Participants: Dwayne Lemon, Lance Wilbur
Series Code: TKS
Program Code: TKS000041A
|
00:29 Hello. I'm Dwayne. And I'm Lance.
00:31 And we'd like to welcome you to another episode of TKS, 00:34 A True Knowledge of Self, 00:35 where we get to know ourselves from a Biblical perspective. 00:38 In our previous episode, 00:40 we started dealing with the subject 00:42 of cultural expressions, 00:44 and we wanna talk much more about this 00:45 'cause there's some important points and principles 00:47 we wanna bring out from God's word. 00:49 Now, expression is kind of 00:50 the hallmark of hip-hop culture, 00:53 and popular culture, many cultures, you know, 00:57 pride themselves on their freedom 00:59 to express themselves. 01:01 And we, 01:03 and the Bible for that matter is not against, 01:05 God is not against cultural expression, 01:07 God values culture. 01:09 In fact, God created culture. 01:10 But we know and we discussed that as 01:12 culture drifted away from God via the practice, 01:15 and indulgence, and sin, then culture, man's culture, 01:18 became degraded as well. 01:20 And so in our efforts to minister 01:24 to those various cultures, 01:26 in effort to meet people where they are as Christ did, 01:30 and to minister to the needs of society, 01:34 we respect culture as well 01:35 and, in fact, we read in I Corinthians 9, 01:37 that Paul himself, 01:39 through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, 01:41 in an effort to more effectively reach people, 01:44 he became a Roman to the Romans, 01:46 he became a Jew to the Jews, 01:48 so that he might win individuals to Christ. 01:51 And so what that is saying 01:54 is that we are to make every effort possible 01:57 within the realm of truth to meet people where they are, 02:00 to minister to their needs, to win their confidence, 02:03 to have, show sympathy for them in measurable acts, 02:07 to, in order to direct them to a better way, 02:09 and understand that people need time for growth, 02:11 and that this process of coming to the Lord as a relationship, 02:15 it's not something that just instantaneously happens, 02:17 it's not about simple, you know, 02:20 blind obedience, 02:23 or an idea where 02:26 God is interested in robotic compulsory 02:29 religious practice, 02:31 it is the desire for God to love man 02:34 and for man to love God 02:36 and that is a reciprocal relationship. 02:38 So all these things taken into consideration, 02:41 we talked about what is expected. 02:46 But we also discussed the limitation. 02:48 So the limitation to this idea of respecting of culture 02:51 and meeting people where they are 02:52 is that, whenever I engage in an effort to reach people, 02:56 I never am obliged Biblically to compromise the truth. 03:03 So we use several examples, 03:04 and we're gonna continue to go down this line 03:06 because although God desires me to respect culture, 03:11 wherever that culture deviates from the truth, 03:14 that is what God is not going to assert, 03:17 and that's what we as human beings 03:19 cannot accept it either. 03:21 So this idea of cultural expression, 03:24 God is not against expression. 03:26 God is not against culture. 03:27 God is not against the fact 03:29 that there's different languages, 03:30 and different, you know, foods, and different things like that. 03:34 But, however, at the same time, God does say, 03:37 "This is appropriate language, this is not." 03:38 God does say, 03:39 "This is food that 03:41 I made for human beings to eat, this is not." 03:42 So there are, there are limitations. 03:44 And so expression is great, 03:46 but what kind of expression is the question. 03:48 So God never ever wanted us to express everything 03:53 that comes to our mind, isn't that correct? 03:55 That's correct. 03:56 And there's a reason why, because you're gonna find that, 03:58 if we study the Bible carefully, 04:00 God first and foremost, wanted us to guard our minds. 04:03 In the book of I Peter 1 as an example, 04:06 the Bible actually told us something 04:07 really important about the mind 04:10 and there's a lot that the Bible says about the mind. 04:12 I did a study on it one time 04:13 and I was amazed at what I found. 04:15 And the Bible says in the book of I Peter 1, 04:19 and it's right there in verse 13, that it says, 04:22 "Wherefore gird up 04:25 the loins of your mind, be sober, 04:28 and hope to the end for the grace 04:30 that is to be brought unto you 04:31 at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 04:34 The Bible encourages us to be in a sober state of mind, 04:38 a mind that is not inebriated, if you will. 04:40 A mind that is clear and able to focus. 04:43 Now there was a reason for that. 04:44 The reason is that something happens 04:48 whenever we allow things to come into our minds. 04:50 And it says this in the book of Proverbs, 04:52 the 23 chapter, "Why is God so concerned?" 04:55 And, I mean, really, you can go from verse to verse, 04:57 the Bible talks about in Romans 12:1-2 05:02 where it talks about the transforming of the mind, 05:05 "Be not conformed to the world 05:07 but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." 05:10 Et-cetera. 05:11 So God is really, really focused on the mind 05:13 and the reason is very simple, two points that I'm gonna show. 05:17 The first one is in Proverbs 23. 05:19 In Proverbs 23, right there in verse 7, 05:23 here's what the Bible says, 05:24 and this is one reason 05:26 why God definitely wants us to be careful 05:28 what we even let in our minds, 05:30 let alone express from our minds. 05:32 The Bible says in Proverbs 23:7, 05:35 "For as he thinketh in his heart, 05:38 so is he." 05:40 Now we don't use this organ in the center of our chest 05:43 that beats and pumps our blood to think, 05:45 but we do use this organ in our head called the brain. 05:48 And when the Bible was talking about, you know, 05:51 guarding the heart or whatsoever, 05:53 "A man thinketh in his heart..." 05:55 He's actually referring to the mind and not to the, 05:57 you know, organ in the center of our chest. 05:59 So God was saying, 06:00 "Whatsoever goes on in your mind 06:02 is going to come out in your character." 06:05 It is for this reason that we are to guard 06:07 what we allow in our minds. 06:10 And then we are to guard 06:11 what we are to express from our minds. 06:14 And how do we know that? 06:15 Well, let's consider this 06:17 and I thought this text was really powerful. 06:18 It's Proverbs 13. 06:20 In Proverbs 13, this is what the Bible says. 06:24 And this is why we cannot think that just 06:26 because something goes on in the mind, 06:28 means that we are in full-blown liberty to share it. 06:31 And I'm gonna balance this out in just a minute, 06:32 but watch this. 06:34 In Proverbs 13, it says in verse 3, 06:36 and this is actually 06:38 a quote from the Good News Translation which I thought, 06:40 brought the thought out more forcefully. 06:42 It says, 06:43 "Be careful what you say and protect your life. 06:47 A careless talker destroys himself." 06:51 So when an individual can become careless, 06:54 when they can get to the point where they say, 06:56 "I don't care, I must just say what's on my mind." 06:58 I mean, I grew up in a household, you know, 07:00 we, you know, and being a black man, 07:01 this is often, this is often been labeled, 07:03 you know, the "black attitude", you know, 07:05 and especially towards our sisters, 07:06 the "black women", you know, 07:07 they just speak their minds, I say what I wanna say, 07:09 nobody is the boss of me and, you know, 07:11 all of these different terms 07:12 and people just believe I can just, 07:14 just because I'm thinking it, means go ahead and express it. 07:18 Or feel it. Or feel it. 07:20 And then go ahead and just experiment it. 07:22 But the Bible teaches something 07:24 that the natural heart does not like, 07:26 it's called restraint. 07:28 It's a word that, you know, it's a shame 07:32 because even when you look at hip-hop culture, 07:34 you know, a lot of what hip-hop culture, 07:37 the way it was birth was through oppression, 07:40 it was through subjection, and through powers that be, 07:43 that were trying to hold brothers down. 07:46 You know, they can't hold me down, 07:47 you know, there's lots of songs 07:48 that used to come out in that nature, 07:50 you can't hold me down, I'm gonna get up, 07:51 I'm gonna rise above, and I'mma do what I got to do. 07:53 But here it is that God himself, 07:56 He endorses not like how man applies it, 07:58 but God nevertheless, 07:59 He does endorse the idea of restraint. 08:02 God believes just because you feel something 08:05 does not mean you should do it. 08:07 Just because you're thinking something, 08:09 does not mean you should express it. 08:10 And just because you're thinking something, 08:13 does not mean you should keep thinking it. 08:14 Yeah. 08:16 As an example, if we were to look at what the Bible says, 08:18 as we consider II Corinthians 10. 08:20 This is a powerful point. 08:22 Because I think a lot of times the deception is that, 08:25 you know, I can do what I want, when I want, 08:27 how I want, because I am who I am 08:30 or even another thought of a video clip 08:32 that I think we should play 08:33 that's gonna actually bring some points out 08:35 in just a second. 08:36 In II Corinthians 10, the Bible says, in verse 3, 08:41 "For though we walk in the flesh, 08:43 we do not war after the flesh, 08:45 for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, 08:48 but mighty through God 08:49 to the pulling down of strong holds..." 08:51 Now watch this, 08:53 "Casting down imaginations, 08:55 and every high thing that exalts itself 08:58 against the knowledge of God, 09:00 and bringing into captivity every..." 09:02 What? 09:04 "Thought to the obedience of Christ." 09:07 So notice that God actually believes in restraint, 09:10 not with just what you say, 09:12 not with just what you do but even with what you think. 09:17 Not every thought that comes in your head 09:19 should be entertained. 09:21 Some of these things need to be brought 09:22 under the subjection of Christ and we need to ask God, 09:24 "Lord, take away these thoughts 09:26 because this has nothing to do with Your character, 09:28 Your righteousness, 09:30 or for the betterment of my future." 09:31 So it is when it comes to the words that we speak 09:34 as it's stated, you know, 09:36 "Be careful what you say and protect your life. 09:38 A careless talker destroys himself." 09:41 Another one in Ecclesiastes 5:2, it says, 09:45 "Be not rash with thy mouth, 09:48 and let not thine heart be hasty 09:51 to utter anything before God, 09:53 for God is in heaven and thou upon earth, 09:56 herefore let thy words be few." 09:59 God teaches this principle of restraint, 10:01 just because you're thinking it, 10:03 just because you're feeling it, 10:05 does not mean you have to express it. 10:07 We have thoughts, words, and feelings 10:10 that all need to sometimes be restrained, 10:13 held back because it would not produce good fruit. 10:16 Unfortunately, you see a lot of these things happen today. 10:19 It's kind of like an individual that gets tired 10:21 of things happening in our world 10:24 and it's okay to be tired of oppression, 10:27 as an example, I'm gonna speak to present issues right now. 10:30 You know, what, I'm a father of four children, 10:33 two boys, two girls. 10:35 My oldest son is 16 and then my other son is 14. 10:38 They are young black men, and we live in America, 10:42 and we have to pay attention to things 10:43 that are happening in our society today. 10:46 Right now, there's a challenge going on 10:48 when it comes to young black men and sometimes, 10:51 police officers and things of this nature. 10:54 So I had to begin to instruct my son, to say 10:56 "Son, listen, you know, 10:57 if a police officer comes to you 10:59 and they ask you to do something 11:01 or tell you to do something, 11:02 here are the ways you should respond." 11:04 I have to train my child in this manner 11:06 because the reality is that 11:07 even though he has a wonderful personality, 11:10 even though as far as I'm concerned, 11:12 he's a great person, 11:13 he can be judged strictly based on his complexion. 11:16 It's an unfortunate reality. 11:17 It is sinful, but nevertheless, it's real. 11:20 Well, when I think about that, I have to let my son know, 11:24 "Son, if somebody spoke to you in a rude manner, 11:27 and let's say, it's even a police officer 11:29 or what have you. 11:31 You may feel, 'who do you think you are? 11:34 Where do you get off talking to me like this? 11:36 Excuse me, I deserve respect.' 11:38 And you can go down that list." 11:39 But the reality is that we have a major trail 11:43 of what has happened to many individuals 11:47 of African-American descent 11:49 that has had responses like this, 11:51 unfortunately to police officers 11:52 and some of them have even lost their lives as a result of it. 11:55 So I told my son, 11:56 "Son, it's not that we will not fight against injustice. 12:00 We will not deal with things that are evil, 12:02 but you gotta learn how to pick and choose when to fight. 12:05 And when you're right there on the street, 12:06 that's not the best time to do it right there, 12:08 because sometimes it's just what you say 12:10 and what the cop says and if you're dead, 12:11 you have no say. 12:13 So I want you to practice wisdom 12:15 that even if you felt like you were being unjustly treated, 12:18 it's not that it won't be dealt with, 12:20 but you gotta learn something called restraint. 12:22 You gotta learn how to say, 12:24 'Listen, I know what I'm feeling right now, 12:25 but at the same time I have to understand 12:27 this is not the time for me to address this issue. 12:30 I'm gonna do it at a better time 12:32 that's more advantageous to me, 12:33 to get the goal, which is to get justice.'" 12:36 So the Bible is bringing out principle after principle 12:39 that simply lets us know. 12:41 Just because you feel it, 12:42 just because you think it, or what have you, 12:44 it doesn't mean that you should express it. 12:46 Now, the problem that I'm seeing sometimes 12:48 in hip-hop culture is that a lot of our young people 12:51 are being referred to as gods. 12:54 Yeah. 12:55 And, you know, what the Bible that says, 12:57 "No, God can do what He wants." 12:58 Because He is sovereign, but the problem is that 13:00 if I teach individuals that you are gods, 13:03 then I am basically trying to say to a degree 13:05 that you are sovereign, 13:07 and you can do what you want, 13:09 and exercise what you want, 13:10 and express what you want which the Bible does not teach. 13:14 And as a result of that, we can find ourselves again 13:17 through the influence of hip-hop culture, 13:19 coming in contrast with God and His word. 13:22 And we put ourselves on Satan's ground. 13:25 This is the unfortunate psychology 13:27 that has been purported throughout hip-hop culture 13:30 by some of its thought leaders, and I know we have a video clip 13:32 where we're gonna go ahead and kind of show an example 13:34 of one of the key thought leaders 13:36 with the gospel of hip-hop, 13:38 the temple of hip-hop and, of course, 13:40 this idea of what we're talking about an expression 13:43 which is none other than KRS-One, 13:45 and a video where he made some statements along these lines. 13:47 So I think we should take a look at this, 13:49 and then let's go ahead, and let's share some comments 13:51 on it as we come back while we're dealing 13:53 with the subject of expression. 13:54 All right. All right. 13:55 So let's take a look. 13:57 Hip-hop is the new Vatican right now. 14:00 This is why we started the temple of hip-hop. 14:03 Because there is knowledge that urban people need, 14:07 spiritual knowledge, it's still in the world. 14:11 But urban people need it. 14:13 Urban people need to know that God is not a man in the sky, 14:18 they all say that. 14:19 "Oh, we know God is not a man in the skyway." 14:22 But you don't really believe that. 14:24 You really don't believe that God is in your heart 14:26 'cause if you did, 14:27 you wouldn't be looking at the next man 14:29 the way you're looking at them. 14:30 We don't really have a robust spirituality. 14:34 And I think it really needs to come back. 14:36 You know, spirituality hasn't gone anywhere. 14:39 It hasn't gone anywhere. 14:40 People have just allowed themselves 14:42 to be labeled by corporations. 14:46 Don't let the label, label you. 14:49 And this is, this is the truth. 14:51 People say, "I'm a Christian," that's a label. 14:54 Now, you allow, "I'm a Christian." 14:56 What is that really? What is that? 14:58 What do you mean, when you say, 15:00 "I'm a Jew. I'm a Muslim." 15:03 Muslim? 15:04 What does that mean to you? 15:06 What is that? Is it just a label? 15:08 Even the clothing you put on, is that just a label? 15:12 Only hip-hop has the authority even to announce to the world 15:18 a new spiritual thought. 15:20 Only hip-hop has this authority. 15:23 And the reason being is because all of the religions 15:26 have blood on their hand. 15:28 All of them. 15:29 No disrespect to nobody, we're just talking... 15:31 So, I mean, these are some pretty powerful expressions 15:34 and what is it... 15:35 What are your thoughts on it? 15:37 What kind of feedback would you give? 15:38 I mean, there are several things 15:39 that we're not gonna spend too much time in nitpick here, 15:41 but the bottom line is this, 15:42 we see this emphasis over and over. 15:44 We can literally put video clip 15:46 after video clip after video clip 15:48 that shows this fundamental principle there, 15:51 that's kinda flowing underneath and all throughout 15:55 hip-hop culture. 15:56 The idea that God is not up in the sky, you know, 15:58 we used to, I remember in Five-Percent Nation, 16:00 that's called the spook religion, right? 16:02 The idea that God is somewhere and all, 16:04 that God is not up in the sky but He is in our hearts. 16:09 Now it's true. God desires to dwell in. 16:12 It reminds. 16:14 But the Bible also says that God is there up on His throne. 16:19 And it says that there is a process, 16:21 I can't just anoint myself to be God. 16:25 And that's the problem. 16:27 So once I consider myself to be God 16:30 and there is no God up in the sky, God is in me, 16:33 and that's the truth that all of the world needs, 16:35 and all the urban youth need. 16:37 And that's the truth that only hip-hop 16:39 and the temple of hip-hop can give us, 16:41 that's where things get very problematic. 16:44 Expression, yes, does it sound intelligent? 16:47 For a few minutes, but at a certain point, 16:51 you begin to be forced to accept one or two ideas. 16:57 Number one, is there a creator? 17:01 Are we going to follow the Biblical, 17:02 you know, prescription? 17:05 And is this reality? 17:06 Or what individuals every, 17:09 and any individual human being 17:11 or whatever culture can just say, 17:13 "This is a new reality." 17:15 And then go to the extent that saying 17:17 that hip-hop culture is the only culture, 17:19 the only entity that can inform and give instruction, 17:24 and present new spiritual thought. 17:27 Because very problematic, when we talk about expression. 17:30 And the question that I have is, 17:34 is there a principle? 17:36 Is there something in the Bible that informs me, 17:40 that gives me instruction, on number one, 17:42 "How I am to consume other people's expression?" 17:47 You know, what am I authorized to consume? 17:49 What do I need to consider when consuming 17:51 other people's expression and then the same guideline 17:56 that can be used to dictate to me how I can express? 18:01 What are the guidelines? 18:02 What are the parameters for my expression as well? 18:05 Well, there are guidelines 18:06 that I believe will definitely help us as it relates to this. 18:10 As an example, if you were to look at Philippians 4. 18:13 In Philippians 4:8, it gives a beautiful outline 18:18 of the kind of things that our mind should think on, 18:21 and then if these are the things 18:23 that are in our thoughts, 18:24 these are things God is most certainly okay 18:26 with us expressing. 18:27 And here's an example, it says in Philippians 4:8, 18:30 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, 18:34 whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, 18:39 whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, 18:43 whatsoever things are of good report, 18:45 if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, 18:48 think on these things." 18:51 Now why does God say, "Think on these things"? 18:53 Because He knows if you think about things that are true, 18:56 honest, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtuous, 19:02 this is what's gonna come out in your character. 19:03 Yes. 19:05 This is what God wants because this goes back 19:06 to the original plan, which is to clothe man 19:09 with that robe of righteousness. 19:11 These are the virtues that are directly connected 19:13 to righteousness, being truthful, and honest, 19:15 and et-cetera. 19:16 It is a lie to tell a man, 19:18 if God is not in the sky and is in your heart, 19:22 then are you saying, "You're God?" 19:25 And if you are saying you're God, are you saying, 19:26 "Are you your own creator? Did you make yourself?" 19:30 And then the next question is, 19:31 "Well, then what is the authority over you 19:32 that tells you right from wrong?" 19:34 This is the consistent problem and quite honestly, 19:37 it almost sounds borderline to atheism, in other things. 19:40 Because the atheist says, 19:41 "There is no God in the sky" either. 19:42 It's just that they don't believe 19:44 that God is in their heart, they just believe, 19:45 "Hey, I'm the god of my life. 19:47 I'm the one that says what I want, when I want, 19:48 how I want, and I do what I want." 19:50 So, you know, 19:51 there's not really a major difference 19:54 between some of these principles 19:55 that are being shared through hip-hop culture, 19:57 in comparison to some of the things at least, 20:00 that you see happening right there 20:01 in the lifestyle of the atheist. 20:03 A denial of the creator or someone that is in the sky, 20:07 if you will, that is outside of ourselves, 20:10 that did make us, and had a perfect will for us. 20:13 But more so I'm the architect of my future, 20:15 I'm the one that can express what I want, 20:17 when I want, how I want, and to do what I want. 20:20 This is where we run into problems. 20:22 Then you quoted the book called Ministry of Healing 20:25 in one of our episodes, 20:27 and there's a statement in that book 20:29 that I thought was very profound along these lines. 20:32 It's in Ministry of Healing 251 and it stated, 20:35 "It is a law of nature that our thoughts and feelings 20:39 are encouraged and strengthened as we give them utterance." 20:45 It's the more that I keep saying something, 20:48 and uttering something, as I speak, then it's gonna, 20:52 you know, become part of my thoughts, 20:54 and it's gonna be part of my thinking, 20:56 and ultimately it's gonna affect even my character. 20:59 And as a result of that, 21:00 God wants us to be mindful of what we express, 21:03 again, words, what goes on in our minds, 21:06 and, of course, what we do in our actions. 21:09 A man may walk down an area and see a woman, 21:11 I remember a hip-hop group by the name of, 21:13 Naughty by Nature, and, you know, 21:16 I had a chance to work with them, 21:18 you know, well back in the days in, 21:19 you know, '91, '92, 21:22 and I remember that talking with them, offstage, 21:25 I found that, you know, Treach and Vinny 21:27 and these guys, they were nice guys. 21:28 I mean, I actually like them. 21:30 You know, there was a lot about their characters that I like. 21:32 And I think there's a lot of really likable people 21:34 that are in hip-hop altogether. 21:37 But there was a song that made them explosive. 21:39 But the song when I, when you look back at it, 21:42 you have to be honest and say, 21:43 "Man, this is really one of the most devastating effects 21:47 that took place on society." 21:50 And this is the constant contradiction 21:52 that you see in hip-hop culture 21:53 through the license of expression. 21:55 Again, going back to Russell Simmons, 21:57 when he was talking with Don Lemon, 21:58 and, "Look, I'm not gonna tell anybody 22:00 how to express themselves. 22:02 Every poet has their right." And so on. 22:03 But they're doing it in the name of hip-hop 22:06 and it is having an adverse effect that 22:08 we have to be honest about, the song that they wrote, 22:11 so many years ago was called 22:12 "OPP", "Other People's Property". 22:15 And he was asking everybody, you're down with OPP, 22:17 other people's property? 22:18 And what did that mean? 22:20 That was talking about, if you see aman's wife, 22:21 and you want her, go get her. 22:23 You see a woman's husband, you want him, go get him. 22:25 Now what kind of message is that? 22:27 I mean, it's almost pathetic to think that a message 22:30 like that would be connected to a culture called hip-hop 22:34 that's supposed to be about love, unity, peace, 22:36 and safely having fun. 22:38 Now, again, like you stated earlier, 22:41 maybe I'm sure, in fact, 22:43 that there are thought leaders in hip-hop culture that says, 22:46 "No, we don't agree with OPP." 22:48 We think that that was a bad song. 22:49 We don't endorse it. You know. 22:51 And while I thank God for that position, 22:53 the problem is that, 22:55 that they're not really offering something better. 22:57 What's not being stated in hip-hop culture 22:58 is do not fornicate, wait until you get married, 23:01 and you're to be with only one person which is God's design, 23:04 and it's to be one man and one woman. 23:06 And, you know, 23:07 these are the things that are not forcefully coming out. 23:10 Yeah, and that's the key. 23:11 It's not like as there's nobody on the planet saying that. 23:13 We don't know every single person in hip-hop 23:15 or that represents hip-hop. 23:16 But it's not the consistent message. 23:19 It's not the consistent message coming out. 23:20 Yes, so there's a constant, constant, constant confusion 23:24 and this is why everything, 23:26 again, must be tested by scripture. 23:29 It's a hard position for one who does not live like this, 23:32 and does not do this. 23:33 But when we're looking at cultural expressions, 23:36 it's not that an individual can't express themselves. 23:39 And by the way, you can. 23:40 You can express whatever you want. 23:42 You can do whatever you want, 23:43 but the book of Ecclesiastes tells us, 23:45 "Just keep this in mind that one day you will have to face 23:48 what you've expressed in the judgment." 23:49 God just makes it clear, you know, 23:51 "Be mindful what you say, be mindful of what you do, 23:54 and understand that a day shall come." 23:56 That a judgment can come upon us. 23:58 Because it says in Matthew 12, 24:00 and we would do well to consider this 24:03 'cause, you know, expression 24:04 and all of us have to face this reality. 24:06 And even if we don't believe it or like it, 24:08 we're still gonna face it. 24:09 It's kinda like death. 24:10 You don't like it, but it's coming. 24:12 And so it is that, you know, judgment, judgment is coming, 24:15 judgment has come for many, 24:17 and judgment will come ultimately for everyone. 24:20 But the Bible says in Matthew 12, 24:22 it says in verse 35, 24:24 "A good man out of the good treasure 24:26 of the heart bringeth forth good things. 24:29 And an evil man out of the evil treasure 24:31 bringeth forth evil things. 24:33 But I say unto you, 24:36 that every idle word that men shall speak, 24:41 they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 24:45 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, 24:47 and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." 24:51 The Bible makes it clear that what we express, 24:55 there is an accountability. 24:57 And God wants us to understand that, 25:00 "Listen, you may have thoughts, 25:02 you may have words that you have put together in your mind 25:05 and get ready to speak, 25:07 and you certainly may have actions that you want to do," 25:10 but God says, 25:11 "Think, pause, you have to understand 25:13 whatever you're about to do. 25:15 It's kind of like the story with you and your friends, 25:17 you know, guys, if we're gonna do this, 25:19 just understand there's an accountability." 25:21 And that is the message that we have to give, it's to say, 25:23 "Listen, God is not in you innately, 25:27 God comes into our heart that He finds as a place 25:30 where He can dwell. 25:32 And God does not dwell in filth, 25:33 He dwells in holiness, 25:34 and God can only make us holy when we submit unto Him." 25:38 That's when He can transform us or do as David says, 25:41 "Create in me a clean heart, 25:43 renew within me a right spirit." 25:46 Then God does not have a problem 25:48 making His home in our minds, 25:50 and influencing our thoughts that we begin to speak, 25:54 do, act, dress, and everything else, 25:57 in the way that He has called us to do. 25:59 So when you look at these elements of hip-hop culture, 26:01 that's what we have to pay attention to, is that 26:04 breaking, DJing, MCing, all of these different things. 26:07 The fashion, and all these things, 26:10 they are expressions that are coming from a culture. 26:13 The question is, can we put these to the test of God's word 26:17 and can these things pass the test that 26:20 we can say it is all right to do it? 26:22 Or are we functioning by this atheistic, 26:25 demigod idea that I somehow innately am God myself 26:29 and I can make up the decisions, 26:31 and decide what I want to do, and express myself as I choose? 26:34 The Bible says something different and if we are wise, 26:37 especially for those of us who profess Christianity, 26:40 we need to follow what the word of God says. 26:43 So I think it's pretty clear that expression, 26:46 in whatever form it comes, 26:47 is kind of an indicator of what's on the heart. 26:50 That's correct. 26:51 And so if you're expressing falsehood consistently, 26:54 if you're expressing violence, if you're expressing something 26:57 that's degrading society 26:58 whether it's by great or by little, 27:02 and we know that according, again, to Hosea 4 that 27:05 "The rejection of knowledge, the rejection of the truth, 27:07 the rejection of the reality as God presents it, 27:10 it leads to destruction." 27:12 If you're doing that in any degree on the scale, 27:14 then it's showing that your heart is corrupt in some way, 27:18 shape, or form. 27:20 These things are exciting. 27:21 We're talking about cultural expression. 27:22 We're gonna continue to talk 27:24 about the various forms of expression 27:25 that are outlined in hip-hop culture. 27:27 But more importantly, 27:28 look at the principles that govern genuine, 27:31 true, pure, holy, lovely, and acceptable expression. 27:37 God is not against expression. 27:39 God is not against our culture. 27:41 But everything that God identifies as truth, 27:45 and love, and purity, 27:47 are the things that dictate to us 27:51 how we can express ourselves and what is acceptable 27:54 in the reality that God has outlined. 27:56 I wanna encourage you to join us again for our next episode. 28:00 And as you remember in Proverbs 2:6, 28:03 "It is the Lord that gives wisdom and out of His mouth 28:06 comes knowledge and understanding." 28:08 God bless you. |
Revised 2017-04-03