Spiritual
Bling
Ephesians 3:8, 14-19
Dr. Ammar Saheli
From
a current national and international perspective, many young people are influenced
by the power of rap music and its Hip-Hop culture. The impact of Hip-Hop culture
covers a multitude of generations and its sweeping personality and style is
growing. Generally, people in the United
States, from the earliest media influential
age up to the age of forty, are classified as being part of the Hip-Hop generation(s).
Hip-Hop impacts many elements of style, attitude, and disposition among its
adherents. The music is rap, but the culture that governs the music is Hip-Hop.
Hip-Hop has the potential to dictate clothing trends, urban linguistics, values,
peer groups, vehicles, jewelry, etc.
Hip-Hop
culture, like many other racial, ethnic, tribal, or city cultures is not all
negative and nonproductive. There are aspects within all cultures that are
both positive and negative and Hip-Hop culture is similar. There are some
deplorable notions, values, and attitudes that permeate throughout Hip-Hop
culture and they are proclaimed through the lyrics. However, a person can
still be a successful Christian while being influenced by parts of Hip-Hop
culture. There is really no distinct difference than the latter concept mentioned
and a Christian being successful having adopted aspects of American or African
culture. Portions of Hip-Hop culture promote keeping God first, speaking the
truth, being radical, loving your family, transcending the odds, fighting
through oppression, universal unity, proper money management, entrepreneurship,
etc. Hip-Hop culture
has always been driven by the undercurrent of earthly riches and quality fashion.
Today this is most fittingly known nationally and internationally as Bling.
More correctly stated it would be rendered to the uninformed as the
Bling-Bling. The Bling of today is witnessed through 20-28 inch wheels and
chrome spinners introduced by Sprewell, lavish pieces
of diamond-laced jewelry resembling crushed ice on the wrist, chest, neck,
fingers, and even mouth. For a celebrity rap artist of this day to be spotted
wearing $100,000-plus, worth of Bling from Jacob the Jewelry, cruising in
a lavish car with amenities worth more than the sticker price of the car,
marinating in a mink coat with no sleeves is one example of the Bling Hip-Hop
has produced in this world. The message is clear: I am the best and I wear
the best. To the immature
the Bling lifestyle is coveted and sought after, but God offers something
of the divine. There is nothing more powerful than a young person exuding
with the spiritual Bling of God. Many times young people are driven to acquire
earthly wealth because of societal influences and values. God offers something
far more valuable than platinum chains laced with diamonds and cars worth
more than some homes. The
apostle Paul talked about riches (Ephesians 3:8). In Christ, God has made
His people royalty. Internally, God has instilled in His elect and is on His
throne with more installments, the presence of His power and the glow of His
Holy Spirit. The Spirit and essence of God is the real Bling all should be
striving to attain. The church would be a much
healthier institution if more young people exemplified Spiritual Bling. The
Spiritual Bling of young Christians resonates inwardly and is manifested outwardly. Spiritual Bling Defined:
It is the biblical clothing known as glory. In part, glory comes from the
Greek word doxa which “may denote appearance, form, aspect, that appearance
of a person or thing which catches the eye or attracts attention, commanding
recognition, looking like something; thus equivalent to splendor, brilliance.”
It is “not the outward glorious appearance, attracting attention to the person
or thing itself, but the glory shown from within…” Societal
forces of today are strictly against young people living for Christ. Life
is about materialism: Males, females, money, clothes, popularity, influence,
and status. God addresses the breaking of this negative vice in 1 Corinthians
15:33-34. God’s desire is for His Spirit to be perfected in all of His creation.
Two
Examples/Two Points:
1.
After God perfected His message
in the life of Moses his face glistened with the presence, power, and glory
of God (Exodus 34:29-30). Point 1: His new disposition gendered fear within
his people.
2.
When Jesus went up into the mountain
to pray the glory of God filled His presence (Luke 9:28-29). Point 2: His
appearance was noticeably different.
When
Christians and young people in particular begin to exude the Spiritual Bling
of God, their unspiritual friends who fail to want to know God will begin
to act differently because of the spiritual changes. Jesus exemplified the
solution (Luke 2:44-47). At the tender age of twelve Jesus probably never
found peers who could discuss religion with Him. Therefore, He was found conversing
with intellectual men. When young people cannot find acceptance within their
own peer group they must move to the next level. It is a beautiful thing for
Christians to serve God, but it seems to be slightly more remarkable for young
people to serve God because of the way in which society is fashioned. Hip-Hop
culture has the power to influence many to follow after earthly riches and
the Bling Bling of today, but God elects for His creation to desire Spiritual
Bling, a healthy and wholesome life in Christ. It is better to serve God now,
be a living sacrifice as opposed to planning to serve God in the waning years
of life.“Remember the now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the
evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no
pleasure in them.” (Ecclesiastes 12:1)