December 6, 2013
A Contrite Apology from Dr. Beeke . . . to "Christian" Rappers!
Tim Challies is a New Calvinist pal of Dr. Joel Beeke who for his part has humbled himself in sackcloth and ashes, contritely expressing remorse for offending the "Christian" rap crowd. The last line of Dr. Beeke's apology seems to relate also to the comments of others on the panel in question. Dr. Beeke's claim that "Christian rap" is "an area of music that I know little about" is a strange one indeed. What minister today does not know enough about that "music" to know that it is irreverent, ungodly, gross worldliness and part of the hip-hop culture which includes immodest dress, tattoos, piercings, and summed up, a lot of downright stupid talk and behavior. By the way, some time back, Dr. Beeke knew enough about the rapper Propaganda to compliment him thusly: "To his credit, Propaganda promotes the gospel of Christ in other raps, and says that he has learned a lot from reading the Puritans."
But, all of this public clarification, remorse, and concern by Joel Beeke over his mildly negative comments about the wretched, ungodly noise of so-called holy hip-hop, yet Dr. Beeke has uttered not a public word of apology or warning for being deeply imbedded as a participant with, and a promoter of, the ungodly, deeply ecumenical Refo500 since its inception! By the way, the National Center for Family-Integrated Churches (NCFIC) is far, far from being a scripturally sound ministry organization for a number of reasons, including that the NCFIC Church and Family Network includes new evangelical (Reformed and Arminian), charismatic, Pentecostal, and Apostolic churches. But of course, we are expected to accept, with all docility, the new norm whereby such camels have nowadays been redefined as mere gnats at the worst. Jer. 5:31: “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?”
Ralph Ovadal
http://www.challies.com/articles/joel-beeke-christian-rap-and-public-apologies?utm_content=buffer09b89&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer
Joel Beeke, Christian Rap, and Public Apologies
December 04, 2013
You may have heard of the recent controversy that unfolded in the aftermath of a conference associated with the National Center for Family-Integrated Churches. Among the sessions at that conference was a panel discussion and in that discussion the speakers were asked for their views on Christian rap. The answers were not good and many people have subsequently responded with calls for clarity and repentance.
I do not know any of those speakers by face or by name, except for one. Many people referred to him as “Speaker #4,” but I know him as Joel Beeke and consider him a friend. We have written a series of blog posts together, we have shared a conference platform, we have met together and talked together and prayed together. I admire him as a man who has done as much as anyone to popularize the Puritans and to make them accessible, as a man who founded Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and Reformation Heritage Books. He has had a profound, indelible impact on my life and faith.
When I watched the video of that panel discussion and heard his comments, I was surprised. I was saddened, because it didn’t sound like the man I so admire. I got in touch with Dr. Beeke to talk, to find out what had happened, and to express some of my concerns.
He had read some of the critiques of his comments and those of the other panelists and was already preparing an apology. I asked if I could share it on my site and he was willing to have me do so. Here is Dr. Beeke’s apology:
But, all of this public clarification, remorse, and concern by Joel Beeke over his mildly negative comments about the wretched, ungodly noise of so-called holy hip-hop, yet Dr. Beeke has uttered not a public word of apology or warning for being deeply imbedded as a participant with, and a promoter of, the ungodly, deeply ecumenical Refo500 since its inception! By the way, the National Center for Family-Integrated Churches (NCFIC) is far, far from being a scripturally sound ministry organization for a number of reasons, including that the NCFIC Church and Family Network includes new evangelical (Reformed and Arminian), charismatic, Pentecostal, and Apostolic churches. But of course, we are expected to accept, with all docility, the new norm whereby such camels have nowadays been redefined as mere gnats at the worst. Jer. 5:31: “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?”
Ralph Ovadal
http://www.challies.com/articles/joel-beeke-christian-rap-and-public-apologies?utm_content=buffer09b89&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer
Joel Beeke, Christian Rap, and Public Apologies
December 04, 2013
You may have heard of the recent controversy that unfolded in the aftermath of a conference associated with the National Center for Family-Integrated Churches. Among the sessions at that conference was a panel discussion and in that discussion the speakers were asked for their views on Christian rap. The answers were not good and many people have subsequently responded with calls for clarity and repentance.
I do not know any of those speakers by face or by name, except for one. Many people referred to him as “Speaker #4,” but I know him as Joel Beeke and consider him a friend. We have written a series of blog posts together, we have shared a conference platform, we have met together and talked together and prayed together. I admire him as a man who has done as much as anyone to popularize the Puritans and to make them accessible, as a man who founded Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and Reformation Heritage Books. He has had a profound, indelible impact on my life and faith.
When I watched the video of that panel discussion and heard his comments, I was surprised. I was saddened, because it didn’t sound like the man I so admire. I got in touch with Dr. Beeke to talk, to find out what had happened, and to express some of my concerns.
He had read some of the critiques of his comments and those of the other panelists and was already preparing an apology. I asked if I could share it on my site and he was willing to have me do so. Here is Dr. Beeke’s apology:
Recently I was asked to participate in a panel discussion at a Reformed Worship conference. In that discussion the panelists were asked to address the subject of Christian rap music (which I took to mean rap music primarily in the context of a local church worship service). To my regret, I spoke unadvisedly on an area of music that I know little about. It would have been far wiser for me to say nothing than to speak unwisely. Please forgive me. I also wish to publicly disassociate myself from comments that judged the musicians’ character and motives.
—Joel Beeke |
Having spoken to Dr. Beeke, I know his remorse for the words he spoke and the hurt they caused. I would encourage you to accept his apology in the spirit it was offered.