Grammy award
winning and Christian hip-hop star Lecrae (Lecrae Moore) set his musical artist
persona aside during a leadership conference recently to talk about the subject
of engaging American culture in a non-typical, yet Christian way in order to
further the Gospel.
winning and Christian hip-hop star Lecrae (Lecrae Moore) set his musical artist
persona aside during a leadership conference recently to talk about the subject
of engaging American culture in a non-typical, yet Christian way in order to
further the Gospel.
“I think we
don’t engage culture because we’re scared. We don’t want it corrupting our
kids. I think we’re scared because ultimately we’re still caught up in a
sacred-secular divide,” said Lecrae, who is also a ministry leader, to a
crowd of more than 2,000 church leaders Thursday at the Resurgence Conference
(R12) at Mariners Church in Irvine, Calif.
don’t engage culture because we’re scared. We don’t want it corrupting our
kids. I think we’re scared because ultimately we’re still caught up in a
sacred-secular divide,” said Lecrae, who is also a ministry leader, to a
crowd of more than 2,000 church leaders Thursday at the Resurgence Conference
(R12) at Mariners Church in Irvine, Calif.
“We are
still caught up in the reality that everything is broken up in two and if you
go too far here you are going to get messed up,” he said. “There is a
sacred-secular divide that hinders us from impacting culture.”
still caught up in the reality that everything is broken up in two and if you
go too far here you are going to get messed up,” he said. “There is a
sacred-secular divide that hinders us from impacting culture.”
Lecrae was one of
one of eight well-known Christian leaders speaking at the event geared for
young pastors and ministry leaders. He took a break just long enough to give
his message while traveling in the U.S. for the “Unashamed Tour 2012: Come
Alive” concert series featuring Reach Records label mates Andy Mineo, Trip
Lee, Tedashi, KB, Pro and other artists.
one of eight well-known Christian leaders speaking at the event geared for
young pastors and ministry leaders. He took a break just long enough to give
his message while traveling in the U.S. for the “Unashamed Tour 2012: Come
Alive” concert series featuring Reach Records label mates Andy Mineo, Trip
Lee, Tedashi, KB, Pro and other artists.
“We
(Christians) are great at talking about salvation and sanctification. We are
clueless when it comes to art, ethics, science, and culture. Christianity is
the whole truth about everything. It’s how we deal with politics. It’s how we
deal with science. It’s how we deal with TV and art. We can’t leave people to
their own devices,” Lecrae said during his talk at the conference.
(Christians) are great at talking about salvation and sanctification. We are
clueless when it comes to art, ethics, science, and culture. Christianity is
the whole truth about everything. It’s how we deal with politics. It’s how we
deal with science. It’s how we deal with TV and art. We can’t leave people to
their own devices,” Lecrae said during his talk at the conference.
“We just
demonize everything. If it doesn’t fit in the category of sanctification or
salvation it’s just evil.” Lecrae said that society in the U.S. is moving
away from “this traditional, evangelical, conservative America.”
demonize everything. If it doesn’t fit in the category of sanctification or
salvation it’s just evil.” Lecrae said that society in the U.S. is moving
away from “this traditional, evangelical, conservative America.”
“Relativism
and secular humanism permeates the world that we live in.” He asked,
“How do we engage this culture? How do we raise up people to engage this
culture?”
and secular humanism permeates the world that we live in.” He asked,
“How do we engage this culture? How do we raise up people to engage this
culture?”
Lecrae said that
in the area he lives in there are a lot of people, who because of the activity
they are engaged in, many Christians would avoid altogether.
in the area he lives in there are a lot of people, who because of the activity
they are engaged in, many Christians would avoid altogether.
“There’s
homosexuality rampant. There’s crime and all kinds of things going on around
me. I take my kids to the park and there’s two men kissing, people selling
drugs, and I’m grateful,” he said. “I’m not trying to escape. I want
to be in the midst of that because I need to be. That’s where I need to
be.”
homosexuality rampant. There’s crime and all kinds of things going on around
me. I take my kids to the park and there’s two men kissing, people selling
drugs, and I’m grateful,” he said. “I’m not trying to escape. I want
to be in the midst of that because I need to be. That’s where I need to
be.”
He added, “I
believe that the reason why the church typically doesn’t engage culture is
because we are scared of it. We’re scared it’s going to somehow jump on us and
corrupt us. We’re scared it’s going to somehow mess up our good thing. So we
consistently move further and further away from the corruption, further and
further away from the crime, further and further away from the post-modernity,
further and further away from the relativism and secular humanism and we want
to go to a safe place with people just like you. We want to be
comfortable.”
believe that the reason why the church typically doesn’t engage culture is
because we are scared of it. We’re scared it’s going to somehow jump on us and
corrupt us. We’re scared it’s going to somehow mess up our good thing. So we
consistently move further and further away from the corruption, further and
further away from the crime, further and further away from the post-modernity,
further and further away from the relativism and secular humanism and we want
to go to a safe place with people just like you. We want to be
comfortable.”
Lecrae emphasized
that God created many things in this world that were intended for good, but
have been misused.
that God created many things in this world that were intended for good, but
have been misused.
“I’m talking
about using things that are typically used for evil and showing how they can be
used for God’s glory,” he explained. “Things are not of themselves
evil. It’s [about] structure and direction. God has structured things for His glory
and His goodness and humanity is directing it in evil or good ways.
about using things that are typically used for evil and showing how they can be
used for God’s glory,” he explained. “Things are not of themselves
evil. It’s [about] structure and direction. God has structured things for His glory
and His goodness and humanity is directing it in evil or good ways.
“If you are
going to engage culture it’s about taking the things, and the things you are
skilled at, and asking ‘How can I direct them in a good way?’
going to engage culture it’s about taking the things, and the things you are
skilled at, and asking ‘How can I direct them in a good way?’
“I’m not
saying let’s redeem the world and create this utopian planet,” Lecrae
continued. “I’m saying let’s demonstrate what Jesus had done in us so the
world may see a new way, God’s way, Jesus’ way … the picture of redemption that
Jesus has done in us. So Jesus redeems us and we desire to go to the world and
demonstrate that so that others can see what redemption looks like.”
saying let’s redeem the world and create this utopian planet,” Lecrae
continued. “I’m saying let’s demonstrate what Jesus had done in us so the
world may see a new way, God’s way, Jesus’ way … the picture of redemption that
Jesus has done in us. So Jesus redeems us and we desire to go to the world and
demonstrate that so that others can see what redemption looks like.”
