The growing genre of Christian rap has taken an unexpected turn towards conservative Reformed or Calvinist theology, reports Christianity Today (May).
The magazine reports that not since contemporary praise music came from Calvary Chapel and the Jesus movement in the 1970s “has a genre of Christian music become so associated with a specific stream of evangelicalism. And while not all Christian rappers are Reformed … the growing edge of the movement is explicitly taking its cues from Calvinist leaders.” Such Christian rappers as Grammy nominee Lecrae, Trip Lee, Flame, Voice and Shae Linne are strict Calvinists who rap on the Westminster Catechism, the sermon topics of prominent preacher John Pieper and such Reformed doctrines as limited atonement.
Theologian D.A. Carson notes that most Reformed rapping is done in performance at conferences rather than in congregations. With its heavy masculine style and focus on reciting lyrics and text, the affinity between rap and conservative Calvinism is not as incongruous as it may seem, adds Anthony Bradley of The King’s College.
(Christianity Today, 465 Gundersen Dr., Carol Stream, IL 60188)
