Hip Hop with Reformed Flavor

There is no doubt that contemporary Christian music tends to be theologically shallow and man-centered. This has been a complaint raised by many today, although there are a few diamonds in the rough that can be found. Enter Shai Linne. Shai is a Christian hip hop artist (and I use artist in the full sense of the term, people with a closed mind about genres of music need not apply) who weaves scripture and theology into his songs that would bring shame to most contemporary worship services. Consider these lyrics from his song “Triune Praise:”

(Verse 1)
Praise God the Father, the Immortal Creator (1 Cor. 8:6)
For Your glory you made us (Is. 43:6), You’re the Sovereign Orchestrator (Eph. 1:11)
All that You decree will most surely come to happen (Is. 14:24)
You’re awesome as can be and Your glory none can fathom (Ps. 104:1)
Nothing could ever stain You, the heavens can’t contain You (2 Chron. 6:18)
We thank You for sending Your Son to explain You (John 1:18)
Otherwise we would have remained in the dark
but You sent Your Holy Spirit to spark a change in our hearts (Matt. 4:16-17, 2 Cor. 4:6)
According to Your eternal purpose and will
You determined to reveal Yourself to those who deserve to be killed (Luke 10:21, Rom. 1:32)
Those of us whom You foreknew adore You
We praise You that You predestined us to be conformed to
The image of Your Son who’s the radiance of Your glory (Romans 8:29, Heb. 1:3)
When I meditate on it, the weightiness of it floors me (1 Chron. 16:25, Psalm 139:6)
So Father, we’ll praise you over and over again (Ps. 34:1)
Because You sent Your only Son to atone for our sins (Dan. 9:24, 1 John 4:9)

Chorus:
Glory to the Father, Glory to the Son,
Glory to The Spirit- Three and Yet One
One in Your essence, Three in Your Person
The same in Your nature, distinct in Your working
Oh my soul- behold the wonder of the Trinity
Blessed be the Trinity, Oh, what a mystery!
I’ll stand amazed for the rest of my days
Pouring out my heart in Triune praise

Verse 2:
Praise God the Son, Second Person of the Trinity (Acts 7:55, 2 Cor. 13:14, Gal. 4:6)
You’re distinct from the Father yet you share in His divinity (John 8:18, John 14:10)
Fulfilling an eternal covenant You came through (Hebrews 13:20)
To planet earth to save who? All the Father gave You (John 6:37-40, John 17:9, 24)
You became a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3)
For the glory of Your Father You extinguished the beef (John 12:27-28)
That stood between us at the cross- the Father’s anger released (Col. 1:22-23, 1 John 2:2)
The Shepherd slain for the sheep, the situation is deep (John 10:11)
I can’t find the right language to speak, in fact it’s making me weep-
Just the thought of You saving this creep (1 Tim. 1:15)
You’re risen from the dead, I still can’t get this in my head (2 Tim. 2:8)
How the Judge could leave the bench and go to prison instead (John 5:22, Act 17:31)
Lord Jesus, you’re amazing, Your bleeding is what saved men (Rev. 1:5)
It’s the reason why I’m praising, can’t wait to see Your face (2 Thess. 1:10, Hebrews 9:28)
In the meantime, please help us to see You as colossal
And by the Spirit live lives that’s worthy of the gospel (Phil. 1:27)

Chorus:
Glory to the Father, Glory to the Son
Glory to The Spirit- Three and Yet One
One in Your essence, Three in Your Person
The same in Your nature, distinct in Your working
Oh my soul- behold the wonder of the Trinity
Blessed be the Trinity, Oh, what a mystery!
I’ll stand amazed for the rest of my days
pouring out my heart in Triune praise

Verse 3
Praise God the Holy Spirit, 3rd person of the Trinity (Mat. 28:19)
Distinct from Father and Son, yet share in Their divinity (Acts 5:3-4, 2 Cor. 3:17)
Holy Spirit we praise You, You don’t like the spotlight
You’d rather point away from yourself and give props to Christ (John 15:26, John 16:13-14)
And yet because You’re God, You deserve veneration (Mark 3:29)
And You’re the One responsible for our regeneration (John 3:5-6)
You apply the finished work of Christ to all the elect (John 6:37, 1 Peter 1:1-2)
Your call is effectual- You haven’t lost one yet (Romans 8:30, 2 Thess. 2:13-14)
You comfort us when sin, Satan and the world got us bothered (Acts 9:31)
And it’s only by You that we cry out “Abba Father” (Gal. 4:6)
You’re the Spirit of adoption, the Spirit of Truth, (Romans 8:15, John 14:16-17)
You graciously provide Your people with the gifts and the fruit (1 Cor. 12:1-11, Gal. 5:22)
You help us kill sin and You detach us from our idols (Romans 8:13)
If it wasn’t for You, we’d never understand the Bible (1 Cor. 2:13, Ps. 119:18)
Because You wrote it- For our life it will surely suffice (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
Amazingly, You do it all for the glory of Christ! (John 16:14)

Chorus:
Glory to the Father, Glory to the Son,
Glory to The Spirit- Three and Yet One
One in Your nature, Three in Your Person
The same in Your essence, distinct in Your working
Oh my soul- behold the wonder of the Trinity
Blessed be the Trinity, Oh, what a mystery!
I’ll stand amazed for the rest of my days
pouring out my heart in Triune praise

Rare is such Biblical theology thundered from even today’s pulpits! You can check out Shai on his myspace page or his blog Lyrical Theology. Consider furthermore this quote from his blog:

“Theology should always lead to doxology. And doxology should always be informed by good theology. Theology that doesn’t lead to doxology is dead orthodoxy. Doxology that doesn’t spring from good theology is idolatry. Both extremes dishonor God.”

Friends, that is where it’s at. This man gets it. Christianity is theological, and it’s theological in order that it would be returned to God for His glory and to His praise. Theology is practical. When I say it’s practical I mean this: correctly understood, theology is not cold intellectualism, but something that should and will effect how you live and what you do, and will pour itself out into praise for God. I thank God that Shai is using the talents God has given him to return the praise and glory back unto Him who alone deserves it.

(HT: Recover the Gospel)