Shalom!

Another year has come and gone, and here we are again with another special edition of Euphor!a: The Hood Edition.

The slang word hood comes from the word neighbourhood, which brings me to a story that should be very familiar to us, taken from Luke 10:25–37. In it a lawyer asks Jesus this question: "Who is my neighbour?" In other words, who is it that I should love as myself?

Jesus then replies with the story of the Good Samaritan: a Jewish man was robbed while travelling, and is severely injured and left at the roadside. Both a priest and a Levite walk past the man, but neither stop to help. However, a Samaritan (who culturally would not interact with Jews) decided to help by dressing his wounds and bringing him to an inn, and even paying for his stay there while recuperating. The lawyer then realises that it is the one who shows mercy who is truly the neighbour to the man in the story.

What's the point of this story? Perhaps it's about being compassionate to people and showing mercy regardless of social statuses—and indeed, the moral of the story is often framed this way. But I think there's more to it than this.

Looking at the story closely again, we notice that Jesus didn't vary the target of the compassion: that is, He didn't go "Okay so you're a Jew, do you think your neighbours should be other Jews, Samaritans, or other Gentiles?" Instead, the part that is varying is the giver of the compassion, which (in the story) are the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan. And here's why that matters: whom our neighbours are depends not on their identity, but on our identity.

Indeed, if we claim to be sons and daughters of God (2 Cor 6:18), and we know that God is love (1 John 4:8), then we should embody love as well. The question of whom we should love then becomes immaterial and kind of irrelevant, really. It doesn't matter! God loves all of His creation—and so should we!

So who have we been neighbours to? As we take time off from school and work to rest and recuperate, may we also reflect on who we are, and what that means for how we live our lives.

– alvin(:

Lecrae – Heroes and Villans: Is Hip-Hop a Cancer or a Cure?

Here's a video again, and this time it's Lecrae speaking at TEDxNashville about hip-hop and its place in modern society; on the way he touches on the history of hip-hop, its place in our cultural narrative, and his own experience. He says, "I believe it can tell the story of how a dark past created a bright future"—and don't you think that's really just the gospel story concentrated into one sentence? The Bible is all about man's rebellion and God's redemption over and over again, from the creation of man to the salvation through Jesus and the hope of a new Jerusalem. And TEDx isn't even a Christian event! What a way to shine God's light in the world!

The Case for Christian Rap
– a look into the intersection of faith and flow

Christian rap is one of those controversial things that people often debate about—given that rap music is often associated with a culture that seems to be rather unhealthy, does it make sense to use this form of music to worship God? Well, I do think there's a place for rap in the sphere of Christian music, and there are several good reasons for this.

1. Poetry
Looking at the evolution of church music across the course of history, we can see that rap is really an extension of the poetic tradition ranging from psalms to hymns and songs. Poetry is different from other literary forms by its artistry in the form of wit, rhyme, metaphor, and other devices, and rap music makes use of these various techniques to tell an engaging story. In particular, wordplay and flow are very important for rap music, and rap songs are really a form of creative expression of a topic or concept. And our creative God should rightly deserve creative worship.

For instance, take "Robot" by Trip Lee. The song uses this clever extended metaphor of sin as a controlling force: The song describes how being under the control of sin is like being a robot that blindly follows the orders its programmed to execute. The second verse is particularly brilliant as it talks about him not knowing that he is a robot: "The freedom that I thought I had was really a mirage". And finally, it talks about victory over sin through Christ as no longer being a robot. This is a really refreshing perspective on a familiar issue, and is both engaging and thought-provoking for listeners.

2. Honesty
What sets rap music apart from other styles of Christian music is the fact that it lends itself to brutal honesty and authenticity. The longer phrases and quicker flow make it possible to tell stories using rap that may otherwise be oversimplified, decontextualised, or more poorly expressed. Because rap is also usually not intended for communal worship, there is also more potential to address issues that are rawer and perhaps unresolved, such as abortion or lust. These topics add a different dimension to the overarching narrative of Christ-centred music that could resonate with different people going through different seasons of life, because while they are difficult topics to discuss, they are still very relevant for many people.

Consider "Art of Drifting" by KB. The song starts immediately with these lines: Here's a Christian rapper who's been in the industry for more than half a decade talk about his struggle with facing the fame and fortune he's received from being a rapper. Pride is a topic that isn't frequently addressed—but at the same time, it's a very real problem that Christians in general (not just Christian musicians) face all the time. Addressing the issue head-on is really a way for listeners to reflect on themselves harshly and also to identify with KB—and perhaps hope again as the music rolls over into the second half of the narrative, "Art of Hope": "If You ain't never left us / Then maybe it's not over".

3. Glory
We often think of Christian rap music as bringing rap into Christian music. But that's really only half the story, because it's also bringing Christ into rap music. It's undeniable that the secular rap industry has been associated with vices such as loose sex, drugs, and violence; what Christian rap music does is invade that space with good rap music that doesn't need to have those associations. As Christians shine God's light in a dark world, so too do Christian rappers shine God's light in their dark world. And if Christian rappers display God's glory in their music, listeners of rap music can hear the Good News presented in a format that they are familiar with and have a liking for.

There are many rap songs that proclaim the message of Christ, and one of them is Andy Mineo's "In My City", which is an anthem for God to be glorified, well, in his city: This track is pretty countercultural in several ways: it's someone talking about the bigger picture of his city and of God's Kingdom rather than himself; it's a proclamation of something bigger than temporary pleasures; and it's a call to action for a movement bigger than just a song in itself. But it's simultaneously a strong beat with a smooth flow that makes for a seriously good rap song. What better way to declare God's Name than with all the passion that makes for excellent craft?

There are some caveats, though, to listening to Christian rap music, which should inform our listening practices and habits. Firstly, as with any other kind of music (Christian or otherwise), we must be wary to not idolise the music or the musicians. Christian music is written to point to God, and should not be taken as an end in itself. Good music may be attractive, but we shouldn't fall into the trap of being attracted only by the music, and thus forget the God of the music. If the desire to listen to Christian rap dominates our thoughts or our time, then we should probably take a break and refocus on what truly matters.

Secondly, listening to Christian rap should not be stumbling. If one cannot discern between God-focused rap and worldly rap, perhaps listening to Christian rap may not be the best choice. Even if a track has solid lyrics and a good motivation, the music may have associations with the rest of secular rap that may be difficult to delink; then, it might be wiser to listen to other genres of music that do not produce such negative thoughts and emotions. This also applies to situations in which we have no issue with Christian rap but someone else nearby does; then out of love for our brothers and sisters we should also endeavour not to stumble them.

Nonetheless, I think that increasing awareness and acuity about Christian rap music is important in recognising its place in the realm of Christian music, and it really is a genre that can be both musically excellent and lyrically wholesome. The three dimensions of poetry, honesty, and glory show how Christian rap is situated in a special niche, and I think we should come to appreciate the uniqueness, brilliance, and relevance of this genre of music.

Well, that's all from me this year. I hope that you've had a good year too, and that you enjoy the break and the festivities before a new year starts again.

Over and out!