I recently had the pleasure of attending a luncheon with John Piper at the Legacy Conference in Chicago.
After encouraging and exhorting the attendees, he opened the floor for questions and gave several thoughtful answers.
One question stood out.
DJ Wade-O dug up the old, dead horse of whether someone is a Christian rapper or a Christian who raps.
I’m glad he did.
A Familiar Question With a Familiar Double Standard
This thoroughly debated question has always piqued my curiosity.
After working on both sides of the music industry, I have noticed a blatant hypocrisy.
The ridicule an artist receives while working within the Christian music industry is markedly different from what an artist encounters outside it.
If every song is not a “Gospel” song, some listeners decide that the artist is not actually a Christian.
On the other hand, when an artist who has always worked in the mainstream says he is a Christian, people often welcome him with open arms.
This does not apply only to artists whose previous work was morally neutral.
It can also apply to artists who have made explicitly immoral music.
In addition to becoming an instant hero of the faith, that artist may continue making music that is not explicitly Christian while retaining his newfound Christian platform.
Meanwhile, people exempt him from the rigid guidelines imposed on artists who began their careers within the Christian side of the industry.
John Piper’s Christian Mechanic
Regardless, Piper’s answer was insightful.
He compared the question to a Christian mechanic doing his work to the glory of God.
After hearing the answer in person, I knew more people needed to hear it.
I also believe many people who follow Piper could benefit from hearing his response because some have become the Pharisees of our scene.
With that said, I emailed Piper and asked whether he would address the question on his podcast.
To our benefit, he did.
Listen to John Piper answer whether Christian rap must include the Gospel in every song.