Missionary to Hip-Hop

Leonard Sweet was on campus last week and he made a really interesting point that I want to share with you. It went roughly like this:

Imagine that you are on the board for a church mission group which is responsible for funding missions projects around the world. I come to you as a potential missionary to China. When you ask me what my plans are for the time there, I say something to the effect of, "Well, I plan to go in there tell them how much I dislike the way they dress, the music they listen to, and the language they use. When I am through berating those thing, I'll tell them about Jesus." You would flatly refuse me. Now, how many people think rap music is a tool of the devil? Is it that hard to imagine the phrase, "Jesus loves you, now pull your pants up."

Have we stopped lately to consider how we treat those among us who identify with the "hip hop lifestyle?" It is about time that we recognize that our ignorance is an impediment to the Gospel.