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May 24 |
Efrem Smith on Calvinism and Christian Hip Hop
Those of you who know me, may know that I have a strong opinion on Calvinism and Christian Hip Hop (Part I, Part II). What you may not know, however, is that I am not entirely alone in my opinion. Besides myself, I have read disappointingly few who have had the guts to speak out on this subject. Today, I am happy to report that Efrem Smith, Superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and co-author of The Hip Hop Church shares my opinion: |
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Too Bad For the Black Church
The most important part of your commentary Efrem is when you say: “I put the full blame on the African-American church, which has done a great job over the years of rejecting Holy Hip Hop artists. Because the African-American Church has made orphans of Holy Hip Hop artists..”.
The Lewis guy out of Texas started the spark and then black Churches nationwide started the wildfire and burned it down. There is not one black Church in the entire SE/Easter seaboard that will welcome in HHH artists. But, then look at the black Churches nationwide in massive foreclosure. Yes, the economy can be partly to blame but also when you demonize an entire culture and youth, and then kick out these street preachers who could have helped you bring in people, to replace your aging and dying congregation, the result is what you see today.
Here is the black church foreclosure google link (thousands nationwide). http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&source=hp&q=black+churches+fore...
So, it may not be a bad idea of this marriage with Calvinism because at this rate, there won’t be any black Churches left, all of the holy hip hop preachers will be tied into all of the white Churches and that Lewis guy and everyone who followed him down that path will be on the outside looking in, while white parents use the music to edify and uplift their kids, while black parents watch their kids die, denigrate, degrade and continue to fill up prison cells.
So, maybe not call it an “Odd Marriage” but maybe a “Perfect Marriage”. The devil tricked Lewis and many others to drive away these holy hip hoppers, now he is laughing as the black Church disintegrates right before everyone’s eyes.
Kudos to John Piper for truly understanding scripture and knowing that God is omnipotent over all things, and too bad for that Lewis guy and all of those who followed him and his anti-holy hip hop rants, as they will be held accountable for the death of the Black Church, especially as all of these hip-hoppers who are out of the Church, begin seeking salvation and all that is out there for them as they look around is Holy Hip Hop (in white Churches), remaining ostracized and banned from the dying black Church. If it were not so true, it would be sad.
Maybe, a guy like you Efrem can change this destination, via works and not just words, as the writing is on the wall, and it will take more than blogs and tweets to stop it. It is going to take a new thinking, a new direction, an Apology (sort of like what you were implying in your words where you stated, “I do want Holy Hip Hop artists to know though, that they are loved by many African-American pastors…”. But, time is running out and that is one thing that we all know for sure. JT
A Marriage That Needs to be Annulled
No Jeff, if the black church in the US is dying (which I’m not convinced is true), it is people like John Piper, the churches, and the seminaries where these HHH artists have been trained that are contributing to its demise. I am so proud of pastor Efrem for boldly proclaiming the unpopular truth that, “Calvinism is Eurocentric in nature and in the United States of America has evolved into a theology driven by the privileged.” These HHH artists that have adopted Calvinism have been culturally assimilated and it is the assumption that they must submit to Calvinism’s hegemony that is widening the generational gap in the black church—and it needs to be stopped. Calvinism and hip hop is not only an “odd marriage,” it’s a dysfunctional and abusive marriage that should be annulled.
I love hip hop especially
I love hip hop especially with gospel motives!
Thanks bro!
Hey Brian, Thanks for the mention!
I'm not sure how great (or
I'm not sure how great (or little) a response it will receive, but I mentioned this subject on my blog and gave your articles some sustained attention: http://nearemmaus.wordpress.com/2011/05/24/calvinism-and-hip-hop/
I thought you should be aware in case anyone challenges your proposals.
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