Considering that you regularly inform Lecrae throughout the song that you’re praying for him, it’s easy to understand why you chose to lay your lyrics down over a beat that’s almost identical to the one on Lecrae’s intense song “Prayin For You”. That being said, I would question this decision as it comes across as slightly disrespectful. I do agree, however, that we should be praying for Lecrae, not in the way you are in this song, but instead in support of him and what he’s trying to do.
We, as Christians, are called to share the great news and love of Jesus Christ to those who are unsaved. If we were to say that all Christian bands and artists must overtly preach and minister in their music all we’re doing is creating a bubble around us and the secular/sacred divide will continue to grow. We need to break down the barrier between Christians and non-Christians, not recede into our own bubble where, admittedly, we may feel comfortable and safe but ultimately we’re not serving God. In Isaiah 6:8 it says “Here am I. Send me!” and in Matthew 5:16 it states “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” This may require us to step out of our comfort zone and for us to try something terrifyingly new but, as the lyrics in Chris Tomlin’s song “Our God” state, “And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us, And if our God is with us, then what could stand against?”.
Lecrae is trying to do exactly that, he’s stepping out in faith to try and reach the lost by being a much more relateable and ‘real’ artist. He’s still the same “116 Unashamed” person that he was in the earlier days of his music career and he still shines his light continuously, he’s just trying to do that into the dark areas of the globe. His lyrical content may not be as Gospel heavy as it was in his earlier albums but his lyrics are still laced with the Gospel, he’s just attempting to do it in a way that’s more attractive to those who need it most. Lecrae addressed the watered down lyrics issue in his verse on Json’s track “2human”,
"First it starts with "You ain't really real no more/
You don't be making music people really feel no more/
You used to preach a whole sermon in your songs/
Now you sounding kinda watered down Man what's going on/
Homie I done matured I had so many issues at heart/
Thought that screaming it through my art made me better set me apart/
If I never get to make another Rebel/
It's cool that was a season in my life let it settle/
And I'm in a new season growing as a man/...”
We all go through different seasons in our lives and no-one can say that they are the same as they were a few years ago, people’s lives change, it’s a fact of life. I’m certainly not the same person as I was a few years ago and I’m sure you’re not as well. “Real Talk”, “After The Music Stops” & “Rebel” were a season in Lecrae’s life and ministry. “Church Clothes” was the start of a new season in his life, we need to accept that and get behind artists like Lecrae as they try and reach those people who wouldn’t have heard his music otherwise. Most people, upon hearing that someone’s a Christian rapper or that they’re playing in a church, are immediately put off their music whereas if they were to go and see Lecrae, not billed as a Christian artist, live now they would be in a position where God could speak through Lecrae and his music to save that person’s life. There’s no doubt that Lecrae still brings it 116 style on stage, one only has to watch his Passion 2013 live performance to observe how on fire for God he still is, especially when he’s so choked up during “Background” that he can barely even rap because the Holy Spirit is rocking the place!
Lecrae is making massive strides towards breaking the secular/sacred wall down and is making an impact on not just more fans, but the secular artists themselves as well. You just have to listen to his BET freestyle from last year, his recent 106 and Park freestyle and the song “Best Thing That I’ve Found” by Saigon, Lecrae and Corbett off Saigon’s album “The Greatest Story Never Told: Bread and Circuses” to see the positive affect that Lecrae can make on secular artists and fans...
PG. 7