Holy or Alternative?

In response to a blog by G Craig Lewis

Should I be offended by Mr Lewis' blog? Should I get defensive? Let's see: I do "Holy Hip Hop". check. I used to be in a Christian hip hop dance team. check. I've performed at a Christian club and will be back there sometime next month. check. I'm going to a Fall Festival at church tomorrow on Halloween. check. check. Ok so I have every right to be offended and defensive. Don't I? Well, I'm not. I actually agree with a lot of what he said.

Yes. We do need to be set apart. Holy. We should die to the old man and hate the things of this world. Not find less harmful alternatives to what the world offers. I agree. However, I think Mr. Lewis is fighting this battle on the wrong stage. This battle is fought and won in the Spiritual. Instead of fighting Holy Hip Hop or BET's Sunday Best, we need to focus on the hearts of men. Who cares if your music has a "crunk" bassline and you're two-stepping to it? I care more about their hearts, their Spirits. While readers of Mr. Lewis' blog might walk away wanting to stop listening to hip hop, stop watching BET, and stay home on halloween; they might be a little disappointed to find out that they can't. Gasp. God and God only can bring about that change in their hearts. And when God is done, it'll be beautiful. But let's not ridicule the works in progress.

What else? I know Christians get tired of hearing "Don't judge me" comments but read Romans 14's take on it. Here's just a couple of verses:

5One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

The whole chapter has a lot to say about this. Like Lewis says, read it. Its very similar to these issues.

Bottom line is this though. We are supposed to be Holy like God is Holy. Set apart. But God is Spirit. Now how does that translate into the physical?