Jesus and the Hip-Hop Prophets

 
Lead by Matt Worthington
Based on the book by Alex Gee and John Teter

Based on the biblical example of Paul in Acts 17, who speaks to the Athenians in the words of their own poets, this study is designed to discuss the music of inner city poets such as Tupac Shakur, Lauryn Hill, Kanye West, and Common and seek the truth that exists within their music. If this truth exists, then how is that truth relevant to us as Christians and how can hip-hop music further benefit our understanding of not just today’s collective culture, but of the diversity that God has created within it all?

Hip-Hop is such a widespread phenomenon in today’s culture. It has staked itself as a permanent fixture in the radios of the inner city all the way to the upper-class stereos of the suburbs, but it has also been stigmatized with several stereotypes and negative criticism. The truth of the matter is that although many cultures like to listen to hip-hop, they identify with it in various manners. Though it may be a joke and merely a vice to some, to others it has become the lifeblood of their existence. It is the poetry of the disenfranchised, and the soul of poverty stricken lyricists. In order to identify with the community of Hip Hop we must become familiar with their poets, as the apostle Paul did to the poets of Athens.

Vision of the study (3 parts):

1. To reveal to people the spiritual truths that exist within hip-hop music and to destroy any clichés that exist concerning the genre of music.
2. To edify those who attend the study in their walk spiritually, intellectually and culturally through guided discussions while discovering these truths.
3. To build relationships between cultures. Often times we are so afraid of our differences that we let those fears become a barrier for cross-cultural relationships. However, Hip-Hop has a unique style of identifying with several different cultures and building bridges between them. If we can create a safe environment for people to come and discuss the first part of this vision, then the fruit that will come from it is relationships between misunderstood cultures. Ultimately, that by fostering this nurturing atmosphere, we can break barriers down between different ethnic/cultural communities.