As he stood in the pulpit of the Hip-hop Sanctuary New Generation Church, all eyes were on him.
"They say we can't have hip-hop and church," said Flo, a lay preacher whose real name is Roosevelt Sargent. "I say this is real church. It's just presented by and for the hip-hop community, but don't get it wrong, this is a place of praise and worship."
In the dimly lighted church, a chorus of agreement rang out.
Neil wrote: Mike, we have those in common, but I don't know much Bluegrass beyond "Turkey in the Straw" - any recommendations (e.g. bands)?
Neil, I like most of it. Earl Scruggs, formerly of Flatt & Scruggs fame is good, and I think he still plays, even as he is gettin up there in years. Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder is another band. Alison Kraus & Union station, I like as well. They may be thought of as bluegrass and country. I'm no expert, just like what strikes me.
Mike, we have those in common, but I don't know much Bluegrass beyond "Turkey in the Straw" - any recommendations (e.g. bands)?
I like to call Bach, Händel, Haydn, Mozart, et al. "Powdered Wig" composers, since those were fashionable in their day.
BTW, an excellent secular German documentary explained that the Bach family had deep roots in the Lutheran Reformation, & that J.S. had a sizeable collection of Luther's works. Nonetheless, at one time he was employed by Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen, who was Reformed & thus didn't require fancy music in church. So this was when he did many secular compositions.
While I'm doubtful about Scott's analysis too, Julie got my attention with, "those kids who have finally found a music that speaks to their experience."
I'm dubious about this explanation. Hardly any music I've ever enjoyed "speaks to my experience," whether Mozart's "Don Giovanni" or Loretta Lynn's "Coal Miner's Daughter" - I'm neither a pathological philanderer nor a poor hourly laborer's beloved child. Given my interests, I should probably like "nerd rap," but I don't. I think the appeal of music is too complex to ascribe to any one cause.
And "experience" doesn't seem to explain rap's appeal to upper middle-class "white" children (which I noticed back in the '80s).
Scott McMahan wrote: If some future historian writes about the fall of Occidental civilization, I think the epoch will be pinned to the 1987-88 adoption of hip-hop in mainstream American culture. One of the most popular songs in 1986 was "Higher Love" - one of the most popular songs in 1987 was "Push It" (with the line "this dance isn't for everybody - only the sexy people"). Hip hop is a spigot of pure evil, a cancer that has eaten away at American society and morals for twenty years. ... Nothing good has ever or will ever come from it.
First, the line "the dance isn't for everybody - only the sexy people" is originally from a song by "The Time" which I am sure you also see as evil due to their explicit sexuality (they were associated with Prince before he became his more outwardly Christian self.)
Second I think those artists who have fed and clothed themselves and their families, those kids who have finally found a music that speaks to their experience would dispute your claim that nothing good has ever or will ever come from "hip-hop." You, like many seem to conflate hip-hop with "gansta" rap and various other similar forms. Educate yourself before you judge.
There is incredibly poetic and intelligent hip hop (and rap) out there.
If some future historian writes about the fall of Occidental civilization, I think the epoch will be pinned to the 1987-88 adoption of hip-hop in mainstream American culture. One of the most popular songs in 1986 was "Higher Love" - one of the most popular songs in 1987 was "Push It" (with the line "this dance isn't for everybody - only the sexy people"). Hip hop is a spigot of pure evil, a cancer that has eaten away at American society and morals for twenty years. The early hip hop songs on the radio like "It Takes Two" were catchy and fun - enough to get kids to buy the albums which were purely filth with no redeeming artistic merit. Hip hop has destroyed our culture. It has destroyed even the immoral music industry that at least gave some quality entertainment occasionally and turned it into a dung heap. Culture has followed hip hop into vulgarity, crudeness, and filth. Nothing good has ever or will ever come from it.
I think that one should have a good hold on what the difference between Calvinism and Arminianism is, q.v.,
http://www.ihcc.org/images/booklets/pdf/L200.pdf
One has to present the Bible accurately in a church service, I would say the best church service would be expositional one.
"God has spoken and the Bible is what He has said. God's word is to be known and studied by His people who believe it to be absolute objective truth. To best study, preach and learn the Word of God it must be considered as propositional truth, not just as a narrative or story that has relevance and subjective meaning.
A major shift is being heavily promoted in the emerging church movement away from the Word of God as absolute, obective Truth. With this shift comes a loss of foundational facts amd beliefs that must be believed to be truly know God and be saved. It takes the work of the Spirit of God using the Word of God for anyone to be born again. The Gospel is the only 'story' that is powerful and convincing enough to bring someone into a saving relationship with God...."
The mere fact this misguided lay-pastor felt that he has to orchestrate his method of worship to accomadate a certain group reveals who he is really trusting! And it's not Jesus of Nazareth.
Question: What do you mean by ARMINIANISM run amok?
I can think of two possible meanings. 1) Since arminianism is true, one is free to abuse the freedom one has. 2) The belief that arminianism is true leads one to these kinds of excesses.
The second meaning doesn't seem plausible if the only other option is one of some kind of determinism, theological or otherwise. If the person is determined, they have no choice but to act in this way. In other words, you can't be an arminian if the deterministic position is correct, no matter what the belief is.
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