The fourth and final installment on Ed’s recent interview with Lecrae.
Ed: One of the issues we see today is how our faith can send us to the other side of the world to share the gospel, but we don’t want to talk about justice here.
Lecrae: I had to let go of the religiosity of saying that I want everyone to think I’m on the right track. I want everyone to accept me and love me. And I don’t want to disturb anyone or rock any boats, which is ironic because that’s why people loved me initially, because I rocked the boat: “Rebel, turn against the culture,” “Send me, I’ll go, let’s go on foreign mission trips.” They’re like,” Oh yes, yes. Tell us more, push us, shake us.” And then I say, “Hey, there’s social injustice.” And it’s like, “Hold on.”
When I was disoriented in my faith, part of my struggle was that the only voices I could get to speak to me were white male theologians. And when I tried to research something, sites would pull up the same dominant voices. I began to seek other vantage points or voices that affirmed what I believe. I couldn’t find them, which made me feel like they didn’t exist. And so it made me struggle.
I went to Northern Africa and visited some churches and did some research and read some books there. And I heard voices that affirm truth that affirmed my faith that helped me realize number one, Christianity is global and not exclusive to America.
And number two, American evangelicalism is not the litmus test for a sincere, passionate faith in Christ . And though there are aspects obviously I believe in, like grace through faith. I believe in a grace-based righteousness, a faith-oriented righteousness. But I don’t subscribe to the idea of the exclusivity of solid theology only …
