The Not So Surprising Surprise of Christian Apostasy
It is usually hard to avoid the pit we feel in the bottom of our stomachs when we read or hear that a notable Christian has renounced the faith. Even the most aged and experienced Christians can find themselves saddened or disappointed at the news.
It is especially hard when we realize it is someone we’ve followed closely. What we too frequently forget is these “celebrities” we look to in various ways battle and struggle with the same sins that we do. Within the milieu of the Christian Rap society, this tension is undoubtedly heightened: the tension and pull between the world and the grip of the Gospel.
As men and women are inevitably placed on spiritual pedestals (many times despite their efforts), balance must always accompany notoriety. Humility and perspective must occupy the opposite scale of fame and legend. For the Christian placed in any setting, these counterweights are always founded and rooted in our fellowship and communing with a local body.
The State of Christian Hip Hop
Christian Rap has set a blazing path of unashamed Gospel proclamation and the undergirding of a Christian cultural transformation. Whatever your opinion of the musical genre itself or the methodology of its most noted artists, one fact rings true: most of these artists are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
From the formal establishment of Christ’s New Testament church in Acts, Christians have always been expected to root themselves deeply within the construct of their local church. This allows for proper continued spiritual nourishment through life’s difficulties, theological growth and development, and the proper worship of God as posited by him to be his primary means of Grace.
As Christian artists begin to branch out due to success, performing all over their respective states and even countries, it can undoubtedly become harder and harder to remain truly active and present within the life of a local body. A lack of accountability and discipleship can often times be the wind that fans the flames of apostasy.
To grow in grace and in community requires that we be present. While there are certainly some Christian artists who make a point to be present for the Lord’s Day worship, this important aspect of a believer’s walk can easily be sacrificed on the altar of lyrical evangelism, and ever expanding opportunity.
Rickey Joppy, one of the recent faith renouncing Christians stated in an open letter: “My conscience is pierced with the truth and I have to live the rest of my life willingly rejecting it. The world and everything in it has captivated my heart again.” While ultimately the burden and conviction of apostasy falls squarely on the shoulders of the one who turns from the Lord, giving ourselves to the continuous communion and fellowship of the saints is a means by which the Spirit aids in staving off the pull of sin.
The Christian rap genre presents its own unique set of inherent difficulties as it continues to grow at an alarming rate. As more and more people come to faith, who also have musical aspirations and talent, they feel they have an immediate outlet to pursue their musical endeavors. The problem is, there should be much more of a desire to lay down these potential pursuits to, instead, grow and hone their theological and spiritual prowess.
The very tangible and good community offered by the Christian Hip Hop world cannot and should not be mistaken or substituted for the spirit nurturing community provided by the church. If this is not realized early, spiritual growth can be stunted and it can eventually have disastrous effects.
In a response to the reasons provided by British rapper Jahaziel for his apostasy from the faith, Dr. James White points in his Dividing Line podcast that many of the reasons given are utterly refutable and basic in their formulation. Any Christian being seriously and diligently discipled within the context of a local church could not begin to think about giving the reasons Jahaziel did.
God’s desire is for us to be holy as he is holy. Personal holiness and external holiness are fostered in right community. New believers with musical aspirations shouldn’t look to Christian rappers as a means or mold for what their walk should look like. They should look to Scripture.
How Should We Respond?
As this cultural behemoth we call Christian Rap continues to unfold and grow, and inevitably more and more members fall by the wayside, what should our response as believers be? There are two prayers that should be in the forefront of our minds.
Mark 4:18: “And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”
It is important to remember that not everyone who embarks upon this journey will finish the race, despite the Apostle Paul’s admonishment that we do so. Our theology dictates we understand this to mean that those who turn from God were never part of us (1 John 2:19). God is to be glorified throughout and despite.
2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering towards us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Those who fall away, and in this case Christian Rappers, does show that perhaps they were not of us to begin with; in other words, that they were never actually saved. This, however, does not mean it is not the Lord’s will to truly and effectually save them in the future and to hold them in his hand permanently from that point.
Our prayer for them, as for any non-believer, should be that they would come to know the Lord, provided he be gracious enough to allow so. Were it not for the sustaining power of the Spirit, we would all be apostates. This truth would mandate that we exercise and display a measure of grace and love as we petition these men and women to the faith.
And while we pray for them, let us be mindful to pray for the Christian Hip Hop movement as a whole. It is multi-faceted and complex. If I’ve learned anything in my often brash and flippant dealings with it is this: Not everything is black and white; Everything requires balance.
Photo credit: Kevin Cortopassi via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-ND
we’re involved in the children’s ministry and our reading today was from Hebrews 10:24,25 24
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near
Your article really puts this into perspective of how and why GOD has placed such importance on meeting together.
I saw a link to this website from challis.com
Interestingly, I had a similar conversation with a friend the other day. The question is was the true gospel ever taught to him in the first place. Just like a married couple cannot wake up divorced, a series of little things have to take place. My heart bleeds for those who have turned away. I pray the church can show them grace and lift them up in prayer during these times. Thanks Lance
he “reasons” (or excuses to some) rapper Jahaziel posted for denying Christianity after 20 years as a professing Christian begs the question - After 20 years of following Christ, what didn’t Jahaziel learn about what it means to grow into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ and why didn’t he learn them? Mr. Jones here gives us a clue as to Jahaziel’s failure (and the Churches own resposiblity in that failure) to grow into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.
Great article, what CHH needs to hear right now. Thanks for posting the article! I found your site because of the post and just wanted to thank you for bringing this to the web.
Thank you brother!