Music Reviews
Ok, so the other day I was fishing through my space looking for different Christian Rap Artist. You see, before I was saved I listened to a diversity of music ranging from Eazy-E to New Kids on the Block so A.C (After Christ) my taste in music is pretty much just as diverse except when it comes to lyrics. I have loved rap music since the Beastie Boys came out with “You gotta fight for your right to party”. Actually I should say "good rap music". There has always been untalented Rap Artist out there both in the secular and Christian music venue. I mean there are several "Christian Rap Artist" out there, but that doesn't mean it sounds "good". When it boils down to it you want something with a profound message and awesome rapping ability as well as a slamming beat right?
So, I was searching music pages online on my space and found the one that I decided to put on our profile and we fell in love with it. The more and more we listened to it, the more we liked it to the point where I did a video search for it only to find out it was DMX. I was like, "What, did he get saved?" Then I clicked on another you tube video link by him and thus closed it out after the first fifteen cuss words flew out of my computer.
I then began to do a search for DMX to see if he was recently converted. Upon doing so I ran across an article written by Corey Buckner (http://www.coreybuckner.com)
First of all I want to say that I partially agreed with him and I partially disagreed with him. The reason I say this is because he contradicted himself at the end of the article which makes everything else he said "confusing" to the general masses.
Second of all I must say that the song "Lord, give me a sign" is one of the most profound convicting songs that I have heard in a LONG time. It admits mans failures and struggles and downfalls. It admits knowing that we mess up and that we need God to show us which way to go. It clearly states that we are not to ask God to hide us but to protect us and give us the strength to fight back. That fight is not between us and the devil, it's not a fight between us and God, it is a fight between us and our own strongholds and influences. Adam and Eve birthed two nations after their fall from God and out of that came our Savior Jesus (Nations later of course.)
My point is this, none of us grow on the same levels and none of us battle the same fleshly battles that each of us have innately ingrained in our bodies. We cannot overcome sin without being submitted to God and even when we are submitted to God it is a continual growing process and maturing. We all fall short of the glory of God and when we see someone like DMX sing a song that carries so much conviction with it, still struggling with his "old ways" and the ways of the world we must lift him up in prayer, not find ways to condemn him.
When I look at DMX I see a man who was just as I was when I first came to the knowledge of Christ. I struggled in many ways, not with gangs or profanity, but with fornication and smoking amongst other things, as I am certain many people reading this now have also.
If someone would have been condemning me during this time it would have made it extremely difficult for me to feel worthy to even attempt to grow in God. I definitely would not have been able to witness of God's grace to anyone. Yes, God has wrath for those who continue in sin, but that is after HE has dealt with them, not after our words have. He knows the perfect timing for all things and maybe God wants DMX to impact a nation. Maybe there is one more fan out there he wants him to grasp before He turns his world upside down and inside out for the Gospel.
We don't know what God's plans are but I can tell you this. Gifts come without repentenance and we are called to be long suffering. DMX has a gift from God and he is using it. It might not be in the way some would approve, but God can do anything and that song "Lord give me a sign” could be a breakthrough for many of his listeners on their last breath.....that song could birth sold out Pastors and Evangelists, that song could lead millions of young troubled teens to calling out upon the name of the Lord in their darkest hour. Even if DMX never completely turns his life around to the Lord, another young man or woman could because of that song and the conviction that God allowed DMX to sing it under.
DMX states clearly in this song that "the walk is hard" and he keeps stirring up problems in his life, "like rain in the dirt". DMX knows he isn't as close to God as he should be but at least he states the truth in this song, unlike many televangelist preachers these days. At least DMX IS being truthful about who he is and where he is!
I know that after I found out it was him singing this, I
felt led to dedicate time in prayer and fasting for him
cause if he was to sell out to God he would become Satans worst enemy. He would truly be a Mass Murderer of lost souls winning millions to Christ through his influence in the music industry.
I find it disheartening to see people like the lead singer from “Ex-Creed” and DMX who are on that path searching for truth and they are doing it in the public eye. I find it to be very shameful of those of us who comfortably sit “behind the scenes” in our little hidden safe havens sorting out our issues and shortcomings judging those who in the public eye have to sort out their own demons. I wonder if we would lift them up and edify them not only in prayers but in written articles and letters of encouragement if we could change the outcome of their journeys like those who have spoken life to us?
Be patient with your brothers and sisters. The Bible instructs us to lift one another up. We don’t know where each other are at in our walk. The Bible specifically instructs us to go to our brother or sister in Christ if we see them fall back into temptation, but if someone has yet to submit an area of their life to Christ…they can’t fall back, for they have never gotten past it. We cannot bring someone out of bondage only God can and His Word is clear on this. It is up to us to speak life into them and around them and pray God sends someone to them to minister in a way that they will hear. As well as for the areas that each of us struggle with in our own lives. Read the following scripture and prepare your hearts as I mine for the calling on which we all have on our lives.
King James Version: 2 Corinthians Chapter 6
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
When we get to the point where we have arrived at God’s call on our lives, that is when we can start trying to push others to catch up with us….until then we need to focus on our own growth and ministering to others in love and with patience watch God manifest His spirit in their lives. In the end we see, that if we have not obeyed God He will not walk with us and He will not receive us, but all of us have walked with God through different maturing seasons in our lives and sometimes we even venture down our own paths, but if we allow the spirit of God to direct us we always come back. God calls us to be witnesses not judges or coaches.
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