Last night we switched over to “American Idol” for a couple of minutes between innings. As the camera focused on Idol judge Steven Tyler, I made an effort to appear young to my kids by mentioning that Tyler and Aerosmith were making music back when I was in high school. The kids didn’t bite. Then we got talking about Aerosmith’s demise and then re-emergence in 1986 thanks to Run-D.M.C.’s cover of “Walk This Way.” In the end, the conversation covered everything from old music, to drugs, to rap. I guess you could say that rap music breathed life back into Tyler and his band.
Earlier in the day, I had received the latest edition of Christianity Today in the mail. Funny, but CT mentioned rap music as well. This article, however, was about Reformed Theology’s move into the world of rap through people like Lecrae, Trip Lee, Shai Linne, Flame, and Voice. I heard Shai Linne live last year for the first time. While the genre’s not my thing, the lyrics were. It was moving.
Something is happening in the church in North America. There’s a continuing resurgence of Reformed Theology. It’s making an impact in corners of the church that many never would have imagined. I first discovered and began to consciously contemplate Reformed Theology while a student at Geneva College. It grabbed me. It’s been holding on and gripping tighter and tighter ever since. I’m not exaggerating when I say that so many of my conversations over matters of faith, life, and ecclesiology prompt this thought: “This person needs to check out Reformed Theology.” Oftentimes, I tell them the same thing.
I have embraced Reformed Theology because of its big view of the sovereignty of God, its emphasis on and understanding of the Kingdom of God, the way that its helped me understand the darkness in my own heart, and the emphasis on the cross and the grace that was given to us there. I have also embraced it because I have found it to be faithful to the Scriptures and true.
The CT article reports on Curtis “Voice” Allen’s viral videos, including this one. Check it out. . . .
Walt, like you I have embraced Reformed Theology. It really sheds light on how to live in the world, but not of the world. Also like you, the rap genre is not my thing at all. Ironically though, my Dutch, daughter of a dairy farmer, wife loves that genre. She has opened my eyes to artists like Lecrae that you mentioned, who’s lyrics strike a chord with me even though the music genre might not. Thanks for the post Walt. I’ll be thinking of you next time I am stuck in the car with my wife while she is bumping Lecrae through the stereo system.