One of my favorite characters is Zathras, the fix-it humanoid from Babylon 5 (The greatest Science Fiction series ever, by the way). And one of my favorite quotes from him was: “Zathras has had a hard life . He will probably have a hard death. At least there is symmetry.”
Apparently, like Zathras, the pimps are into symmetry too.
As you know, The ‘Mess 2006 finished up a couple of weeks ago on the East Coast , down in Atlanta as a matter of fact. Well, in Riverside California, we just finished with “The ‘Mess 2006 , West Coast.” Okay, they didn’t really call it MegaFest. They called it Koinonia 2006. Perhaps we should call it Coin-o-mania 2006.
It’s almost like the folks want to make sure the West Coast gets a taste of the same things the Easterners have to put up with , I mean… get to experience.
T. Dexter was there. Juanita Bynum and her cohort Jamal (I’ll-Preach-Anywhere-I-Can-Get-Publicity) Bryant were there. Then there were the usual “gospel” singers, more than willing to ply their trade for a couple of shekels and some exposure than really praising God (and yes, I know I can’t see into these men’s hearts).
Here’s the line up. As I said: It was the usual suspects, saying the usual things, trying to attract the usual dupes and separate them from their money. It obviously is not as developed as the Eastcoast version. But give it a few more years and they should be drawing folks from as far away as Michigan.
Click on the image to see the full sized web page.
I’ve said this before but it bears repeating. These people think you are nothing more than a market, a source of easy income for them while they prance around on the stage trying out new slogans. T. Dexter can almost copyright “Get ready! Get ready! Get ready!” I can almost see the rest of them struggling to come up with a phrase they can use to milk you of ever cent they possibly can without having to think too hard or come up with new things too often.
:lol:...
I personally like Kirk Franklins music, I wish he would distance himself from TBN and the rest of the “ravenous wolves in sheeps clothing” pictured on the “Mess 2006″ advertisement!!!
Personally I dislike Kirk Franklin’s music. He music is so culturally relevant that it has fallen right into the culture and you can’t tell the difference between his music and the worlds music. Doesn’t Romans 12:2 teaches us not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed?
MJ I would love for you to do a posting on Kirk Franklin and any info or where does he really stand. He was once praised( I was one of the praisers. for sitting under Dr. Tony Evans, who I am not sure about now, but was once sound.
well people do not know kirk is partly responsible for all this hip hop mess in the church. an exministries show on a video that kirk may watch BET to get dance moves to show to our youth. SHOCKING if you research. The world is in the church too, so satan maybe in our pulpits, sitting next to you, or even put programs together for you to support. What is really going on, keep it up mel.
peace
Are you saying all hip hop in the church is bad? (Including Holy Hip hop)
Or are you saying that secular hip hip and Bet influencing the church is bad?
just wondering?
PL
What is Holy Hip Hop? The Bible says, love not the world or the things in it (paraphase). The Gospel is the Death, Burial and Resurrection of JESUS CHRIST. That does not include Hip Hop. We should not take the things of the world and attach a spiritual title and say it’s from God.
If a person is going to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ it will be done by the POWER of the Holy Spirit.
The Gospel is about us dying to self and allowing Christ to live in us. HIP Hop of any kind is FLESH!!!
Toni,
Your facts are right:
1. a person will accept Jesus only by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
(No calvinistic plugs, MJ ok?)
2.The Gospel is the Death, Burial and Resurrection of JESUS CHRIST.
3. The Gospel is about us dying to self and allowing Christ to live in us.
But your opinions I cannot get with:
1. “…JESUS CHRIST. That does not include Hip Hop.”
2. ” HIP Hop of any kind is FLESH!!!”
All music is created by God, and music in and of it self isn’t evil/fleshly/ or wrong. It’s what you say in your music that makes it sinful.
Holy Hip Hop can be a tool given from the Lord to reach a lost and dying world with the truth of the Bible.
While there are some out there who don’t do a good Job of presenting the gosple in their music, there are many brothers in Christ who use the scriptures in their lyrics to teach biblical truth to those who listen.
The Crossmovement-
http://www.crossmovementrecords.com/
Lampmode Recordings
http://www.lampmode.com/mainframe.htm
If you don’t like it, you just don’t like, that is your choice, but for you to make blanketed statements like the ones you made is very unfair and offensive.
And it’s not about “attaching a spiritual title and saying it’s from God” it’s about reaching people for Christ. The majority of people under the age of 40 in most urban/suburban areas have grown up in a Hip Hop Culture. They have subscribed to it’s values and want nothing to do with the Jesus of the Bible. Those who minister through HHH, are just trying to redeem the culture and those who are lost in it.
Grace and Peace,
PL
PL,
If I offended you, please forgive me.
Question: What happen to the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, called Lazarus from the grave, made the blind to see, healed the sick, turned water into wine, attached Peter’s ear back to his head, etc.
If this Spirit that Jesus left to convict the world of sin is missing in so-called Believers today. I guess Holy Hip Hop is an option.
Dying to self will allow Jesus Christ (Spirit of Christ) to work miracles through Believers to reach His people. It’s Him not us!
In His Love
Hey Toni,
It’s all good. Half way through typing my response, I caught myself taking it a lil too serriously. We are brothers/sisters in the Lord and it is ok to differ in thinking about subjects that are not essential to the faith.
You don’t have to like HHH, you don’t even have to think it is of God.
But I would like you to know that there are ministers of the Gospel, who teach and share the bible with others by using Christian Hip Hop music.
And while they may be using the music to get the message out, the message is still Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified for our sins so that we can have everlasting life.
Is.55:11 says God’s word does not return void. Most sound doctrine Christian Rappers, lace their lyrics with scripture so heavly, it is like listening to Bible Study set to music. And the fruit of their labor is the body being edified and a harvest of souls that might not be reached if it werent for those Christian Rappers who reach out to those who are trapped in that Hip Hop Culture.
That same Holy Spirit that you talk about in your second paragraph is the same Holy Spirit that empowers/inspires those sound doctrine Christian Rappers to make music and evanglize. Many of those guys are in ministry full time and the major focus isn’t making Music, it’s doing out reaches to get the Gospel out.
Ok, I am going to stop now before I start Rambling…TONI, God bless you my sister. Thanks for the dialog.
In Christ,
PL
So does anyone have a suggestion for what these so-called “holy hip-hop” artist should do as an alternative? I’m assuming that some are rapping because they want to express their love for God, their relationship with God, etc (notice I said some and not all). If rapping is “of the world” should they just write poetry and put it in a book? Or is poetry too wordly as well? Serious question…all sarcasism aside…What do people suggest they do?
AMEN!! I seem to recall somewhere in The Book of Life where the Master said if we, His people, would only lift Him up, He would do the drawing. The qoute went like this, “If I be lifted up, then I would draw all men unto me.” (Jn 12:32) Not if hip hop or any other worldly vice be lifted up!
i dont like rap music, so it wouldnt suit me to hear it anywhere, least of all in church, but i do enjoy jazz music, r&b-nothing rude or degrading, but i dont see a problem with jazz artist singing GODs praises, music is universal, but the message must not be diluted, as long as they are truly ministering the gospel-in spirit and in truth, i believe it shall be effective, i just cant get with the rap thing though…maybe i am too old to get it, but if it draws them in, good, but there should be sound teaching without the songs at some point.
Yes, I believe hip hop in church is bad. Holy hip hop is nothing but an oxymoron. When you co-mingle holiness with worldliness all you get is deceitfulness.
God’s call for us is to be holy (Ephesians 1:4), different and set apart. We can’t be set apart if we are conjoined to the world. I’ve come across folks that say there’s nothing wrong with holy hip hop because it brings young folks to Christ. Does the music really bring them to Christ? Does the music really make them understand the need for repentance? Does it pull a believer apart from the world? It should be the power of the gospel that brings people to Christ and not some hip music with praise lyrics.
“Does the music really bring them to Christ? Does the music really make them understand the need for repentance? Does it pull a believer apart from the world? It should be the power of the gospel that brings people to Christ and not some hip music with praise lyrics”
Just an opinion…
You may be surprised at how many people come to Christ after hearing “holy hip-hop.” We are sensory beings…music that sounds good to the ear, usually grabs a person’s “initial” attention. Once we get past that, the lyrics start to sink in…I think it is at this point, for some who listen to holy hip-hop, that they begin to not only listen, but interpret what is being said. It may be a lyric referencing a scripture that causes them to go to their Bible and search for more. It may be a lyric that encourages holy living that may cause a young person to stop doing some foolishness. Words have power…If these so-called pimps can say whatever and get people to mindlessly follow them, why can’t a holy hip hop artist glorify God?
Also keep in mind, some of these artists aren’t just your everyday average Joe’s off the street. Some are also college educated, degree bearing ministers. Surprisingly enough some of them have even spoke about seeking greater knowledge of the scripture, right relationship with God, etc because they want to ensure that their lyrics are for the glory of the Lord. I’m not a huge fan of rap period, but I think I understand where they (holy hip-hop artists) are coming from…
*** One of the groups I like is: http://www.frontlynaz.com/homepage.html
I have seen these young men minister in rap, minister in poetry, and minister in Word behind a pulpit. I guess I’m a little lost in the argument because I didn’t know that praise was so strictly contained…I thought praise was “unique” to the individual…
Final question: In terms of the use of holy hip hop to reach out to a particular generation of people…what is more important: That they come or how they come? Or is it both?
Here is an exerpt from a sermon by Horatius Bonar that addresses this controversy between us about HHH……..
What religion is, AND HOW IT OUGHT TO BE CARRIED ON , are points which man has undertaken to settle by his own wisdom, and to regulate by his own devices. But it is very evident that, both as to what God is, and HOW HE IS TO BE APPROACHED, OR WHETHER HE WILL PERMIT HIMSELF TO BE APPROACHED AT ALL, man can know nothing, and determine nothing. God only can make known these things.MAN”S OPINIONS ABOUT THEM ARE MERE VANITY AND THE OFFSPRING OF PRIDE.They are certain to be wrong; for the points are so far above man’s vision, and so inaccessible, that he must miserably misconceive them. He knows little of himself, and nothing of God; so that it is not even within the limits of possibility that he can be right.
YET THERE IS ALMOST NOTHING OF WHICH MAN IS SO TENACIOUS, AS HIS RIGHT OF THINKING FOR HIMSELF (OR SO HE CALLS IT) in matters of religion. In so far as this means merely that his fellow-men have no right to think for him, or to prescribe a religion for him, he is right. BUT INSOFAR AS HE IS CLAIMING FOR HIMSELF a right of forming opinions independent of God, HE IS WRONG–awfully wrong. MAN HAS NO RIGHT TO THINK FOR HIMSELF APART FROM GOD, OR INDEPENDENT OF THE REVELATION OF GOD. God’s declarations are to be received in unquestioning simplicity. What we are to believe, what we are to do, HOW WE ARE TO WORSHIP ARE NOT MATTERS OF OPINION OR SPECULATION: they are truths–truths not reasoned out or demonstrated by man, but DICTATED BY GOD, and coming to us, therefore, with a certainty which man cannot add to or improve, and which no strength of mathematical demonstration can surpass.
This thinking for one’s self independently of God and His Revelation, is not merely an evil, but a sin. Nay, it is a sin of more than common darkness–it is so audacious, so contemptuous towards God. It places man on a level with God, or at least sets Divine truth and human opinion on the same footing. It strips the former of all innate authority, while it gives to the latter an authority to which it has no claim.
It makes man the teacher, not the listener or the learner.
-Taken from Man: His Religion and His World, 1851, Part I, Chapter 1, The Life and Works of Horatius Bonar.
The proper method,manner, and attitude of worship is PRESCRIBED BY GOD……….it is not open to debate or opinion.
In the Old Testament and New, God Himself stipulated what is (and is NOT) worship acceptable to Him.
Cain in Genesis 4 was cursed for the very issue we wrestle with here………he thought HE should be able to approach God however HE saw fit.
Nadab and Abihu were struck down in Lev 10 for offering “strange fire” on the Lord’s altar.
They deviated from the Scriptural commands that God had prescribed for approach to Him as well.
Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 were slain for bringing an offering in an unworthy manner. Nothing wrong with the gift……….just the manner in which it was offered.
We harbor the conceit that if WE feel God should accept our offerings, or our manner of worship, or our peculiar way of approaching Him, He should accept it. The attitude seems to be “Hey, I’m offering something I value……….if it’s good enough for me,that should be good enough for God.”
Precisely the attitude God addresses in Malachi, when He excoriates the priests for bringing diseased sheep for sacrifice rather than the offerings He prescribed.
We cannot determine what it is God accepts as worship. Do we really believe that the New Testament church went about emulating the Greco/Roman culture in their services?? If so, why were they persecuted??
Can anyone truly picture Paul presenting a reflection of the popular culture in the dress or music of his day ( wearing togas with exposed breasts, or wearing phallic amulets, or constructing new words to popular hymns sung at the pagan temples) in worship to Christ, or as an enticement to unbelievers to come into the Church??
What is acceptable to our Holy God in worship is laid out plainly in the Word……..where much is made of coming OUT of the world, leaving Egypt behind, and hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Your particulr affinity for HHH, or Southern Gospel, or mindless and repetitive choruses does not change the paradigm.
God demands approach by those separated from the world……….not by those who try to clean up the world’s filth to the point where THEY feel God should accept it.
I had not as yet formed my opinion completely on this subject until this debate, so I am grateful Melvin provided this forum as an opportunity for me to do so.
Many will not agree………..but you will have to convince me from Scripture that YOU determine what is acceptable to God, or that He ever accepted the world’s goods spit-polished and sanitized as acceptable.
Amen, again!! I Co.6:15-16 says, “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he wo is joined to a harlot is on body with her?” In other words, how can we, the body of Christ, line up in anykind of way with what is clearly identified with the world and remain clear, clean, and, most of all, Holy?
HHH– Hip hop is supposedly this big “culture” now-a-days…Thats a “whatever” to me. I don’t have a problem with Gods word being sung or spoken, fast or slow…Again, as far as the HH culture, and any (legitimate) culture for the matter: Any aspect of ones culture that is opposed to Christianity, must be “dropped like it’s hot”…Other than that, I don’t believe the bible shows opposition to singing fast, and making it rhyme. But, just like any other person delivering the word, doctrine must be biblical!! So, all of these wacko trynna-wanna be “Christian/Inspirational artist” can hit the road right along with their OFF pastors…
For some GREAT (of course by great I mean doctrinally sound and nice beats and rhyme schemes) Christian rap/hip hop ministers, check out Timothy Brindle, Shai Linne, and Christcentic. Do a google search on them, oh and “lampmode productions”, and they’ll lead you down the right path.
What is holy about hip hop? How does it bring God glory? Weren’t we told to come from among them (world, world system) and be separate said the Lord? Holiness is a lifestye (how you live, what you do, what you say etc.)
I was just at Noel “The Weasel” Jones’ church on Sunday and he was hawking a product called “The Bible On DVD or something like that. He has a bunch of celebrities and one of which (Drumroll please….) was our good freind Iyalna Vanzant. You know the Yourba Priestess who says she is a Christian.
Weird, isn’t it?
Its not suprising to see Kirk Franklin’s face up there, I remember channel surfing, one day and I happen to see kirk on TBN, I think it was Praise the Lord, with T.D. Jakes sharing the platform, so I don’t know if kirk is ignorant or he just don’t care, but Jakes is not shy of his denial of the Trinity, and Juanita, she is also false in her teachings, as well. Also i’m curious, Hey Anonymous, you type in your comments concerning Tony Evans, about him once being sound in his teachings, what do you mean by that?
Minister Steven is correct hiphop can’t be holy!!!! now we could have christian rap or gospel rap….hiphop isn’t music it’s a culture founded by kool herc, afrika bam, krs-one and others this culture embraces all religions and you yourself could be a ‘god’ so how can we take that a flip it and call it holy??????
As long as what I am doing is for GOD and HE gets all of the Glory then it is good. How dare you say that Holy Hip Hop is sinful and wrong. Rapping about JESUS and bringing young people into the church is sinful? Please! Gospel Music has changed since its inception. Churches went from singing hyms all the time to singing more contemporary songs (Kirk Franklin, Hez. Walker, John P.Kee) in the 90’s to the new generation (Tye Tribbett, Micha Stampley, Kurt Carr). Its just the sign of the times..GET OVER IT AND PRAISE GOD INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING ABOUT SOMETHING YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT!!!
(Melvin’s Note: Danger Will Robinson!! Danger! Border-line Knee-Jerk Reaction detected. Warning! Warning!)
So Flirty Fishing is okay? It’s a method used by the dupes of the Children of God. Attract people with promise of sex and then use the time to present the Gospel to them. Are you sure your idea of glory to God is the same as God’s idea of Glory to Him? Give me some evidence from scripture.
Hello All… I am from Durahm, NC and I recently visited a friend of mine in Largo,MD. They took me to church with them (Calvary Chapel Breath of Life) and it was in my estimation a church of the living dead. I know that worship is not all about jumping up and down and shouting. I know that worship is all about God and who he is. But (maybe this is just me) I need to come into a church that matches my intensity to praise God. When I stepped into the church, I was in a very relaxed atmosphere. An easy-going sermon from an easy-going minister (not even sure if he was a minister, no mention of Rev.) and it pretty much zapped all of my energy out of me. It was almost like going to a catholic service.
Since you all are on the subject of what appeals to the church, I feel as though someitmes you need emotion and a spirit filled worship experience. This place (calvary) was as dead a church as I have ever seen. It seemed as though no one was exited about what God had done in their lives, almost like they took God’s blessings for granite. Thats the kind of church (members) who dont like to have contemporary gospel in their church. So stuck in old mundane ways that they lack the passion of the worship experience.
Praise is what I do,
In defense of the church I call home.
Just because a church isn’t full of emotionalism during the singing portion of worship, does not mean it’s dead.
Emotionalism does not equal spirituality.
The bible says that you must worship God in spirit and in truth-Jn4:23
The main focus of worship at Calvary Chapel is worshiping through the study of the Word of God (His Truth). We also worship through giving and singing.
Not mention that worship should be a lifestyle, it’s not just an outshowing of emotion on Sunday, it is how you live during the week. I belive it’s in Romans 12 where it talks about being a living sacrifice, that is true worship.
And on a side note, the main reason that their isn’t a lot of contemporary Gospel music played at Calvary Chapel Breath of Life. (notice I said a lot, every now and then they might play a gospel song) is that most Gosple songs don’t have anything to do with the Good News or the worship of a Holy God.
The style of worship at Calvary Chapel Breath of Life tries to focus on the Verticle praise, songs that go up to Jesus like a sweet smelling aroma. Songs that repeat His word back to Him, songs that Honor Him and songs that sing about His character.
Not horizontal music that appeals to man, or talks about how God paid my light bill and took me out of darkness.
To quote a friend of mine “mainstream gospel” does nothing but sing the same ol’ cliches and lacks creativity.” It can also take the focus of the Lord, and put it on the situation He got you out of.
All that to say, we are not the Church of the living dead, we just place God’s word over emotionalism.
In Christ,
PL
I believe that I said that emotionalism does not equal worship (different wording). But you state that contemporary gospel music does not have anything to do with the good news of God! You show your true ignorance of the music because almost all of the music focuses on the good news. Lets take probably the most popular one out right now. Hero by Kirk Franklin shows how a person goes through life not knowing their true purpose and not knowing that God is the answer to their problems, BUT when they find God, it is a revitilizing experience because he saved them…Since when is that not good news!!
And please do not disrespect gospel music that serves as a testimony to others. To put it how you put it “How God paid my light bill and brought me out of darkness”. I guess this is not good news either, to know that when I am weak, he is strong. Since when is testifying about the goodness of the Lord wrong? Somebody please explain that to me! I dont care what Calvary thinks, but God has been WAY too good to me for me to keep quite and not tell somebody that the same God who “brought me out of darkness” will be the same God who can bring them out!
Yea, your right, I guess that really isnt good news!
*Sit on your hands if you want to, but I’ve got to tell somebody just how good God really is!
“Praise is what I do,” there’s nothing inherently wrong with testimonial gospel music. I believe such music has its place. However, I do have a problem with that kind of music creeping into corporate worship and then people passing it off as fervent worship. Further, I definitely have a problem when a bunch of Kirk Franklin songs are sung in worship at the expense of time-tested, God-exalting hymns.
I dare you to put one of those testimonial gospel songs up against hymns like “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” or “O Sacred Head Now Wounded.” Those songs wouldn’t make it through the first verse of either of those hymns withouth falling flat. Like pL said, those hymns are God-honoring, they repeat His word back to Him. They teach the gospel and are theologically rich in content.
Colossians 3:16 instructs us to “Let the Word of Christ richly dwell in you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (NASB)
And speaking of Kirk Franklin, don’t you find it interesting how sparingly the name Jesus is used in his songs? Just peruse the lyrics to his latest album “Hero” and see just how little Jesus is mentioned, let alone the glory of His finished work on the cross, or the fact that someday soon, His kingdom will reign forever. Let me know what you find. . .
So to all those who oppose contemporary gosepl, you believe that all music in church should be traditional? I dont think that is a good idea when it comes to young people. As talented as Mahalia Jackson was, she will not appeal to the younger generation. I think that the ideal music ministry to any church would be one that compiled every type of gospel music there is. From contemporary, to hyms to old spirituals. I think you need a mixture of everything.
Hey Bro Mel, great sight (heavy and eyeopening) Thanx Man! And thanx for the link to Pastor John, (love that dude)
Well this will be my post on HHH.
I was in B-More a while ago and I was listening to Tye-Tribbett, and yes before he got on there were some HHH performers there. The problem I noticed was that the crowd reaction seemed to be moved by how close the HHH’ers were like the Worldly HH’ers.
The rappers that weren’t dressed like the World famous rappers did not get a great response although they were rapping Gospel Truth while the one’s that looked like what you could relate to on BET or MTV people praised the most.
It’s seems that if my relevance is contingent upon what the World is doing, (Hip-Hip) instead of Christians who rap, then I must follow the culture, a culture that wasn’t created to glorify God. When the sports Jerseys played out, the Christian rappers had to stop wearing them because Jay-Z says cuff-linked shirts are in now.
I do agree that in order to rap “The Gospel” and be sound in it, you must know the whole story to find a way to make it rhyme and that takes work. However, the Pimps that we are talking about on this sight are educated. And sadly enough if we look closely, we see the worldy patterens as well.
Notice the effect on the pulpit from Hip Hip!
(Big House-MTV cribs)
(Rollin on DUB’s-Cars)
(Expensive watches-Jay-Z)
(Body Guards-Puff Daddy)
I by no means have the answer but this is just my observation which I connect to (Romans 12:2)
Also [Romans 8;5] For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
So, if we put Holy before Hip Hop is it true that we are 1st Spiritually led or are we lead by Hip Hop and then throwing the Spirit into it?
(OK Mel be easy on me, this is my first post and I may not be on the same level with you pros. I may be a little all over the place. LOL)
Maybe the reason some of them did not get as well as a reponse was because they were wack!
As far as influences, hip hop was not the first culture to embrace the lavish lifestyle eg. MTV Cribs. If I recall, there was a show on T.V in the early 90’s called Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, where the only rapper I ever saw on that show was Hammer. All the other guests were Hollywood Stars! So how can it be pinned just on hip hop?
I am confused with your statement: “It’s seems that if my relevance is contingent upon what the World is doing, (Hip-Hip) instead of Christians who rap, then I must follow the culture, a culture that wasn’t created to glorify God. When the sports Jerseys played out, the Christian rappers had to stop wearing them because Jay-Z says cuff-linked shirts are in now.”
Are you saying that it is wrong and unlike God to be in tune with the latest fashions. If that is true then that must mean that everyone is going to hell. Jerseys were popular and then they became unpopular, just like EVERYTHING else in the fashion industry. Find me a preacher who is standing in the pulpit wearing a gray checked double breasted suit and I will be very surprised. Everyone from the pulpit to the boardroom is now wearing the three button with the spread collar shirt and the windsor knot…Its just changing with the styles!
I feel ya, I’m basically just throwing a viewpoint and by no means am I implying that our dress code will send us to Hell. Being in tune with latest fashions is cool but it should not be dictated by what the culture is doing. I just feel as though HHH is measured by what Hip Hop is doing. It seems like Hip Hop influences HHH instead of the other way around.
I have worked with rappers before and with HHH rappers. Record companies make money and many HHH’ers that are signed are asked to look like and mimmick what Hip Hop is doing just the lyrics are different. Think about it… why would a HHH rapper feel the need to say (1-2 1-2, yo yo yo?) because that’s what Hip Hop does.
Is Hip Hop a culture? If so then I applaude groups like “Cross Movement”. As believers we are mandated to “make disciples of all nations” Matt 28:19. That would include the cultures within those nations. I think that we forget that the amazement of Pentecost as relates to Acts ch2 was not simply the “tongues of fire” but rather the fact that people were able to understand what the believers were saying. “When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly AMAZED, they asked: ‘Are not all these men who are speking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?” Acts2:6-8
It becomes an issue when there is not a declaration of Christ and the truth of scripture. This is the same problem we have with those whom we deem as “pulpit pimps”.
“… we hear them declaring the wonders of God in OUR OWN tongues!” Acts 2:11
If we are instructed to reach all nations (and we are), It is imperative that we learn the “tongue”, that they may understand us. I’ve been to several foreign countries and for those whose tongue I did not master, I found it extreamly difficult to relate to them the message of Christ. I believe the same applies to the “culture” of Hip Hop. We can reach them if we know their language but we must remain holy (having a clean heart).
Jesus stated don’t worry about what to say for the holy spirit will speak thru you! for us to say we need hiphop or any other method to preach the word is a smack in God’s face doesn’t the word state not by might nor power BUT THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD. also u could rap u could preach but if God’s spirit isn’t drawing them nothing will happen let’s not forget God gives the increase not holy hiphop this site should of open your eyes THAT ALL THE MAN’S METHODS LEAD TO $$$$$$$$MONEY$$$$$$$$$$$$ we are requried to preach the gospel the death burial and Christ raising from the dead
ORDER! ORDER! “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves. But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the courts, and scourge you in their synagogues; and you shall even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the gentiles. BUT WHEN THEY DELIVER YOU UP, DO NOT BECOME ANXIOUS ABOUT HOW OR WHAT YOU WILL SPEAK; FOR IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU IN THAT HOUR WHAT YOU ARE TO SPEAK. FOR IT IS NOT YOU WHO SPEAK, BUT IT IS THE SPIRIT OF YOUR FATHER WHO SPEAKS IN YOU.”
Here, Jesus is giving specific instructions to the 12 disciples on their manner of conduct when they were sent out by Him to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, Matthew 10:16-20, NOT on preaching or musical lyrics.