Hip Hop and Christianity - Jeff Johnson at the Q Conference

[923bailey]

The word of God does not change because of the culture. And to be a Christian you have to think, does this line up with the word of God. This is a spiritual battle, and I stand with Jesus Christ do not be conformed of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. I pray that you hear and have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. 7 times 70 times we must forgive, being called a punk Jesus took that hit before it was in the heart of your hip hop.

[FuniGrl94]

Good stuff

[destinypp]

Preach that Jeff.

[PHEOLA1]

The art of DJ'ing is a part of hip hop which came from the influence of the Jamaican dancehall scene. I'm so proud of my Afro -Caribbean heritage.

[playertimothy817]

What we don't understand is that it is not about us, it's about jesus. Deny yourself and let jesus take over. With all your getting, get understanding (read the bible)

[RealHipHopTunes]

True hip hop is in the underground, lil Wayne is fake

[DavidofChrist777]

Hip-hop is not the same as Christian Rap.

Christian Rap Artist David my channel.

God bless you.

[evajmusic]

Jeff makes alot of sense .. many no Absolutely nothing about Hip Hop - Check my vid called "HIP HOP" for a even deeper view..

[noskrid]

There is a reason why they always get a non believer to speak about "the church"

[raskass33]

@noskrid - Are you aware that Jeff served as a youth minister for a couple years at a church in Baltimore. Why would you call him a non believer when e was an ordained minister? Jeff still does several sermons at churches each year.

[Grapelafacebait]

@raskass33 we need to get past thing that hinder our liberation like, what God this man serve. Nobody has the right to put this man on trial. All of these religions black men try to associate themselves with has been terrorizing our race since they beat the religion into us.

[BBJAYchannel]

YESTERDAY IS GONE AND TODAY CAN ONLY STAY UNTIL TOMORROW SO ALL WE HAVE IS RIGHT NOW!!! j.e.cooper -aka- "b.b.jay"

[Truthdebate]

Raskass, you are wrong. I am not shortsighted, Jesus did not condone sin, he condemned sinners and religious hypocrisy. Here we have a man who is a "Partisan" for those who oppose the Gospel telling the pastors and churches what they need to do?

Using your logic we should have Hollywood tell us how we as Christians could be more acceptable to Hollywood. Why not have the DNC Rahm Emannuel tell you how to be more like the Democrates, so the would be more open to Christians...

[raskass33]

@Truthdebate Oh I follow you. I understand where your trying to go. Here is the thing though. I think your mistaken to look at it as "instructional" and look at it more as exposing them to understanding how a group of people a VERY large group of people think and why they think that way. So to use your anology. I don't think there would be anything wrong hearing from a Hollywood producer on why he makes the types of movies that he does. We as Christians can't live in a tiny box! Right?

[Truthdebate]

Jeff is also an activist according to the Huffington Report for the Democratic party...wow really! no kidding.  No wonder why they dont want to talk about killing babies and the promotion of "Gay marriage"...because these are to clear in the Biblical sins, they want to talk about Global Warming, AIDS and the Environment... all issues promoted by the DNC.

What is the real agenda here? To compromise the Gospel and sin to so we can be acceptable to people at ABC, MTV and the NY Times.. Shame

[raskass33]

@Truthdebate - Your response is short sighted. Look at how Christ evangelized in the gospel. He was able to identify with people where they are and give them the word, but he BUILT the relationship. Jeff is equipping the Q audience to build relationships with the Hip Hop community. Jeff's talk was informational. He wasn't suggesting to have Jay-Z do a concert at the church. He is suggesting that if you want to reach this generation, try to understand them. Is that such a bad message?

[Truthdebate]

Who funds the Q Conference? Why would you have someone such as Jeff Johnson who is a supporter for the "People for the American Way" a group dedicated to attacking the Gospel teach these pastors....what they need to be saying to the their congregations. Its kinda like letting the fox teach the chickens what they should do to stay away from foxes... A fox likes to eat chickens, so why do you think he is going to change.

What is the real agenda of this conference...is it Christ or politics?

[Truthdebate]

The more I hear about this Q Conference, the more I see it as way to move Christianity toward the Pergamum Church model in Revelation 2. The compromising Church, lets do what the world does so we can be accepted by the world. Here is BET host and producer telling the pastors what they need to do. Sheila Johnson the wife of the creator of BET said she is ashamed of the network... "She slammed BET for, in her opinion, promoting promiscuous, irresponsible sexual behavior."

Shame on Q .Shame

[alihr787]

He needs to be aware of what he is talking about because Christians need to change the bad stuff the devil used to something good which the lord has made (CHRISTIAN HIP HOP) also some Christians may feel a man wearing weave is WRONG in the eyes of GOD!

[Reneefah7]

In the Club not in the Church.....that's all I got to say. Down with the Spirit of Hip Hop in the CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!

[alihr787]

@Reneefah7

well! get on the hip hop Christian channels and express yourself to them

[Reneefah7]

@alihr787 give me some links and I will. no problem!!!!

[2LeBronJordan3]

I have researched McDowell previously. I would recommend you type in "The Atheist Experience - Lee Strobel & Josh McDowell: Personal Experience vs Evidence - The Atheist Experience #609"

[2LeBronJordan3]

raskass33,

Thank you for opening your mouth and allowing me to once again show how stupid/ignorant most religious people are. :)

[raskass33]

If your really a "free flowing thinker" you will pick up Josh Mcdowell's book and see why he as an atheist became a Christian, just as I as a Christian have listened to Bill Maher, had an atheist roomate in grad school, and enter into conversations all the time. At my church intellectualism is an important value, we don't just believe in things for the heck of it. I encourage you to talk with me on you tube mail to further discussion I don't want to clog this man's page

[2LeBronJordan3]

Feel free to message me. As for the US Presidents... the founding fathers of this country were not Christians and were for the most part atheist or any other non-believing label you want to give them. This country wasn't founded on Christianity, and our Constitution clearly supports the separation of church and state. If Obama is claiming to be Christian these days it is only to get the people behind him since this country is 90% christian.

[2LeBronJordan3]

"I was not raised in a religious household. For my mother, organized religion too often dressed up closed-mindedness in the garb of piety, cruelty and oppression in the cloak of righteousness. However, in her mind, a working knowledge of the world's great religions was a necessary part of any well-rounded education. In our household the Bible, the Koran, and the Bhagavad Gita sat on the shelf alongside books of Greek and Norse and African mythology. " - Barack Obama

[raskass33]

Barack Obama TODAY is a Christian, ever heard of his former pastor Jeremiah Wright! He talks about his belief all the time and has bible scriptures text to his phone every day. Okay your right on Gates congrats. How about this poll. What about every U.S. President in the last 100 years. How many were Christians? Are all of them idiots? Is Bill Clinton an idiot? Carlos Slim Helu. U should read Josh Mcdowell book "evidence that demands a verdict" he's a atheist that became a christian.

[2LeBronJordan3]

On January 13, 1996, in a Time magazine profile of Gates by Walter Isaacson, there was this exchange:

Isaacson: Isnt there something special, perhaps even divine, about the human soul?

Gates: I dont have any evidence on that.

[2LeBronJordan3]

Frost: I sometimes say to people, do you believe there is a god, or do you know there is a god? And, youd say you dont know?

Gates: In terms of doing things I take a fairly scientific approach to why things happen and how they happen. I dont know if theres a god or not, but I think religious principles are quite valid.

[drewas55]

JJ: Hip-Hop is a language that Christians should learn to utilize.

Lil Wayne: Ok, money on my mind, fuck a nigga thoughts

Pick that pussy up naw let him lay

Where im from I see a fuckin dead body every day

Ok im pimpin like a motha fucka

Ya pussy niggas eatin peanut butter and jealous

Youre Los like Angeles

And I hope your ass choke when you suck on my dick.

Definitely! I can see how important hip-hop is to living a Spirit-filled life of service to the Lord!

[raskass33]

What a "typical" response I am sure you are out of touch! There is #1 a Whole Christian Hip Hop music movement, with songs about Jesus. #2 There are mainstream rappers who are great social critiques and have a more constructive use of the english language then Lil Wayne who is an IDIOT! Do you watch any movies at all? Now you probably watch some Christian movies and also action movies as well right? Are you suggesting that we shouldn't watch movies because most of them have cursing in them

[cryloudministries]

This is utter foolishness! Mr. Johnson has no spiritual authority to rebuke the (TRUE) CHURCH!

[2LeBronJordan3]

Aw i'm disappointed to see this video. I just watched JJ on Larry King Live and he defined himself as a free thinking independent. Not many free thinkers believe in baby jesus, christianity, or any other dogmatic religion. I guess he was just referring to politics. Too bad, i thought he was smarter than that.

[raskass33]

"Not many free thinkers believe in baby Jesus?" LOL what about Barack Obama, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, Dr. Martin Luther King, the thousands of Christians with PHD's and that study philosophy? I guess your smarter then all of them right? LOL!

[2LeBronJordan3]

Debbie Bosanek, Assistant to Warren Buffett, says: Mr. Buffett is agnostic.

Bill Gates? In a November 1995 interview of Gates by David Frost, this exchange took place:

Frost: Do you believe in the Sermon on the Mount?

Gates: I dont. Im not somebody who goes to church on a regular basis. The specific elements of Christianity are not something Im a huge believer in. Theres a lot of merit in the moral aspects of religion. I think it can have a very, very positive impact.

[Samuelw1]

sir how you communicate with the youth is very simple Tell Them the Truth,and then let them see it in your life!! nothing extra, no methods, no tricks they are not projects, they are people!! children, young men and woman! not experiments!!

sir i Have Two ???'s for you 1.how do you know you are born again, and 2. what makes you happy?

[Samuelw1]

sir you need to know some thing, what is Highly esteemed by man is an abomination before God says the word of God, I'm pretty sure brother Jeff did help his brethren and that is well,but like yours, his and my righteousness if like filthy rags before the lord, sir i travel quite a-bit to minister to youth all over! you don't understand the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is a bloody, sacrificial gospel, and a scandal to mankind, because it is impossible to live out on our own!

[raskass33]

Amen brother, Amen.

[Samuelw1]

i understand that this was a "christian" conference in which a lot of those conferences are leading many straight to hell! because they don't know God, Their nothing but parrots of scripture because they don't know how to properly understand and preach the scriptures

[ukendcx2000]

the video is interesting. but he makes the claim that you need to use hip-hop to save souls because they don't know anything else, and I beg to differ.

[Samuelw1]

you cant make the invitation to Jesus Christ any bigger, He already made it as wide as He could! Jesus didn't change nothing about himself but He saved every body who repented and obey when they heard the truth, the spirit has to draw them, THAT IS IT!

[raskass33]

So you must believe pre-destined means don't evangelize hard. Look at Christ he be-friended people. He met them and knew how to communicate with them. Jeff was a co-founder of one of the biggest churches on the east coast. He has doesn't shy away from mentioning Christ even at secular events. The speech you are looking at is from a Christian conference. The church leaders wanted to know how to communicate with youth. He was well received.

[Samuelw1]

Sir you Can't make the invitation to Christ any bigger, Christ already opened it as wide as HE can!! stay in your lane! plant the seed, And God will give the increase. its not your job to reach people but lead people to Christ by being the light. they must come up to where God is, stop tying to be the holy spirit!! all God wants is people to be OBEDIENT and say what He says say and Do what He says Do! and that's It when it come winning souls!! and LOVE HIM WITH ALL THEY HAVE!

[Samuelw1]

you don't Take this glorious Gospel and center it around Evil men and their culture to try to win them, that is Hersey!!! they would rather you be straight up! by doing that you will lead many straight to HELL, i talk to this hip hop regeneration every day! and ALL THEY WANT IS THE TRUTH, they can care less if you look like them or dress like them! just tell them the truth some may buck but the proves scripture is true, ONLY a FEW!!!!! will Enter !!!

[Samuelw1]

the people in HIP HOP or any other culture that does not HONOR GOD, and isn't reached or born again per-say. is not because Christians aren't in there life to relate to them, that's Not YOUR JOB!! the problem is men are EVIL; Hate God and are in NEED of HIM when you pretty that up you are adding to the word of GOD sir!

[Samuelw1]

sir! i am a Youth minster and i too grew in the hip hop culture , and sir! i am not trying to insult you, nor Jeff, but how do you know if HE'S a christian? and that is not what Paul is saying in that text sir. that text is so misunderstood by many people in the church today! and your missing the WHOLE POINT of the Gospels and Paul! you Do NOT have have to be like nor dress like any culture to REACH them! that is again Witchcraft"

[raskass33]

bring people to Christ, those people that you likely wouldn't even communicate it. This is a Lost Generation. And are you telling me that Jesus who was walking around in a Gold Robe, some of the most trendy clothes of his day, wouldn't have put a baseball cap on backwards and preached the gospel to this generation? Or used email to say meet at such and such time?

[raskass33]

better be able to convert souls. .  Christian's have to be relevant. Jeff even talks about in this video that it is sad that many Hip Hop people don't have a Christian in their family and this causes their disconnect. There is a book called "unfaithful" by Gabe Lyons (A Christian) the book is about what the young generation thinks about Christians and it is comments like yours in many ways that drives them away from salvation. Re-examine yourself and remember Jeff is articulating the msg to

[Samuelw1]

Jeff are you even a Christian??

[raskass33]

Samuel, I thought you were thoughtful till you asked this. Jeff has been a youth minister and is a very committed Christian. Because he offers a different perspective that means he isn't Christian? I would in turn ask you how familiar you are with the 4 gospels of Jesus and Paul's letter when he wrote "I became all things to all men" that doesn't mean Paul becomes a sinner, but he communicates in the way the person is accustomed to. So if Christians understood hip hop culture they would

[Samuelw1]

The word of God is Perfect Converting the soul, IT is Proven, Tried in the Fire Seven Times, Jeff i hope that you read you bible, you may have good intentions, but there's a way that seem right unto man, but leads to Death in the End!, Ah Bless God You!

[Samuelw1]

I must say That this video has been one of the most foolish, and un-biblical messages or statements I've ever heard in my life, this video has just exposed the truth about hip hip, that it is a Huge "Golden Calf" God doesn't need help people, He just wants obedience, not things or cultures, centered around man's selfish; self-centered wants, to reach people, that is Called "manipulation" aka "Witchcraft"!!!!

[TNAguy2000]

Dizz is great!

[honeegrrl]

I like Jeff Johnson.

[kingfishmonk]

u young cats that making these dumb ass statements are some dumb ass people get some knowledge or education before u decide to speak thats why ya'll dumb asses going to jail 4 nothing because u don't know shit!!!

[kingfishmonk]

u young cats are some dumb ass people get some knowledge or education before u decide to speak thats why u dumb asses going to jail 4 nothing because u don't know shit!!!

[sunofwill]

Excellent Video.

[MimosaGirl1]

Hip Hop doesn't need Christianity or anything else. It's the Christian church which has been shoved down our throats since slavery and today is forcing us to become more WHITE than what we ARE. Not interested. These are the same Christian nuts who make hiphoppers hide their sexuality in order to please the church-going masses. No wonder our community is just WACKED.

[marcdaddy33]

nice vid overall.

[teched246]

2012 is on the way and all those who choose to be brainwashed by religion and pop culture are going to suffer

[teched246]

christianity and hip-hop go hand in hand because both cultures seek to brainwash the masses

[MimosaGirl1]

I like hip hop, not Christianity. But, I agree with you on that one.

[ladyrt23]

I like his perspective. He receives alot of respect from me.

[likefiur]

Go on Jeff!!!!

[brentduanefoster]

Man, Cousin Jeff is on it with this one!!!

[tellasjohnson]

hip hop is h- he, i- is, p-powerful,h- having, o-our, p-purpose anything outside of the word of God is nothing ,not a religion for God is the true hip hop. this world's hip hop will perish one day

[Die2Live4Him]

by EVERYONE, and EVERYWHERE!!! The agenda of still fighting makes it more evident of what the hip hop culture's agenda really is. Its not about "challenging of the capitalist, imperialist, colonial status quo," because hip hop has already influenced those areas. C'mon, did you know that Eazy-E was already invited to the White House by Ronald Reagan?! Thats influence, so those cries that you are making are falsified. Religion is wrong, but true Christianity is not religous. Its different & hated!

[Die2Live4Him]

just sit back and watch another religion attempt to merge with my faith? I can't! I'm not here to debate, because if you are not Christian, then what I say really doesn't matter to you, and neither should my statements about hip hop not being something that a "Christian" should partake in. But yet, it does bother people. Why?" I don't really know, other than that hiphoppas desire for everybody else to be like them. People cry about "acceptance" but take a look around...hip hop is accepted...

[Die2Live4Him]

First, nobody is throwing the hip hop culture "in a pot." I, personally can care less about the hip hop culture, but since the hip hop culture wishes to influence the "Church" then this is where I am compelled to come against it. You see, hip hop is a religion. It is a sub-culture of America and the black community, and its distinction is even recognized by the U.S. GOVERNMENT as a religion (anyone who knows anything about hip hop already knows this). Thereofre, how could I as a Christian...

[troynkrumah]

So as long as all hip hop culture is thrown into one pot.. i say bullshit to general criticism calling all hip hop evil. Only an idiot would speak that generally, but we all know that the christian religion is filled with idiots nowadays...

[troynkrumah]

Religion is the most oppressive force known to humanity.. however it can be the most liberating if religious people put humanity above faith alone.

So called "Religious" people love more that which they cannot see, than they do that which is in front of their eyes. That is so anti what Jesus or Muhammad or Moses was about. Current religious poeple would rather sit back and judge others or prey for others than to actually hit the streets like Jesus, or MLK did.

[Die2Live4Him]

The problem is that the Christians being referred to here are not the Christians described in the Bible. Yes, hip hop is a language, culture, way of life, BUT I know that God will never use something that generally glorifies "self" or "race and cultural empowerment" in order to minister to youth, or anyone else for the matter. Saying that youth of a hip hop culture need to be reached through the vessel of hip hop is basically denying the creativity, sovreignty, wisdom and power of the HolySpirit

[oldsoul9]

AMEN!!

[troynkrumah]

bullshit!

[Die2Live4Him]

I would really like to know what is "BS" about my statement? It seems to me that you are not Christian by your selection of word usage (but I could be wrong). But if you really are not Christian, then why are you upset? My statement doesn't matter to you, right?

[troynkrumah]

So i say bullshit to the general criticism of Hip Hop. Yes there are specifics in the hip hop culture that are damaging but they there is also liberating aspects of hip hop.. hip hop has stepped up where the religious community backed down.. and thats in the challenging of the capitalist, imperialist, colonial status quo...

[emdee44]

I agree to disagree w/"Die2Live4Him" I hear you and I think you're "right there" but possibly being a little "conservative". God it all about reaching the lost and or saving the lost. My plea is that WE not remove ourselves from the power of outreach. If we reach out to those, NEVER with negativity, but communicate through (God's way) of welcoming everybody (Hip-Hop included)to the table (church" to HEAR what God says is important. How can the lost be saved, if we ignore that they are lost?

[IAMWILLETTE]

Speak, Brother, speak! Change is difficult for thoughs that think they are rightous. When you sing a song of truth that goes against what they believe all may hear and may not heed for fear of discounting what they have been told.

[MSEDUB]

you don't have to have hip hop to share christ but it can be a vehicle to share chirst, i have become all things to all people so all may know him, aren't those paul words from the bible but it may not be your calling to use hip hop for the gospel of JC

[shadowsmart99]

now hip hop was very powerful right? but was it powerful because of God or because of satan? why must i need to use hip hop language to preach to the youth? I am a youth, so is he telling me i need hip hop to understand Gods word? 1 corinthians 2 tells me that as long as i got the holy spirit i don't need anything else. not trying to start debate, but just questions.

[raskass33]

The answer to your question is probably both. Like many things in this world Satan has put his hands in it and tried to use it, but don't be fooled Satan has even been in the gospel/christian music industry by creating a little talked about homosexual culture by many of the people writing these songs. Hip Hop is fundamentally a language. Have an interpreter for these hip hop youth while they learn the church's language or to even get them interested in learning the church's language.

[Marush]

This is my brief intake: I think what Jeff is trying to say is that once an element of someone's culture is being called "devilish, negative" and other pejorative terms (like hip hop is called by the church), then the people that associate with that culture rather rebel against those who insult their cultures (aka hip hop youth might tend to reject Christianity because they are being told that their culture is that of the devil). Does that make any sense?

[TheUpperground]

word UP.

[thedamntruth]

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