Platforms

I write this blog after tweeting some of my thoughts on twitter (follow me @shanekidd) Cause I desire say more on how this has affected me. In the light of the recent fall of some dear brothers in the Christian Hip Hop this is need for me to make me and others examine ourselves and our platforms.

In the year 2009 we've had The Ambassador fall do to Moral Failure in his Marriage, Red Cloud having to deal with substance abuse, and lately add Da Truth having a Moral Failure in his marriage too. This has been a rough year along with that the Passing of Enock, who was a founding member of The Cross Movement, there's alot to reflect upon.

With the fall of Duce (The Ambassador) and Da Truth they really hit home both being heroes of mine. Duce's first album being my introduction to Christian Hip hop and my inspire to know more of God and to do Music. I've gotten know the brother outside of concert setting while not really just tight with the brother but I having a face to face relation with him has be cool. So hearing what happen made me sad I'm encourage to know he's in the Lord's hand and with a community to help be restored. Then Da Truth that made me upset especially with him being a man of bold statments about being an Open book but there seems to have been some missing pages. I definitely pray for true repentance and that he be encouraged by the body in this time.

With Red Cloud cant say much but I has sadden by the brothers struggle prays that he seeks the Lord.

Enock that was a real brotha I've enjoyed "Awe-thentic" which was a very real project was glab to see him be able to bare his soul and have God exalted through his struggles. He play a great role as memeber of The Cross Movement. I pray he be remembered for his Authenticity and Honesty.

But going back to the falls of The Ambassadorand Da Truth I have 3 thing to consider:

1. The Sinfulness of sin and how neglecting communion with Christ can have us drinking from broken cisterns Jer 2:13

Sin deadly and it has us find our satifaction in anything other than Jesus Christ, when we allow sin to rule in our lives we cause communion with God to be declined. While God Doesnt leave and forsake His people sin makes us not draw near to God. We are to have the Holy spirit within us be satisfied with Him but sin has us find pleasure that wont truly fulfill us.

2. The need to rebuke and gentlely restore those in need of repentance and those who have repented Gal 6:1

We gotta call sin for what it is SIN, and be able to rebuke our brothers when they are in sin. Our rebukes should be out of desire to see them reconciled to God and repent. As Christians we got to learn to be gentle in how we handle restoration, be encouraging but not sugar-coating.

3. Don't be quick to desire the stage w/o having proper STEWARDSHIP in ALL AREAS of life and invest more in people than peformance.

This more so applies to Christian artist but ever if you are not a Rapper or Minister, if you are Christian this is for you. We are called to Love Our neighbors our platforms are to build up the BODY NOT US. So to invest in you performance you focus on the limelight over the lifetime, people are a lifetime investment and represent truly how good of a steward we are over the thing of God not skills and gifts.

With these said I close remembering Enock how he was a brother who fell just like Duce and Da Truth but saw a need to be reconciled to God before he got back on the scence and even after he got back he made sure not to neglect his relationship with God, his family, and his community.

So definitely let's not be so quick to desire large platforms without knowing the cost if we're not ready for them, because a High stage can make for a hard fall.

PS check this Old blog by Sho Baraka Called "Who Wants the Stage?"