he convinces us to sin, but he cannot create sin for us. Please don’t misread me, this holy hip hop feud is not personal. I’m not in the least bit concerned with how Craig Lewis’ slanderous remarks and bogus messages affect me personally, but I do care about the church fulfilling her mission. I also care about the image of the people of God in the eyes of “outsiders” (Romans 2:24). The church is already known for being slack in engaging and evangelizing emerging cultures. This is in part why hip hop does not see the church as its friend or its helper. In fact, they perceive the Nation of Islam as a friend, partly because the Nation affirms them and doesn’t only chastise them. I do not want the church’s marred image to be extended any further as the church finds an unscriptural reason to alienate one of the most influential people groups of our times.

IT’S NOT ABOUT CHRISTIAN HIP HOP

Understand this–to use the term “Christian hip hop” does not make a person guilty of exalting or “fondling hip hop.” If a white Christian used the same logic against the “black church” that I have been hearing from some of you, we would have a riot on our hands. To accuse the person who refers to “the black church” of wrongfully exalting and promoting his ethnicity or culture would be to start a war that everyone would regret. We all know that there is only one true church of Jesus Christ and it is neither black nor white. Yet we may refer to the “black church experience” or a “Korean church.” These terms are used to describe some of the distinguishing ethnic and cultural characteristics one would find among the church members—the adjective simply modifies the noun. Christian hip hoppers know that we are Christians and that “Christian hip hop” is not our identity. The terms are joined together in order to help others to describe the observable solidarity that is exhibited by Christians who come from a hip hop culture context. (I wish people would stop making us state the obvious.)

DO WE REALLY LOVE THOSE “OTHER” PEOPLE?

I never imagined being ensnared in a theological and “missiological” debate about a culture (hip hop) that I have been countering for nearly 15 years. To listen to me in sermon or on CD, or my inner-circle of ministry partners, and suggest that we have an allegiance to godless hip hop or Christian hip hop culture is ABSURD! To listen to us and hear anything other than an appeal that the church embrace the saved and converted people of that culture is to hear what you want to hear. To hear anything other than a plea for the church to engage and evangelize the unconverted of the culture without dumping personal preferences on them is to hear what you want to hear. We are all under obligation to love God and man. Don’t tell me that you love me or you accept me, but yet you reject everything about me that distinguishes me from you and your preferred group. To accept a people means to allow them the freedom to be different (assuming those differences are not sinful.) Every one of us want to be accepted without having to become something or someone that we are not.

WE DO MISSIONS NOT LAUNCH CRUSADES

During the Crusades, conversions were forced by the sword of a man. Real mission work is conducted by the sword of the Spirit (the word of God). We are not supposed to be forcing people to become like us. We are supposed to be urging them to become like Christ—the robe and sandal-wearing, Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek speaking, carpenter/rabbi who followed Jewish customs perfectly. We do not want them to wear what he wore, speak like he spoke, and observe any custom that does not transcend all cultures for all times. We want them to embrace this one Lord by grace through faith.

So for the record—Jesus is God in the flesh, second person of the triune Godhead. He is 100% God and 100% man and as such, He provides us the perfect example of true humanity. After living a perfect life—dying a substitutionary death for sinners, RESURRECTING, and sending the Holy Spirit to indwell believers—He commanded His people to go into all the world and make disciples. As a motivating promise, He said that He would be with all who fulfilled this great commission. Since that time, believers have been seeing this commandment as both a privilege and a responsibility. It’s a privilege to think that a perfect God would enlist such imperfect people to carry out His plans. It is a responsibility because He gave us a great commandment and not a great suggestion.

Since the missionary journeys of Paul and the like, so much has changed and so much has remained the same. Though Paul was a Jew culturally and religiously, it is worth noting that he did not add to his gospel message the cultural baggage of Judaism.

IT’S ABOUT SO MUCH MORE

We plead with you out there if you have spiritual eyes to see—and a heart for He preached Christ. Yet, due to the opposition from Jews who did not want Gentile culture “polluting” the church, Paul did have to preach reconciliation of the Jew, Gentile, barbarian, slave, and free. He actually preached about the Gentile’s freedom to participate in the kingdom of God, and argued with his friend Peter about confusing this issue of free access to Christ for the non-Jew (Gal 2:11-14). So he preached the Gospel, but also he preached freedom from Jewish culture. lost people groups of the earth—stop distorting and confusing the issue. This is about more than just rappin’ or wearing fitted caps and Timberlands. This is about more than just going to church. This is about more than “just being Christian.” This is about the church’s responsibility to be the sending agent into every people group until Christ comes back. This is about indigenous missions—people doing missions among those that they are socially native to.

All these arguments prove is that there will always be a group who acts like their cultural expression and their norms are right, and therefore superior to someone else’s. The hip hoppers, along with other emerging groups within our pluralistic and postmodern society, are minorities within today’s church circles. There will always be some who think that they have a right to force these emerging groups to culturally assimilate. I believe that we ought to proceed with the mission to reach out and engage all peoples both cross-culturally and indigenously.

DON’T BE A MISSIONARY IF…

I pray that you prayerfully reconsider your participation in urban missions:

If your understanding of the devil’s involvement in the origins of hip hop is more aligned with Craig Lewis than reality
If you are not able to perceive and appreciate the damage being inflicted by the misunderstanding Craig Lewis and those like him have of the hip hop missionary movement
If you think God perceives your culture as the highest and best culture in the world
If you think that culture is unimportant and only spirituality is
If you think that God rejects non-sinful aspects of every culture except yours

In this state you are a hazard to the missionary enterprise. You will burden people with your preferences and forge God’s signature on your personal tastes and styles. You will unload your logic and your made-up laws, while simultaneously claiming that “God told you to do it.” You will be proud of yourself when people from other contexts look and act like you in every way, and you will give them spiritual a “thumbs up” for what is really only an external change of wardrobe and musical style. You will trick them into thinking that they are internally righteous because externally they have burned a couple of CDs and stripped off their hip hop gear.

I’m not being sarcastic or insensitive—I mean this as a sobering caution. God is glorified when the diversity that He intended is promoted and even celebrated. Paul argued in favor of the freedom of the Gentiles. He even opposed Peter when Peter started acting like it was a Christian crime to act like a Gentile (Gal 2:14). This is a theological problem and Cross Movement and others have been wise in trying to reason with the larger Christian community about this collective mission. The mission is the transmission of our faith, not the downloading of our culture.

Recommending cultural modifications is ok, but degrading non-sinful—yet different—ways of existing in Christ is a crime. God does not support this and even a glance at Scripture reveals this.

Please people; understand the issue and the Scriptures. I will NOT write a response to the responses to this. I will seek public venues to discuss this for the sake of those who have an ear to hear. I have resolved to continue joining with all who desire to bring the gospel and floss the life in Christ within the cities of America. This means I will certainly be in contact with the hip hop community—serving it, preaching to it and making disciples out of those who place faith in Jesus Christ by grace.

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