What’s Rappin’ in Your Head?

I watched the X Factor this last season and saw a 15 year old teenager named Astro perform Rap songs that he wrote.  He had quite the talent to write and sing rap.  The sad thing was, most of the lyrics he sang were very explicit sexually worded or about becoming rich and famous.  When he spoke to the judges or audience, he would always mention that he wanted to become famous so he could make it with the girls.  I know teenage boys are focused on girls, but it seemed to be all he ever thought about.  It was that or the money and fame.  Even sadder than his mis-guided focus in life was the fact that his mother approved of his singing and wanted that famous rapper lifestyle for him.  I have listened to other rappers songs and watched a few of their videos to see what all the hype was about.  Almost everyone I have watched or listened to has been about violence, breaking the law, sex, money or fame.  There have been a few good or clean ones.  They are the minority.  Even worse than the lyrics or the visual demonstrations shown in the music videos is the fact that many of these rappers are living the lifestyle they sing about.  Several have even been arrested for their illegal actions.

The Rap Music World really demonstrates a good Biblical truth. What goes in comes out.  Read what Jesus said in Matthew 15: 17-19.

¹⁷ “Don’t you realize that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is eliminated? ¹⁸ But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a man. ¹⁹ For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies.

As Christians we really need to focus on what the lyrics of the songs say and watch what the videos are teaching us visually.  If the words and visuals demonstrate sex/porn, crime/violence, riches/fame/self-indulgence, or things against God, then we need to eliminate that music from our life.  Eventually that music will have an effect on your thinking and lifestyle choices.  Instead our music and music videos should be helping us to have correct and godly thinking.  The Apostle Paul provides us with excellent instructions in Philippians 4:8.

⁸ Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.

If you really love Rap music, then find some clean rap music.  Or write your own.  Just remember that you are a new creation in Christ and your life should reflect that.  We were born with enough sinful influence in our bodies without adding more sinful influences in to our mind through our music choices.  Memorize Philippians 4:8 and that will help you when you are taking in music, TV, movies or magazine articles.  The Holy Spirit will bring it in to remembrance when you start to stray away from good clean choices.  So what’s rappin’ in your head?

What’s Rappin’ in Your Head?

I watched the X Factor this last season and saw a 15 year old teenager named Astro perform Rap songs that he wrote.  He had quite the talent to write and sing rap.  The sad thing was, most of the lyrics he sang were very explicit sexually worded or about becoming rich and famous.  When he spoke to the judges or audience, he would always mention that he wanted to become famous so he could make it with the girls.  I know teenage boys are focused on girls, but it seemed to be all he ever thought about.  It was that or the money and fame.  Even sadder than his mis-guided focus in life was the fact that his mother approved of his singing and wanted that famous rapper lifestyle for him.  I have listened to other rappers songs and watched a few of their videos to see what all the hype was about.  Almost everyone I have watched or listened to has been about violence, breaking the law, sex, money or fame.  There have been a few good or clean ones.  They are the minority.  Even worse than the lyrics or the visual demonstrations shown in the music videos is the fact that many of these rappers are living the lifestyle they sing about.  Several have even been arrested for their illegal actions.

The Rap Music World really demonstrates a good Biblical truth. What goes in comes out.  Read what Jesus said in Matthew 15: 17-19.

¹⁷ “Don’t you realize that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is eliminated? ¹⁸ But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a man. ¹⁹ For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies.

As Christians we really need to focus on what the lyrics of the songs say and watch what the videos are teaching us visually.  If the words and visuals demonstrate sex/porn, crime/violence, riches/fame/self-indulgence, or things against God, then we need to eliminate that music from our life.  Eventually that music will have an effect on your thinking and lifestyle choices.  Instead our music and music videos should be helping us to have correct and godly thinking.  The Apostle Paul provides us with excellent instructions in Philippians 4:8.

⁸ Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.

If you really love Rap music, then find some clean rap music.  Or write your own.  Just remember that you are a new creation in Christ and your life should reflect that.  We were born with enough sinful influence in our bodies without adding more sinful influences in to our mind through our music choices.  Memorize Philippians 4:8 and that will help you when you are taking in music, TV, movies or magazine articles.  The Holy Spirit will bring it in to remembrance when you start to stray away from good clean choices.  So what’s rappin’ in your head?