THIS CHRISTIAN NEEDS A DRINK! Part 3: So did I drink that rum punch yet?

It's been a long time coming - What up Doc? We in here. We ain't new to this thing, Hip-Hop! We been here. Look deep in our eyes - no fear, we been here, we in here, we in here!!!...........LOL! lemme stop singing that Corey Red and Precise song, 'We in Here', in my crazy off-tone before y'all start thinking 'Chick is high off the good stuff!' LOL!....back to the regular scheduled broadcast - and long-awaited answer to the question - "To drinketh, or not to drinketh rum punch?" Ah yes, that was the question...

Sooooo, the other night I decided, what the hay! I'm going to partake in a little Ethiopian Honey Wine with my, rather smashing, Assa (Tilapia sautéed in awazei sauce - an Ethiopian red pepper sauce). It seemed way too Philistinian to eat such a fine Homeland meal without the national wine. So why not, I thought? I'm a woman who believes in fine dining and embracing cultures, especially those from my motherland.

Now, I did not make my mind up so lightly. Prior to making my dining arrangements for the evening I thought about 1 Timothy 5:23 that mentions taking a little wine for a poorly stomach - so, I concluded that pre-menstrual cramps were a little deserving of medical consideration, especially considering that this time of my feminine life has been the first I have had to suffer such gross atrocity against my abdominal flesh. I thought about Proverbs 31: 6-7 that said one should give wine to folks who are going through - so I considered my pretty stressful emotional circumstances and issues that were weighing quite heavily on my sanity of late. Then I thought about all those Biblical Scripture I had meditated on that warned me of drunkeness and the sin that so easily comes to those inebriated out of their sacred mind (check out Part 2 of this series)- so, I was of resolute mind not to drink more than one glass (that Honey Wine is some serious stuff).

Now, being quite settled in my own comfort and discipline not to lose my religion over one drink, I found myself sitting at the dinner table with a girlfriend who was not so conclusive about her freedom - nor comfort, as a Christian, to drink. So I was left with the dilemna of whether to exercise my freedom at her discomfort or to restrain my freedom to drink. In the few seconds of processing my thoughts, I was led to meditate on this Scripture:

"Everything is permissible - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible - but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if anyone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the 
sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake - the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God - even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved." (1 Cor 10:23-33)

I realized that while I do, in FACT, have the freedom to drink my rum punch and honey wine, for some folks drinking alcohol will encourage them to engage in behaviors that lead to sin, so they are wary to drink. For others, the potential negative image they portray of themselves as a Christian, in public, drinking alcohol, when the secular world abuses it, more than often, poses sufficient fear to keep them from drinking, less they be typecast as a drunkard or hypocritical Christian. Many people also hold the traditional misconception that alcohol is to be avoided by Christians, in totality, and they see Biblical warnings against drunkeness and drinking as commandments against alcoholic consumption, rather than a guide towards moderation and appropriate conduct.

So, I declined my honey wine that evening, not wishing to harm the conscience of my friend. Now, like me, at first, some of y'all are perhaps thinking, 'If drinking alcohol is not a sin, and is permissable, why should I have to choose not to drink because someone else can't handle their drink without falling off the sin cliff, or someone is opposed to drinking out of a misconception that there is a divine law against it?" Well, this is what came to me on those same thoughts:

"Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law(though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), 
so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." (1 Cor 9:19-23)

Now that said, Christians (and non-Christians) need to understand that their limitations are not those of another Believer, and that they should not judge another Believer's walk with God, including their perception 
of what it means for a Christian having an alcoholic drink, based on how they must, as necessity, limit themselves in order to prevent from being ensnared by sinful behavior. Oftentimes folks are just weary of opening themselves up to the things that trapped them in sin before they came to Christ. And that is understandable. You have to know your limits. But we should never seek to impose our limitations on others.  We have laws that dictate the acceptable age of drinking alcohol, driving and, shamefully, even having sex! In the same way, God's laws and admonishments have some applicability to the maturity of the person, so we should not see another person's walk in the same light as our own nor vice versa. There is a fine balance in exercising our freedom in Christ with our duty to sharpen and be mindful of each other, but it is possible to maintain that balance if we see each other beyond the log in our own eye.

So, no, I did not drink 'ah likkle rum punch', or rather, honey wine that night...but yes! This Christian drinks 'ah likkle rum punch', among other alcoholic beverages! In FACT, last night, being in company that was not about to lose their religion, nor judge the Christian world for my one drink, I sipped very happilly on my honey wine, over another helping of fabulous Ethiopian cuisine at DC's Zed's Ethiopian Restaurant, in the great company of my husband.

So Cheers! to your good health in Christ, to those of you mature enough not to go beyond the limit with alcohol. And for those of you Christians (& non-Christians) who now recognize your divine liberty to down 'ah likkle rum punch' and what not, please remember:

"For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God." 1 Peter 2:15-16

In other words - just because you can drink alcohol - don't drink so you can have an excuse to do all those things you know full well you  have no business doing! Having a drink is meant for you to relax and 
unwind from stress, not get drunk, relax morals and untie yourself from the Laws of God. Sip on a little of that drink - but don't turn the lights down, baby! LOL! (Well, unless you are with your husband or wife! Ha! ummmmmmm! ;-)








Oh! and this is for those of you who don't need to be turning off no light, after that drink! LOL!...an 'eye-opener' courtesy of Corey Red - off of the Corey Red and Precise "Resistance iz Futile" album

MUSICAL FACTS: My Thesis: CHRISTIAN Hip-Hop NEED Jesus!

So it's FACT that, on a whole, what has come to be termed as 'secular' Hip Hop is sorely lacking in morals, never-mind Godliness. But I'm sitting back checking out the latest trends in Christian Hip-Hop circles and I'm thinking, eh? Media-aired sexual indiscretions/dysfunction, division in doctrine, division in business and on personal levels, sneaker/apparel obsession, "diss tracks"...I could go on, but you catch my drift? Yup! Christian Hip-Hop NEED Jesus!

I won't even go into the sexual indiscretions & dysfunction that go on behind closed doors - and heck, even openly. We all got dirty laundry. It is a known FACT that adultery and pre-marital sex are as rife in the church as it is in the world, as is homosexuality, pornography addiction, pedophilia, etc.; so the Christian Hip-Hop circle is hardly an area of exception.

As for divisions in doctrine, business relationships and personal relationships - nothing new about humanity there. Human beings, as we are, are subject to division and strife among each other. We disagree on a magnitude of levels, whatever our faith, or lack thereof, and irrespective of the relationships we do or do not have with one another.

I could mess with Christian Hip-Hop folks about the way some boast and obsess over sneakers/apparel (& phones/mobile devices) and the brands they sport, but I'll save that idolism blog for another time, and let y'all check into Lecrae's REHAB hospital, I mean album, on that one for now.

That said, I'm not setting aside discussion on these topics to excuse any of these behaviors. Just because Christians and non-Christians, alike, are subject to the same wrong-doings does not excuse Christians (or anyone else, for that matter) from doing what is right. 

But my focus is with the "diss track" culture that is quickly developing in Christian Hip-Hop, which has absolutely no place as a norm among this genre of music in the same way it is with it's secular Hip-Hop counterpart. The entire 'diss track' sensation is seriously disappointing on the whole - whether secular or Christian. But in the Christian world, we are, by God's Word, held to a higher standard:

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret." Ephesians 5:1-12

For those who have been tuning in to the MC Hammer vs Jay-Z diss drama, with Hammer's latest release of 'Better Run, Run' as a response to Jay's supposed 'diss' of him on Kanye's track - many know, but some don't - what MC Hammer has brought serious media attention to is nothing new in the Christian Hip-Hop genre. The "diss-track" culture running through Christian Hip Hop has history that dates back years, with Artists speaking against secular rappers, most, without naming names. I am not going to make this a 'he said', 'she said' post by calling out Christian Hip Hop Artists who have become reknowned for 'dissing' secular Artists, or of those who make subtle passing references and curt remarks regarding un-named secular Artists. Nor will I name those Christian Emcees who air beef about other Christian Hip Hop Artists on record - both outright and by subtle reference.

While I can get with exposing FACT and truth about the evil that runs rampant through most "secular" hip-hop, and even to pull a fellow Believer up on something that does not stand up to God's Word, it seems the culture of Hip-Hop to battle-rap and insult another Emcee is invading Christian Hip-Hop, and risks us misrepresenting the CULTURE OF CHRIST. While I can commend, maybe, one or two Christian Hip- Hop Emcees for exposing FACT and revealing God's truth in addressing other Emcees - secular and Christian - overall, Christian Hip-Hop Emcees are not trying to expose FACT and the truth of God's Word by releasing 'diss' tracks. Too many are in this to gain rep and attention, or are operating out of ignorance, or both, in an ultimate attempt to 'be Hip-Hop', as some proof to the secular world that they can hold their own.

But take note: Jesus hung with the worst of sinners and spoke the truth of God's Word into their lives without bowing down to how those sinners lived. If He was able to relate without being like them so too can Christian Hip-Hop Emcees relate to the secular Hip-Hop world without bending to their way of thinking and doing; without adopting all of Hip-Hop culture.

Sure, "it is wisdom to meet a man where he is, in order to persuade him to come where you are" (L.A Jackson of The Day Jesus Spoke Hip-Hop)...but empathy does not require that we copycat how the other person thinks, feels or responds in order for them to understand where we come from and receive the truth we are delivering. In any case real recognizes real! People who are lost are not looking for Christian Hip-Hoppers to act like them, or else where is the hope in the things of Christ that we speak to them? If the lost want to exit the way they have been living they are not looking for another thug like them, another ho like them, another pimp like them, another profanity-laden tongue like them, another brand-name sneaker-clad baller like them, another 'diss-lyricist' like them...they want something different from what they have. And the only way we can rep that realness is to rep CHRIST CULTURE, NOT HIP-HOP CULTURE for real.


What Christian Hip-Hop needs is imitators of CHRIST CULTURE, NOT HIP-HOP CULTURE, mi Bredrin!