Comments on: Christian Rap – Can we freestyle the gospel?

By: Dante

Dante — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 21:28:49 +0000

I would like to start with the fact that I am saved and I love rap music, but there is a conflict. There our alot of christian rappers who don`t say much about GOD, most of thier songs they glorify themselves. Talking about how good they are on the mic, that is pride. We as christians are supposed to be meek and humble. I can see both the good and bad sides of this issue. The music business is just that business, an artist that might truley mean well could be made to do things that are against thier beliefs to sell records. Gosple rap is spreading like wildfire. I tend to question the popularity of things that are related to the gosple because the way of the christian is not popular. Going against the fleshly nature is not popular. We are living in a time when every one is claiming salvation rather they live it or not. I grew up on this music can say one thing, it has some positives and a lot of negatives. I can truly say that alot of who I am was shaped by hip hop, only the negative rappers are talked about in the media and they are the ones who make the most money. But there were a lot of rappers that were positive and gave me inspiration, to do better for myself to love my people and myself. I can go on and on alll day about this, GOD bless I hope the lord will reveal the answer to this question because I don`t want to do anything that he considers wrong thanks for this opportunity for me to share my opinion peace.

By: Garris Nickle

Garris Nickle — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:21:32 +0000

I consider my self a Christian Rapper that Ministers and not a Gospel Hip- Hop artist though some might call it that. I have to agree that in many arenas where we as artist are supposed to minister that some take the art to the extreme and are more concerned about getting the crowd hyped than the actual message they should be ministering. Doctrinally the message of some of the reformed rappers is sound, though I myself am not a Calvinist, because they rap scripturally. The problem we face is in our understanding is that the Gospel is the message of Christ coming, birth, death, resurrection, and second coming and all that lies therein including repentance for remission of sin through faith in Christ. Paul says that the Gospel was preached to Abraham being that he received the promise that the entire world would be blessed through the Christ child coming through his loins his “Seed” Galatians 3:8 & 3:16. Now that we know this, what I�m trying to say is that music from those who are Christians who minister through music can carry three components worship, the gospel, and edification if led by the Holy Spirit. All through out the Word of God, we find these components because this is what the Spirit inspires the writers to write. Not being na�ve to the fact that some worship can lead to an excitement of ones emotional state of being because of an appreciation for God but if we are ministering to cause one to be edified whether by declaring that their needs to be a change of lifestyle, or ministering the Gospel I think a person should put much more emphasis on the crowd listening than getting hyped. My last statement would be that I�m not sure how filled a person is with the Holy Spirit if filled at all because the Holy Spirit I know would not cause you to act violent while rapping, grab your crotch while rapping, be pride full towards glorifying self or any thing contrary to scripture in nature. Be Blessed!!!!!!!!!!

By: Big Kel

Big Kel — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 07:44:30 +0000

what you all need to understand is that christian rap or hip-hop is not always intended to be praise and worship, it more or less challenges the way that you think… I too was lost and listening to rap, and hip-hop but if you just listen to the lyrics of a song it can bring tears to your eyes…everyone praises and worships differently…does a baptist praise the same as a pentecostal? no.
if you have grown up listening to rap and you become saved why do u soley need to listen to casting crowns or todd agnew in order for it to be holy? just like the scripture, songs and lyrics can be interpreted differentley…..if all you listened to is rock or rap or praise music you must understanf that there are many different mediums to reach down in your soul and really make you appreciate what the lord does for you… i feel that if you screwtinize anybody for the way they dress, look, or the music they listen to that you yourself are not being true to the lord…WHAT WOULD GOD SAY ABOUT YOU IF HE SAW YOU WALKING DOWN THE STREET OR AT A CONCERT? jesus ministered the word of the lord through people no matter jew or gentile

By: ezra

ezra — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 07:00:57 +0000

Wow! Hello all…praise team leader, degreed musician, public high school band director, reformed student of the one true Gospel as written in the Word of God. The Lord has blessed me to currently hold these offices for the time being. Rap music is a style just like praise music.
I tend to enjoy Hip-hop music because it is the only type of music that u say what u mean to say without shrouding it in prose and “fluff.” It is abrupt and honest as an art form much like the one line Proverbs of Solomon in the book of Proverbs. It has a strong place in a culture that lives and breaths the “attitude” of instant gratification. To say otherwise is simply confining the versatility of Gods chosen to be “all things to all people.”
To say that hip-hop is invalid as a witnessing tool is somewhat misinformed. The purpose of Proverbs is to teach. The purpose of HipHop is to teach.
No…you won’t be moved to tears in worship during a hiphop song about the effectual calling of Christ……But then again you won’t learn any scripture from singing “Our God Reigns” 47 times to the same 3 chords either. Both styles have merit to say one doesn’t lessens the Kingdom of Heaven.

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:19:04 +0000

I can say this about Lecrae, Shai Linne, Tripp Lee, and others, and that is there is more of the Gospel in one verse than most “praise and worship” groups whole albumns. Just for the record, Lecrae, Flame, Sho Baraka and many others are ordained ministers. They spend plenty of time just reaching people through straight up preaching of the word. You can find them and many conferences teaching and preaching. Which is way more than your typical “praise bands” are doing. I think you need to take their concerts as an added bonus. Music with the Word!!

By: JJJJ

JJJJ — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:14:51 +0000

how are u goona reach people that are lost if u not willing to go to them, jesus reached the prostitutes by hanging around them and sharing. is the purpose to go all AAALLL ALL ALL nations and preach the Gospel and share the Good news,. if they can reach people that we cant then they more effective in other ways than u are. too many people are stuck in a rut not reaching out and going to where the lost are and just feed themselves and dont share anything about Christ. all i can say is some people dont have the lost in mind. the gopel is to be real and relevant, if u cant make it relevant, keep quite and let others reach them without being so critical.

By: guy Greej

guy Greej — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:21:01 +0000

I understand it all now. I really don’t think rapping the gospel would be a good idea. The very nature of rap makes it next to impossible to use it to praise or worship the father. Though it might be used to spread the message. But that’s another story all together.

By: davide

davide — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:10:38 +0000

Guy Greej,

Its always wise to not to approach biblical issues in a pragmatic manner. Just because something yields good results, does not mean that it is the best. Thankfully, God is able to use anything. For example, I’m sure many people have come closer to God reading the “Good News for Modern Man” translation of the Bible. But just because this may be the case, does not mean that we should recommend this translation. This version has some serious issues and is not to be considered idea.

Also, we must realize that success of the gospel in urban culture is NOT AT ALL contingent on how effectively we relate to their experiences, culture, or background. In other words, the gospel is NOT made more effective if we deliver it in a mode that that person relates to more (I Cor. 1).

By: guy greej

guy greej — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:19:41 +0000

If you’ve lived a tough life like most pple who like pap have, then you’ll understand what rap is all about. Most rappers rap at women, money, and sex because they have lived a tough life and have come to think that that is what brings joy. It is not the rap it self that is all abt money and sex, it is the pple. Most of these pple do not even listen to any other type of music and cannot ‘waste’ their time listenin to a preachin so how can you get to them if not through Rap. I myself was changed alot by rap, lecrea’s Take me as I am and Ambassadors Gimme dat. You can never understand rap if you have lived the rap life. Do i need to go into Rock to prove my point? Anyone know Hillsong Australia? I din’t think Rock (which was created by pple) was holy too, but it is the same rock music by hillsong that actually brought me closer to God.

By: davide

davide — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:48:14 +0000

SpecialK,

I do not uphold the notion that there is only one “ideal” style of musical expression for conveying the gospel message; and I don’t think I implied that in my last comment. I think this whole issue is a matter of discernment, not right or wrong. It is a matter of what is better than the other; what is more appropriate than another, what mode best expresses the nature of the gospel.

So, the question is: Who am I to say which style if more preferable than another, which one is more appropriate than another, which seems to best express the nature of true biblical worship? It seems everybody’s opinion is different in the matter. True. That’s why my previous comment was just my opinion, nothing else. If you have a different opinion in the matter, so be it. My opinion is that rap is not the most appropriate vehicle for gospel expression; you have a different opinion, so be it. I don’t judge you for it, I just think you are not as discerning in the matter (no offense meant).

But here’s a crude example for you to consider: A Rock Band after the manner of Marylyn Manson is performing. Let’s say they turn the lights out making everything dark. Then they shoot fire, flames, and smoke. Then they scream their guts out as they bang their heads and play extremely chaotic, dissonant sounds. The performers don’t have their shirts on; they have tatoos all over their body, their bodies are covered in tatoos. They have dyed hair, and face painted with freaky looking make-up.

And what if this scenario were taking place on Sunday Morning Service with the lyrics of “Amazing Grace.” What would be your first reaction? I hope you wouldn’t approve. I can’t image you would. But where are tatoos mentioned in the NT as sin? Where are ear piercings mentioned as sin? Where is hair dye or face paint prohibited? Where is screaming prohibited? What gives me the right to dogmatically say that scenario is not the most appropriate for conveying the gospel? After all, none of those things are mentioned in Scripture?