Christian Rap: Does Rap Music Belong In Church?

Question

I attend United Pentecostal Church. This past Friday, my church youth choir went to a church in another town to sing for a revival they were having. There were other performer's there, including a christian rapper. On Sunday my pastor made a statement that he does not promote rap in any way,shape or form even if it is christian rap. He said "If I Knew I Wouldn't Have Sent The Youth Down There To Sing" and "I Will Reimburse Anybody Who Spent Money On His CD" "I Don't Think You Should Own A Christian Rap CD, Because Rap Music Is Associated With Violence. "It Don't Belong In Church". I as a fan of rap christian or not, enjoyed the performance. I think there is bad music in every genre including country.Why should christian country be accepted and not christian rap as long as the message is positive?

Answer 1

"(C)rap" and "music" don't even belong in the same sentence.

Answer 2

It belongs just like many other types of religious music if the content is worthy. I see some answers here from people saying rap is bad, it's not. There are plenty of artists that do use rap in a negative and tiring nature, so I can't really blame people who feel that rap is horrible. Rap never was meant to be like how it is now, it was supposed another form of expression like all other types of music, NOT about ho's and rims and drugs and guns.
There are expressionist and positive artists that are out there, and well known, but they are usually overshadowed by the rappers with the "thug/hustler/player" image.
I'm hoping this negative image of rap passes, or just the thug image just dissipates. Remember when "Rock n' Roll" was the most horrible thing ever back in the '50's and '60's by many?

Answer 3

I am inclined to agree that music is music. At one time I was totally opposed to gospel rap despite liking regular rap. However, after becoming saved and due to the sexual nature and content used by today's rap artists I found myself having to give up a genre of music that I really enjoyed. Today, hip hop music or rap music is very popular among both whites and minority young adults. If anyone were to oppose gospel rap, they would also have to oppose gospel rock, contemporary gospel music and gospel jazz. I come to realize that it is not the music, but it is the message behind the music. Some religions don't believe in music at all. They simply sing hymns with no music. They feel music takes away the spirituality of the song. Christian rock, rap and urban contemporary music, whether we want to admit or not are powerful tools in reaching todays youths. We must be careful not to let our personal preferences in music cloud our vision of the big picture, which is the Word of God. Gospel rap is performed by young men and women who love the Lord. They use their God given gifts and talents to help others and spread the word of God and are not selling themselves out for a big paycheck. Make no mistake about it. There are some christian rap artists who are good enough to make it on the secular rap scene, however, their moral values and love for the Lord exceed their desire for fame and glory.

I just re read your question and I would like to add if you mean physically in the church I would have to say no. I enjoy christian rock, and christian rap but I would not want either incorporated into my church's sunday morning service.

Answer 4

I see what you're saying. My chum is going to a church the position they have a good worship band that has a distinct style for each music. The pastor is a good guitar participant and he throws some large solos into the blend. many of the some they play are better worship like, and some are not basic Rock. I play drums with those adult males at a youngsters crew and we play alot of an similar songs and we've alot of interesting. Alot of human beings associate Christian music as hymns and gospel/worship music, once you could listen some stuff like coming near near Doom and Norma Jean which couldn't look christian, yet are purely an similar as a worship music. distinct kinds of music are operating there way into the church and it is going to be large.

Answer 5

It depends on the type of people in the church. Rap music does not belong in a church where there are mostly older people, except at special services held for teens and others who are into that kind of music. It should be at all times liturgical-- meaning it does not misquote or go against what that church believes in.

Answer 6

It's the new Age..why not? My cousin is in a band for his church nad they do rap music every once in a while. Everyone has a blast. It is still sending out the correct message.

My other Cousin played for his church group and they did heavy Metal sometimes and it made it's way to a cd. Still got the messages out there.

Answer 7

Why not? If it helps more young people connect to the church then what's the problem? I actually enjoy young people showing their creativity in the Church through different ways. Rap music is one of those ways. The church does not require only one type of music. If that was the case, we'd all still be singing slow hymns in latin.

Answer 8

Everything in God's creation gives us a hint that God likes variety. There is more than one kind of dog, more than one kind of bird, more than one kind of tree, more than one kind of grass, more than one kind of frog, on and on....

But for some reason in the church we want think in narrow terms as to what it is that is pleasing to God. If God likes variety, then it would seem that would also apply to the music used to bring glory to HIS Name.

I must admit that to me that it does seem kind of out of place, but that is because I am getting older.. for some of the younger people who attend church, they probably really appreciate the artistic element in that form of praise given to God.

Some may argue that rap music is an attempt for the church to become like the world, but the reality is that times change and along with that taste and preferences change. This same discussion is going on when it comes to Contemporary Christian Music... some say that it does not belong in the church. And statistically there are few and fewer young people in most congregations... and even fewer adults preparing for pulpit ministry.

A few weeks ago a show on PBS called Religion and Ethics did a report on the shortage of young seminary graduates going into parish ministry.

I would be prayerful about the heart and mind of the pastor that you are following. Ask God to show you the way in which HE would have you worship him. I do believe that you should be in a church where you trust the vision of the pastor.

Answer 9

Well I guess if it is a way to reach kids...through the type of music they enjoy then I don't see a problem with it. I am assuming that for it to be "Christian" rap they are rapping about Jesus and such and there are no swear words in it so why not.

Answer 10

Does the Polka belong in a NY nightclub?

Not currently, but in a different age, it was the rage!

So maybe in 30 years, Rap will sound to churchgoers like the normal thing.

Adaptation is a sign of survival.

Answer 11

Rap music originally was just poetry spoken to the beat of a drum. R-A-P: Rhythm And Poetry. Just because some people use it as a medium to talk about pimping hoes doesn't make the genre bad.