i fly a flag of my creation

i got my own nation



oh yeah; stuffy people warning. I won’t quote any obscenities; but if you look up their lyrics there will be naughty words. (Do I need to put a warning up for that?)


On of the proudest moments of ministry was late, up in the rocky mountains. I had done the wedding of two great friends. As their reception was drawing to a close, I asked the DJ to play one last song, my favorite Doomtree song: Fresh New Trash.
And I rapped every line.
My favorite line: “even after death & dirt / let them know who said it first / put it on your favorite shirt / rap won’t save you / sell em absolution with a verse.”

The next day folks seemed to be surprised I was so familiar with that genre, ersumthing. 
Perceptions aside, I’ve always felt that those of us who are called to the ministry of the Word should have a deep love (or at least appreciation) of rap/hip-hop.


Somewhere in his voluminous output Will Willimon quipped that words are all the preacher has. 
Well said.

Each week pastors climb behind the pulpit, and with nothing else than words try to get the folks in the pews from cynicism to trust. Each week pastors go to meetings, hear complaints and cries, with no other shelter than the Word.


We’re not the only folks who labor among words, though. 

Rap is first a foremost a genre that relies on and trusts words. 
In fact, rap evolved from a group of musicians using equipment studios didn’t want. With only that and their words, these innovators formed a new genre of popular music. 

One of the groups that is most explicit about power of words is Doomtree.
Doomtree is a hip hop collective; and their albums are clear about the fact that what unites these various artist is the strength of the world that their words create. 
One of the most insightful reviews of their (too smart) new album “All Hands” complains that the whole thing is far too idiosyncratic.

But of course it is. 
These folks have been working amongst words for many years, and finally their work has assembled a world. The album All Hands is an excursus among these artists as they simply dwell in the world of words they’ve created. Case and point, My Own Nation.

Side note, this album was recorded in a secluded cabin.


Those of us called to the ministry of the Word often betray our own doubt about the Word's power.
It isn’t easy to trust the Word, so we hedge our bets. We do this by adding glitz borrowed from the entertainment profession to spruce up our sermons, by employing another illustration that doesn’t really apply but tugs at heartstrings, by trying the latest gimmick, by walking among the pews for no particular reason (other than, as far as I can tell, making everyone else feel uncomfortable).
Clergy seem to be willing to try anything other than climbing behind the pulpit and relying on the only thing we have, the Word.

So maybe before we get to work on yet another sermon, or figure out how to sync our *sigh* Powerpoint presentation to our sermon; we might try listening to some good rap/hip hop and ask ourselves a question: if we don’t trust the Word as much as these artists trust their words; what are we doing? 
Folks are tired of the bait and switch, they don’t need to come to church promised one thing, and then given another when it come time for the sermon. 
If we can’t bring ourselves to trust the Word enough to deliver an okay sermon with integrity, can we at least bring ourselves to stop wasting people’s precious time?


Suggestions:
Black Star
Doomtree, of course
The Roots
Das Racist
Lecrae
Mos Def
Lupe Fiasco
Kendrick Lamar
Childish Gambino



I close with an apology to the above listed artists, there can be no worse of a accolade than to be suggested by a Lutheran pastor. #SorryI’mNotSorry.

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