E2X: Trip Lee

This is going to be my series on Artists that use their art for the Gospel.

Trip Lee is 22, a rapper and desiring to go to seminary and eventually be a pastor. He is working with Reach Records with Lecrae, Tedashii and many others. He uses Scripture for the content of his hip hop rap and desires to exalt Christ in what he does.

Not only that, unlike secular artists, he makes it a point to make sure people are not lifting the messenger but only the message of Jesus.

“Hey if you looking for a Superstar/I ain’t the one you searching for, I came to bring some worship, bro/He’s perfect I’m just dirt below/Hey if you looking for a Superstar/Don’t look at me, you got me wrong, I been a sinner all along/Let’s look at Him and not the songs” (Superstar – Trip Lee)

Also, what I love about Trip is his passion to give solid theology in his rapping. Because of the hip hop culture and their ear for its rhymes, alliterations, metaphors, imagery and the fast pace of its wording, they are able to pack in  more Word and theology than the usual “Christian song.”

“Follow the steps bro, Adam sinned now we all dead so We gotta sentence on our head like death row, everything is wrecked All creation is a mess bro, In the fullness of time, in steps the hero no red cloak, He’s Jesus No flashing lights, glitz n glam, and no cameras He came to serve needy folks, and point them to the answer You see Him healing, feeding folks, and telling them the standard Our most basic need is to be ransomed by Jesus It has first place” (The Invasion- Trip Lee)

Not only that, in their concerts, they basically just start preachin’! And it flows with the hip hop idea as many secular artists “preach” in between their sets with that they think is reality and the truth of life. Yet Trip and others in Reach Records are able to freely and boldly preach the truth of the Gospel straight up. It is the essence of indigenous missions in America! They are engaged in the greatest incarnational ministry to the hip hop culture and world.

They say “missions” is for a certain people group. But most people associate that with oversee missions and to other countries. If we really understand the Great Commission and the thrust of the Bible in what the Bible sees as missions, it is very clear that what artists like Trip Lee and Reach Records are doing is MISSIONS! They are trying to bring the Gospel to a people group- the hip hop world…

It is using the arts for the Gospel.

My thoughts:

In the next 5-10 years, I really believe that this idea of “ministry” and “missions” will completely change, if not already. I believe there will be artist who are in full time ministry, like Lecrae and Jaseson Ma, etc. I believe the traditional idea of “ministry” will still be effective and needed but there will be another category of “ministers” who are using their art for the Gospel.

The reality is, the world is changing, culture is changing and as ministers of the Gospel, we must change our methods at times but still keep the Message the Same! We are not to water down anything like our brothers from Reach Records are doing. (they in fact LOVE reformed theology and esp John Piper!) But we are to with the Truth reach every single people group in the world- even those in America!

My heart goes stankin crazy when I think about the arts and the Gospel! It is the heart and burden GOD has given me over time and especially this summer. I really can’t make sense out of it at all other than that it is GOD’s heart beating crazy in my heart. I see what GOD wants from the arts, especially in America and I want to be a part of God’s movement. GOD has given me this crazy vision and I really don’t know what to do with it. And when I hear and see people like Trip Lee doing THIS, it makes me want to get on board!

GOD is raising up Christ exalting artists in America… who will bring them together? Who will inspire the younger generation that you can exalt Christ w/ your dancing, rapping, music, videos, drama?

We don’t live in a traditional culture anymore where ONE way is the right way… but as believers we take that and think of MANY ways to express the ONE TRUTH, Jesus Christ.

 

More info on Reach Records and Reach Life:

http://www.reachrecords.com/rehab/

http://reachlife.org/

 

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