Rap versus Sermons

In my continued quest to listen to gospel music, southern gospel music, Christian rock, and Christian rap and hip-hop, I find myself gravitating lyrically to Christian rap.

I've never been a fan of rap as it isn't really music.  But if it has good background music, then it is pretty cool.  The ultimate example, Lecrae, usually has a good beat behind his music, although he also includes some high-pitched noise that gets on my nerves.  Usually if you must rap, it's good to have music and singing along with it for me to consider it music.

Flame is another guy I listened to recently who had a good music behind his words and deeply reformed theology coming from the lyrics.  Of all that, Da TRUTH is my favorite so far.  He includes singing, music, choruses, and deeply reformed theology.

So, I think this is why I'm beginning to like rap, especially when it's rich with reformed theology.  It reminds me of sermons.  Being an ADD kid growing up, I could never really appreciate spoken sermons until I was through with seminary.  Then I started listening to John Piper, MacArthur, RC Sproul is my favorite.  Now I crave the sermons on the Gospel Coalition.  Some people on YouTube have done this, they took words from a John Piper sermon and placed a beat behind them.

So reformed Christian rap is the same thing to me.  If the man preaches the scriptures and exposes them in meter and rhyme, then that's pretty awesome.  And I still feel the Spirit warming me up as he raps the Word.

So, today I listened to samplings from a compilation on this website I discovered called "New Release Tuesday."  All Christian music of all shapes and sizes that is released every Tuesday.  This was a rap compilation called "Headz UP FM Presents: Christian Hip Hop 2014."  This has more of the lesser known people.  For the most part I did not like it.  But I still thought it would be fun to pick a winner just the same. 

For this criteria I picked someone who I could understand.  1. I need to be able to hear the words.
2. There can be no high-pitched whining or machinery involved.  Hello headache.
3.  In the background (and this applies to Southern Gospel, too) there cannot be someone singing bass so low that he sounds like he's belching.
4. Use of Scripture and theology.

So the winner of Headz UP 2014 compilation out of many that was just forgettable or terrible are.

1st place: Saylah -- My Life (remix)

Solid music mixing, I can hear the words, no high pitches or low belching.  Good poetry.

2nd place: Demetric Pruitt -- Crying Out

Cute little girl, low voice without nasal quality, he ends the song with Romans 1 and the song is laced with Scripture.

3rd place: Krosswerdz Crew

I didn't necessarily think this was the best thing.  I think they include some crude words.  They shouldn't because of Ephesians 4 and 5.  Why did I pick this?  Because I'm a Whovian, and these guys are clearly British (or possibly Australian).  They make me laugh.  They're more of an honorable mention.

Hello my name is Moo Moo

When I first heard that CBC was doing a sermon series on a Matthew West song, I was skeptical.  "Hello My Name Is" is catchy, but Matthew West is usually fairly corny, IMHO.

Yesterday's sermon exceeded my expectations in being meaty and Christ-centered, at least the one preached by Jody (yes, Jody, he gets better and better).  The central text was in Luke 5 where Jesus first tells Peter and his friends to go fishing.  After an unsuccessful night, here comes that last-minute customer who comes 5 minutes before closing and causes you to stay longer.  But they gave service with a smile.  Peter and company did one more fish with the net and drew so many fish that the boat was going to sink.  Their day went from being weary at closing to wanting to stay.

At first, Peter and John and James knew something special about Jesus, but they still did not quite know that he was the Messiah.  Before they did that last fishing round, Peter sarcastically called Jesus "master" and grudgingly cast the nets.  After the fishing round, Peter bowed in worship to Jesus and called him Lord.

The tag-line of the sermon: What you call Jesus determines your identity.  At first, Jesus was just Peter's homeboy and a bit odd.  At this time, Peter was just a fisherman and down on business.

Now, Jesus is Lord, and Peter drops his nets and follows him the rest of his life.

This is an excellent segue to this article. It's another response/publicity to the new book by Matthew Vines about being a gay Christian.  If Matthew Vines walked up to you wearing a name tag it would say, "Hello my name is Gay Christian."  Then he would explain to you how you can be a solid Christian and still live an actively gay lifestyle.

No, not just, I still struggle with same-sex attraction, or I still struggle with porn.  This is a full contradiction where Vines claims to be an orthodox Christian but still lives an openly gay lifestyle with no shame.

This follows with the above article where Owen Strachan ask the question, "Should Christians label themselves gay Christians?"  He answers with an emphatic "NO!!!"

The thing is, all people who have been snatched from the fire by God's grace all had sin and could be identified by it.  We had name tags that said "Murderer", "Liar", "Glutton", "Hater", and so on.  But then Christ saved us and gave us new names.  We are all Christian.  His life and death are imputed to us and we no longer are identified by our sins.

Yes, there are saved people who still struggle with addiction, porn, lust, hatred, fits of rage and all the rest, and there are different degrees to which God rehabilitates them from their former illnesses.  We will all struggle with this while we still live on this fallen planet.  However, when Christ saves us, we no longer have our former names on our name tags.  The tag is ripped off and replaced with your identity in Christ.  And as we take Christ's name, we can look to Jesus, the one human who knows our temptations but never sinned.  He can lead us away from our urges and lusts and into his righteousness.

1 Corinthians 6:9 is clear that homosexuals and other former labels will not reach God's kingdom.  But the good news, is such were all of us, but then Christ made us new persons.  Let your former culture and lifestyle not prevent you from throwing off everything that hinders following Christ completely.

Because a girl danced

This blog comes from my new habit of listening to this AM gospel station on my way to work.  One day at work an author had a book signing, and this gospel station came to sponsor it.  I got its frequency and now I listen to it frequently.  I can hear the music that I sell.  Mostly I enjoy it.

Sometimes, however, they have preaching.  Mostly I enjoy it, too.  The guy preaching really does love and preach Jesus.  Sometimes he slips and preaches himself, but he mostly sticks to Scripture and points to Jesus.  He decided to preach on Matthew 14, the death of John the Baptist.  He had good insights, but in the end I was not really sure what his sermon was about.

I think ultimately, John the Baptist spoke out against Herod's immorality at the expense of his life.  In the year 2014, we also must speak out against rampant immorality, and yes it will cost us our lives.  Herod would often take different in-laws and marry them.  He married his brother Phillip's wife who had this beautiful daughter who danced for him and also eventually became his wife.  This was basically an incestuous orgy.  John the Baptist spoke against it.  Herod was popular and could decide how he lived.  He liked John.  He liked to listen to him.  But when John spoke a sermon that called Herod to deny his lusts and to serve the Lord, Herod put him in jail.  And when Herod had a birthday party, and his step daughter danced before her drunken king and his friends, he promised her anything.  She asked for John's head on a platter.  John died because a girl danced.  He was in a position to die because he boldly told the royal family that their lifestyle choice is not merely a personal preference: it's a destructive sin and they are accountable to God.

Even though the Gospel was preached, this man on the radio sometimes had a word for himself.  Just like John, he preaches and it is unpopular.  And he's right.  Rampant sex lives are very popular right now and endorsed by our president.  Whether heterosexual or homosexual, sex is the religion, and our president will do all he can for it.  He will force abortions on people.  He will force churches to recognize same-sex marriage.  He will fire people for not supporting a gay wedding.  And this man on the radio is open about his opposition to homosexuality and general libertinism.  At the same time, he's a black man.  I can't be sure, but I think he likes Obama like most of his culture despite his rampant anti-Christian policies.  But he still speaks against sin even if he should die in the process.

Ultimately, I think I'll enjoy the radio preacher even if I vastly disagree with some things that are characteristic of our cultural differences.  He will at least provide me with blog material and I can try to weed out my personal biases and separate it from what I am convinced that Scripture teaches.  And hey, I think he does the same thing.  Praise God that he can use both of us to spread the Gospel despite our faults.

Words can't express it; but Jesus is the answer, not myself

It's only 2:30 AM.  Yes, a terrible time to be prowling the internet as I can say anything.  But you know, this is my blog.  I can write on it whenever I want.

I've been noticing more links from Tim Challies and other Christians who blog about love and sexuality.  As much as I do wish we could get to a place where we aren't obsessed with all of that, we're obsessed just the same, and so I must contribute my two cents because there is something even the Christian bloggers seem to miss.  I think this article is excellent btw.  If people really trusted Jesus and believed in his Word, then all definitions and all meanings would change for the better and we could enjoy God's gifts without worshiping them.

So, where do Christian bloggers miss the mark, even ones I absolutely love, when talking about sex?  They are excellent when they explain how marriage and marital sex are a wonderful picture that parallels our relationship with God through Christ. 

When you go through life, you seek fame, money, a job, someone to love, good standing in your church, big brains, good theology, the best books and music, but you slowly find that even in the best of situations, none of that satisfies.  It is all empty because our ultimate love was not meant for this world.  It was meant for Jesus.  God gave us all kinds of gifts to enjoy, including food, sex, music, pleasure, money, but they were not meant to take his place.  God is supposed to be our chief love, joy, and longing as he is the only one that won't disappoint.  Of course, still being a sinner who lives on fallen planet earth, I still have to wait to completely enjoy God forever in his fulness.

Before I married Tim and ever since I was about 11, I wanted so much to love someone deeply.  To go through life with them, grow old with them, find out how their lives progress, share secrets, be essentially naked.  It wasn't until I married Tim that I fully realized that dream, but I had to wait.  But just like food and music and worldly pleasures are wonderful if enjoyed to God's glory and not worshiped, so intense love for other people is a wonderful thing with wonderful bonds that have been lost in the Gay revolution.  Instead of intensely loving some other lady and wanting the best for her, the Progressive crowd tells us that it must involve physicality and lust.  No, that is an absolute lie.  The Christian bloggers miss the mark because they still believe in sexual orientation, or at least appear to so that they can be relevant to people who think they've experienced it.

No, sexual orientation is a myth.  It's really an intense love from God that is beautiful that sin messed up and turned into slavery to passions.  But all my love for people like my mom, my friends, my best friends are not to satisfy my passions or desires.  They are for God.  When Jesus comes in, he trumps everything.  God sent only one person that we could be completely vulnerable before and that is Jesus.  Until we can see Jesus face to face, we can only be naked and unashamed with the spouse of the opposite gender that we married.  And even then, my marital relationship is still not as wonderful and does not take the place of worshiping God.  Jesus came in, and he redefines everything.

If the world thinks that it is lust that should be satisfied by using another person for our own ends, Jesus comes in and shows us that it's actually a God-ordained love that was intended to provide us with companionship for the others' benefits that leads to worshiping God.  It's not orientation, it's simply an intense phileo love that has been long forgotten in our desires to satisfy our cravings.  It was never meant to be sexual.  It was always meant to be enjoyed as a way to enjoy just living and God's gifts.  Other people were made so we would not be alone in the world.  They weren't made for helping us feel good.  Only one person satisfied my longing for constant companionship, partnership, and even love and affection, and that is my husband.  Sure, God wants me to love and be close to all the people I meet, but to his glory and under his direction.

And my husband ultimately will leave me unsatisfied because my complete worship was meant for God.  Sure, I can enjoy food and entertainment, but all to his glory and under his direction.  Under God's direction, the world ceases to be one dimensional.  You go from thinking that love is only expressed in lust, to seeing God's world and seeing that love is a daily lifestyle that involves everyone that is not you.  Other people are enjoyed for their personalities, their stories, their backgrounds, and we try to do things for them at our expense.  This involves charity, work, education, experiences, and even affection -- none of which require sex which was meant for only my husband who I married who is vastly different from me and who I'll never completely understand.

In the same way, life involves food, music, pleasure, money, fame -- none of which require worship which was only meant for Jesus, who is vastly different from m and who I'll never completely understand.

What I listened to on Holy Week

I totally did not blog last week.  I have more intellectual posts in the oven, but they aren't ready.  I will mention all I listened to in the past week.

Beverly Crawford releases a new album today.  I tried to listen to her some last night but she screams.  I don't get into screaming.  I prefer Erica Campbell or William McDowell.

Needtobreathe also has a new album.  I used to never like the lead singer's voice.  I still don't like it but their new album is quite good.  It has good music and good soul.

Francesca Battistelli has a new album today.  She also has soul, and she's stayed true to the orthodox faith throughout the years.

Anthony Evans is Tony Evans's son and Priscilla Shirer's brother.  If you want some good praise and worship music, listen to him.  I think two of his songs from his newest album are only the best I've ever heard.  They are uplifting and happy.

I'm really impressed with Da TRUTH's new album.

I don't have much more to say this week.  Happy Tuesday!

Gospel and Christian Rap

So, I spent this afternoon hanging out with my cats and listening to Da TRUTH.  He's a rapper.  I told Tim I'd be doing this and he just asked why.  Because I work in Atlanta and I want to know more of the stuff we sell at the store.  Rap is not my favorite, but it's actually the best theology in Christian recording right now.

Lecrae is the most famous one right now.  He's good and has good theology, but he's too popular.  Fifty Cent likes him.  Even Toby Mac features him on his album.  He's kind of more of a fashion statement.  And listening to his music long enough, I feel like a drill is going on in my head.

Da TRUTH is different.  Another Reformed guy: he drops the names of Spurgeon, Calvin, and Luther.  He also features Lecrae.  He truly raps the Gospel in his music.

Also, unlike most rap, it's mixed in with real music and singer.  I think that's why I can stomach this.  There's also no high pitched noises.

Da TRUTH has a new album that I put on shelves this weekend, and it officially comes out Tuesday.  Heartbeat.  If you like rap or need a male role model for some young guy that you know, I recommend it.

Last but not least:

I is for I just can't think of one for I

J is for JIFE.  That means, Jesus is for Everybody and is one of Da TRUTH's tracks.

Unspoken and Hinds Feet, help typing with some cat feet

Recently I recommended that the Atlanta LifeWay play Erica Campbell's new CD on the overhead.  That has successfully happened and I can enjoy work again.

It seems that now one of the other CDs on the 5 disc player (quite a luxury) is skipping.  It is a good praise and worship album, but it skips.  It looks like I might have to recommend something else.  I would love to see more a diversity of music played at LifeWay, especially in a neighborhood where people only listen to one kind of music.  Perhaps I'll go with a more CCM artist.

I think Unspoken would be good.  Their CD was for 5 dollars recently.  I finally listened to them.  I was impressed.  They have a rock sound with a touch of southern and soul.

Apparently I didn't care for them before this.  The song above, "Who You Are" is the only one I had heard.  I didn't care for the song's lyrics even though it is catchy.  It almost seems like an invitation for people to do what they want because they can never fall too far so fast...

But then, the other songs on this album are very good.  This is the other song that's big now:

"Lift my Heart up."  It is exactly what people should sing to Jesus.  We should be in total surrender to his will and not force him to perform some miracle.

I liked "Real Thing" the best:

In a world where so many influences tell you the best way to self-actualization and to pray for your family, this band reminds us that Jesus is the Real Thing.  This is an age where people are not satisfied with God's revelation in the Bible and turn to charlatans such as "Sarah Calling."  The Bible is the Real Thing and we must have confidence in it as all the information we need.

So, I reconsider the first song, "Who You Are."  What didn't I like about this?  In the context of the rest of the album it is a good encouragement to believers who keep messing up and really mourn over their sin.  It's a good reminder that Jesus's sacrifice was complete and that he won't let go of his children.

H is for Hannah Hurnard's Hinds Feet on High Places
Once I read Pilgrim's Progress as it was a free series on AIG.  It was great and I need to read it again and study more deeply.  I don't remember a lot of it, but it's such a watershed book for the Reformed Protestants.  But anyway, last year at Refuge Pregnancy Center, I was having a slow day and had nothing to read.  I'd already read all the brochures (actually that's not true either).  I decided to look at the books available for the Bridges to Life women.  One of them was Hinds Feet on High Places.  Keith Green was inspired to write "Trials Turned to Gold" after reading it.  Jars of Clay dedicated their whole second album to it with the name of the lead character, Much-Afraid.

I decided that I would finally read it.  I'm still not sure what I think.  The main woman, Much Afraid, really does make me nervous.  Her faith starts out so weak and she's so afraid of Craven Fear, this mean boy who wants to marry her.  She's crippled in her feet, and her relatives, the Fearings, always drag her down emotionally.  Finally, the Good Shepherd comes and lets her start on a journey to the high places.

There are many good things.  Much Afraid has two friends called Sorrow and Suffering who go with her on the trip.  She also goes through deserts and scary places.  Each time, she picks up a new token to remind her of what she had learned.  And also, the Shepherd made her drive a thorn into hear heart called Love.  It's painful, but it's what makes life worth-while.  At the end, she finally outruns Craven Fear and her relatives and make it to the high places and receives a new name.  What baffles me, is she decides to go back home to tell the others.

Then at some point, I read a Spurgeon sermon that mentions Much Afraid and Craven Fear.  Hinds Feet was written about 100 years after Spurgeon lived.  I assume he was talking about Pilgrim's Progress and I had forgotten so much of it that I was taken by surprise.  I'm ashamed.  I need to find a way to read it and possibly even share it with Tim.  Also, Derek Thomas wrote a book about it, so that may be the next book that I get myself for Christmas.  Apparently, there is a second part to Pilgrim's Progress that concerns Christian's wife and children.  How come I never knew?  I don't know when I'll start reading it again, but I must soon.