Monday Music - Rapping Heidelberg
For once, I can't embed this track, so you'll have to go over to Mahaney's blog to hear it. It is, without doubt, the first ever attempt to 'rap' the Heidelberg Catechism.
I make no comment on rap music. I make no comment on its suitability or otherwise for Christian worship. I make no comment at all on whether it's appropriate and helpful for Christian instruction. I just say - go listen.
Then, let me know what you think. Without being sycophantic or offensive.
12 comments:
I can't tell you what I think otherwise someone will google it and use it against me in a court of reformed mafia gossip.
Aw heck...
I think that it brings glory to God.
I think it's brillianT!
Just because you're paranoid, JH, it doesn't mean they're not out to get you...
It is a sad day when rapping anything Christian is regarded as good. Poor form weakens good substance. Reformed people ought to know that more than anyone. But this is what happens when the charismatic movement infiltrates reformed churches.
That may be the case, Dean. On the other hand, stating an opinion dogmatically is not the same as demonstrating it - which the Reformed ought to know more than anyone - don't you think?
This wasn't poor form - it was and excelletn example of a NEW form. Is that a problem?
My reading of history suggests that the refomers were pretty radical guys and not at all afraid of new forms if they got the message of the word of God to the common people. Why won't we emulate them?
Gary,
You are right; "stating an opinion dogmatically is not the same as demonstrating it" (though I didn't think I stated my opinion dogmatically). My demonstration or argument that rap is not a suitable form for conveying Christian truth is something so simple as the character of God. The beauty and grandeur of God (Ps 50:2; Isa 57:15; etc.) is an argument for good form. Rap is not good form. That isn't just a personal opinion. Rap is grungy, silly, and funny, not fitting for the glorious gospel of Christ.
Please send me a CD of your first rap sermon, or better yet, send a DVD. Rap is communication with motion so I want to see you rap a sermon not just hear it! And by the way, when you begin to rap the occasional sermon, be sure to rap a communion sermon. I need to be convinced that this form of communication is an acceptable method for such a solemn occasion. Perhaps observing your use of it might convince me!
I would say to Mr. Anonymous that that rap is poor form, not just new form. And I would also ask for proof that these radical reformers paved the way in Reformation days with new forms. That is an overblown argument that people often make dogmatically without demonstrating it!
I do appreciate your web site and am grateful to God for your ministry.
Dean
Here is a series of articles that may help to support some of Dean Olive's concerns:
http://www.religiousaffections.org/articles/articles-on-music/can-rap-be-christian-no
Thanks, Dean, for responding again - and especially for taking my tongue-in-cheek teasing in good part; not everyone does.
For myself, I don't like rap, can't imagine liking rap. On the other hand, as you'll know if you've visited the blog often, I do like (early) rock and roll. But I don't think it would be a suitable medium for communicating gospel truth; it would, I fear, trivialise it. By the same token, I love Beethoven too, but I don't think an operatic form would be a suitable medium for communicating gospel truth either - its very grandeur would distract from the truth I fear, rather than adding to it.
But - I've had the discussion before - I'm not convinced that any form in itself is necessarily bad - that is, bad in an absolute, rather than a cultural, sense.
Your name rings several bells: were you over in the UK at some point (1980's?) and associated with Grace Baptist Churches?
May you know the Lord's blessing tomorrow.
Well I guess pushing for the Bible to be written in something other than latin so the common people could understand it was pretty radical at the time. People thought that it would dishonour God to have His word written in a common tongue just as people today think that using the forms and language of the kids on the street is dishonouring. This is why they flock to the charismatic churches - they can at least understand and relate to the forms used to bring them the message. It's such a shame that they get taught so badly as a result.
I lived for a year in Suffolk, on the Norfolk border, and then spent three years in Norfolk, pastoring the Baptist Church there. That was 1985-1989. There is hardly a day that passes that we do not miss living in England.
One more comment about rap and that is to Mr. Anonymous. I thought we were talking about verbal communication, not translation. Looks as though you switched in talking about rapping the Heidelberg Catechism to translating the Bible. I assumed that when you spoke of the reformers and new form that you were referring to the fallacious argument that Luther improvised in using bar tunes for hymns.
I meant to say the Baptist Church in Salhouse!
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