Position of Suspicion

I heard a song recently by a Christian rap artist Tedashii called "Make War." Everyone around me who heard it was excited and pumped. I was incredulous and fairly suspicious. You can follow the link below to hear it for yourself.

http://vimeo.com/8297807

I did a background check on Tedashii because I'd never heard of him. Watched a few interviews like the following:

http://www.ransom.tv/ransom/2010/11/tedashiis-ransom-note.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfgpOie9zfw&NR=1&feature=fvwp

He is definitely preaching the message of Christ, and gave me some incentive for reflection on the entire hip-hop medium, which I had long since abandoned as fatally flawed and worthless.

I have to admit -- I used to be a hip-hop head back in the days. But as I began to walk more and more with Christ, I just couldn't get past the ridiculous messages, the pride, the lust, and the depravity. I eventually had to face up to the hypocrisy of simultaneously pumping those messages into my mind with the contrary message of the gospel. I know all the justifications, too. "I don't agree with it -- I just listen for the beats." The problem is, you get out of yourself what you put into yourself. You reap what you sow. You become what you gaze at. I have found this principle to be true in practical life. I turned to Christian rap, for a period of time, but eventually walked away from the hip-hop medium completely. Everywhere I saw pride and the exaltation of self, and I came to the conclusion that pride and self worship were totally, inseparably infused into the medium of rap.

Listening to Tedashii speak about his mission and purpose is causing me to re-evaluate my position. He makes some important points that point me back to inescapable scripture.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:19-22:

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Is this not a reference to culture? An indication that culture is simply a medium, and that the Christian uses this medium in the quest to "save some?" I am sure this can be EASILY misconstrued and taken out of the context of the rest of the Gospel (i.e., do I become as a stripper in order to reach strippers?) However, just because it can be easily misconstrued, that doesn't take anything away from the core validity of the principle. In becoming slaves, we become all things to all people, that we might rescue some. Tedashii's statement about going back into the hip-hop culture in order to save souls really resonates with this scripture.

Paul also says in Philippians 1:14-18

Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.  The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice ..."

There is something very important implied here -- that God can and will accomplish his purposes through those with wicked motive and those with righteous motive. Rather than wasting time splitting hairs over the hidden motives of the heart, Paul rejoices that Christ is preached. He is stating here that, regardless of motive, the preaching of Christ itself is cause for rejoicing. 

I hear this man, Tedashii, preaching Christ, using the hip-hip medium. This is cause for rejoicing! This is not to say that his motive is questionable, but rather that motive is irrelevant. We are all nothing. Christ is the one who matters.

In all things we must submit to the wisdom of Christ.

Mark 9:38 recounts:

"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us." "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us."

We have given ourselves, in this country, the luxury of creating divisions between ourselves and other Christians, for many and various reasons. Reasons that are contrary to scripture, as you can note in Romans 14. Quarreling over non-essentials. Doubtful disputations. Foolish controversies (Titus 3:9).

I don't want to be doing that. Therefore, this experience has caused, and is causing me, to consider my initial position of suspicion.