The Hip Hop Church…

connecting with the movement shaping our culture

If I were to ask you what Hip Hop is, what would your answer be? Is it music, is it fashion (a style of dressing), is it an attitude or a language? Yes, hip hop is all of the above and more. Hip Hop is a culture, and for the most part it is one that is often misunderstood. (Even by some of it’s own members)

Thirty years ago Hip Hop was thought by some to be a passing fad. These days that “passing fad” has spanned the Globe and it’s influence can be seen, felt and heard just about everywhere. From the suburbs to the city, the urban to the rural, hip hop’s influence can be seen and felt. It’s in commercials, movies, fashion and obviously music all are influenced by the phenomenon known as Hip Hop.

Hip Hop’s growth has not been without it’s challenges and currently it seems to be on a collision course with the Church. Both the Church and Hip Hop are after the attention of young people. Many in the Church identify Hip Hop as negative and repulsive, and blame Hip Hop for misleading and corrupting young people. On the other hand Hip Hop addresses issues and concerns that for whatever reasons the Church has avoided or said very little about.

To further complicate matters some members of the Church have embraced the redeeming qualities of the Hip Hop Culture in an attempt to take the Gospel Message to a Generation in Terms and Methods that they can relate to. These attempts have been met with resistance from the Church, raising a lot of questions;

• Is Hip Hop and the Hip Hop Culture Redeemable?

• Can anything Good Come out of the Hip Hop Community?

• Is God repulsed by Hip Hop and the Hip Hop Community?

Pastors Efrem Smith and Phil Jackson tackle these questions and more in their book, “The Hip Hop Church.” Without alienating or bashing either group, The Hip Hop Church successfully attempts to bridge the gap between the Church and the Hip Hop Community.

This is a must read book for everyone, and especially for those in urban or youth ministries. Regardless of whether or not you are located in our involved with the urban culture, there is plenty to glean from The Hip Hop Church. Check out the complete review of The Hip Hop Church by mmog37.