Hip-Hop, Idolatry & The Church Pt. 3

Saints, of certainty, many individuals believe that allowing hip-hop place or life within the church is what the church should do in an effort to "win all men" to the cross. How many times have we heard 1 Cor. 9:19-23 quoted in defence of certain practices and the acceptance of hip-hop in particular within the church? In fact here are the verses:

19-"For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20-And unto the jews I became a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21-To them that are without the law, (being not without the law to God, but under the law of Christ) that I might gain them that are without the law. 22-To the weak becamse I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23-And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you."

In order for one to properly understand and apply this scripture one must seek to find what is called the Sitz im Leban (real life setting) of the character and scripture. Failure to do so will lead to many erroneous renderings of Paul's intents such as we popularly hear espoused within our churches today.

In verse 19 Paul declares his spiritual liberty as well as his spiritual responsibility toward the lost. He indicates specifically that any liberty afforded to him is tempered by his spiritual maturity and ultimate command to reach the lost. In other words Paul understood that his life and actions were to be a vehicle used by God so that others could be saved. The primary assertion that must be dispelled when looking for the Sitz im Leban of this verse is that Paul was suggesting that sin or the elements of sin could be used as a tool in restoring, reaching or gaining the lost. Paul is not saying that using sin is a tool to draw the lost. In fact, Paul is clear that one cannot continue in sin:

Romans 6:1-2 ~ "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2- God forbid. How can we that are dead to sin live any longer therein?"

Romans 6:12~ "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof."

Apostle John also affirms the same principle:

I John 3:2-6~ "Beloved, are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; and we shall see him as he is. 3-And every man that hath this hop in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4-Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5-And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.6-Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not sen him, neither known him."

James further affirms that sin is not a tool used by God. He says this in his epistle:

James 1:13 ~ "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:"

Sin was never and is never a tool for the church to use in gaining it's converts. The ungodly elements of worldly inculturation is exactly what came to liberate us from. The facts are that the church was to encourage the world and all Christians to leave sin behind. (1 Cor. 6:19-20, 2 Cor. 6:14-18,)

Secondly, for the record, Paul was both a Roman citizen and a Jew. He was a Roman citizen by birth (Acts 22:28) and a Jew by lineage(Gal 1.15; Phil 3.5; Acts 23.6) Paul was in a rather unique situation in that he could easily flow in and out of certain arguments to suit the need that was being presented. In the case of 1 Cor. 9 Paul was referring to his ability in Acts 23:2 to stand before Ananias the co-High Priest (a Jew) and Acts 24 when he stood before Felix the Roman Procurator. This ability to "become all things to all men" took Paul all the way to Ceasar. There was at no point a letting down or a suggestion of letting down spiritual integrity to "draw" anyone to Christ. In fact Paul's mission was clear, it was NOT to become a part of the culture through any associations but was to transform the culture through his preaching and teaching the Gospel of Christ.

Now as I have noted, I Cor. 9:19-23 has often been used as a proof text encouraging individuals and churches to allow and include anyone with almost almost any type of sinful proclivity. When I say include, I do not simply mean to attend or draw from the service or ministry of the church. I mean to lead and conduct worship or ministry service for God and his church.

This is partially why there is such confusion over what the church should do and how it should be done. When sinners are in leadership, there will always be confusion and problems within the church as to how it should reach and teach the lost.

Another aspect of the misinterpretation of this scripture is that some use it to promote a deception from Saint to sinner. In other words some feel that the Christian duty is to almost trick the sinner into being saved by talking their language or communicating with them on common ground. The object of this approach is to minimize any shortcoming (sin) in order to win the sinner and to make him/her feel more comfortable with us personally and with the gospel potentially.

The only problem with this approach is that there is no conviction of sin. There is no repentance. There is only sharing, caring and emotional servitude. In other words this is not the gospel that either Jesus or Paul preached...it is the gospel and the strategy of men in seeking to replace the Holy Ghost in convicting the sinner of his/her sins.

Now, undoubtedly I will be criticized for this and since I am batting .1000 I may as well go for the new world record and continue to abide within my calling.

First, the church must know that the operation of the Holy Ghost within the world is to convict the sinner of sin and call them to repentance

John 16:7-9 ~ 7- "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart I will send him unto you. 8-And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement: 9-Of sin because they believe not on me;"

Conviction of the sinner is the work of the Holy Ghost. The minister and the church was supposed to merely stand fast and proclaim the word of God and allow God to convict and convert the sinner:

Isa. 58:1~ "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their trangressions and the house of Jacob their sins."

John 15:3 ~ "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you."

So the basis of scripture in reaching the lost is vitally important to understand. Unfortunately, not all churches have that understanding as we are living in one of the greatest times of apostate ministry that we have ever witnessed. Not only are there personal failures as we all pray to avoid by God's grace and mercy, but there is flat out flase teaching that has given sin within the church life and anointed hip-hop with a new name while offering the same results.

Currently, Christianity has become so inclusive that it has what is called Holy Hop-Hop Week, awards and a Hoy Hip-hop Summitt. It's during this event that the stage becomes full of "Christians" throwing up their hands and using gang signs and insignias, wearing low-rida pants, dawning louie scarves, promoting grafitti, breakin' and Deejayin', and wearing all the bling, that we readily identify with secular hip-hop. Proponents have argued that they are entitled to their individuality and personal freedoms to express Christ as it suits their styles. Further that they are simply providing variety in a diverse world. Under secular law, this argument may have some merit. However ALL Christians are constrained to serve Christ BIBLICALLY and in accordance with the scriptures.

1 Cor. 6:19-20 ~ "19- What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20-For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"

1 Cor. 7:23 ~ "Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men."

Remember as Paul stated in 1 Cor. 9:19, his personal freedom was also a mark of his personal responsibility. Those who promote and advocate the so called "holy hip-hop" violate a cardinal principle of a biblical community, and that is the requirement to be founded on and by biblical doctrine and biblical and godly acceptable modes and methods of operation. It is precisely that brand of self individuality and "me firstism" right out of the Ayn Rand handbook of Atlas Shrugged, that Christ has come to deliver us from.

This years Holy Hip-hop awards are taking place at the time of this post, Jan 16th & 17th 2009 at at Center Stage Arena (formerly known as Earthlink Live Arena) in downtown Atlanta, GA. Here's a small excerpt from their advertisement:

• "Holy Hip Hop Awards will be MCd by eDDie Velez (Da Preachin Puerto Rican) and Erica Cumbo. Go Ye Djs are the exclusive DJs for Holy Hip Hop Awards. Fla.vor Alliance: Official Breakers & Graffiti. Street Team Promotions Powered by: CIO Music and MTM Entertainment (Ted McCloud and Derrick Woods)."

In this we see almost all of the elements of hip-hop in action. Remember what hip-hop's first principle is:

• Breakin,
• Emceein,
• Graffiti Art,
• Deejayin,
• Beatboxin,
• Street Fashion,
• Street Language,
• Street Knowledge and
• Street Entrepreneurialism

These elements of secularism and secular hip-hop have life in the genre called "holy hip-hop" and are an affront to the holiness of God.

In an August 2002 Article with Charisma Magazine a former member of secular rap group The Three 6 Mafia (or 666 Mafia), Delmar Lawrence (Holy South Ministry) relayed his concern that holy hip-hop artists could not potentially reach their target audience until they (the artists) model the lifestyle that they sing about. This is interesting because it carries an acknowlegement that "holy hip-hop" does not yet have the element of "holiness" that it would need to be true to its name. CrossRhythms.com reports Delmar's take on his record label and Holy Hip-hop:

• "It is a record label that produces hip-hop in Christ. Not 'Christian hip-hop' or 'gospel rap' but hip-hop in Christ. It's a movement of a hip-hop generation, surrounded by hip-hop culture - but representing the lifestyle of Christ."

Mr. Lawrence reveals that "holy hip-hop" doesn't really make sense, and therefore changes his perspective to "hip-hop in Christ". I actually have more regard for his view than any of the others I've heard within that genre of music. But there is still a conflict because he describes that his record label is ultimately about a "movement of a hip-hop generation surronded by hip-hop culture, but representing the lifestyle of Christ"??? What is that? It begs the question, "Can any man serve TWO diametrically opposed God's and worldviews?" He also said this about his calling to salvation and leaving the 666 Mafia and the eventual calling of the Lord:

• "It came to a point where this was something I wanted to do but I really wasn't happy in my soul with that. So, I came off a tour one Easter Sunday and went to surprise my family. I hadn't seen them in four months of me being on the road. God spoke to me like right there. I wasn't even listening to the pastor. I couldn't tell you today what he was preaching about. I just know that I had an experience with God. I heard his voice and he told me to come out. I asked him, 'What do you mean, come out? What do you want me to do?' He (God) said, 'I want you to do the same thing you're doing now. Just do it for me.' I was saying that gospel rap was corny and I couldn't do that. Then he began to show me visions of auditoriums and young people and all of this stuff. When I saw that, something in me was convinced and I said, 'Okay God. If I do this, you're going to have to take care of me.' After all, this was all that I wanted to do and I'm not about to leave one lifestyle just to step out on nothing and not know what's what. He told me to trust him. The next day, I went to the label and told them I was leaving." (Emphasis mine)

Now, I don't intend to say that Pastor Delmar is not saved. That's beyond me. I do intend to say that looking critically as we should at his testimony that there are some unhealthy signs and bad information in his statements. What's more is that his primary testimony of God calling him out of the world to stay in the world is contrary to scripture altogether.

2 Cor. 6:17 ~ "Wherefore come out from among them and be ye seperate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,"

The talent of these artist is not what I question. I question the associations and the payoff that they receive by surrendering to hip-hop in general. For some it is purely monetary. For others it comes complete with noteriety and fame. For James Moss aka J. Moss it also comes with illicit affaris and children out of wedlock. You see some time ago Mr. Moss decided to put together a song called "Living 4" In this song he encourages both himself and his entorage to not get caught up with a "groupie" that will bring them down. On this song he says the following about leaving this groupie:

"Didn't wait for the night time, the high time, the right time

Bein as it was, we had to close the door

It's like turnin away from a million bucks

But I can't see you no more "

Well this is what I call a Christian hip-hop tragedy. It will cost J. Moss approximately $220,000 (not to mention court costs) to leave his illicit lover and the child that he fathered. In Oct. 2008 a judge ordered a DEFAULT judgement against the 36 year old Christian hip-hop guru demanding that he pay $1,028 per month to support his new child (Christion) by 28 year old Lakisha Hughes. Not only did J. Moss not show up in court but he also offerd to pay for the abortion.

Then there are artists like Pastor Ma$on Betha, (formerly Ma$e now Ma$e again, now Pastor Ma$e again) Not only can this Pastor not drive after midnight in a transvestite laden section of Atl, but he also left secular music to enter into the church with the following belief (directly from their Website):

"Once Mason Betha understood that he was “Born To Succeed” (1 John 5:4), he realized that he was created to be the catalyst for millions to receive this same message. What does “Born To Succeed” mean? It is the principle that once a man accepts Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior, he has become an “overcomer”. Thus, you are entitled to total-life prosperity"

Ie: GOD IS A MONEYMAKER! The truth is that after finding that church support is sometimes very slow, in 2004 pastor Ma$on Betha decided to to return to the secular music world (with sound pastoral advice from Dollars Creflo) to deliver his former associates and "undo" some of what he had done previously. Unfortunately, all he found was 50 Cent who was willing to co-produce a story about a street gangsta turned backslidden preacher working and using the church. However from all indications P-Diddy (Sean John Combs), who was in charge of the "paper" simply said "Show me the Money!", which led to the breakdown of the plans. It is said that is the reason Ma$e is now back in the church expanding his ministry on the backs of the faithful willing to believe that his steps are truely ordered by God. Unfortunately for him, the world is not as willing to believe that his actions have anything to do with God. This is what the world says about Ma$e even if the church refuses to say anything:

• "I guess the good news is that the pretty boy gangsta rapper turned pastor is just like a groundhog prophet who delivers it's prediction and then disappears, but the bad news is...we can still see you" (Eben Gregory, Hip Hop Weekly Magazine,Volume 3 Issue 24 pg. 72)

The world recognizes that a person can't be in two places at the same time neither spiritually or naturally. What kind of rationalle can his supporters offer the world and those they are to witness to?

It cannot go without note that one of the most visable ministries promoting what is called Holy Hip-Hop, (which is at best a non term and more accurately an oximoron) is the youth minister of New Birth Missionary BAPTIST Chruch of Lithonia, Ga. eDDie Valez aka Da Preachin' Puerto Rican, and founder and President of The Fellowship of Holy Hip-hop and the Holy Hip-hop Summitt as listed above. Minister Velez's take is that the church must become relevant to this generation. He said this about a message that his Bishop, Bishop Eddie Long preached in 2002 about the "Dry Bones" of Ezekiel 37:

• "God is telling Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, to speak life into a dead situation," says Velez, 37(now 43). "Now, [the baby boomer generation] may be able to say, 'There are dry bones on your job...There are dry bones in your subdivision...There are dry bones in your church auxiliary.' "But [the younger generation] is unfed because [they] need to hear: 'Yo, there's dry bones in the projects, in the hallways where you hang out, kid. There's dry bones when y'all hanging in front of the liquor store, slinging crack cocaine. God is telling you...to prophecy to them right in front of the liquor store. Speak to them that they might have life.' "But [older church members] might not know about standing in front of the liquor store anymore because they've been delivered from it," he adds.

It should also be interesting to note that at the 2009 Holy Hip-hop Awards, Minister Velez is teaching a seminar called: "Reach One, Teach One" True to its roots, this saying and a variation "Each One, Teach One" was developed by the 5% Nation of god's and Earths as an encouragement to spread the Nation's message and anti-Christ dogma.

Even though Christian hip-hop is struggeling to find its identity and message there are yet those within the Christian rap industry that are critical of other Christian rappers. One such example is former secular hip-hop DJ Frankie Cutlass. Cutlass the founder of God Squad Entertainment, is also responsible for secular songs such as "Shake What Your Mama Gave Ya." but says this of Christian rappers:

• "Christian rappers kill the world too much,"..."The world knows they're going to hell...Seventy-five percent of ministry is love. Show them the love of God. The other 25 percent is the Word,"

It's just one of those strange things about Christian hip-hop. It is destroyed by the word and truth must be measured. In his case he doesn't equate the love of God with the word of God. In this case Cutlass feels that we only need 25% word, 75% should be love ie: inclusion or tolerance and acceptance of sin, the world and ungodliness. This is a total redefinition of the mission of the church as given by Christ.

Mt. 28:19-20 ~ "19- "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost: 20- Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen"

Even artists such as Kirk Franklin have bought heavily into the hip-hop strategy of reaching the youth. His famous words, "Just in case you think gospel music has gone too far..." Well, both he and it has... In a recent interview with Gospel Flava Magazine on his new project called "The Fight Of My Life" he explained why he placed a hip-hop song on the CD called "I Like Me" with a rap by gospel rapper Da T.R.U.T.H.. He said this:

• "When you're trying to reach kids you've got to speak their language. Kids like beats, so I had to drop some like they was hot."

In the world of hip-hop the word of God is ineffectual. It is powerless to them to reach and teach the lost and certainly is not relevant unless it is cloaked in colloquialisms or modern relevant garb. In other words the word must be dressed up and hidden before it makes sense to the youth or the target audience. Once again this is in direct conflict of scripture which teaches that the word of God is the "power of God unto salvation" (Rom. 1:16) Once again this is a redefinition of the culture as it pertains to God.

Then there's The Cross Movement. Through it's spokesman The Ambassador aka William Duce Branch ThM this group has long been one of the biggest promoters of hip-hop within the church. These young men believe that there are "Non-sinful elements within hip-hop that can be used by God" They also claim that hip-hop like any other culture is an indigenous culture and that God did not want the church to be involved in cultural assimilation.

• "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."~ The Ambassador, The Christian Living In Hip-Hop Times Pt. 1 Oct. 2005

Is this true of hip-hop? Was it the culture into which Black Americans in particular were born or did it become an inculturation of society or a subculture within society? I believe that I have and can sufficiently argue the latter against The Ambassador's assertions.

Contrary to both their appearance and purpose, The Ambassador does not believe that he is defending hip-hop, he believes that he is celebrating diversity:

• "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)" ~ The Ambassador, The Christian Living In Hip Hop Times Pt. 1 Oct. 2005

He also believes that hip-hop cannot be seperated from personality, and can be used as a conduit to deliver the message of God:

• "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." ~ The Ambassador, The Christian Living In Hip Hop Times Pt. 1 Oct. 2005

The major flaw of his complete message is a presuppositional bias and a control belief that hip-hop is the way the culture is RATHER than the way the culture has become. In his premise he also makes an effort to seperate sin from the philosophical construction of hip-hop which is both demonstrably sinful and anti-Christ/God in both it's purpose and mission. These things CANNOT be overstated.

A Note Worth Evaluating:

Thus one of the underlying spiritual principles are revealed of hip-hop. For those who have ever tried to witness or minister to a muslim, whether that be a member of the Nation Of Islam or American Muslim Mission or a 5%'r, You are quickly told that the religion of Adam through Abraham and even Jesus was Islam. In other words the entire culture is supplanted in their minds and they begin with a presupposition that ALL men were Muslims to begin with. The Ambassador constructs his arguments as if ALL men were hiphoppers to begin with and as if hip-hop is a cultural norm similar to being an American, Canadian etc. This type of thought is apripos for the teachings of the Universal ZULU Nation, and 5% nation of god's and Earths. The fault with his argument is that we have clearly demonstrated that hip hop is not only a subculture, it is based on secularisms, ungodliness, and anti-God RELIGIOUS principles. In other words hip-hop unlike being an American, African, Canadian etc is based on elements of SIN and has no redemptive intent and cannot be redeemed until it acquiests UNDER the Cross of Christ and rids itself of the individualism that it needs to exist. The scripture is clear:

Gal. 2:20 ~ "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

The Ambassador wrote a 76 page thesis to complete his theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. I plan to do an indepth analysis of that thesis right here on the Dunamis Word or The Dunamis Word 2 so please stay tuned.

Summary:

In this segment we have discovered:

• Hip-hop has more than an association with the world and secular society.
• Hip-hop is a complete world view
• Hip-hop cannot be reconciled with the Cross as the Cross demands that lifestyles, personal prefrences, and diversity become subject to it.
• Hip-hop requires a compromise with sin even if that compromise is subtle, God does not use sin to bring glory to himself other than bringing them bound in sin out of sin.
• A Christianized brand of hip-hop contiinues in all the elements of secular hip-hop including clothing, gang signs and other things that come with the culture. These things are totally antithetical to Christian living and life and not condusive or reinforcing to the bublical message of holiness or sanctification (Heb. 12:14)
• Christian hip-hop artists express that the biblical message by itself is inadequate or obsolete to effect change within this generation and must be tempered through personality and positive overtones that are offered through the hip-hop culture.
• At best MANY of those who hold to and promote hip-hop have added to the confusion of some within the church and world through lifestyles in which Christ has not been glorified.

Orthodoxy & Orthopraxy

I will conclude this section by noting that the First and Second Century church would have NEVER allowed individuals to call themselves Christians unless they ascribed to being seperate from the world and sin. This is called Orthopraxy, the practice of right living or biblical living. Orthodoxy is not the problem within the hip-hop church. We all believe that without faith in the shed blood of Jesus for remission of sins that we cannot be saved and further believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ. Orthodoxy is not in question. Orthopraxy is rightfully in question and is something that the entire church is constrained to uphold. Our missionary endeavors DO NOT allow us or afford us the right to let down the standards of orthopraxy or the practice of right living. This is the confusion of the hip-hop church, that God will somehow give a pass to the practice of sin within the church. I believe that I have demonstarated that to not be the case. I will go further indepth into this in my next post.

I hope that these segments have been a blessing to you and your family as you have read. I will attempt to lay down what I believe is additional sound biblical teaching designed to free individuals from the deceit that hip-hop continues to offer to our youth and churches in general, and also reveal a spiritual event in which you, your church and ministry can participate demanding that our youth, churches and communities experience true spiritual freedom.

Blessed!