Christian Hip-Hop, Heroes, and Harambe


The Art of Distraction

Before we bring this trek into our house as CHH, I think it is really important for us to walk a few things back.

Often, significant shifts take place without us even realizing or analyzing what has actually transpired and what the implications may be. When I think back to CHH’s origins (see A Generation’s Words), the truth is kinfolk, something has been itching in our midst from the very beginning.

For as long as I can remember, something in our community has been gnawing at us.

Despite our acknowledgment and/or ignorance of our community’s roots, our founding practices and our progenitors, such as Stephen Wiley, Michael Peace, D Boy, SFC and I.D.O.L. King to name a few, just below the surface, something else has always been present. This itch has ultimately been successful in keeping our family divided, wavering among competing desires—namely God’s vs. ours. Isn’t this the classic, daily battle that all Christians face in our everyday spiritual lives?

Nieces and nephews, I have lived long enough to know a few ways Satan looks to trip us up and get us away from the real issues. Harambe wasn’t the focus of the wake-up story, nor was Trump the highlight of the election example. The heart of this discussion is not about heroes, but about people, not just some people, our people.

In a like manner, I won’t get bogged down with a discussion about Lecrae or Reach Records (at least not right now), I want to talk about us. So, before you put me on blast and write me off as just another O.G. hating and bringing division to the body, I beg you not to think like that. I’m asking you to consider my active labor behind the scenes in discussions (many ongoing) where mutual sharing with Lecrae and others has taken place with hopes of bringing peace and understanding.

Furthermore, please, also consider that your love and support of him (and others) is preceded and, in some cases, superseded by mine. Mine is not just some distant fandom or disconnected adoration, but once upon a time, I co-labored with him and others with hopes of seeing future fruitfulness for the kingdom. So let’s give Crae a rest for now and let’s do some introspection because, again, sometimes people’s heroes tell us more about people than they do about the hero.

One of the things that we have to remember is that many of these issues aren’t new to our community and churches.

Passions Picks

I can think of one similar case where a dude by the name of Paul had been put in prison and was close to being executed. Put yourself in his shoes, if you can, just for a moment. Sensing his time was up, he decided to write one final letter to his disciple Timothy.

If you knew your life was all but over and you needed to emphasize a few last things for those whom you wanted to carry on God’s work after you were gone, what would be your points of emphasis?

Paul’s to Timmy were to preach (proclaim or herald) the word when it was convenient and when it wasn’t convenient, remember faithfulness, not popularity, was the call. Then, he tells Timothy why he should have this posture. This is what I really want us to consider, fam.

Paul says, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Tim 4:1-7)

What’s amazing is Paul wasn’t talking about this happening among supposed “evil” people or non-believers, he was talking about it occurring in the lives of those who considered themselves the people of God. So, before the end of the “life of Pablo,” he wanted to first warn Timothy that endurance for hearing that which was solid would not only be a challenge but not tolerated. Teaching (doctrine), which was the mechanism God gave to instruct his people in the “Way”, a way of not just living, but a way of seeing all of life, would soon have a rival. People would gain a growing itch for novelty rather than principle instruction, and, in the process, look for those who could scratch such an itch.

Before we go any further or before we misunderstand this phenomenon as something unique, this had happened before Paul’s warning and many times since. We, as God’s people, are prone to go after our desires or attempt to “help” God fulfill what we assume are His. Highlighting this is not meant to condemn us, but to remind us of what we are capable of.

Are we any worse than Aaron who saw, first hand, God’s miraculous deliverance, protection, and provision, but still he became an instrument to fulfill the people’s desire to be led by other false gods. Therefore, the demand created the supply (Exodus 32). It was the people’s plea for an idol that called forth this talented, ministerial, gold-smelting, calf-making, artist, who happened to be conveniently on deck.

This man is our big brother in the faith. The lesson we learn from his story is similar to what Paul forewarned Timothy about. It’s one we today would do well to heed.

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