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The Compromise of Lecrae and Those Who Promote Him
‘Holy’ hip-hop artist Lecrae has won a Grammy award. But he wouldn’t want to be called a holy hip-hop artist, or even a Gospel artist. Tell that to those who promote him, like the Gospel Coalition, John MacArthur and Grace-to-You, or John Piper and his Desiring God ministries.
Why wouldn’t he want to identify with Christianity in all this limelight? No need to wonder. Lecrae tells us:
I don’t try to do Gospel music, I’m not trying to be a Gospel rapper, I’m a hip-hop artist…..I just wanna be honest.
Worse, Lecrae, and many young followers who are attempting to follow in his footsteps to “gain a platform” have forgotten – if they ever knew – what it means to be a Christian.
“Yeah, it’s a wonderful experience, you know, for me, technically, I’m a hip-hop artist. And so, it’s amazing to even be nominated in the Gospel category because I’m a hip-hop artist but I can walk in both worlds and so to be able to walk in that world and to ignite and inspire 60,000 young people obviously is a wonderful thing, and then to turn around and go do, you know, MTV the next day is crazy.”
See what’s happening? Lecrae distances himself from all things Christian and places himself in the generic, worldly category of hip-hop music, and befriends the world. He is doing that. Why? You already know. Ideological platform, fame and fortune.
He’s emphasizing three things:
- He’s just a hip-hop artist
- He’s amazed, because he’s just a hip-hop artist, that he’s even nominated in the Gospel category.
- He can walk in both worlds.
Lecrae is distancing himself because, according to him, he can “walk in both worlds, i.e., holy hip-hop (so-called) as well as secular (as if there’s a difference).
The Bible talks about that. It’s called compromise; being a friend to the world.
You know what is even more disturbing? That pretty much every blogger at The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God and Grace-to-You websites, as well as men like Paul Washer and Tom Ascol who have given their stamp of approval and are actively promoting ‘holy’ hip-hop artists like Lecrae and others. Think about it. By promoting Lecrae and misguided young men like him, the Gospel Coalition, John MacArthur and John Piper are promoting his thinking – compromise; walking in both worlds.
I fear for the spiritual well being of any who follow in this young man’s footsteps, or those who promote this false platform in the name of Christianity.
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. – James 4:4
5 Pt. Salt 
Pardon me for being a lil crude here. Concerning this chap, it’s like saying ‘holy’ and ‘prostitute’ at the same time.
Your pride is pardoned.
Two words that ought never be paired together:
hip-hop
artist.
I recently read that 70% of Christian youth leave the faith in their twenties. With role models like Lacrae and church leadership such as Piper, McArthur et al, I can see why.
Sir, do you know anything about John MacArthur or John Piper outside of what this article says? Or Paul Washer? If you read this, I would like to ask you to please look into who these men are and then to apologize for insulting them as you did.
I would like Bro Timothy to explain his reply to my post. What’s prideful about what i said? I was trying to concretise what Joel said concerning Lacrae and those who feel hiphop and Christ go together. If you think you have it bad, come down to Nigeria. It has gotten so bad that a choir sings a ‘special number’ set to the tune of Celine Dion’s ballad for Titanic! There’s an aura of irreverence that is shocking about Christians adapting worldly culture to the gospel. I had James 4:4 in mind when i posted the words ‘holy prostitute’ which is an oxymoron! Hymns have been relegated to the trashcan. The Lord didn’t call us to adapt- we are meant to stick out!
Sister, have you ever listened to one of Lecrae’s songs? Or read the lyrics? I have; he mostly presents the Gospel, other biblical truth, and extra-biblical truth. I don’t think you would say what you did if you examined Lecrae more closely with a Spirit-led and Spirit-guarded mind.
Hip hop is an art form that does not have to be tied to sin. Lecrae and other Christian rappers (such as KB) generally do a good job of making Godly hip hop in my opinion. Remember, Jesus was criticized for spending time in the company of sinners as well. Luke 7:34
It’s not about spending time with sinners my friend, that is beside the point. If the music was Spirit led, it would not walk, talk, sound and resemble the world’s music. The Gospel doesn’t need a dress. It doesn’t need bait tied to it. You say Lecrae and others make ‘Godly’ hip-hop. Did you read the post? If you had, you would have seen that Lecrae doesn’t want that. He ‘doesn’t try to be a gospel artist’.
hip hop can’t be christian. country music can’t be christian. nothing can be christian except human beings.
and maybe if “christian” musicians didn’t suck so much or are as-commercial minded as secular musicians, then maybe lacrae wouldn’t feel the need to distance himself from the horrible-sounding abomination that is the profit-seeking CCM industry.
and i don’t even listen to lacrae.
Are Indian Christians to reject the sitar and tabla they learned to play because of the obvious Hindu associations?
And while we’re at it, lets address Paul’s blasphemous re-tweet of Plautus when he quoted Jupiter praise-and-worship lyrics in Acts 17, because clearly followers of Yeshua were called to maintain a strict, Pharisee-like distance from anything resembling pop-culture.