I love music. All kinds (except country, sorry). If you were to peer into my iTunes you’d find 95% “Christian” artists. This is not because I’ve subjected myself to some kind of shunning of “secular” music. I don’t believe in “secular” as being different from “sacred.” But I listen mostly to what the world classifies as “Christian” artists because Jesus is more readily found there.
Contemporary, mainstream Christian worship music does an overall good job of presenting Jesus and the Gospel for the most part, and I am thankful to God for their gift and expression of Him to the world. There is much thanks and praise there, and it is a sweet offering of who God is, and appreciation for God’s gift of Love and Salvation.
But there’s a significant piece of the Gospel that is usually missing. It is “the other side” of the Cross if you will. While most Christian music exalts the Lord and proclaims His Salvation, that is only one side of the Gospel, the saving side, the foot of the Cross side. It is Jesus as the Gate into following Him for eternal life.
But there is a continuing, or ongoing Gospel friends. This is the shadow of the Cross side. The side where we carry the Cross in our lives. The side where the Cross is inwrought in our lives as it wages death on Self – that Christ may be increased. It is the side of following. The side of discipleship. The side of giving all. It is Jesus as the Path toward Life.
It is Death. Death of Self.
And besides it being the best music to have in my earholes while crushing a workout, this is precisely why I love to listen to rap music. Yes, “Christian” rap music.
Rappers, by self-proclaim, often come from a culture of death, of war, of dark and dangerous. Rappers redeemed, by Testimony, know what it’s like to be rescued from – and dead to – a life that was of this world. They “get” what it means to be broken, and to live by new Life. They understand death, and how now to embrace that inner working against the flesh as Jesus is gaining ground in them daily.
Rappers who live by Christ present a Gospel of the Cross in their following of Jesus. This is different and refreshing from most mainstream Christian music.
Some examples:
“Make War” by Tedashii
So (man) if you into Christ,
Take up! your cross quickly…I make war!
Man I beat my flesh
To the death, every breath
Like I beat my chest
I make war
Sun up
I make war
Sun down
I make war
Time in
I make war
Time out
I make war
Against lust
Against pride
Against me
Until I die
Tedashii grasps something that most Christians don’t, and is rarely preached. In Christ you are free. You are not only forgiven of your sins, but your flesh has been crucified to it’s carnal lusts. This means you have power and Grace in Jesus to deny the flesh, thus taking up your Cross, and allowing the indwelling Lord to have more ground in your life. This is a daily choice. It is a war, the only remaining war left to fight. The war against Self.
“Bury Me” by Tedashii and Lecrae
Hey go ‘head and bury me
Tell ’em cemetery me
Six feet, six deep
Tell ’em they can carry me…Okay, you can bury me
Go ‘head and bury me
Sinner from beginner
So my wages cemetery me…Stitchin’ on my heart (heart), cardiac arrest
Spirit came and gave my filthy cardiac a rest
I was dead to God, sin headlong
Wasn’t ready to die, but I was dead wrong
Now I’m dead and gone, me and my old ways
Even my four rights would take me back the wrong way
And no way, I ain’t going back
Fill my pillowcase with dirt and let me take a nap (sleep)
Put my sin to sleep, execute my flesh
Tell my worldliness to lay it down and take a rest…Try to do good, gave my all just like a charity
But good works like a casket they just box me in and bury me
Found life in the Word, minus Webster’s Dictionary
Now I tell the story of my life in death, obituary
Life ain’t over but it’s already gone
Now your boy crossed over but I’m already home
Your boy Tedashii back, this time with Lecrae, singing about Galatians 2:20 and 2 Corinthians 5:17. The Christian Life is about becoming what you already are. When you are crucified, you live by faith your new creation Life in Jesus while still in your flesh. It’s a dual reality. Your old man is dead. Your flesh remains, but your new Life is inside, and at the same time it is eternal, already Home.
“Go Hard” by Lecrae
Lord kill me If I don’t preach the gospel
I’m still in my 20’s- but I’ll die if I got to
Already dead- so forget my flesh
I done been crossed over see the full court press
I’m a full court mess if the Lord don’t use meRunning from my trials thinkin everythangs groovy
If the Cross don’t move me then I don’t wanna breath no moIf I ain’t seeing Christ potna I don’t wanna see no mo
Rep every day without worrying about bruising
I been to china mayne I seen some real persecution
If U didn’t know em would ya life look the same
Can they tell you value Jesus by the way you rep his name?
Man what’s the point of living if I’m living for myself
Lord empty out my life before I put you on the shelf So for God I got Hard I don’t’ wanna die tonight
It’s too many people living who ain’t heard about my Christ
I love this message of a true disciple being compelled to be used up by the Lord for His Purposes, a “full court mess” if not. Go hard. Or go home. Hard is the only Way.
“Zone Out” by KB
Okay I’m in here so what’s up now? End zone like touchdown
KB and I’m dressed out and I won’t move like tough crowds
Seven years I done stuck out got death threats, pushed down
But how they ‘posed to hurt a man that’s been dead since ‘05?
Beat drop and I’m goin’ in, preach so hard that you know it’s him
He fills me up and then he pours (pores), this might go underneath yo skin
I promise dawg I’m on it (ha) to the praise of his glory, homie
I’ma get it in, no woulda or coulda been but fully be full of him, I’m hungry homie‘Cause I’ve got tunnel vision, yeah I’m focused on the light (he’s with me)
Can’t see a thang ‘cause I’m focused on the Christ (come with me)
You can try to kill me but you can’t hurt me
You can bring whoever you want, want
You’ll never break me, won’t penetrate
Once I get off in my zone, zone yeah
I’m in my zone, I-I-I-I’m in my zone
I’m in my zone
When you’ve caught a revelation of Christ and His Glory and died to Live It, there is nothing that can take that tunnel vision off of Him and His Purpose. There is nothing that anyone or anything, any force of nature or of principalities or powers of the seen or unseen can do to derail you from… your Zone.
“You Can’t Stop Me” by Andy Mineo
My God good, but he’s not safe, nah
Only thing I fear is God and he on my side
(You) don’t got the power, (can’t) shut me down
(Stop), that’s not an option, I’m my biggest problem
(You) don’t got the power, (can’t) shut me down
(Stop), that’s not an option
You can’t stop meYou’re my biggest opponent, you know me I know you we know it
Whenever I fail, you’ve always been there to simply remind me I’ve blown it
You don’t see when I’m growing, you don’t see where I’m going
You only see in the moment, you know my mistakes you never let go it
Huh, don’t cease to amaze me, and it drive me crazy, huh
That you catch every detail that I miss in the songs I’m making, saying
You will never write a verse like Kendrick
Never be the rap or rock God from Hendrix
Top 10 alive you will never be mentioned
Why aim so high, won’t survive the trenches
Plus, you a Christian Andy, they will never listen Andy
Plus, well your pigment Andy, huh, you don’t got skill you a gimmick Andy
Well, if I listen to you, and everything you put in my ear
I’ll be living like woulda, shoulda, coulda, I’ll be paralyzed by fear
Huh, ain’t that the truth, if I quit the only way I lose
I got two choices when I do this – make moves or make excuses
Huh, if you know who I’m talking about, then you got me
My biggest enemy is me – and even I can’t stop meI said if I cannot stop me then you’ll never stop me
Whew! This one is my current jam, and makes me want to run through walls. You can’t stop me. He’s talking to himself, the Self. He is denying it with the Cross and the Truth. The only thing to fear is God, and He’s on our side.
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So there ya go. A sampling of some of my favorite rappers – redeemed, crucified, alive in Christ, slinging the full Gospel.
Gonna go swing some kettle bells and crush some pull-ups now…
What do you think? What do you “hear” when you listen to music? Who are your favorites?
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