Holy hip-hop
Holy hip-hop
What kind of music do you listen to? Sometimes, it simply depends on what style of music you like, but for some people faith determines what they listen to. Christians, for example, would rather listen to Christian labeled music and avoid secular music. They choose to listen to “Christian music” because there is less possibility of inappropriate lyrics than secular music. However, now hip-hop, as one of the best representatives of secular music, is reaching Christians.
Sex, drugs, and violence are the images that come into your mind when you think of hip-hop. Whether you are a Christian or not, many parents try to prevent their children from becoming involved in that specific culture. However, it is true that there are several Christian hip-hop artists. One example of this is Curtis “Voice” Allen. More interestingly, many of his lyrics present a very strong reformed perspective. This hip-hop artist once lived the lustful and dangerous life, but now he condemns the life he once idolized and hopes “the musical genre [hip-hop] can serve as an evangelistic tool outside the church and a ministerial one within it (Bergin, 37).” When John Piper, Bethlehem Baptist pastor, first introduced Allen to the congregation, there were negative reactions among Christian fundamentalists. In World magazine, Mark Bergin writes, “The internet churned with volatile reactions, one blogger labeling all rap as ‘rape set to music’ while others denounced Piper’s entire ministry (Bergin, 36).” About these reactions, Allen says, “There’s no verse saying this particular music is good or bad.”
Allen and other hip-hop artists do not expect hip-hop to be widely used for church services, but emphasize that as long as the music is glorifying God and focuses on the glory of God, it would have a place to be properly performed and become a great tool for ministry. Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia is one of the good examples. It used “Bible-based hip-hop to reach out in an urban setting (Bergin, 37).” As this example, Christian hip-hop could be used to reach the urban setting.
The point we have to ponder in this topic is, is there a certain music that is proper to glorify God? In Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren writes, “There is no such thing as “Christian” music; there are only Christian lyrics. It is the words that make a song sacred, not the tune. There are no spiritual tunes. If I played a song for you without the words, you’d have no way of knowing if it were a “Christian” song (Warren, 66).” It is not a matter of melody, beat, speed of the music, or rhythm but it is about the message the music conveys.
In any situation, accepting new culture and ideas is difficult. In this case, hip-hop, represented with negative images such as sex, drug, and violence is controversial among Christians. Some condemn Christian hip-hop artists because they believe it to be inappropriate whereas many others are supportive. The most important point is that we should always remember that worship is not about us, but God. He appreciates and enjoys every form of worship, whether you like it or not. He listens and sees the words and your heart, not the tune or rhythm of the music.
Bergin, Mark. “Holy hip-hop”. World. February 3, 2007: 36-37.
Warren, Rick. “Planned for God’s Pleasure”. Purpose Driven Life. The United States: Zondervan, 2002.