Holy hip-hop or gospel rap has emerged onto the scene as a genre of music that ignites some church goers and attracts the youth. However, is the creation of this genre philosophically corrupting the doctrine of the black Christian?
The church should be the independent leader of the community who is convicted in what it believes instead of some accommodating a class of people for the sake of a large membership. You see, I believe the dog should be in control of his tail and not the tail in control of the dog. Secular society and those working against the building of God’s Kingdom is not the dog. It’s the tail. Saying this, even though hip-hop was not created to be a devil worshipping model, it was also not created to build God’s Kingdom. So what does all of this mean?
We hear many gospel songs that emulate the rhythm and melodies of our music genre such as jazz, blues, rock and roll and country, however, we do not hear the titles including “Rock and Roll” in their genre. We don’t hear rock and roll gospel. We do not hear R&B gospel. All we hear is gospel. Though, in theory its intentions are noble, my problem here is the church is lending validity and credibility to a music that was not created for God and oftentimes, does not include him in the rappers’ approach So why use it? The end does not justify the means in this case because the end can be a church whose mission is becoming diluted in its beliefs and work. With all of the intelligent Christian producers, why not create a new genre of music that may be rappers’ lyrics over a particular melody that attracts the secular people and the youth. This music can have its own name without the inclusion of “hip-hop” or “rap.” After all, this is one of the reasons gospel rap exists – to make Christianity more appealing to the secular society. But what happens when our convictions become too accommodating? Don’t we think accommodating folks just to get them through the church doors will cause a problem either for the church or for the member later?
It’s no different from being fake when you meet someone you want to date. If you falsely appeal to them just to get their attention or their “membership” over time, that person will expect you to remain the same way which attracted them to you.
Has the church gone wrong by allowing hip-hop to be attached to their music? Many would argue that it is a way to get people into the church and that the content is what’s important. Not to mention the power of beats! You may not like the words but the beat will seduce you into liking the song soon overlooking the words. I find this as hideous as the argument about the use of the “N” word. Spelling “ga” instead of “ger” at the end is still a gross disrespect to those who died at the hands of those who were hatefully using of the word. Getting the people into the church? Please! If you get people into the church doors by using musical tactics that glorify misogyny, greed, idolatry, promiscuity and violence, you can expect some of those traits to subsist in the church as well as if the proper follow through is not provided to new members. Romans 12:2 in the Bible also says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” This is not an attack on hip-hop music, it is an attack on our principles and our innovation to lead [in the church]. We cannot be willing to bend and budge for the sake of accommodating. If we continue to, we will continue to witness false prophets, shamed congregations, lethargic followers and skeptical outsiders. I know my views are often not welcomed, but I pride myself on bringing “uncommon sense” since statistically only about 10 percent of our country is considered “under-educated” and we live in a democracy.
My plea to my religious family isn’t to get rid of the “holy hip hop” style; nor is it to remove the edgy approach to win over believers. It is to say that we need to do better at hiding the medicine in the applesauce instead of exposing the poison to the people. The church should be the originators of a style that has appeal to reach the “hip hop” crowd without leaning to the “hip hop” term for acceptance. It is for the church to continue to present itself as the frontrunners in setting the trends and norms for society not openly borrow methods from areas that could possibly care less about saving souls. The church shouldn’t need secular tactics, which under-mind Godly missions. Though I believe the church should adjust to the times to be effective, it shouldn’t aid the vile to be in existence. Doing so we cause the merits and purposes of the church to become watered down and ineffective to the souls that are in desperate need of religious renovation.
– St. Thomas native Devin Robinson is an economics professor at Oglethorpe University, a community activist, author of seven books and a columnist. E-mail him at devin@devinrobinson.com. His website is www.devinrobinson.com.
