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Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Last week I posted one of the most disturbing and hateful messages that I think I've ever heard directed towards the LGBT community by an unknown minister. The minister in the video I would later come to know as G. Craige Lewis. While he doesn't have the celebrity of mega-pastors like TD. Jakes, Bishop Eddie Long, or Bishop Charles E. Blake, nonetheless he has a huge following that turns out in record numbers to hear him speak God's word according to "Craige" all across the country.
A youth minister for over twelve years, Craige has become known for his EX Ministries and his series on The Truth Behind Hip-Hop. I spent a few hours on his website and his blog in an attempt to understand his ministry and I noticed that no one was exempt from his condemnation. It's apparent that if you're looking for salvation G. Craige Lewis believes he has the answer or is the answer. But of course he would never come out and say this, he'll just feed you scripture after scripture in support of his extreme religious views.
His message in a nutshell: We're all going to hell. Hip Hop is of the devil, homosexuals are evil and deplorable, mega-churches and pastors are not of God, christian artists who associate with secular artists are a disgrace to the church,(uh oh Yolanda Adams and Kirk Franklin) and we all need to repent and live holy lives like him. Did I forget to mention that you can learn how to live a holy life according to G. Craige Lewis by purchasing his 6 dvd box set for $75.00 ?
When I listen to this man's message and see the reaction from his cult like followers, I can't help but think about Rev. Fred Phelps of Kansas and his cruel and heartless behavior at the funerals of deceased soldiers and Matthew Shepard. This hate speech disguised as religion is the exact opposite of what God stood for. I find it deplorable that this man can stand in pulpits all over the country and spread his own personal prejudice and throw a few bible verses in his sermon and call it the word of God and people accept it! When did having a belief in God mean that you have to throw common sense out of the window?
How many times have you heard church folk say, "God said it so I believe it and that settles it"? This idea is beyond scary to me, because if you know like I know many of us don't read the bible for ourselves, we just accept what our pastors tell us as the true and living word of God, but even our pastors have their own agenda. Ministry in this country has become a multi-million dollar industry, anyone with a little knowledge of the bible, a booming voice, and stage presence can become the next T.D. Jakes. or G. Craige Lewis.
I would invite you to visit his blog and leave comments if you think differently, but his site is one-sided much like his views and comments have been disabled...what a surprise. It's time we start exposing these snakes for who they really are and let them know the key to heaven is not tied up in their dvd's, conventions, or scared straight tactics(pun intended).
9 Comments:
I don't see this pastor condemning people to hell. I find his sermons very insightful and truth-revealing.
Again, devils act out when you call them on it and you are only proving that to be true.
August 28, 2007 2:07 PM
So now I'm the devil? I'm so glad you are not God.
August 28, 2007 3:35 PM
Hello Darian. I am glad to be "the one" who enlightened you to who the person was on your previous blogs. To God be the glory. I personally agree with a lot of what he has to say about the history of the subculture of Hip Hop. He has done his homework. It is not like he's "making it up as he goes," but has done extensive research and gives you audio and visual documentation to support what he's saying. Again, if you are objective in your views, whether or not you agree, I invite you to listen to his presentations. There are costs involved in producing and shipping the DVD's, which is why there are charges involved; just the same as if you bought a ticket to see a movie or buy a CD from your local music store. There is no difference. Anyway, whether or not you agree with any or all of his commentaries, I can truly say that you will NOT look at music in the same way--Gospel or otherwise. Music is VERY spiritual. Why do we put it on while we shop, work or recreate? Because it sets a "tone" or atmosphere conducive to shopping, playing, eating, etc. I could go on and on. Thanks for sharing your space! GNP22
August 29, 2007 1:35 AM
isn't putting an "e" on the end of "craig" sort of... ummm.. gay ?
August 29, 2007 11:33 PM
“‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people... “ Leviticus 19:16
This man has certainly not done his homework. With regard to hip hop...he seems to make it up as he goes along. The reason he gets ways with his lies, most notably about the beginnings of Hip Hop, is because many black church followers don't know anything about hip hop as a musical genre. They are just blindly believing this man just like they blindly give their rent money as a "seed" to try to pimp Jesus to try to reach their "destiny" (Standing in $100 lines when Bynum, Jakes, and Paula White come through).
- In the G Craige's video, Behind Hip Hop he plays a clip from Underground DJ Danger Mouse's Gray Album, he mixed a accapella version of Jay-Z's The Black Album and the Beatles' The White Album. If you play the track Interlude normally it makes no sense; however, when played backwards it includes the lyrics "666..., Murder, Murder, Jesus". The track was made to be played backwards, and DJ Danger Mouse simply samples Jay-Z's voice and edits it to make him say what he wants. The album is not made or endorsed by Jay-Z, yet Lewis does not make this clear. Isn't that lying, good minister Lewis????
- "Craige stated that GMA (Gospel Music Association) stands for “Gay Men With AIDS”" in a December broadcast of his EX-Cast
- His contention is that “holy hip-hop” is an oxymoron because, according to him, hip-hop culture is a false religion that was spawned by Afrika Bambaataa and KRS One. This is patently absurd. It is common knowledge that DJ Kool Herc is largely credited as the “father of hip-hop”. But of course...if you aren't a lover of or listener to HIP HOP...you don't know that.
http://www.clarkyboy.com/hiphop.htm here you'll find more info on how wrong Lewis is about hip hop.
September 09, 2007 5:06 PM
The subject of Pastor G. Craig Lewis is a controversial one. He is real easy to accept if you never liked Hip Hop and I understand that. The thing is, I was one that wuz writing songs and making CDs, living the life of somebody wit their chest poked out always feeling like somebodys out to get you. And I am not going to lie, as soon as I got Saved, CONVICTION(from God) told me to give up my music, not Condemnation. Of course, I didnt listen though. After watching the truth about Hip Hop, I understood why it was so hard for me to give it up. Pastor really did hard research, but it is really simple if you stop and think... What did the devil do in Heaven before he was cast to hell? He basically ran the music department in Heaven for lack of a better word. So lemme ask you, what better attack would you think the enemy is using now then the one he specialized in? Pastor G. Craig is simply passing that message along with hard evidence for the sake of the Kingdom, which is really what we are all supposed to do. Thanks and God Bless
April 10, 2008 2:36 AM
Thank you for your message brother Darian. However, I have watched the first three CDs and I have listened to a number of his broadcasts on his Excast. He does come across rather harsh, but that doesn't change the truth that he is preaching.
He is not saying that homosexuals are evil or deplorable like what you stated, but what he is saying is that the very act of homosexuality is an abomination unto God. It is the act that is deplorable and what God looks at in total disgust and disgrace to a point that God himself mush have to turn his face. One can not be a practising homosexual and walking into the hous-of-god hand-in-hand playing a passive and active gay role relationship and testify that the holy Spirit is in them. That can never be! So that comment needs to be questioned.
Pastor G Craige Lewis is talking about the church and not condemning the world.
Secondly, he is not bluntly saying that Christians who associate with secular artists are a disgrace to the church - the pastor is simply saying that artists like Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys who all worship false gods (I mean openly defile the Word of God and do not believe that Christ Jesus is Lord but is the White man's God and that the whiteman is the devil)and therefore their music does not belong in the church and we as christians should have no covenant with them in accordance to the word.
Again the pastor is talking about the chruch no the world. Jesus Christ came for the world and not the Church so that should be evidence to yourself or whoever blessed that it is not the world that the pastor is condemning.
I wouldn't define any man-of-god as a snake I wouldn't dare make such false accusations, I would leave God to do the convicting. However, if downlow young black african-american boys have made accustations that renowned mega-preachers have been coming onto them naked then they definately need to be exposed for the sake of His people.
Thanks for the reading this Blog, I appreciate the opportunity.
Blessings.
PJ.
June 12, 2008 1:48 PM
i am particularly offended at his words: "can't nobody conjure up Satan like them Africans". I am a South African mixed-race person. My mother is a descendant of the Khoisan people and my late father was Congolese.
I am bloodwashed, spirit-filled, handclapping and footstomping.. however..
Does that make me twice as evil?
September 13, 2008 6:18 PM
First of all there is no man who can say he has seen or heard from God and he who says it is a Liar, G Craig Lewis included..Lets Keep it real! In fact from watching his Videos( A means of income for Mr. Lewis) He repeatedly says God spoke to him!!!! Ok if thats true, did he mention that you should freely spread your truth, or should you do as other so-call Ministers of the Gospel and lace your pokets and spread your doctrine!....What else needs to be said. Let the blind lead the bling, and let the dead bury the dead!
April 15, 2009 9:42 PM
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