You could honestly say there is a problem with everything.

After all nothing is perfect - some things have small nagging issues, some have big problems. Christian hip hop has one big problem, one big issue - but it's not what your thinking.

It is not the style - it is not that hip hop is ungodly or anything like that. God can use any music style, heck this is a God that used a donkey to talk to someone, there is no doubt he can use flawed musicians.

So what then is this problem with hip hop?

The problem is actually a strength - and that is you can't just put Christian hip hop in the background and play it and hum along - you see hip hop in general has a message to say with its words, it is not just random things, it is a message, and Christian hip hop has a message of eternal consequence to give us.

So when the band Christcentric takes us through Ephesians or discusses TULIP or the reformation we need to stop and pay attention. When Shai Linne discusses the atonement, or the attributes of God we need to stop draw aside and pay full attention to the message he is delivering. When Timothy Brindle sings of the all sufficiency of Christ or total depravity we need to quiet what we are doing and focus our attention to the words.

So is this really a problem?

Well in one sense no of course not, it is a little bit factitious to say it is - but we realise that this Christian Hip Hop is not just a tune to make us feel good, it is not just to give us a warm glow inside. It is words that challenge us, that make us think through theological issues.

It is the reality of the gospel that is being discussed. It is true issues and not shallow issues.

So really the problem is we just can't put it on in the background and let it play like we can with much music - it forces your attention on to it - it forces you to stop and focus on the words - if forces you to interact with the song - to either agree or disagree with the lyrics. it is a style that makes you think through much and go beyond a three and half minute love song to words to show the way to be given eternal life.

Christian Hip Hop is an amazing genre of music - don't knock it without trying and try the artists I mentioned - and yes you will have a big problem - you will have to focus on the words and you may just find yourself engaging with an incredible potent message that will cause change in your very life.

Be challenged today and listen to Christian Hip Hop.