I had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion at the Worship of God Conference sponsored by the National Center for Family Integrated Churches. Here is a video of how the panel answered the question, “What about Reformed Rap?” [vimeo vimeo.com/80291749] Related: See my series on Christian rap. Continue Reading
In a recent front-page article for Christianity Today, Russell Moore argues that Christian hip-hop could call the American church back to a powerful, even dangerous, gospel. Calling the American church back to the gospel – there’s glory in those words. On our better days we want that so badly that we can taste it. To change the metaphor,… Continue Reading
We have studied some statements by Shai Linne and boiled them down to four propositions. 1) Rap is a medium. 2) Media are morally neutral until informed by content. 3) Christ’s act of redemption means that even media formerly used for evil can now be used for God’s glory. 4) This is what Shai Linne… Continue Reading
The following abridged discussion took place here. Credo Mag: In the past you have been criticized for redeeming such a “depraved genre” as hip-hop. What is your response to this criticism? Shai Linne: Arguments against “depraved genres” are ultimately arguments against redemption itself, because depraved genres are the products of depraved human beings- who need… Continue Reading
Anthony Bradley recently submitted a commentary for World magazine publicizing ‘holy hip hop.’ He writes, “If you are looking for theologically saturated Christian music that has the greatest potential for widespread appeal, your best option may be Christian hip-hop.” The first sentence gives away a great deal. First, he missteps in the first clause, for… Continue Reading
The section on prayer in John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion is surely one of the most beloved passages of that influential work. Therein, Calvin addresses, among other matters, the importance of reverence in corporate prayer. For Calvin, an essential mark of reverence in corporate prayer is attentiveness. He says, Whoever engaged in prayer… Continue Reading
Part 3 of Scott Aniol’s discussion of Christian rap with Michael Riley. In this episode, Scott and Michael discuss the issue of redeeming culture. [podcast]http://www.religiousaffections.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/03-Can-Rap-Be-Christian-Part-3.mp3[/podcast] Download Subscribe to our Podcast! iTunes | RSS Continue Reading
Part 2 of Scott Aniol’s discussion with Michael Riley. In this episode, Scott and Michael discuss the issue of meaning in form. [podcast]http://www.religiousaffections.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/02-Can-Rap-Be-Christian-Part-2.mp3[/podcast] Download Subscribe to our Podcast! iTunes | RSS Continue Reading
Scott Aniol sat down with Michael Riley to discuss the controversy over Reformed Rap. This 15 minutes podcast is the first of three parts. [podcast]http://www.religiousaffections.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/01-Can-Rap-Be-Christian-Part-1.mp3[/podcast] Download New: Subscribe to our Podcast! iTunes | RSS Continue Reading
Today we finally arrive at a discussion of the nature of rap itself. This post will be beneficial for you, however, only if you accept the following assertions on made on Monday: Man is completely depraved and thus cannot trust his own preferences implicitly. Music is a medium of human communication and thus must be… Continue Reading
Are “Christian” and “rap” mutually exclusive? Mark Dever’s answer after a 9Marks interview with Shai Linne and Curtis Allen (Voice): “Hardly.” This from one of the most conservative evangelicals alive today. It is primarily for that reason that I’d like to make a few comments about the interview. If this is what one of the most… Continue Reading
“The new Calvinists constantly extol the Puritans, but they do not want to worship or live as they did. One of the vaunted new conferences is called Resolved, after Jonathan Edwards’ famous youthful Resolutions (seventy searching undertakings). But the culture of this conference would unquestionably have met with the outright condemnation of that great theologian.”… Continue Reading
There is a popular thought today in evangelicalism that says that if we as Christians are going to reach unbelievers around us, we need to be more tuned into contemporary culture. If we want people to accept our gospel message, they say, then we need to present the gospel by packaging it in the language… Continue Reading