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 Copyright, T.C. Moore. 2009.Calvinism and Holy Hip Hop, Part IBy T.C. MooreIntroduction:Having been born in 1982, I grew up during the birth of so-called 'Gangster Rap.' In fact, the firstalbum I ever owned was Ghetto Jam by Domino. (It was a cassette tape. Remember those?) Andthe first album I anticipated buying months in advance, waited in line to buy the moment therecord store opened (this was before iTunes), was Snoop's first album: Doggystyle. Though Iwas a poor white kid living in a trailer park (before Eminem made it cool), I identified closelywith hip hop culture. I listened to 'underground' hip hop none of my friends knew about. I wasone of the only taggers in my Central Illinois neighborhood imitating subway bombers in NewYork. I say all this to say, while I may not be a hip hop expert, for better or for worse, I'mdefinitely a product and representation of hip hop culture.Fast forward to my Christ-encounter circa March 1999. While I didn't throw out my hoodies,sneakers, or baggy jeans, my new relationship with Jesus made me very sensitive to anythingthat glorified sin. I could no longer stomach music that tempted me to fantasize about revenge orfornication. I could no longer glorify gangsterism when my Saviour commands me to love myenemies. I could no longer glorify pimping when in my Lord's body I have so many sisters. For along time, hip hop music remained a sacrifice I placed at the altar in obedience to the Holy Spirit.Yes, I heard there was such a thing as 'Christian Rap,' but honestly I wasn't impressed. I did notthink I needed to lie to myself and pretend this music was of the same quality as the hip hop Ihad listened to in the past. I preferred to put it all aside and move on.One artist did give me a glimmer of hope. The first Christian hip hop album I considered worthyof my $10 (albums were sold in stores back then on physical discs for $10) was The Missin'Element by Urban Disciple. I was impressed mostly by this Christian artist's recognition of truehip hop culture. Unlike other Christian artists who claimed to be hip-hoppers, Urban D identifiednot just with the music, but also with b-boying and graffiti art. He knew the roots of hip hop andwas proud of them.After that, I found several other hip hop artists who were also Christians that I found worthy of my ear and money. The Cross Movement is a group that is another example. The lyrical prowessof artists in this group such as The Ambassador was impressive. Not to mention the lyrics werepotent and theologically rich. This brings me to the present topic of Calvinism in holy hip hop.
 
 Copyright, T.C. Moore. 2009.For years now I have put off addressing this phenomenon, but no more. It is no secret that holyhip hop is now dominated by Calvinist theology, and honestly I'm concerned about the effect thiswill have on the generation listening. Artists like The Ambassador are incredibly gifted by Godand I am confident they are having a powerful impact on people through their music andministries. I do not want anything I am about to write to be misconstrued as an attack on thesemen and women of God. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Deuce and any of the otherartists I will reference in this note or part II. What I am concerned about is why these artist feelcompelled to hold Calvinist theology in the first place and the negative effects Calvinist theologycan have on those influenced by their music and ministries. Allow me to start with someclarifying thoughts.A Few Clarifying Thoughts:1) Calvinism is Determinism.Make no mistake about it. And do not be fooled by Calvinist scholars who deny it. Calvinismteaches that God has already foreordained everything that will come to pass presently and in thefuture. There is no way around it. Many Calvinists will argue either that their particular brand of Calvinism is not as "extreme" as others, or they will argue that Calvinism is not "philosophicaldeterminism." It makes no difference. No matter how you slice it, Calvinism is determinism.Many Calvinists attempt to distance themselves from their own doctrines. They qualify theirbeliefs heavily, and toss around the word "nuanced" a lot in the hopes that it will magically eraseyour memory of what they actually believe. Several others attempt a smoke and mirrors trick of saying they aren't "Hyper-Calvinists," who are the 'real determinists.' But this is all a farce. In 10years of debating (and arguing) with Calvinists, the Calvinists who decry "Hyper-Calvinists"never articulate what it is that distinguishes them from "Biblical Calvinists" and let's them off thehook.Furthermore, in 10 years of debating (and arguing) with Calvinists, I have never heard a coherentexplanation given for how God can be said in Calvinism to have ordained everything and yet isnot culpable for sin and evil. Calvinists will tell you in the same breath: "God has pre-ordainedeverything" and "God is not the author of sin or evil." I'm sorry, but my 6 year-old son can spotthe logical contradiction in those two statements.2) Determinism is Not the Theology of the Oppressed.Next, it is important to understand that when you teach that the present world is the direct resultof God's ordaining will, you are necessarily teaching that the present world is the way God wantsit. However, when you teach that the world at present is the way God wants it, you run aground
 
 Copyright, T.C. Moore. 2009.of the Biblical witness. Scripture is clear that the world at present has traveled far beyond theGod's dream for it, and that God's current mission ends in remaking this broken and fallen worldafter his dream---brand new!When your theology rubber-stamps the present world two things happen. Number one, youcommunicate affirmation to the strong, the powerful, the wealthy, the people who are "Right."You tell them in point of fact: "You are God's Elect." Simultaneously and secondly, you tell theweak, the marginalized, the oppressed, the hungry, the poor, the alien, the downtrodden (all of the people groups for whom God demands justice) they are unchosen by God---"reprobates."God has elected them to pain, misery, exploitation, and despair.Determinism is great news for those on top of the world. They are reassured of their good-standing with God. For those on the bottom, they are reassured they are unloved, God's refuse.If the world is the way God wants it now, why did Jesus die? If the world is the way God wantsit, why does he desire to remake it? If the world is the way God wants it now, God wants sin,death, and evil.3) Hip Hop is a Culture Born in Oppression.Yes, it is true that white, suburban teens are the biggest consumers of hip hop music in America.Yes, it is true that white-owned corporations have exploited hip hop, raped it of its essence, andused it to hock anything and everything. Yes, it is even true that hip hop culture has transcendedthe New York boroughs where it was born and become descriptive of a global culture that is notbound by race or class or age.But, hip hop culture was born out of a need for expression amidst an oppressed people group.Black Americans created hip hop culture in the slums of cities where they were denied equalrights and faced challenges the likes of which white Americans couldn't dream. No matter howbig and how powerful hip hop culture grows to become, it can never... never forget where itcame from!4) Calvinism Dominates Conservative Theological Education in the US.If you want to be taken seriously as theologically astute in the US, you have to go to seminary. Inthe US, there are two kinds of seminaries: Liberal and Conservative. The liberal seminaries havelittle concern for faith. They are mostly concerned with religion. They also have very littlerespect for the Scriptures or the living Jesus they reveal. Conservative seminaries are often theonly choice for Christians who have a sincere faith in the living Jesus and respect Scripture.Certainly, conservative seminaries are the only choices for artists such as Deuce and the rest of 
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