A good friend of mine, Pastor Jonathan Brooks, posted this on his group’s music ministry website, and I just HAD to repost it here. Hope it blesses you! Leave a comment
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Many Christian musicians have fallen into the trap of asking themselves how do they become a better artist and glorify GOD more through their music. I have found this question to be one of interesting nature. One who seeks the answer should always ask themselves, are they seeking to glorify God through their music, or through their life as a whole. Although GOD is glorified through music, He values our lives reflecting his holiness as far greater than anything our lips can say. I offer a humble solution and tiny steps toward being more God centered in your lyrics and Christ centered in your music...
Get your weight up!
Theolyricism/and Christocentric music
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Part One... Why be a theo (GOD centered ) lyricist or make Christocentric (Christ centered) music?
1. Becoming a solid believer is an expectation of the Christian faith.
Hebrews 5:11-14 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Whether we claim to be a "Christian rapper," a "Christian hip hopper," or just a "plain Christian," the question should be asked of us, "just how Christian are we?" -William "The Ambassador" Branch
2. Although we do not attempt to replace or supersede the authority of those God has placed in Church leadership (i.e. pastors, elders) as artists preaching and teaching the word of God before the masses we will be judged with a greater strictness.
James 3:1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
"I’m trying to help you learn a new route, every rapper’s a preacher: only question is, what’s your sermon about?" –Shai Linne
3. We are called to be public with our Christianity.
Matthew 5:13-16 "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
"Christians are "cities on a hill which can’t be hid" not under-cover agents… Christians are considered "light" and "salt" partly because both their presence and the absence are readily detectable and significantly impacting."
-William "The Ambassador" Branch
4. It gives God glory.
I Corinthians 10:31Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all things to the glory of God.
Humans are "partakers of the divine nature" (II Peter 1:4)--Imbued with the attributes of God in limited measure. Our purpose is to interact with God, forever--Commune with Him; worship Him; serve Him. Whatever we do for Him; however we relate to Him, becomes a part of His glory--the radiant stream of His splendor. -David Morsey of The Harvester
Part Two... Becoming a Theolyricist or a Christocentric Musician
1. Remember… Life on life discipleship is the pattern used by Jesus in order to equip his followers. Paul and the early church also stressed authentic fellowship for growth. Majority of hip hoppers already roll in crews so use your crew as your discipleship/accountability team.
a. Sit and go through scripture together without the intent of writing a rhyme. Exegesis (God’s agenda) vs. Eisegesis (your own agenda)
b. Find out what is essential to God’s heart and communicate it. (What is he speaking to you?) Prayer is essential here.
c. Be able to defend every lyric with scripture!
2. Share not only testimonies and stories about your own life; but essential doctrines of scripture. (i.e. salvation by grace through faith, the deity of Christ, the necessity of scripture and the person and work of Christ)
Here are a couple of lines and the doctrine it corresponds to:
"The Word of God, it stands firm in the heavens" -The Authority of Scripture (Psalm 119:89, Luke 21:33)
"Cats come into this world serving a death sentence" -Original Sin (Romans 5:12-14)
"The Holy Spirit keeps the furnace lit- thank You for granting us repentance" and "By the grace of God I’ve been regenerated"- The Sovereignty of God the Spirit in Salvation (John 3:7-8, 2 Timothy 2:25, Titus 3:5-6)
*Excerpt from The Intro on Shai Linne’s "The Solus Christus Project" Listeners guide where he gives the musical, lyrical and theological background of every song on the album.
3. Keep up with the times. We must stay relevant to today’s culture but solid in Biblical principles.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
"Being cool is cool but being Christian is essential." –William "The Ambassador" Branch
4. It is the power of the gospel of Christ which changes hearts and minds and points men and women to righteousness, therefore, in order to be a Theo lyricist you must clearly understand and be able to clearly communicate the gospel message.
Romans 1:16-17 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
I pray that this short synopsis on Christocentric music and theolyricism aid you in taking steps in becoming the most GOD glorifying believer you can possibly be, then in turn you will have no choice but to be the most GOD glorifying musician you can be.
Stand firm in "The Faith".
Jonathan "Amen" Brooks