“Battling” is essentially one of the most common expressions by way of the four elements of hip hop culture (emcee’s, deejays, breakdancing, and graff art). Battling is a mainstay of hip hop and you’d be hard pressed to find a hip hop event that does not include some form of battling. You cannot underestimate how important battling is within hip hop culture.
I spent a lot of time taking part in hip hop battles as an emcee. I attended many DJ and breakdancing battles and have seen some amazing graff art, but I’m primarily thinking about this from the perspective of emceeing. And I’m thinking theologically too.
So how should a Christian think about this subject? Is battling important enough to hip hop culture to be intrinsic and must remain? Or is it evil? What about Christians who participate in hip hop culture?
Some suggest that since battling is an essential aspect of hip hop culture, to not participate in battling is to essentially not participate in hip hop. Those who make these types of arguments tend to focus on the role that “respect” plays within hip hop and make a strong case for the practice of battling because it gains other people’s respect in a way that not participating will never do. Hip hop is a culture of expression, and battling is the way in which the culture has chosen to primarily express itself. To not battle is to not participate.
Others practice what I’ve heard called “reverse battling” or “freestyle blessing,” among other names. Advocates of this view, in an attempt to “redeem culture,” judge that battling is essentially too prideful and too negative to be beneficial for Christians to participate in. Yet the idea of “competition” (think along the lines of “respect”) is important to maintain, so some form of competition must take place. So why not “reverse” the negative battle and make it a competition of outdoing the other with positive statements. At least that’s the general thinking behind such a view.
Still others believe that no Christian should be involved in these types of competitions because the very foundation of the issue is one of pride. Advocates of battling are wrong because they are taking part in a negative expression of prideful boasting and advocates of “reverse battling” are wrong because there’s still an element of pride involved because the desire is to be better than others. This group tends to say things like, “Christians are not of the world” and judge participation in any form of battling as sinful.
There are other views too, and I’m generalizing a lot too. But since most of my readers are either not involved in hip hop culture or unfamiliar with most of these ideas, I’m trying to “break it down” for you.
I think there are flaws in some of these ideas and I also think that advocates of each perspective should take more time to think about this subject, and reflect upon it from a biblical and theological perspective as well as noting the missional importance of such a question.
Here’s a few random thoughts I have:
First, the hip hop culture, as a whole, is going to always include battling as an essential part of it’s expression. Having performed at and attended literally hundreds of shows, I think it’s safe to say that battling will not cease to exist. I think it is intrinsic to the art-form and expressions of hip hop. And if it wasn’t intrinsic before 2002, Eminem made it so when 8 Mile was released. End of story. And I think it is a waste of everyone’s time to try and convince non-Christians to stop battling because it is “wrong.” You can’t force other people to live out your own ethics, faith, or viewpoints, can you? I don’t think so.
Second, Christians need to seriously think on how Scripture informs our practices. If there is appropriate and inappropriate language (let’s set that debate aside), how does that bear on battling? If there are certain topics are are “crossing the line,” how does that bear on battling? When Paul tells Timothy, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech” (1 Tim. 4:12), how does that bear on battling? When he informs the Colossians to “Let your speech always be gracious” (Col. 4:6), how does that bear on battling? What about when Paul writes, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:29)? Can we really just shrug our shoulders and say, “Battling is just joking around”? I think a lot more reflection on these passages needs to occur on the part of those who are hard advocates for battling as being essential to being involved in hip hop as a Christian.
Third, the concept of “reverse battling” sounds really cheesy. I know that might be a bit harsh, but my experience with non-Christians leads me to conclude that this is the case for 99% of those who first hear about this. Plus… it’s just plain cheesy. Okay, that’s not a great reason for being opposed to it, but I think it’s an important point to consider. In an effort to be “biblical” and “relevant,” Christians often “christianize” things to a point where they are no longer “biblical” or “relevant.”
Fourth, not everyone who participates in battling is doing it out of pride. There are some emcees who are genuinely trying to engage those in the culture by way of emcee battles. This is difficult as it’s all spontaneous and whatever comes to mind, but there’s a genuine desire from these folks to engage others through this medium. So the automatic judgment of “all battling is evil” is ridiculous because it’s simply not true.
Fifthly, related to my thoughts on “reverse battling,” I think the language of “redeeming culture” needs to be nuanced and often a bit more thoughtful (consider Carson’s thoughts). In Scripture, redemption is generally applied to people and the concept of “redeeming culture” can give the impression that the gospel is an assumption and that influencing the culture by way of either shaping it and legislating it is the most important work in the Kingdom. This isn’t everyone, but is a concern to consider. I’m in agreement with the concept of “redeeming culture” when it acknowledges that culture also desperately needs to be transformed by way of the gospel.
Sixth, competition is not automatically rooted in pride. The Apostle Paul essentially created a little “friendly” competition between the Corinthians and the Macedonians revolving around financially supporting the needs of the church in Jerusalem (cf. 2 Cor. 9:1-6). So it’s a logical fallacy to automatically assume that competition is rooted in pride and I’m sure that there are people who participate in battling for the simple fun of it and to sharpen their own skills as they are challenged by others. My dad always told me that I’d become a better basketball player if I played against players that were better than me. I think this can be true about battling.
And finally, Proverbs 27:17 states, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Advocates of battling used it all the time to prove their case and give “biblical support” for battling. I don’t think this does justice to the verse because it overlooks the meaning having more to do with type of interaction that is being described and with the fruit of that interaction. The Hebrew literally reads that a person “sharpens the face of another/friend.” So there’s a concern for the other person too. Rarely are those who are battling concerned with the good of the other person. Perhaps some are, but many are not. There is supposed to be education that occurs in this type of interaction, so let’s not overuse Prov. 27:17 as the primary defense for battling. It simply doesn’t work.
A lot of thought has to go into this issue, I think. It’s more complex than simply “being missional” and “conforming to the world.”
For myself, I found that I can’t participate in battling. I’m not a good enough emcee to refrain from crossing the ling in my subject matter and language. In a quest to conform to the standards set forth in Scripture, I don’t participate in battling anymore. But that doesn’t mean I automatically assume it is wrong for everyone else to participate in it or that it’s a negative practice. I need to think more on that…
Have any thoughts or questions? Feel free to leave your opinions…
Luke is a pastor-theologian living in northern California, serving as a co-lead pastor with his life, Dawn, at the Red Bluff Vineyard. Father of five amazing kids, when Luke isn’t hanging with his family, reading or writing theology, he moonlights as a fly fishing guide for Confluence Outfitters. He blogs regularly at LukeGeraty.com and regularly contributes to his YouTube channel.
In my experience, battling never helped me “reach” anyone, even when I won. There would be hurt feelings and wounded pride, and sometimes people who wanted to fight me in the parking lot. And if I got clowned, that didn’t help share the kingdom either.
It’s not even like boxing or sports where most guys can hug it out after a loss. I think landing a nasty punchline on someone’s looks, lack of talent, whatever, hurts worse. There might be guys with a special calling to do that, but most probably shouldn’t.
And yeah, reverse battling is just lame.
You are one of my favorite rappers. Seriously.
In most forms of art and expression “willful suspension of disbelief” has to be in effect or it is not art. Some reality or moral has to be given up in order to separate the intended meaning from what supports the meaning.
For more on suspension of disbelief: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspension_of_disbelief
Three examples where the art form must be interpreted through suspending disbelief or understanding what the author wants you to overlook in order to hear his greater message….
1. The Shack: It is not a theological treatise. It is a figurative human expression concerning the theological concept of Theodoric. Not a theological statement on the Triune nature of God.
2. Psalm 78:65 Then the Lord rose up as though waking from sleep, like a warrior aroused from a drunken stupor.
3. Screw tape letters
In regards to “battling”… If you cant take a joke you must be one at least that’s what I tell my kids.
Battling sounds like sparing. It’s not real. If you think it is real then you either have mental problems and you probably should stay out of the ring or you are just not mature enough. Luke it seems as if every culture has a warrior culture I think Christians seem to have a problem with what it would look like to redeem this culture. I think it is a good testimony to battle someone but fight clean even if they don’t. Then the person will get street cred from the people they are trying to reach. Rather than pulling the “Flanders” card.
Really great questions and thoughts, Able. I think a lot could probably go into your thoughts regarding the “willful suspension of belief” concept… more so than I’ve ever thought of! And I was a battle rapper for awhile! ha ha!
You offer three examples. I appreciate that so much… my initial thoughts:
For some reason I have problems with The Shack because while it might be just as you suggest, a vast number of people took it to be a theological statement. I have family members that fall into that category 🙁 Is that a wrong concern that I have?
Psalm 78:65 is easier for me to “appreciate” because I just understand that with the typical “rules” of hermeneutics and in consideration of its place in biblical genre. I don’t know if that’s a cop-out, but not everyone understands The Shack in light of the unwritten rules of literature… do you think there’s a connection here? Maybe it’s related to epistemology… so, I don’t know… ha ha. I feel like they are certainly examples of what you are talking about, but maybe different “levels,” for lack of a better word?!?! Not sure… thoughts?
I like Screwtape Letters, so I’m have nothing to say. Ha ha! But I always interpret Lewis, understanding he wasn’t great on everything 🙂
But I agree with you about some Christians often rejecting anything “warrior” related; yet other Christians LOVE battles and warriors and commend everyone to embrace that “culture” (think Wild at Heart here).
The “street cred” is the argument hardcore advocates of battling take. It’s certainly got some merit too it, because I’ve battled people, won, and then been on the receiving end of “street cred” and “respect” and all of that.
I just wonder, and I’m not suggesting this is fact, I just wonder if that may actually hurt our “mission” in the long run (assuming there is a genuine desire to use this as a medium for both reaching and contributing to the culture. It may or may not… and that’s what I’m thinking about.
I guess I think we have to be careful to make outright declarations as to whether this is right or wrong for every single Christian participating in the hip hop culture.
But I know for a fact that when I was involved in battling, I couldn’t NOT cuss, talk about people’s mothers/girlfriends/wives, etc. And listening to my older music, I have to admit that I was pretty prideful 🙁 I hope and pray the Lord gives me grace to be more humble. But like I said, I can’t say this is the same way for everyone… because some do it differently than I did and that’s more based on my own weaknesses…
Sorry brother I meant theodicy sorry 🙂 “concerning the theological concept of Theodoric.” in regards to my statement on The Shack.
The Shack for example is like wisdom literature. The Shack like Job has been misused and misapplied in many ways no doubt. If Job is answering the question “Do the righteous suffer?” than the author has done a great Job with the art form of Wisdom Literature (used by many other cultures during that same time). In a sense Job is written in a pop form of literature to prove a point. If we mine Job for the wrong reasons and with the wrong tools we will misunderstand it and misapply it. We can do the same with the fictional work of The Shack. It is just a tool that pushes pours an opinion into a current common theme. Here is a quote from Paul Young’s official site concerning The Shack and theodicy…
http://windrumors.com/2007/06/ellul-the-shack-and-theodicy/
“For those of you who don’t know ‘theology-speak’, the term ‘theodicy’ deals generally with the question, “How can a Good God and an Evil World, co-exist?” This is actually one of the central themes in The Shack – Mack finds himself in a situation that screams that question.”
(Follow the link and find a great post as well on the problem of a good God and human suffering.)
Anyways this has a couple of things to do with cultural exposition (Battling) in my opinion.
1. I think the errors in our application of a text comes from poor exposition of the text.
2. I think the errors in our application of a culture comes from poor exposition of a culture.
3. The meaning of Battling needs to be examined from the context in which it has grown. (Example: When the Calvinists went to Hawaii as missionaries and everyone was naked the Calvinists addressed this by making them look and dress like puritans. Rather than allowing their culture to discuss, reason and come to a conclusion on concerning the text. The Calvinists did and made them look completely un-indigenous. The Gospel should not make a people look completley un- indigenous but redeemed in their vernacular)
Just some more thoughts I appreciate the dialogue.
Stupid spell checker… keeps changing Theodicy to Theodoric. 🙁
Having watched some examples of this, I’ve seen people intentionally trying to wound each other with words. Every attempt is to make it *very* real — in fact both sides would be offended if you tried to tell them to just suspend their disbelief. (Absent’s comment makes my point for me.)
It’s not an issue of taking a joke, mental capacity or maturity. It’s an issue of power and subjugation. The way it stands is that two people get up on stage and verbally abuse each other until one person ‘wins’. This abuse is an outgrowth of a toxic manifestation of power within the whole (sub)culture.
Domineering machismo is only necessary when everyone else is doing it to you, and the only way to assert yourself is violently. I applaud Luke and Absent’s withdrawal from this practice, as well as revealing their rationale without judging other participants. I pray that they can each find ways to productively engage this phenomenon, and the broader (sub)culture that is being affected by it.
Brad you said… “It’s an issue of power and subjugation. ” I am not so much convinced. But i appreciate what has been said if it is a taken as discretionary. All I am saying is that I don’t think we need to throw the baby out with the bath water.I enjoyed a couple of albums 13 letters by 116 click and Expository Journey by Evangel. One thing I noticed in the albums was the amount of philosophy, rhetoric and logic that goes on within some of these hip hop communities. One way that Battling could be redeemed in my opinion would be to turn a classic debate with a moderator into a battle. Like 8 mile a whole lot of street ethics, philosophy went into the battles but I think theological ideas, philosphies, paradigms could be up for battling. Battling in my opinion is like a debate if it where taken of the street and infused with debate I would love to watch it. Debate unrefined is a bar fight. Battling refined would be a debate hip hop style.