You So Worldy!
What it is yall?
It’s ya boy Crae and I know you don’t like to read. I know. But try to finish this one.
It seems that peeps are making songs, and getting into Christian music simply to have an identity.
People want to have social acceptance. I meet cats weekly who say they want to do this music thing, but have no passion for ministry in other areas of their life. Some of them know better, others are just growing in their faith. All are looking just like the world.
Some people just like our music but don’t see the need to be distinct in Jesus. Lemme lend some words of encouragement.
Be Different. In the World but not of the World.
Worldliness is turning from God. It is when people think about how to please themselves. Pigs roll in the mud to cool off their flesh or skin and satisfy their desires. People roll in sin, which is dirtier than mud, to satisfy their desires.
Being worldy means you don’t think about how wrong you are, you just do whatever gives you the results you want. Worldlienss does whatever it takes to get what it wants. Even if that means disobeying God to become rich, successful, popular, famous, and having things the world offers.
Worldliness is how a non-christian thinks and acts.
Worldliness is trading the Truth of God for a lie.
The problem with us as human is that we fall in love with the creations and not the Creator. We love the things God has made but they don’t love God.
What if a father puts together a new bike for his son, and the son starts to love the Bike more than his Dad. What if the son started to write songs for his bike, take pictures of his bike, give his bike a name, and even pick his bike over his father.
If that sounds crazy, you must not listen to the radio or watch t.v. People do this all the time. Rappers write songs about their cars, take pictures with them, they name their cars and they choose their cars over God. They choose money, jewlery, and fame over God all the time. People worship the things of this world everyday and do not worship or give respect to the God who made the world.
The T.V. shows or the music people think are so special and good will hurt us if we look at them to see what is true, and real. They are not the place to find truth, they are not the best thing going. God is.
Christians should not look to the world and the things of the world to fit in. Sometimes we will not fit in. If we read our bibles, if we don’t laugh at dirty jokes, if we pray for people, if we wait til we are married before we sleep together, if we don’t join the gangs, if we don’t smoke the weed, if we follow the ways of Jesus, we will be VERY different. But that’s okay.
Jesus says in John 17:16,18 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” Which means that we are not the same as everyone else on earth if we are followers of Jesus. He even says that because we are His followers some people will hate us.
Get ready for people to make fun of you, laugh and joke on you because you roll with Jesus. People hated Jesus and wanted to see Him fall. If you are trying to do what is right and true, people will want you to fall too.
If we took a glass of koolaid, poured some cooking oil in the glass, and then stirred it up together it will seem like they became one liquid. Have the oil and water really become one? If you let the glass sit still for about a minute you’ll see what happens. The water and oil have become separate again. That shows us that even when they were all mixed together, they were never really one.
This glass is a pretty good picture of what Jesus wants us to be like in this world we live in. We have to live in it, go to school in it, and work in it. Be we don’t become like the it, and we don’t love the world and the way the world gets down either. Being distinctive or different for Jesus doesn’t mean you have to change everything about you. It doesn’t mean you have to wear a suit every day or start speaking funny. It does mean that you have know your bible so you can
see if God is cool with some of the words you use, places you go, and things you do.
Being a Christian doesn’t mean you stop being a human being, but you have to be careful you don’t follow the crowd and think that just because everyone is doing it that it’s okay.
Tool and Tips:
1. Don’t put yourself in a place or situation where you may follow the ways of the world and sin.
Romans 13:14—“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify ( or please) the desires of the sinful nature.”
2 Timothy 2:22—“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
2. Ask yourself is what you are doing pleasing to God or helping others.
1Corinthians 10:31—“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
1Corinthians 10:33—“even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.”
Ways you can tell if you may be in danger of loving the world:
Do you turn to godless music to help you deal with problems or figure things out? Some songs may point you to turn to God some just help you drown in your own despair.
Do you let music, TV, or friends to crowd out prayer, Bible study, church, serving, or things that are pleasing God?
Are you bored with spiritual things when you are not in church or bible study?.
Do you listen and watch things that tempt you to sin or do things God isn’t pleased with?
Scriptures to memorize and think about daily:
Romans 12:2—Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
1 John 2:15-17—Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world.The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
James 4:4—…don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
1 Peter 2:11—Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
HOLLA BACK!!!!
All Comments 18
What 's up Crae ? I really feel what you saying on being in the world and not of it. Those are the words of the King and we as christians should take them very seriously. I grieved when I hear some christian rappers talking about the blessings of God rather than God being the blessing. Thats why I filter out the christian music I listen to. If Jesus is not all over the track or at least in some way pointing people to Him, I can't get down with it. I think in this situation people need to grow or they just don't know[Jesus].
Keep it Jesus, Your brother in Christ, Aric
Aric Scott
– Jan 25 2008
I love this blog. I was bored and just happen to find it. Its a blessing because its just what i needed to read to help me communicate to my unsaved freinds how unattached they are to god's will.
stay blessed
Your Name
– Jan 26 2008
CRAE MAN THAT WAS SOME GRAT WORD.....MAN KEEP FEEDING US BECAUSE GOD IS USING YOU TO REACH US......WE MAY HAVE ALREADY HEARD THIS STUFF BUT WE LOVE THE WAY YOU BREAK IT DOWN......MAN KEEP COMING AT US WITH IT.......LET CHRIST FEED YOU SO YOU CAN FEED US BIG BROTHA!!!!!I APPRECIATE YOU BRA!!!!!AND THE REST OF REACJ RECORDS!!!!
DJ DAVIS-YOUNG-AND-UNASHAMED
– Jan 31 2008
Thanx 4 Understanding my pain & feelings
Crae
cblackwell
– Feb 20 2008
dis is so true cuz i got a cd rite now by this so callwed chrisin girl but when i played it she was talkiing about her boo and there problems and anotha song talkin bout checkin to see if a man is takin but yea yo music and so manny othaz has influenced me alot i didnt think there was good christian rap till i heard 116
SHATY
– Apr 30 2008
Thank you ve ry much Crae. You've put the truth in such a simple and understanding way. These are guidelines we, as youth's need nowadays .. but we don't get them in most church... they are more concerned in how to resist the devil and his plans .. how abt we start with closing the ways in which he can enter. Thank you very much for your word of inspiration
ps: I'm going to highlight all those bible quotations ..thank you very much.
May God Richly Bless you and widen your territory.
Emma
Emmanuela
– May 13 2008
God bless you Crae. I thank God for using you ( a willing vessel) to be a disciple of Christ your segment has really helped me to see the truth in perspectiv about this world and it shows me that I really need to be in my word deeply in order to know God our creator. God bless the Reach records and ministries family. "We 116 ain't no shame in us"
Jean AKA Jay
– May 16 2008
Can I get your permission to use some of your points in one of our youth sunday.
Please let me know. today is May 16 and Our youth Sunday is this upcoming sunday May 18 2008. I know it will defenetly bless our youth in our church in their walk with Jesus Christ because it has been a blessing to me. Thank you God bless you, your family, Reach records/ Ministries and everyone who is part of the 116 Click.
JEAN aka JAY
– May 16 2008
this is so true brother, thanks for writing this text...
keep doing your thing for god
god bless yall and the members of the 116 clique
dave
– May 29 2008
I really like the analogy about the Father the son and his bike. That is so true that we worship the created things rather than the Creator. Even as a believer you need to hear things like that so you can be reminded of the state this world is in and be encouraged to share your faith all the more.
Leah
– Jun 10 2008
I just read the blog and it hit home, I feel that was just for me even though I should already know better than to do those things but just sometimes ignore the spirit within. I have been saved for almost 6 yrs. now have seen growth in my life up until about a 1 yr. 1/2 ago I'm sure it's due to me putting myself in situations that are not pleasing to God. Do you have any advice for a brother just a outline I would really appreciate it. By the way I just want to know why yall don't come up to minnesota we would like to see see yall up this way too. Grace and Peace
Mac
– Aug 20 2008
First of all, I love you and your music! But in my area, I think I am the only one.
Ive been critisized for listening to your music, not by non-believers, but by believers who think that your music is too "worldly". They believe that rapping, even about God, is a compromise. The way you speak and dress is the same as other than hip hop artists. I mean, the theme is different, but the sound is the same...
What can you say makes your music not of the world? I really do love Reach records and thier music, but Im just looking for away to let my friends know that a great ministry can come out of hip hop, not just the hymns we sing at church.
Joy
– Aug 23 2008
Let me first begin by saying well done men of God!! The Father is well pleased. My husband and I are young Christians (in our 20's) and we were so excited when we found your music! This blog is just another bonus. I have greatly enjoyed reading them.
One of the things that amazed us the most was how the Reach artists manage to go beyond the "surface-y" elementary things of the word and begin to seek the hidden treasures. All young Christians are not babes in Christ!! I find it amazing how in tune y'all are with the spirit. The bible says study to show yourself approved, and I give y'all a golden stamp of approval.
I have been praying for y'all (even before reading your blog where you requested prayer) that God would use you mightily and keep you in the midst of everything. I encourage you all to study the Book of Proverbs (lots of good wisdom for young men).
You have encouraged me to step up my game on this witnessing thang (I keep a purse full of tracks). May God continue to guide and lead your lives!
Mrs. Logan
– Aug 29 2008
I just wanted to say that God has challenged me so much through you and the 116 members. Yall are real. God is doin huge things through you guys. i just had a quick question. Are tattoos worldly? I kno some of yall have them. i was just wondering what your opinion about that was?
Alexander Gilbert
– Nov 27 2008
This was a powerful message. You have been such a blessing to me.
keep it up.
-God bless
Jay M.
– Dec 26 2008
Very insightful you make me proud to be a christian and to have a role model to really look up to, and that's Christ, God bless you boi keep it up!
peace,love, CHRIST
David Mensah (Ghana)
– Mar 2 2009
thanks so much crae, for putting this into words, i've been looking for something like this to show my friends who claim to be christian, but seem to be more wordly than some non-christians i know. i'm so grateful god lead me to this and i will definitely be tryin harder not to conform
also, a couple of my friends say what Joy said, bout hip-hop being too much of a compromise, what can i tell them???
Morgan
– Aug 23 2009
Thanks for the words my brother in christ! cant wait to rejoice in heaven!Your are a very deep person and are truely a man of CHRIST!
CESIII
Charles E Scott III
– May 19 2011