What does the Bible say about Hip-hop? Is there a scripture in the Bible that talks about Hip-hop? Does God approve listening to Hip-hop music/songs? Are these questions your questions? If yes, then I have some good news for you. These questions flag the hearts of curious brothers and sisters who are torn between the desire to please God by always doing His will, and their avid love for Hip-hop, R&B and other secular music.
In Jay z’s ‘empire state of mind,’ he said, “Jesus can’t save you; life starts when the church ends.” By this statement, Jay z made it clear that he serves satan and not God. Second Corinthians 6 verse 15 says, “And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” In other words, what relationship has the sons of God with the sons of the devil (belial)? It’s high time Christians become aware of whom we are contending with. What satan needs is worship and if he can’t get you to openly worship him then he will do that through secular music. As you sing and dance to a lady gaga or jay z song in excitement and ecstasy, all that you’ll be implying is “thank you satan, for sending your music through lady gaga, jay z and the others, to me.” Take a look at the deceptions in Jayz’s ‘forever young’ song lyrics.
Furthermore, Romans 10:17 also talks about secular music, it reads “So then, faith cometh by hearing…” This scripture is very simple and clear. Faith comes by hearing. Simple! Nothing more, nothing less! Another word for ‘faith’ is ‘believe’. So in other words, “Believe comes by hearing”. Also another perfect word for the word ‘hearing’ is ‘listening’. Now, what do we do with Hip-hop & R&B music? – We listen to them. All audio materials, whether purchased or downloaded free, end up in our ears for listening. We have no other immediate use for them other than listening to them over and over again. The full scripture at Romans 10:17 reads “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” This scripture brings up a very thoughtful question: If faith comes by hearing the Word of God, then what comes by hearing the words/songs of the world?
Also read: Why Christians Should Not Listen to Secular Music
Well, the Bible does talk about Hip-hop, R&B and other worldly music genres which are collectively known as secular music. I wrote an earlier article in which I dealt with how Satanism is being portrayed in metal music and by metal bands. A chunk of my readers who happened to be avid metal lovers, popularly known as “metalheads” or “headbangers”, found that article very disturbing. One of my readers suggested that I do a work on Hip-hop music as well. He stressed that there’s a lot of Satanism and satanic symbolism in Hip-hop than metal music. This article is not purposed to prove which music genre contains more Satanism; rather it is to take a Christian stance and tell people what the Word of God has to say on Hip-hop, R&B and other worldly music.
Here’s What the Bible Says about Hip-pop and Secular Music
And the LORD said to Paul, to the Christians who enjoy listening to hip hop, R&B and secular music write:
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
- 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV.
We can make a couple of deductions from the above scripture. First, the instruction is that we as Christians should not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. And the reason for this is simple; what fellowship has believers with unbelievers? What makes a Christian different from an unbeliever if both are dancing to the same lady gaga song?
Every Christian’s body is a temple of God. God said, “I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16). How then must we take the temple of God and use it to sing and dance to secular music, praising other gods; sex, money, fame etc? Or don’t we know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? First John chapter 2 verse 15 says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
Furthermore, Romans 10:17 also talks about secular music, it reads “So then, faith cometh by hearing…” This scripture is very simple and clear. Faith comes by hearing. Simple! Nothing more, nothing less! Another word for ‘faith’ is ‘believe’. So in other words, “Believe comes by hearing”. Also another perfect word for the word ‘hearing’ is ‘listening’. Now, what do we do with Hip-hop & R&B music? – We listen to them. All audio materials, whether purchased or downloaded free, end up in our ears for listening. We have no other immediate use for them other than listening to them over and over again. The full scripture at Romans 10:17 reads “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” This scripture brings up a very thoughtful question: If faith comes by hearing the Word of God, then what comes by hearing the words/songs of the world?
Also read: Why Christians Should Not Listen to Secular Music
