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Does God Listen to Rap?: Christians and the World's Most Controversial Music Kindle Edition

4.1 out of 5 stars 23 ratings

A lot of people think that if there is one style of music in the world that God hates, it has got to be rap. Some have even gone so far as to call rap, “An unclean thing before the Lord.” They don’t believe something originally associated with so much evil can ever be redeemed for God’s glory.

Lots of other people love and accept rap as their preferred form of musical expression. Many of these who are Christians can’t imagine why God would have any issues with rap – at least, not with songs by believers that encourage and edify them in the faith.

Who’s right? And maybe more importantly, who cares? You should. And here’s why.
In the past 30 years, rap music has become a vital artistic and cultural force globally, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. Like it or not, you are probably exposed to rap in one form or another on a fairly regular basis. If you’re interested in this book you may be a believer in Jesus who likes rap a lot, and as Christians, when we love something that is (if you hadn’t noticed) closely associated with sin and rebellion, our justification for being involved with it really does need to go beyond, “Dude, this is good stuff.”

But maybe you’re in a different category. Maybe you’re a Christian parent, concerned that rap music may have a negative impact on your child. Maybe you’re a youth pastor worried about having a rap concert at his church because of the potential pushback. Or maybe you’re just a rap fan who is curious to see if there’s even any biblical evidence for or against rap.

To put it simply, if you’ve made it this far, this book is probably for you. Does God Listen to Rap? covers two areas. First, it presents a sociological history of the emergence and development of rap. If you enjoy rap and hip hop culture, you’ll love this part of the book. Then the book explores the Scriptures to bring some biblical (not just personal or anecdotal) resolution to the question of God and rap. Ultimately, this involves a set of larger questions involving God and the arts. This is more than just an apologetic for rap music, this is a biblical way to think about how Christians can be in the world yet not of the world, and how they can express themselves to the glory of God.

So, does God listen to rap? Come find out.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00GEGHUXE
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cruciform Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 7, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.8 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 110 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1936760770
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 23 ratings

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
23 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book interesting, with one mentioning how it provides surprising insights. Moreover, the book receives positive feedback for its biblical content, with one customer noting how it takes discussions back to Scripture.

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6 customers mention "Interest"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written, with one customer noting it provides surprising insights, while another mentions it includes interesting historical facts, such as information about Augustine.

"...and the World's Most Controversial Music by Curtis Allen was a very interesting book...." Read more

"A brilliant, easy to understand, and comprehensive synopsis of both the origins of rap and what theology has to say about which music styles can..." Read more

"...That little fact about Augustine was pretty cool! While I enjoyed the book, I don't think it will quiet those who oppose any music but hymnal/..." Read more

"...This book gives a history to my experience, a background to what I saw...." Read more

4 customers mention "Biblical content"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's biblical content, with one customer noting how it takes discussions back to Scripture, while another highlights its use of rap as a powerful tool for evangelism.

"...This is a method that starts with and remains grounded in good theology but throws in some basic logic and philosophy where needed...." Read more

"...And finally, he took the discussion back to Scripture, the origin of music, poetry, chants and the like from as far back as Genesis...." Read more

"...and I appreciate the author taking the time in getting a good biblical conversation started on this topic...." Read more

"...but Allen makes a solid, Biblical, and winsome argument for using rap to glorify God, deliver the Gospel, and win people to Jesus...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Does God Listen to Rap? Christians and the World's Most Controversial Music by Curtis Allen was a very interesting book. Once I picked this book up, I devoured it... At 110 pages, I still had it read by the next day.

    The topic itself, though there are many on both sides of the argument that would agree requires conversation, is usually approached poorly. For myself, I have no patience, whether in book or in blog post or in person, for those who simply want to air their opinions. No offense, but I don't have time for most opinions, not even my own. I want truth, and when it comes to God and what He wants, I want the truth from scripture. I liked this book because Curtis Allen, as best as I believe anyone could, comes to the table with this truth.

    To approach this topic from a Biblical perspective, since the Bible doesn't actually talk about Rap (or any musical style for that matter), the author also describes a correct method to handling and applying scripture to various areas of life. And he does this in true rapper style, by inventing a word:
    "So far right now the issue is not rap at all. Rap is just our immediate context for thinking about the character of God and how he relates to music. As we do this, I'm going to take what I call a theomethodosophical approach. This is a method that starts with and remains grounded in good theology but throws in some basic logic and philosophy where needed. It's not too different from what somebody else might call common-sense speculation. But look, I'm a rapper, and sometimes rappers just go ahead and invent words. It's what we do."
    "I'm taking this theomethodosophical approach because Scripture obviously doesn't speak directly to everything we are curious about. When that happens, we are biblically free to consider possibilities as long as we remain true to Scripture and don't put our conclusions on a par with Scripture."
    That is precisely where many go wrong. They come up with conclusions, and quite often about musical styles, and they hold their conclusions up on the same level with the Bible. What naturally follows is a condemnation of any who don't abide by their conclusions or who don't come up with the same conclusions.

    I need to add though that one of the most fascinating parts of this book was the first few chapters that dealt with the history of Rap. I learned about "Kool Herc and the Birth of the DJ", "Grandmaster Flash", and "The 1977 NYC Blackout". Before reading this book, my understanding about the beginnings of Rap music went only as far back as RUN DMC performing with Aerosmith... Yes. I am a white boy from the midwest.

    If you have had any struggle with developing a Biblical understanding of music or if you have come to some conclusions that you have help up on par with Scripture itself, then I would love to recommend this book to you, if for no other reason that to hear a level-headed, Biblical approach that might be different than YOU.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I picked this up fully intending to pick it apart, largely because I'm old enough to have witnessed the birth of rap or "hip hop" in this country and saw the seamy, rebellious, misogynistic, thuggish origins of the genre. But Curtis Allen's polemic turned out to be something unexpected. First, he did not erect and burn any straw men. Second, he didn't dodge the tough questions related to either rap's origin or its ongoing "gangsta" side, but acknowledged and dealt with them head on. And finally, he took the discussion back to Scripture, the origin of music, poetry, chants and the like from as far back as Genesis.

    His presentation was fair, gracious and balanced, and I grudgingly found myself unable to deny that much of my resistance to "Christian rap" was really based on preference more than principle. This is not to say that I don't still wrestle with the question of how it plays out in the tension between Christian liberty and Christian charity, especially with respect to those whose entire association with the genre is so enmeshed with the in-your-face gangster mentality that the message gets lost in the medium. And then there's the issue of whether the "non-hip" generation, already somewhat marginalized, are even able to understand the lyrics. This is of course just as much a concern with regard to "Christian rock," where the lyrics may be doctrinally sound and Christ-honoring, but unintelligible to most of those over a certain age.

    But with that one qualification, I have to respect the gracious humility with which Mr. Allen articulated his position, and admit that there is nothing inherently unbiblical about presenting strong reformed theology through rap if the intent and result are the glorification of Christ and not the "artist."
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A brilliant, easy to understand, and comprehensive synopsis of both the origins of rap and what theology has to say about which music styles can potentially glorify God.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2013
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I appreciated this book. That little fact about Augustine was pretty cool! While I enjoyed the book, I don't think it will quiet those who oppose any music but hymnal/classical music. I think they need a good exegetical presentation on what being "Worldly" means to go along with the biblical examples Curtis included on how God's people borrowed from the surrounding cultures of their time. They also run with the argument if it can't be used in corporate worship then it must be wrong and that wasn't really addressed in this book.

    I also thought having the section dealing with the "Lecrae" issue didn't flow well in the theme of addressing the "Does God Listen to Rap" question. I did appreciate what he had to say though on the topic, so maybe it should have been included as an appendix instead.

    Overall I recommend this book and I appreciate the author taking the time in getting a good biblical conversation started on this topic.

    One thought I would like to add that the author didn't include: If you believe God won't use something that once was wicked for His Glory, what were you before God redeemed you?
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Joe
    5.0 out of 5 stars If you cherish Christ and have an opinion on rap, READ THIS!!!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 26, 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    An excellent introduction to the the sub-genre of CHH. Allen makes the case of Rap in light of Scripture is much like ourselves in creation (made to glorify God), fall (nature being in enmity to God) and redemption (made to glorify God in Christ).

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