(ThyBlackMan.com) When I wrote In a Puff of Smoke, I confessed a contemptuous intolerance for Sean “P. Diddy/Puff Daddy” Combs. Such contempt, I’ve come to realize, is incorrect according to the love of Christ that I claim to abide by.
Taking it a step further, I must admit that I’ve turned a blind eye in judgment to an artist that I’ve conversely come to respect largely in part because he is a Christian rapper. An artist who recently admitted to a blatant misstep and lapse in judgment with respect to his marriage.
~
The Cadillac of Cataracts
a.k.a.
A Paradoxical AllusionBecause of my blind
Spot, I couldn’t see its fine
Craftsmanship coming.
~
At the height of my appreciation for Hip Hop, I first developed this cataract in my eye while analyzing the lyrics of misogynistic artists – preferring instead, to focus on the enjoyment I received from the structure of their rhyme schemes. I never condoned the lyrics directly; but I indirectly 
accepted them as I continued to overlook the messages of artists that played up living a player’s life and disrespecting the chastity of women.
Now that I’ve turned my back on secular music, though – it can be argued that I’m doing it again. Only this time – it’s with Da’ T.R.U.T.H.: my favorite Christian rap artist at the moment:
A Facebook friend of mine recently called me out on a series of posts I did that featured Da’ T.R.U.T.H.’s songs. In my attempt to balance out what I see as a lack of substance and Christian presence on Facebook, I’ve been posting inspirational songs that offer an alternative to the typical Gospel music that many have come to expect (and therefore, tune out) from Christian music.
Balanced with Biblical context that even the most fervent Bible studier can appreciate, Da’ T.R.U.T.H. provides that dope lyrical content that Hip Hop enthusiasts on Facebook might respond to as well.
While my friend and sister in Christ claimed she was just teasing me, I know that I’ve already had to check myself with Da’ T.R.U.T.H. In much the same way I’d done with secular rap artists, I found myself aiming my praise at the artist instead of towards the Holy Spirit that moves within and activates the gift that God’s blessed him with; effectively creating a new altar of false worship upon one that I’ve only recently torn down after building Jay-Z up as a “god emcee” over the past ten years of my life:
Workshops Worshipping at His Feats
When you idolize
A man’s feats, idle minds can
Craft his deity.*
– excerpt from The Scape G.O.A.T.:
So to be clear – when you came back from getting Ethered,
I wasn’t callin’ you the devil’s Lazarus.
Since Fade to Black’s feature,
I’ve just been playin’ devil’s advocate.
I’ve become incredibly passionate when it comes
to the impact of resilient lyrics used.
I know what it can do –
I worshipped like a pagan at your feats myself.
I know that wasn’t you –
I nourished a praise for you that depleted my wealth…
And if I can speak for myself – I’m sure others
can feel it in their spirits, too.
~
So you see, in much the same way that I’d looked to the side as Jay-Z distorted Jehovah’s name for his own praise, I have found myself making excuses for Da’ T.R.U.T.H. as well. I’ve taken it easy on an idol yet again.
What I’m alluding to is that this man of God and emcee within Christian rap was recently caught up in a scandal where he allegedly cheated on his wife with another Christian artist’s wife.
My reaction to the news was to flip my judgmentally Christian hat to the other side. Whereas with Puffy, I chastised and condemned him through Christianity; with Da’ T.R.U.T.H., I opted to extend to him the grace, mercy and forgiveness of God.
But, like His Son, God’s attributes are no respecter of persons. As such, they are to be presented to all equally. I definitely should not judge Da’ T.R.U.T.H. – I’ve got that down pat this time around. Rather, I should pray for him as he deals with the error in his ways and hope that he remembers Christ already died for that transgression – heaving off the guilt (applied by the devil in thick coats) upon the Cross.
A guilt that I’m sure is echoing through his head right now – resounding off the lyrics from his song Man Up:
‘…You know how the plot goes/You can tell the difference when the pops is in the household/Most of us are not told/ Often when the pops home/ Leaves a legacy, plant seeds then the crops grow/I recall my pops quotes/ When I was a snot nose/A man with no control is like a city that’s without walls/I could still hear his teachings ringing through the house halls/ When it’s not profitable how to keep my mouth closed/ Getting over obstacles/ Dodging all the pot holes/ He taught me etiquette and ethics out of God’s laws/ Turned me on to Oswald Chambers/ Now my eyes closed/Praying/that I would find a wife that would make my house home/YEAH! – Now I’m proud to say I’m faithful…’
So the question then becomes which is worse: being misled with the honest braggadocio of secular rap moguls or being led by a Christian artist with dishonest fidelity?
The sliding scales of human injustice would weigh one in favor of the other but the evenly balanced scales of the Lord rank them both as equal sins.
But typical, hypocritical me! I slid my judgments in with bias – yet again proving The Inherent Duplicity of Man readily thrives in me. So as it stands, there is much to be desired in my Christian walk as I learn to justly (without bias) administer God’s love – fairly distributing it amongst all of my brothers and sisters in Christ.
‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.’ – Ephesians 4:32
Staff Writer; Reggie Legend
Can find more about this writer over at; http://www.steelwaterspoetry.com/blog
Also available as a Keynote Speaker – Book him Today; Speakerwiki – Reggie Legend
