The following article was written by a friend of mine and I thought that the message to be timely and appropriate to every ear that is mature enough. Even if this isn’t your type of music, please take the initiative to test what you enjoy to know if it is inside the will of God. Pleas enjoy and learn.
Warning: there are some explicit lyrics that might offend some, but were used by the author solely to be as real to the urgency of the message.
Thanks!
Matt
Original article was taken from:
http://divinevizion.tumblr.com/post/512059998/i-was-a-fan-of-lil-wayne-too
Now the story:
First of all, I want to warn you that I will be quoting some very harsh language/lyrics from some well known artist that are popular today. Some of the language might be offensive, but I am just going to bring the truth as plain as possible.
“Is there a heaven for G’s and soldiers?
I can’t go to Hell, cause I’d take over.
~ Lil’ Wayne – Pray To The Lord”
A friend of mines asked me recently why I do not listen to certain music anymore. See, about a year ago I was, and still am, a music lover, and I guess many of you are too. I listened often to Reggae, Rap, R&B and I was a fan of many popular artist today including Lil’ Wayne, Kanye West, Bob Marley, Jah Cure, Tego Calderon, to name a few.
Every new song that was out I had it. I knew all the lyrics by heart, I watched all the video clips. It was like an addiction. I just needed to keep downloading more and more music. I couldn’t get enough of it. Until one day I listened to these lyrics:
“When I die f*** it I wanna to go to hell,
cause I’m a piece of s*** it aint hard to f****** tell
it don’t make sense going to heaven with the goodie goodies
dressed in white, I like black Tim’s and black hoodies
God would probably have me on some real strict s***
no sleeping all day no getting my d*** licked
hanging with the goodie goodies lounging in paradise
f*** that s*** I wanna tote guns and shoot dice”
~ Notorious B.I.G. – Hold Your Head
I kept listening to it over and over but I knew deep down that it was totally wrong. I shrugged it off though, and kept listening. But as the new songs kept coming out, I couldn’t help but notice the content and lyrics in all the songs. The constant talk about sex, degrading women, money, drugs and violence, and people living in the vanities of this world. Being a Christian, how could I keep listening to something that is against all things I believe in?
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. ~Ephesians 5:3
“I had a dream I could buy my way to heaven,
When I awoke I spent it on a necklace,
I told God I’d be back in a second,
man it’s so hard not to act reckless.”
~ Kanye West – Can’t Tell Me Nothing
Kanye West was one of my favorite rappers at the time, and so was Lil’ Wayne. I listened to Wayne religiously, and also followed his lifestyle. I would read stuff about him and I admired his work ethic. In an interview in 2009 with GQ Magazine, Wayne was qouted saying these words:
“I don’t believe the Bible, nothing that’s written, because nothing that’s written is to be believed… Well. There is one [book] I read and get information from. The damn dictionary. Yeah, when we be in the studio fussing over a word—no, it don’t mean that it mean this! Go to the Internet, Google that s***. That’s like a normal thing to do around here. Dictionary comes up as one of those little things on my computer.”
I was perplexed. This was one of the most ignorant statements I had ever heard. Was I really listening to this guy’s music? I knew God was speaking to me and I knew I had to let this go.
I then decided to try a different approach to music. I dropped Rap and R&B, and I found myself starting to listen to Gospel Reggae. Besides, it was the lyrics that stopped me from listening to the other music, not the music itself, right? One day my friends and I were driving and one of the songs came on. My friends starting dancing to the song which prompted me to say “No, it’s Gospel!”
These words then came to my mind: “Abstain from all appearance of Evil” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:22
Yes, I listened to Gospel Reggae and I was trying to justify that what I was doing was right. But I kept thinking, “If two strangers pulled up in a car next to me, and I am blasting that Gospel Rap or Reggae, do they see Christ in me?”
The church is facing the same problem today. We want to justify that we come from different cultures and we listen to different music, and we all have different ways of praising God. We claim not to be like the world, but all we do is take the same music from big artist in the world, change their lyrics, and call it a Gospel.
Some of you might say there is nothing wrong with that, and some of you might have your doubts. I only want to say one thing: I want to go to Heaven, and if there is any doubt about anything that could cost me my salvation, I would rather just not do it. If my salvation means I have to live without music, then so be it.
As a Christian my goal is to become more like Christ everyday. It’s funny how some of us Christians listen to worldly music during the week and only throw on the Gospel when we are heading to church. Is this really how Christ wants us to live?
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ~ Philippians 4:8
I will not try to change anyone’s opinion, that’s not my job. I am just sharing with you what God has shown me. If you are a true believer in God, and open up your heart to do His will, then He will convict you of what is right and wrong. If this speaks to you then do not deny the Holy Spirit’s voice.
God is calling us now more than ever to draw closer to Him, will you answer the call?
By: Daniel Matthew Duffis
Tags: Bob Marley, Christian Rap, cursing, Ephesians 5:3, God, Jah Cure, Kayne West, Lil' Wayne, Lyrics, Music, R&B, raping, Tego Calder
