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A Contrite Apology from Dr. Joel Beeke to “Christian” Rappers
First, here is Dr. Joel Beeke’s apology:
Recently I was asked to participate in a panel discussion at a Reformed Worship conference. In that discussion the panelists were asked to address the subject of Christian rap music (which I took to mean rap music primarily in the context of a local church worship service). To my regret, I spoke unadvisedly on an area of music that I know little about. It would have been far wiser for me to say nothing than to speak unwisely. Please forgive me. I also wish to publicly disassociate myself from comments that judged the musicians’ character and motives.
—Joel Beeke
Tim Challies is a New Calvinist pal of Dr. Joel Beeke who for his part has humbled himself in sackcloth and ashes, contritely expressing remorse for offending the “Christian” rap crowd. The last line of Dr. Beeke’s apology seems to relate also to the comments of others on the panel in question. Dr. Beeke’s claim that “Christian rap” is “an area of music that I know little about” is a strange one indeed. What minister today does not know enough about that “music” to know that it is irreverent, ungodly, gross worldliness and part of the hip-hop culture which includes immodest dress, tattoos, piercings, and summed up, a lot of downright stupid talk and behavior. By the way, some time back, Dr. Beeke knew enough about the rapper Propaganda to compliment him thusly: “To his credit, Propaganda promotes the gospel of Christ in other raps, and says that he has learned a lot from reading the Puritans.”
But, all of this public clarification, remorse, and concern by Joel Beeke over his mildly negative comments about the wretched, ungodly noise of so-called holy hip-hop, yet Dr. Beeke has uttered not a public word of apology or warning for being deeply imbedded as a participant with, and a promoter of, the ungodly, deeply ecumenical Refo500 since its inception! By the way, the National Center for Family-Integrated Churches (NCFIC) is far, far from being a scripturally sound ministry organization for a number of reasons, including that the NCFIC Church and Family Network includes new evangelical (Reformed and Arminian), charismatic, Pentecostal, and Apostolic churches. But of course, we are expected to accept, with all docility, the new norm whereby such camels have nowadays been redefined as mere gnats at the worst. Jer. 5:31: “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?”
– Ralph Ovadal
5 Pt. Salt 
Actually, perhaps Dr. Beeke should be commended for his apology. I am not a fan of the genre, however I have heard more sound doctrine from Reformed rappers than from a truckload of CCM types who seem to either forgotten to include the message that Christ died for OUR sins, or who intentionally remove the offense of the gospel from their music, betraying, in my opinion, their Pelafian proclivities.
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