Snoop Dogg’s Gospel Album; To Worry Or Not?

            When Snoop Dogg produces a music album, millions listen and adore. Such is his fame! So when Snoop Dogg announces his intent to produce a gospel album, millions will listen.

            The fact that Snoop Dogg is not a Christian music artist is an adequate reason to discuss this development, for there’s mixed response from churches. Some churches do not endorse this album, hence they advice their folks to not listen to this album. A few other churches plan to endorse and promote Snoop’s Christian music album. Then there are other churches that are uncertain about their response.

            What do we, as individual Christians, do? Our children may be attracted to Snoop Dogg’s music, so do we endorse Snoop’s Christian album or not?

            Before we decide for ourselves, let us examine the reasons cited by churches for their varied responses to this album. Why would certain churches reject Snoop’s Christian music album?

            An article from churchleaders.com articulates this predicament very well, “Herein lies the controversy that the church has stumbled over time and again: How do we react to celebrities who thank God for awards or name their children after Bible characters or claim their faith pulled them through a difficult time, and then turn around and live a “Hollywood lifestyle”?”¹

            Snoop’s typical Hollywood lifestyle is arguably the greatest barrier between his album and the Christian community. His dubious morality (highly materialistic, profanity-laced, pot-smoking and what not!) is an adequate reason for some churches to reject him, and hence, they reject his album.

            On the other hand, certain churches endorse Snoop’s music album because they reckon this is a time to rejoice. The gospel message would reach millions around the globe through Snoop’s album, and the majority of his audience may not even be Christians! Moreover, this occasion could enable Snoop to become an ardent Christian. Snoop’s mother is an ordained evangelist. Her prayers for her son need not go in vain.

            Here’s the same article from churchleaders.com on this matter.²

Could it be that this man, who has walked a hard road and has produced some of the most questionable content our culture has seen these last couple decades, is seeking God? I think it’s entirely possible—perhaps even plausible considering he has a mother, active in the faith, who is praying for him and has likely been praying for him from the start. I think it matters how the church responds to the album. There are a few things I hope we can keep in mind as the album releases and people start talking about it. One of which being there are going to be Snoop fans who don’t know Jesus and will listen to the album. Let’s not turn them off to the church by criticizing the album or its producer. This album may also present an opportunity for the church. While other rappers like Lecrae or Kirk Franklin may have a more Christian audience, Snoop doesn’t necessarily. Which means people who have never heard gospel music may hear it for the first time. They may be moved to find out more about Jesus and his church through this music. They may even come to visit your church. The question is: What will they find when they come? Judgmental people who care more about what they were smoking in the car than they do about the state of a fellow human being’s soul? Or will they find the compassion of Christ in another person? I hope we can answer this question correctly, Church. I hope we can hope the best for Snoop and his family. I hope we can get over ourselves and the rules we sometimes care about more than the people who break them. Most of all, I hope Snoop finds the love of Christ in His people and in the words he is producing.

  

            We may have observed the negative side of Snoop Dogg’s life that is exposed in the social media – his highly materialistic, pot-smoking, profanity-laced life. But we have not seen the other side of his life – his spirituality, especially.

            Some Christian sportsmen, whom we adore, live a highly materialistic, pot-smoking, profanity-laced life. But we revere them so much so that they are welcome into any mainstream church.

            Why not extend the same courtesy to Snoop Dogg?  

            We do not possess any authority, whatsoever, to discourage another person from coming to the Lord Jesus Christ, even through dubious means (in our context, producing a contentious Christian music album).

            So this is my response to Snoop Dogg’s music album and I submit it for your consideration.  

            First, pray for Snoop that he does the will of God while producing this gospel album. Also pray that this production will reveal the Lord Jesus to Snoop Dogg that he becomes more sincere in his relationship to the Lord Jesus.

            Second, let’s pray that the gospel message is preached wholly through this music album. Let not Satan dilute the gospel message so that it corrupts the theology of Historic Christianity, and endorses the gory lifestyle of the worldly Hollywood celebrities.

            Third, let us pray that this album serves as a powerful evangelistic tool to bring more souls into Christ’s fold.

            Finally, let’s pray for ourselves. If this gospel album denies Christ in any manner whatsoever, may our disapproving response to this album be filled with gentleness and respect, as the word of God mandates (cf. 1 Peter 3:15).   

Endnotes:

¹https://churchleaders.com/news/culture/310721-snoop-dogg-releasing-gospel-album-local-church-care.html

²Ibid.