Krumping for Jesus
Posted by Matt B on Aug 22nd, 2007
2007
Aug 22
CR?N goes after a Christian group that krumps. I watched the video and I don’t see anything that’s wrong with this. Am I missing something? Is it because a guy has his shirt off? Is it the term “bangin”, which has multiple meanings, just like “hot” and “phat”?
Honestly, I’m about as whitebread as it comes, but I thought the dance was kinda cool.
According to the Union Tribune article, krump is an acronym for Kingdom Radically Uplifting Mighty Praise. The relatively new dance form with Christian roots originated in South Los Angeles as an alternative to gang violence.
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:02 am
In 1975 my brother took me to see a Braodway play called “Godspell”. It had dancing and singing and the music was written by Stephen Shwartz, a non-believing Jew. It would definitely not make the “approved” list in some circles.
That very night God began to lead me to Christ in several months. My point is that this form of witness may not be my cup of tea, but God can use anything. May God use them to bring people to Jesus!
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:25 am
Having grown up in Detroit and having a strong passion for Urban Ministry I think I can speak a little bit to this subject.
KRUMP; is as you say; an alternative to negative inner-city influences that lead to crime and other illicit activities. It is not strictly a religious movement (if you can call it a movement) but it does strive to be a positive influence within communities of the inner-city.
I’ve not read the “article” over at C?N for fear that my heart would break. I trust the assement here so I don’t feel the need to go there.
There is a real danger when we try to conform everyone to what we deem acceptable Christian behavior. As had been mentioned before most people who suscribe to a dogmatic doctrine of faith would be surprised to see how Christians in Africa, China, Europe, inner-city Detroit worship and commune with God.
I can only think that throughout scripture God constantly reminds that motivation of action speaks louder than the action itself. Lust is Adultery, Hate is murder, repetitious worship without heart is a “stench” to God. So instead of looking at this video and recoiling and saying that’s not worship or christian remember God judges the heart not the outward apperance.
And for the record (no pun intended) the song is “Lord Give me Sign” by DMX. Probably not the album you want to go out by for your next youth service though!
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:27 am
*and buy* for your
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:46 am
Do be fair, CRN doesn’t actually condemn the tour, they merely highlight it. One may assume how they feel, but they certainly don’t say it.
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Yes, I noticed they didn’t really say their opinion. In the past, they have ripped Christian rap music and dancing, so I think it is fair to say that they probably don’t approve.
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Rocket science 101 = They do not approve.
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Their websites exist almost exclusively for rhetorical clubbing of baby seals, so I don’t think its a stretch to say that simply posting it is a condemnation.
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Seriously–help me understand. If …Probably not the album you want to go out by for your next youth service though! why wouldn’t there be some question as to the appropriateness of this “ministry?” Does the fact they are doing this for Jesus make it all OK?
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Keith - It depends on the songs they use. The song they choose for the video isn’t morally bad in content. They didn’t put the rest of the songs from that album on the video so I can’t judge.
It’s like if I made a video with the song “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”. It’s a secular song but it isn’t bad.
And, no, doing something for Jesus doesn’t make something good.
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Keith I’ll put it to you this way.
19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.
I suppose they could KRUMP to the Gaither Vocal Band but I’m not certain that it would resonate with the culture they are trying to reach.
The song isn’t sinful the artist is. Just as we all are. I’ve used this song in talks with students. Now would I share the whole album NO. In fact I’ve told students not to buy the album for the reason it’s not a positive album.
Here’s a story: I facilitate the chapel program at our local christian High School. During the chapels I like to do an “Ice Breaker”. During one “Ice Breaker” we were playing “Name that Tune” I would find a song on my IPOD and play the first 10 seconds of it. Well I started with all Christian music “Newsboys”, “Tobymac”, “Reliant K” etc…None of the students could name any of the songs after 20 seconds. So I switched to secular music and every song I played they got within the first 5 seconds. This is a Christian School! One parent got upset that I played a particular song. I responded by asking her why her child was the first to blurt it out after 3 seconds? And then proceeded to sing all the lyrics. She didn’t have an answer.
Maybe if we spent a lot more time trying to reach and understand the culture like every other missionary does and not isolate ourselves in a “Holy Huddle” more people would be attracted to Jesus. The same Jesus that says “Come just
.
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Matt and Chris: thanks.
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:43 pm
As long as the message remains the same, the methodology can vary. Jesus gave out fish sandwiches. Sometimes the message gets diluted when the method gets overly secular. Also, the depth of discipleship sometimes gets shallow as the emphasis become so focused on the audience to the detriment of the maturity of the believers.
It is a challenge.
August 22nd, 2007 at 9:35 pm
My opinion is that Krumping to the Gaither Band would be wholly impossible.
That’s just my opinion, however.
August 22nd, 2007 at 9:49 pm
My opinion is that krumping to the Gaither Band would be the height of hilarity.
August 22nd, 2007 at 10:38 pm
I would pay to see someone Krump to the Gaither Band.