Why I’m Still a Christian with Lecrae

The last five or six years have been rough for many thoughtful faithful Christians. The embrace of Trump and Trumpism, the rise of ethnic nationalism and xenophobia, conspiracy theories and abuse scandals have rocked the church.
Many have walked away in disgust. Some have spoken out and paid the price and yet, rather than walking away, they have remained committed to Christ and his church. We wanted to sit down with a few of those who have cried out like voices in the wilderness and who have been attacked by the church they love, and yet still remain. One of those people is Lecrae, an award winning hip hop artist and entrepreneur, initially celebrated in white reformed evangelical circles. Things changed when he began speaking out about racial justice. Concerts were canceled and boycotts were called for. We sat down with Lecrae to hear his story and find out why through it all, he's still following Jesus.
0:00 - Theme Song
0:29 - Intro
1:25 - Lecrae’s backstory
8:12 - How the last 6-7 years changed Lecrae’s view of Evangelicalism
18:16 - Sponsor - With God Daily
Subscribe today at www.withgoddaily.com
19:57 - How Lecrae views his faith and the Church today
31:14 - Lecrae’s advice to those deconstructing their faith
38:05 - End Credits
Resources:
Lecrae
lecrae.com/
I Am Restored: How I Lost My Religion but Found My Faith by Lecrae
amzn.to/3RtIohz
Episode Music - “Sorrow’s Got a Hold On Me” by Paul Zach
www.paulzachmusic.com/
open.spotify.com/album/0IGfsm...
Holy Post website: www.holypost.com/
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The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

[@PowerPandaMods]

11:40 This is so true. "I really don't want to (walk out), but I might HAVE to." I went from being an overseas missionary seeing literal miracles happen before my eyes, to 2 years later sitting in an American Church saying, "If THIS is Christianity, then I don't think I have any part in it." And I was in a church that people considered "one of the good ones." There is something very deeply wrong with the American Church, and the way it has allowed syncretism to take hold. Thankfully, I was able to draw on my experiences as a missionary to realize that the problem WAS syncretism, not Christianity itself. That became the beacon that led me back.

[@123JWJWJW]

Tell me more. I agree. I'm curious about what you see as being added to Christianity. I kind of feel it's a worship of politics... I came back from only a year overseas but moved into a different part of the US and have been feeling it even harder here.

[@PowerPandaMods]

@@123JWJWJW This was 2012, so it's before a lot of the political stuff took hold. When I was overseas, the church was involved in peoples' lives. It was on the ground, adding hope to the real circumstances people were going thorugh. The sermons were geared toward shepherding the flock. After coming back to the US, I remember saying to my wife, "I think a nuclear bomb could be dropped on our city, and the pastor would still deliver the planned sermon on how such-and-such Greek word helps us understand the context in which the gospels were written." It seemed so... aloof and pointless. Christianity upheld conservative values, and little else, and Conservative values didn't really reflect the Gospel. There are seriously people who think that supporting the 2nd Amendment and cutting welfare is somehow upholding Christian values, and I just wonder HOW they can read the Bible so much and miss the obvious. In 2015, the world was facing a humanitarian crisis as people were fleeing Syria. I watched as the conservative leaders in Congress fast-tracked a resolution to close our doors to people who needed help so that they could get home in time for the Thanksgiving Feast. That's when something broke inside of me, and I realized that the syncretism ran deep. I saw churches directly go against the words of Jesus, written in the gospels, in order to uphold Conservative Politics, and no one questioned it. I thank God that my falling-out happened then, so I didn't have to wrestle with the intersection of faith and Trumpism.

[@christopherwilliams7905]

You do know Michael brown smacked around the clerk and tried to take the gun from the officer reaching through the window right? I got no issue speaking up for anyone unarmed being killed for no reason. The problem is out of the 20 or so major ones the last 15 years how many were killed for doing nothing? Maybe 3 of them...

[@eliaspascoe5108]

As a Native Atlanta resident and a former attendee of Passion City Church, I feel soo much of what he spoke about. I've always been on a journey trying to un-cloud the Christianity I grew up around, steeped in National pride and conservative politics. As he mentioned, thanks to the Holy Post and others, I no longer feel alone. Keep it guys and thanks for sharing your journey, Lacrae.

[@anjolatope-babalola2338]

What conservative politics have you left and feel is not Christian

[@redhen689]

@@anjolatope-babalola2338Trumpism for one.

[@daneesledge1626]

Yeah, I am encouraged he found a place to worship in Atlanta! And speaking of the Louie conversation gutted me. I went to his Bible study 722 in my early 20’s and there’s no much unhealthy doctrine he taught I’ve had to process. From Voddie Baucham telling me when I get married my husband will act as my high priest because I’m to follow him while he follows God, to shaming messages on sexuality, to name dropping Brittany Spears and letting us all know she snuck in the back one week… but to know he has a community that is healing gives me hope

[@CatswoldCottage]

Dang, love this quote and the convo at 17:45. "I don't need to insult your experience to feel like I'm in a better place."

[@karen1blaine2]

I love how he described living his faith crisis out WITH his kids, not hiding it from them. Kids know genuine and the growth and lessons from it are powerful and life-long. praying for your continued journey. Jesus loves you and his mercies are new every morning, regardless of what we silly humans do. You are walking the healing path. Keep sharing so we can be exhorted!

[@paulacoyle5685]

True but in our case it has created a lot of anxiety and uncertainty and fear because they both reject this false view of the church and God but also can’t escape the fact that they need the truth that gives life and they fear being hurt again. They may eventually come around but it’s hard in the meantime.

[@user-sk7zc1fc5u]

If you want people to be good Christians, whatever you do, don't let them study the Bible. I did and not I'm not a Christian.

[@proudlove]

Thanks for this. Phil, you and the gang have been that voice talking to me at the back of the church telling me not to abandon the foundation. I appreciate that so much.

[@Elaiyel]

I’m still a christian because God has been faithful to me through Jesus Christ. 😊

[@jonathonpolk3592]

Me too. But respectfully, this isn't for us. It's for those struggling with disillusionment or disbelief due to a variety of reasons. And it isn't helpful to give short shrift to, or belittle, those struggling with their faith, especially when it was triggered by popular heresies perpetuated by fellow believers.

[@Elaiyel]

@@jonathonpolk3592 How dare you? How dare you demean my testimony of God’s faithfulness to me? All I did was testify to God’s faithfulness! How is what I wrote remotely heretical?

[@jonathonpolk3592]

​@Elaiyel perhaps I was unclear. I never accused you of heresy; sorry for giving off that impression. That comment wasn't about you. It was an allusion to those in the church conflating politics and religion to perpetuate white christian Nationalism, which is one of the subjects of this video. Nor was I belittling your experience of God's faithfulness. What i was suggesting, and am still suggesting, is that your simple expression, in context of the video and its attempt to reach those admist a crisis of faith, could be interpreted as a slap in the face to, or making light of, the struggles of people who have not had your experience.

[@Elaiyel]

@@jonathonpolk3592 Brother, while I share your sentiment regarding those who conflate politics and religion. And religion with white nationalism. There’s no way that saying “God has been faithful to me through Jesus Christ.” should be “interpreted” as anything other than Biblical encouragement, as indeed it was intended. Especially to those currently in ‘crises of faith’. Because God is Faithful, and these very same unstable souls, by His grace are destined to discover that awesome truth for themselves! I can assure you that I have been where they are now and know this from experience.

[@daneesledge1626]

It may not have been your intent, but as someone who hasn’t stepped foot in a church in over a year, it felt dismissive.

[@joychristenson6123]

The past 5 years have caused me to reconstruct my faith as well. Such a hard season

[@hansg8731]

Thank you Lecrae, thank you Phil.

[@danielwilliams8346]

The authentic Italian dish to Chef Boyardee analogy is 🥇

[@DCard-yw6ml]

This is a great interview. Thank you

[@CJNooberson]

Thank you for this holy Post. Looking forward to the rest of this series.

[@Playerdrew10]

Thank you so much for this interview and this series! So insightful and refreshing. Looking forward to the next episode!

[@dr.princemauriceparker5928]

I LOVE YOUR PRESENTATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES!

[@mwineowen4446]

Very warm thought provoking conversation which made me think more abt Paul's concern when he warned that everyman should be careful how they build on this Great foundation. Thank for the podcast

[@toddwiese7023]

Thoughtful great interview

[@SamPurposemusic]

Wow! Very great interview

[@bylynsmith]

Love this interview

[@zdp85magic]

Wow! That last question - so good!

[@davidtiesma]

Love the analogy with the Italian grandmother recipe. Chef-Boy-R-Dee is also much more marketable. (to stretch it a little farther)

[@jendragon42]

Such a fantastic conversation! Thank you both for the sincerity, the honesty, and the nuance. More of these, please!

[@norenemanning4686]

Phil & team, Kudos for always presenting a great interview w deep & powerful dialogue! I always walk away feeling better after I’ve listened to your shows. Kudos to Lacrae for sharing also. 💯

[@crmcninch]

Great respect for Lecrae. Thank you. 👍

[@jpemarshall]

Listening in from Peoria, Illinois! Thank you, Lecrae for the shout out. P.S. Our city could definitely use another visit. Our city is hurting and THE CHURCH and our entire community needs to hear your story and your music.

[@maddmaddmom]

Jacob lived with a limp too. Nothing wrong with that. Especially after the last 8 years. Many of us found ourselves at odds with believers who embraced trump. I lost FB friends. Who are also family. I still love them and interact with them. However. And yes keep the walls. From discernment.

[@lerayeason]

So powerful!! Thank you so much for this!!

[@glynisp8868]

Excellent interview. I have so much respect for Lecrae. I concur with his remark regarding the mistaken tunnel-vision focus of the American church on the cross/resurrection which disregards the Kingdom at hand- right here, right now.

[@kathierezek3515]

Excellent! Thank you for this. I'm at the back door...unable to rebuild the walls where I am because those in charge are firmly committed to those termite infested walls. Not that I expect to find a perfect church, but at least one that keeps Jesus as the Main Thing!

[@danielclingen34]

Loved this. I relate a lot to him.

[@wendyfilice7274]

So good 👏🙏❤️

[@123JWJWJW]

Thank you for this and for this series. I feel that there are so many out there in the same boat as what he describes and thanks Phil for at the end of the video. Is there a message board somewhere with the ability of people to possibly form discussion groups or something to build each other up?

[@becka_boo]

I would love to know about some of the resources that LaCrae used to conduct the originalism research. Like him, my heart called me to find theology in its original and unaltered state. Love this episode and even more, such an amazing Podcast community. I’d been searching for this type of content for so long!!

[@naynayparker]

it’s *Lecrae* :)

[@kathierezek3515]

It's hard and it takes time. You have to let go of everything you've been taught as "truth" and just hung onto because of the education and expertise of those who've preached it. The history of Christianity is eye-opening in seeing where, why, when and how certain beliefs and practices came into being and are held up as the absolute truth. Dive into the Sermon on the Mount. There are too may voices drowning out Jesus these days.

[@123JWJWJW]

Bible. Focus on the Bible and not on books written about the Bible. Using a study method like inductive to seek it for yourself. Pair this with something that informs about original culture like history or study bible that gives information like this. I think that the cultures within the US have overly influenced to the point where it's hard something to see where it's biblical or where it's American culture. For example, format of worship, how to read the Bible, how to pray...

[@becka_boo]

@@kathierezek3515 AMEN!

[@becka_boo]

@@123JWJWJW I want to find the books written that were not included in the Bible. Like that of the book of Enoch. Just looking to take a deeper dive into the history of the book itself.

[@Skateacar]

Bro I love Lecrae he helped me so much in my faith. God is good

[@KurtWillems]

Loved this. Thank you both!!!

[@grahammaylam8166]

what an insightful interview. Great podcast

[@craigbarbblumer2551]

Thank you Lacrae. Thank you Phil. This conversation is so deep and I am better for it.

[@livinoutdestiny04]

I appreciate the awareness that we are all exiles. I'm grateful for the liberties & freedoms we have here in America, but the reminder that I belong to the Kingdom that is not of this world keeps the focus where it needs to be.

[@rosemarylong1735]

Totally awesome interview. If we truly know Christ, we have a firm foundation that can not be shaken by flawed Christians and can not be moved by our culture.

[@Thirstycott]

much Love LeCrae, brother." We get out of all their boxes"

[@QueenShamiraTaylor]

I love Lecrae ‼️🌹❤️😌🙏🏾

[@sobyntahondi]

Devon was not expecting that

[@Elborrro]

I saw him in concert opening for NF. He is very talented.

[@T-41]

Impressive person.

[@pastorofmuppets8834]

Isn't it fascinating that those who complain about cancel culture seem to be the first to boycott and cancel?

[@patrickc3419]

6:50-6:54 So someone actually said that question to him? I obviously don’t know that answer, but I think the safest response to have to any and all police shooting is agnosticism until every fact is investigated, corroborated and confirmed. My younger brother’s lifelong best friend from childhood, now a patrolman, was recently cleared in a work-related shooting in which he had to unfortunately use deadly force. The man, who had a domestic violence history, came out of the house shooting at his girlfriend (one round barely missing her), then took aim at the two officers. At the time, some years ago, of the real push for body cameras on cops, I was admittedly a resister to it as a “liberal idea”, but even before this incident, I have wholeheartedly come around to strongly support them being mandatory for every officer. It helps protect everyone.

[@ConnorMarc]

Are you now over being reflexively against everything you deem as "liberal?"

[@patrickc3419]

@@ConnorMarc No, certainly not. I’m definitely a staunch conservative, but as a sociology major from way back during my college days, I can always lend and ear & hear out someone’s else’s viewpoint and compare it to scripture before making a judgement. I can’t think of many, but I’m against free trade and support medicinal marijuana. I guess those would be a “liberal positions” by some measure. I’m not a big supporter of military intervention unless it’s absolutely necessary; maybe that’s another one. I support replacing Jackson with Tubman or Douglass on the $20. Cameras prevent a “he said-he said” situation.

[@wycliffethomas9055]

I think your perspective is super valuable to the conversation. I totally relate to Lecrae, in that many grow up in communities where you are taught by example and assumption that "black = bad", even when you are brown/black. Equally valuable to not go to an opposite extreme and assume that "police = bad (or good)" People are people.

[@patrickc3419]

@@wycliffethomas9055 Exactly. You place the blame on Darrell Brooks, not all black people. You place the blame on Derek Chauvin, not on all police, or all white people.

[@ConnorMarc]

@patrickc3419 can liberals and/or progressives be Christians? BTW, doesn't seem like you're reflexive anymore, or are you?

[@axamichelle8319]

👍🏻🖐🏻🙏🏻

[@ZZ-eg7to]

It's fascinating that someone can talk about walking away from the Christian faith.... if you can walk away from the faith you never were in the faith. You can no more unborn yourself spiritually then you could physically!

[@aprilwhite1794]

If you believe that, I have to ask, have you read the old testament? Particularly about Israel wondering in the wilderness?

[@jcferg3370]

I was already a fan of Lecrae and now I am even more so. Great interview Phil - Thank you.

[@JamesRichardWiley]

Thousand of years ago a wandering Jewish rabbi was arrested, tried and crucified for attacking the money changers in the Temple and committing public blasphemy. Since then his followers have grown in number and written stories about him and his heavenly father, Yahweh. Even to this very day people believe the stories and teach the stories to their children.

[@cnc41LORD]

6:58

[@joePARKS]

I love Lecrae

[@bradthomas4071]

The irony of scapegoating people who don't see God the same exact way as your tribe is so rich. This is exactly what happened to Jesus. "Whatever you did to the least of these, you did to me." -Jesus

[@friedmac7146]

For now I'm still a Non consumer/political Christian. (Omaha N.E.) 🌽✨🌽✨🌽✨

[@anthonycastro2146]

Christianiy is a religion of Action more than belief.

[@willielee5253]

🇮🇱✝️Genesis 12:3 is expressed through the deeds 💜 shown in Matthew 25:31-46 ✝️🇮🇱

[@debracrockett5386]

I'm glad that your therapist worked out for you and did her work to understand your racial trauma; sometimes Caucasian therapists can create more racial trauma.

[@YouCantSeeMe-]

You can't be righteous and ratchet

[@agslovesjesus984]

To the person standing at the back of the church door, the problem is not the foundation you’re standing on (Jesus)…it’s the asbestos in the building! 36:36

[@darrellboone9274]

Why would Anybody remain a Christian? Because Jesus is God and our Savior;Because we believe what He said about Hades(😱);because we want to be forgiveness of our sins,and gi to Heaven(and He is the Only way😤)

[@bucklejrjjbg8197]

How about speaking up about unarmed people getting kilked on the streets, regardless of race.

[@bethprather9241]

I'm siblings of Lecrea, and Beth Moore too.. Russell Moore too. Amen and Lecrea and Beth for a long time. I know they know truth

[@naynayparker]

do u know how to spell Lecrae tho ?

[@ApollosHagman_17]

Because you found a way for the Bible to tolerate keeping child murder legal?

[@romariosmith422]

At lesst he's not hebrew isrealite. THANK GOD

[@jdtreharne]

I think people's problem with the Michael Brown situation was that he had just robbed a convenience store and was trying to kill the cop who stopped him for it. You don't get to rob a store, punch a cop, try to steal his gun, and continue to attack him without the cop being able to defend himself with lethal force. Maybe Lecrae didn't know the full story at the time which is understandable. But he should also understand why christians might be put off by a post defending a violent criminal over a law abiding cop. Edit: Apparently most of my responses have been shadow banned

[@davidlynchsseveredear6944]

Yeah, no buddy. You’ve got some warped idea of Christianity if you think Jesus would rather spend his time with he keepers of a barbaric system over sinners who need his actual presence. There are very few situations where lethal force is appropriate, and that was not one of them. Glad you’re showing who you are so outright though, telling everyone you feel Jesus should be fine with cops killing people for robbing stores.

[@jdtreharne]

​@@davidlynchsseveredear6944He didn't kill him for robbing a store. He shot him because MB was actively trying to murder him. This is not a fringe opinion it's exactly what Eric Holder and Obama's DOJ found to be true. You don't have to take my word for it though you can read the 2015 report for yourself. Pages 5-7 are the summary of findings.

[@ricecristi]

What are you talking about? Michael browns friend was with him, and clearly states the cop came and started harassing them, so they ran and were shot at in the process. The cops story is completely different, bc as we know in the black community, cops lie A LOT. Like more often than not, so let’s put body cams to see who’s telling the truth…and guess what. Black folks have been right this whole time, we’re literally just living out lives, and are killed for being black outside. I hope you start listening to the Holy Spirit, and not tucker Carlson.

[@redhen689]

It depends which account of the story you believe.

[@jdtreharne]

​@@redhen689I believe the DOJs version because all of the evidence supports it. I don't believe that "Hands up don't shoot" happened because every witness who said that also made statements that contradicted the physical evidence.